Cat's eye headlight?

[Howard]

My Comet's got a 6 1/2" cat's eye headlight, or at least that's what the seller called it. It's a domed glass lens (looks old) and the pattern in it looks like a cat's eye with a pointed elipse in the centre.

a. Is this a Vincent fitting?

b. If it is, how am I supposed to see where I'm going at night???

The light thrown out (ha ha) is a circular pattern with no light in the middle (dip and main). Is this as it should be, or as I suspect, should it have a special bulb - the one I've fitted is a 12 volt 50/40 watt for old car headlamps - I couldn't find a halogen one that would fit.

H

 

[hadronuk]

This should fit. Rather poor quality, but it still works pretty well.

http://yambits.co.uk/rd250c-halogen-headlight-conversion-unit-p-3864.html

I kept the Miller glass, (same as yours I think) which gave a reasonable light pattern.
I think there was also a Honda headlight (better quality?) that fitted, but I never managed to track one down.
Perhaps someone else can help with this??

 

[Howard]

Thanks Rob, I'll try it. Riding through country lanes with the other one was like travelling through the time tunnel - I thought I might come out in 1950 ................. mind you I don't know how I'd tell, I think Stoke stopped in 1948. H

 

[vibrac]

If you want to ride in 1950
just take a ride round south island NZ
even the cafe in the towns on the way have home made cakes

 

[Comet Rider]

Rob and Howard,

What you are looking for is the headlight from a Honda 250/400 Superdream, this will take a modern H4 bulb fitment thus allowing for Halogen or even HID.

You ca get a pattern unit from the likes of M&P

Best of luck
Neil

 

[Rob H]

Have you tried here for a suitable halogen bulb http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/

 

[Howard]

Have you tried here for a suitable halogen bulb http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/ /QUOTE] Yes, may be me being thick, but I couldn't see one. I've fitted a Wipac lens (found in my stock of bits) with the 50/40 bulb that looks much better (in the garage, it was far too windy last night for a road test). I'm not expecting to use the Comet after dark very often, so, to be fair, I didn't look very hard for a bulb. My main query was about the cat's eye lens. H

 

[deejay499]

The lens sounds like an original Miller lens. One of a few patterns.

 

[Len Matthews]

In conversation once with a chap who, hitherto, had only owned veteran machines with acetylene lamps he said "I bought the Comet because I thought it was high time I had a bike with electric lights". Well, I suppose that eliminated the problem of finding a supply of carbide- (the other necessary chemical being readily avaible) but would after- dark riding be any better?

 

[vibrac]

Carbide-find a good pot holer supply shop
never fails now I have replaced my Lucas
(only joking)