Topic was supposed to say "Is it just me or are my headlights
just not fast enough" When I am riding at night I seem to over
run my headlights at about 70mph. How do you guys or girls race on the trails when the only light is from your headlights. Fill me in, please. Thanks, Paul. : http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sleeping.gif

I hope you're not serious.

? ? ? *i hope you're not using a candle

What are you doing racing on the trails at night? *When you say "Over Run" you mean what?

What do you have for a sled?

I think he means over driving the headlights. In a car your headlights don't pick up objects far enough away for you to avoid colliding with them http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/withstupid.gif

i would say if thats happening slow down http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Good point jwheeler,

If you are over driving your headlights you are just asking for trouble.

I hope I'm not coming around a blind corner with you coming the other way.

Put a H.I.D Buld into your sled and you'll see what you never knew was around. You'll also get that blue tinge but boy are they bright. $20 well spent. Also make sure that they are aimed correctly if there is an adjustment.
Caleb

I have overran my headlights, and yes I run the H.I.D bulbs, Animals, Mailboxes, and telephone pole cables don't know what kind of bulb your running, or how fast you are going! I don't care if you know exactly where in farmer Bobs field you are at! A deer, a broken down sled, maybe that trash you missed on the way out WILL POP UP at night. I don't care how many years you have been riding at night or day. Say your prayers it's gonna catch up to you sooner or later! I just hope my wife and family are not riding the same trails as you!
Even at night a lake isn't safe, save the sport, keep the insurance costs down and most of all let us all feel at ease when we are running the local trails by the senic lake side.
* * Don't get me wrong my '01 mxz 700 likes the speed to, but do it in the right places at the right time. yes Insurance does cover it but it would sure would suck to have to sleep at night when you put someone else in the hospital and their daughter or son has to wonder where Dad is on christmas !
I know it's fun but think about it man, BE SAFE!

Paul Schmeling...that's EXACTLY why here is Wisconsin there is a law for riding at night. *55mph is MAX at night. *I hope you knew that, if not better change your riding speed or it going to cost you big *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

I find it hard to believe you could out run the speed of light !!!
Boy thats one fast sled, more likely you are out running the speed of your brain. Which in by reading your post wouldn't be all that fast. Anyone who races at night on public trails deserves to crash or even worse. It's people like you that spoil the sport for everyone!!!

http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/withstupid.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

Hey all, don't be fooled about these so called H.I.D. bulbs. They are not real HID, in a lot of cases they are just a coating on the bulb that tricks the eye. The light is whiter, but not really brighter. There are a few companies that make high performance halogen bulbs that really do work. Piaa offers Super White and Exteme White bulbs that are brighter and whiter and Sylvania also offers "SilverStar" bulbs that are bright white, high output. But these bulbs are usually start at $35 a piece. But just so you know, they are still nowhere close to real H.I.D. light output. *H.I.D. setups cost about $250 to $700 and have a bulb, ballast and ignitor and give you 30% more light than a halogen. I know they make these kits for cars, trucks, SUV's and motorcycles. I have not yet heard of someone installing HID on their sled. If you are going that fast, you better slow down or you won't have to worry about you headlights for much longer.

My buddies only pay 15 to 30 for the bulbs and they make a tremendouse differece. Don't buy the cheap ones though.
Caleb

I personally don't agree with the brighter lights, don't you guys care if the guy your going to meet up with on the trail can see or not. *Those bulbs are to bright and they are blinding, *oh but second thought maybe i should put 3 of them in my sled and run that.
If you can't see get your eyes checked or don't run at night.

slow down if your out running your headlight.55mph at night on some machines ,as new as 99, is to fast.

http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Glad I don't ride in Green Bay! *If your out running your headlight, then i think it would be time to lay off the throttle a little.. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (IndySKS @ Aug. 18, 2002, 11:28am)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I find it hard to believe you could out run the speed of light !!!
Boy thats one fast sled, more likely you are out running the speed of your brain. Which in by reading your post wouldn&#39;t be all that fast. Anyone who races at night on public trails deserves to crash or even worse. It&#39;s people like you that spoil the sport for everyone!!![/b][/quote]
I think you&#39;re missing the concept. *When you overdrive your headlights, this means that the distance you are travelling is exceeding your capacity to react to what comes into view at night. *At lower speeds, you have more time to react to what comes into your field of view as you are physically covering less ground every second, and will also require less room to stop if needed.

