Dark Tinting the Headlights

[Bourne2Ride]

If I were going to cruse locally and not ride a lot at night, I might think about tinting the head lights; but I like the all aspect touring this bike gives me access to; so anything that would reduce my visibility is a no-no.
However if you're looking for cool, consider getting a light kit installed on the bike. Instead of reducing the light output of the head lights, light up the bike! There are a lot of nooks and cranny's to hide LEDs in.
I'm getting mine done next month. Just in time for Ocean City Delmarva bike week .

[RBX QB]

I love the look of smoked headlights and taillights on black vehicles.

My issue with them is visibility... ESPECIALLY on a bike. I have tinted signals and will do the smoked taillight on the Connie. I've tried to counteract the smoked signals with  high output LEDs. It seems to be pretty visible in bright daylight. I'm also lookign at Hyperlites or sim to supplement the rear of the bike. The headlight is different, as there is no good way to really increase light output. HID conversion might counteract the tint, but then why tint in the first place?

On a car I would have less issue, because you could use brighter bulbs for daytime (signals) or nightime (headlights) driving, while having the blackout effect for the main headlights. Then again, I always have amber driving lights on my cars, day or night... so there's still some visibility from the front.

+1000 on the illegality of it. Check your local laws, but I think it's one of those things that are illegal in most states.

[Sea Level]

I love the look of smoked headlights and taillights on black vehicles.

My issue with them is visibility... ESPECIALLY on a bike. I have tinted signals and will do the smoked taillight on the Connie. I've tried to counteract the smoked signals with  high output LEDs. It seems to be pretty visible in bright daylight. I'm also lookign at Hyperlites or sim to supplement the rear of the bike. The headlight is different, as there is no good way to really increase light output. HID conversion might counteract the tint, but then why tint in the first place?

On a car I would have less issue, because you could use brighter bulbs for daytime (signals) or nightime (headlights) driving, while having the blackout effect for the main headlights. Then again, I always have amber driving lights on my cars, day or night... so there's still some visibility from the front.

+1000 on the illegality of it. Check your local laws, but I think it's one of those things that are illegal in most states.

Good post and I agree.

But good god, some of you guys are a little over the top. "No taste"? "Most insane idea I ever heard of"? C'mon. If that's the ugliest and most insane idea you've ever heard of, you got sheltered lives. Relax, guys. I came, I asked, I got some rational comments, Thank you for that.

[ZG]

2011 Ebony-on-black. The only thing I don't like about the bike is having to get off.   

So, I'm giving her a bath this evening and looking at her head-on, I'm thinking that having all that glass tinted darkly would look really nice. I think there was a thread about this in the old forum (may it rest in peace) but I can't recall what solutions or ideas may have been advanced. I passed a black Dodge Avenger today that had it's headlights either tinted or covered over with a sized tinted panel and it was sharp. That's what I want for my Connie.

Any thoughts?

SL,
You could just get one of these and tint it, that way you could run with it on in the day and take it off if you wanted at night... At least that way it wouldn't be permanent if you changed your mind down the road.
 
http://projektd.com/product_info.php?cPath=27_58&products_id=127
 

[VirginiaJim]

Let's keep this civil, please...

[Sea Level]

SL,
You could just get one of these and tint it, that way you could run with it on in the day and take it off if you wanted at night... At least that way it wouldn't be permanent if you changed your mind down the road.
 
http://projektd.com/product_info.php?cPath=27_58&products_id=127

That seems like a pretty good idea! Thanks, ZG.

[SVonhof]

The idea of making it similar to the Goldwing headlight is a good one, as long as you don't mind pulling the whole lens off the headlight assembly to get to the reflectors and blacking out the areas that don't reflect. You can buy aftermarket lights for vehicles that are like that, but I don't have any idea of the legality of any of them.
Similar to this as well:

[B.D.F.]

A slightly different idea might be to tint everything but the "D" shaped area where the headlights actually shine through the lens. If you look at the headlights when they are on, there is a relatively small area that actually casts light forward; the rest of the lens is not really needed and I think could be quite a bit darker. You might be able to accomplish this with something like plastic tinting paint with the area where light is projected masked off with tape. Just a thought.

Brian

2011 Ebony-on-black. The only thing I don't like about the bike is having to get off.   

So, I'm giving her a bath this evening and looking at her head-on, I'm thinking that having all that glass tinted darkly would look really nice. I think there was a thread about this in the old forum (may it rest in peace) but I can't recall what solutions or ideas may have been advanced. I passed a black Dodge Avenger today that had it's headlights either tinted or covered over with a sized tinted panel and it was sharp. That's what I want for my Connie.

Any thoughts?

[Pokey]

Let's keep this civil, please...

Im always civil!!!!!

[IRULE]

  b@t$hes!   

[ZG]

That seems like a pretty good idea! Thanks, ZG.

No worries brutha! If you decide to do it post up some pics when completed, I'd like to see how it turns out. 

[Kazairl]

http://www.lamin-x.com/Kawasaki-Concours-07-Headlight-Cover-p/kw022.htm

 I think you gave some people a hernia.

[lather]

Sea Level, I don't know how, but it would be cool (way cool) to have it darken.  Like you said, if its illegal or just don't allow the headlights to come through then I guess not.

Why?  Why ask why?  Its like people have 26" wheels on a car, or having 6 x 16" subwoofers inside a car...

If you have to ask why...you don't get it!  Sorry.

Yes, some of us "don't get it" and we're so glad. Just Kidding. We know why some people run 26"  wheels and 6x16 subwoofers. But being polite or politically correct, we pretend to be ignorant. As for dark lights, I haven't figured that one out yet.

[lather]

Me, I like to minimize my exposure so I pick and choose what rules to break and what not to break.  Speed trumps bling every time.

Anudder great post!

[lather]

If I were going to cruse locally and not ride a lot at night, I might think about tinting the head lights; but I like the all aspect touring this bike gives me access to; so anything that would reduce my visibility is a no-no.
However if you're looking for cool, consider getting a light kit installed on the bike. Instead of reducing the light output of the head lights, light up the bike! There are a lot of nooks and cranny's to hide LEDs in.
I'm getting mine done next month. Just in time for Ocean City Delmarva bike week .

Something like this:

[Sea Level]

http://www.lamin-x.com/Kawasaki-Concours-07-Headlight-Cover-p/kw022.htm

 I think you gave some people a hernia.

LOL, I think you are right. I was also not really myself and took some posts personally. I should know better, I've been on forums a long time.

The link you sent is interesting but apparently only has the protective film for 2007 models...I'll drop them a line later and see whether they've got the options for the 2011's. Thanks!

[SVonhof]

LOL, I think you are right. I was also not really myself and took some posts personally. I should know better, I've been on forums a long time.

The link you sent is interesting but apparently only has the protective film for 2007 models...I'll drop them a line later and see whether they've got the options for the 2011's. Thanks!

It is for the 2007+ which means all the Concours 14 models as the headlight has not changed. You can verify with them, but that's the way I am reading it.

[Boomer]

Now what would be REALLY cool would be flip over headlamps like the Katana 750

Then you would be legal and cool all at the flick of a switch.

I have to admit I'm not one for prettifying a bike or car.
I prefer street sleepers.
A nice old rusty POS that goes like stink! 

[ConnerNA]

Im always civil!!!!!

Seems like I have heard this before....

[stevewfl]

This thread deserves an award