I&#39;ll second that wolfman! *common sense http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

Come&#39;on guys, dont be so hard on the boy, he&#39;s not the only one out there that drives like he owns the trail! http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Wolfman : No I&#39;m not missing the concept. You said the same thing I did . I *knew he wasn&#39;t going the speed of light.


"exceeding your capacity to react to what comes into view at night"

Like I said out running his brain.

Ahh never mind .....If the guy was curious about some type of light bulb that would make it easier to see at night on the trails, he could have just asked that with out the reference to racing on public trails at night.

Enough said

I sure wouldn&#39;t want to be the guy who put some kids daddy in the hospital or at those speeds in a coffin. I am with the majority of this topic. It probably is a good idea to ease off on the throttle at night. I can speed just as good as the best of them but common sense prevales.

Maybe it&#39;s just me but I find it safer to drive at night cause you can see the headlights of oncomming sleds from a lot farther then if you encounter somebody during the day. The only real problem is as stated before; animals, trees and other things which can be in the middle of the trail. If you&#39;re going more than 70 mph at night then good luck cause you never know what&#39;s on the other side of a curve...

I have 80-100 watt diamond blue bulbs and they really made the difference on my sled, probably not as good as real HID but for 30 $ Can, they were worth it.

I just got back from an independant and completely unscientific test for this thread.

I have a 1998 Corvette and I think everyone will agree that this car will stop better than most other cars on the road and will outbreak ANY sled. I also have a laser range finder that I use for hunting etc.

My car will stop from 70mph in about 130-135ft, and that is on a dry, flat surface with ABS and 4 HUGE disk brakes.

now imagine the same speed on a narrow trail, at night in snow.

You do the math.

Night+70mph+tree stump,deer,other sled ETC = see photo(or worse)

sorry, I forgot the pic again

Not this again http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Geezz,
Here we go again. We&#39;ve convicted this guy of every mistake in the book regarding safe driving and common sense on the assumption that he is a reckless driver at night, rather than just answering his question.

No, I refuse to "overdrive" my headlights. Honestly, visibility
will control my top speed most of the time when it could be considered a factor (obviously it&#39;s not much of a factor at 10mph). If I&#39;m operating out of what I have established as safe limits for my skills, I slow down till comfortable.

To the best of my knowledge, it takes wattage to create candlepower. Compare what you are/have been using to what is on the market. Check out JC Whitney or your favorite discount auto supply. Be aware of the problem with most of the older machines in limited capacity lighting coils. By time we add up all the power in use for the heaters and other lights, there is only so much left over for lighting. This can get so bad that when your brake light comes on there isn&#39;t enough power left for your head light, and it dims - just when you need it the most - while you are stopping. The newer machines don&#39;t have this problem. *

While on this subject, is it just, me or have others also noticed that MOST oncoming sleds, including the newest with ultra bright headlights, don&#39;t seem to posess the common
sense/courtesy to dim them when approaching you on high beam? Have the people running these multiple, ultra bright, lights considered that THEY are endangering themselves, and others, by the fact that they are blinding oncoming traffic that must then either stop completely, or risk running into the fool with the lights when passing side by side on a narrow trail?

My pet gripe of the evening,
AL

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (michahicks @ Aug. 18, 2002, 9:53pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Geezz,
Here we go again. We&#39;ve convicted this guy of every mistake in the book regarding safe driving and common sense on the assumption that he is a reckless driver at night, rather than just answering his question.[/b][/quote]
I agree with you 100% on that quote ! *Guys c&#39;mon, im sure you all hit the throttle once in your life at night only to notice the same thing as him, that you dont see verry far ! That dosent mean that he is pushing his sled to its limits all the time ! *You guys are all wright about how dangerous it is to drive fast at night but give him a chance ! *Im sur he will have a shock when he see&#39;s how many replys he got !


Anyway just for the record, i drive 45-50 mh at night !

http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/withstupid.gif

Well put.

i think he got scared off by all the replys, because i dont think he has been back since, but i will admit i take my crazy riding fits every now and then but i know whare to draw the line and back off, because early in my riding years i had some bad scares that made me realize the dangers of night flying. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif

Dan, Michahiks, Fishhog, I agree w/you guys. *It&#39;s like the other day when I asked for opinions on the ZRT vs. ZR, and someone (Catrules2000) took it south and said "guys ought to work out and take off their skirts and ride &#39;em hard." *What the #### did that have to do w/comparing the 2 sleds? *Then I offered the guy a chance to ride hard w/me this season, and he did a 180 and said he hopes he doesn&#39;t meet me on the trails when he&#39;s riding w/his family, like he&#39;s mister cautious and I&#39;m a lunatic.
ANYWAY, I can&#39;t imagine outrunning my headlights...Paul, are they adjusted properly? *When riding in the trails, I&#39;m always looking well ahead for gaps in the treelines, figuring the trail has to follow the direction of least trees. *If I can&#39;t do this, then I slow down considerably.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (AC @ Aug. 18, 2002, 9:13pm)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I have 80-100 watt diamond blue bulbs and they really made the difference on my sled, probably not as good as real HID but for 30 $ Can, they were worth it.[/b][/quote]
Now here is the problem. The sylvania and Piaa lights I have previosuly mentioned are not higher wattage they are new technology halogen bulbs. They are both DOT approved. Running 80-100 watt lights could be really dangerous for on-coming traffic. Not to mention what it could do to your sleds electrical system pulling all that extra juice. Plus the heat they generate could melt your headlight housings, good thing this is a winter sport.

michahicks-said that it takes more wattage for more candle power. This is not always the case. H.I.D. systems only require 35 watts, but the light output is 30% more than standard halogen. Of course with the ballast and inverter we are talking about 12,000 volts or more. I don&#39;t know how an H.I.D. system would hold up in a sled, and for the money I am not going to risk it.

I also agree that is easier to ride at night as far as seeing sledders coming at you. You don&#39;t have to worry about corners as much, now we just need to install lights on the trees and animals and it would be much easier to ride in the dark. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

On a related topic, the new F5 and F7 have a four bulb headlight system, I can&#39;t wait to see how they light up the trail.

Al I agree! Why do most &#39;NOT&#39; dim there lights? We all do it on the roads why not the trail? http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

The last time I was banging down the trail at night I was on my bro&#39;s EXT and ended up doing a superman into some trees. *OOOUUCH! http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

What about the fact that a properly aligned head light on
HARD PACK will give you just enough light to go realativley fast. Now throw in the fact that if you&#39;re in even remotly
deep stuff, which most of us like every now and then, your
head light is in the trees? How much good does it do you
then? If crusing in the trails, I&#39;ll admit that it is easier
to see the head lights coming most of the time but not all
so for you that haul a$$ at night, your time is coming and hopefully you will only take yourself out and not any other
respectfull drivers. How well do you see on a nice cold
night with all the snow dust flying? Been there, done that
and I learned my lesson at about 80MPH doing the barbwire limbo that ripped off my heated shield and luckily not my
head.

That is exactly what i was trying to say michahicks, you may put in the brighter bulbs so you can see but what about the guy coming towards you. The question is can he really see? *Probley not because your blinding him with your ultra bright lights. *It doesn&#39;t matter if there properly alligned or not some where along the line they will be in your eyes.

But i agree this guy was scared off because alot of us jumped down his throat. *He&#39;s probley sitting and shaking in the corner of his room. http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Maybe Corey could send him a PM http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif

As a parent,and a certified snowmobile safety instructor,I do not condone {or tolerate} speeding at night!!!! I have and will continue to remind sledders I meet on the trail to ride safely,especially after dark. Too often,I have taken evasive action thanks to some moron coming at me {and my family} way too fast. I have no desire to become a statistic. I will get off my "soapbox" now. * *Thanks *RB http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif *http://www.snowmobileworld-s2.com/forums/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif

If you&#39;re going to talk about safety, no need to get off the soapbox.

I like my phazer for the headlight that moves with your skis, it really helps when helping another person fix theirs when it&#39;s on the side of the trail at night!

I don&#39;t think any of us support the idea of "speeding", at any time of day, if it cannot be done with a degree of safety. I stand by my last note, lots of condemnation here, but not many good replies to the original question regarding how he could INCREASE HIS MARGIN OF SAFETY, in this case by increasing his visibility.

The word "speed" seems to cue all sorts of notes regarding improper trail use related to safety, in this string and a lot of others where the word has been used. Seems to me we need to accept the fact that we are not the only person capable of driving a sled on a trail in a safe manner.

AL