[SunnyBoi]

Originally Posted by Vignesh_N/A

Are you thinking of swapping semi floating rotors to your Duke?

Yes! The PCD looks similar to the first gen Duke 390s, not the second gen. If the offset is different, will also think of plonking in a better/bigger caliper with a custom bracket if needed.

[Dhruv Shetty]

Originally Posted by SunnyBoi

Yes! The PCD looks similar to the first gen Duke 390s, not the second gen. If the offset is different, will also think of plonking in a better/bigger caliper with a custom bracket if needed.

Even if it is a direct fit to the 1st gen Duke's, will it interfere with the ABS on the bike? like the calibration of the ABS unit? Noob here .

Originally Posted by ebonho

So I tried out both the bulbs. The stock KTM H4 halogen (Osram) and the imported German Osram Night Breaker Laser H4 halogen.

Back to back. After going for a short ride on the Night Breaker. Returned, swapped the bulbs and took Low and High beam photos with both.

Shared those with my riding buddies on WhatsApp .

Cheers, Doc

Going through the pics of the low and high beams, both the local and imported Osram bulbs are neck to neck by offering a good throw, the headlight throw in the Duke is weaker compared to the other bikes example the Interceptor, on the Inty with the same bulb, it has wider and further throw, so maybe the reflector unit and shape of the headlight make a difference.

Since two years I have been in thought of adding aux lamps to Duke, but either forgot about them, delayed, finding a suitable mounting point do I really need them.

Cheers,
Dhruv Shetty.

[SunnyBoi]

Originally Posted by Dhruv Shetty

Even if it is a direct fit to the 1st gen Duke's, will it interfere with the ABS on the bike? like the calibration of the ABS unit? Noob here .

No, it wont. ABS will have problems if you change the ABS ring and tyres, which isnt the case here

Originally Posted by ebonho

So I tried out both the bulbs. The stock KTM H4 halogen (Osram) and the imported German Osram Night Breaker Laser H4 halogen.

Back to back. After going for a short ride on the Night Breaker. Returned, swapped the bulbs and took Low and High beam photos with both.

It's pointless to upgrade headlights on the Duke. I've swapped mine with a Philips HS1 LED bulb, that gives out comparitively same light as the stock 60/55W bulb with only 6W of power consumption. That frees up electrical load to install any aux lamps without putting stress on the electrical side of things

[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by ebonho

So I tried out both the bulbs. The
Cheers, Doc

Hehehe! Without me naming which is which understanding which is which... the first one has better spread and the second one has better focus. We don't need a focused spot beam, though it feels we have better visibility. What we want is a focused and evenly spread beam which helps with better visual acuity. I'd definitely stick with the first one.. unless I'm doing a complete LED swap..

Cheers!
VJ

[sole_rider]

Slightly off topic:
Since we are already talking about swapping the wheels,
The Dominanar 400 has a very heavy front end. I was thinking about changing the front alloy to that of 2nd gen Duke 390 hoping it'd be lighter in comparison. On a first look it seemed possible, just the size of the spacer looked different.
What you guys think? Also anybody know much these wheels(Dominar's front alloy and Duke 390's front alloy) weigh?
Thanks.

[b16h22]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Will do the same here. Please tell me which Low beam and which high beam is better for you as a rider.

One beam has a more yellowish temperature than the other. And it seems to light up the nearer areas better. The whiter beam looks like it has a longer throw but with darker areas near the bike. I feel the yellow beam will work better for me overall.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

Hehehe! Without me naming which is which understanding which is which... the first one has better spread and the second one has better focus. We don't need a focused spot beam, though it feels we have better visibility. What we want is a focused and evenly spread beam which helps with better visual acuity. I'd definitely stick with the first one.. unless I'm doing a complete LED swap..

Cheers!
VJ

Specifically for guys like you (smart bois ) I have jumbled the photos sir.

So you need to tell me which specific low beam and which specific high beam!

I will unblind after everyone has a go. Dhruv and others from WhatsApp will obviously maintain radio silence!

Originally Posted by b16h22

One beam has a more yellowish temperature than the other. And it seems to light up the nearer areas better. The whiter beam looks like it has a longer throw but with darker areas near the bike. I feel the yellow beam will work better for me overall.

Same request buddy. Please point out the specific photos (1-4).

Cheers, Doc

[VijayAnand1]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Specifically for guys like you (smart bois ) I have jumbled the photos sir.

So you need to tell me which specific low beam and which specific high beam!

I will unblind after everyone has a go. Dhruv and others from WhatsApp will obviously maintain radio silence!

Same request buddy. Please point out the specific photos (1-4).

Cheers, Doc

Doc, I'm definitely not smarter than you are. That much I can guarantee.. In the order of my preference as per your photos. Do note, a camera sensor can duplex a same image as different especially at night, depending on the sensitivity of the light it captures. With that caveat out of the way, I would prefer these.

But I somehow feel the images are boosted rather than the actual image out of a halogen.. Because having used both it's sinisterly out of place.. But purely for the topic in discussion, I'd prefer these..






Cheers!
VJ

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

Doc, I'm definitely not smarter than you are. That much I can guarantee.. In the order of my preference as per your photos. Do note, a camera sensor can duplex a same image as different especially at night, depending on the sensitivity of the light it captures. With that caveat out of the way, I would prefer these.

Cheers!
VJ

Your point on the camera auto sensor is well noted and has been pointed out by a couple of techies.

I tried keeping the position of the bike, the level of the phone, as identical as possible. And the photos were shot in the space of time it took to swap the bulbs (about 5 minutes).

All I will say for now till the others have a go is that your choice is not unexpected., knowing what I know of you.

Cheers, Doc

[100Kmphormore]

Please tell me which Low beam and which high beam is better for you as a rider.

The first pic of both low and high beam.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by 100Kmphormore

The first pic of both low and high beam.

A very popular choice.

Cheers, Doc

[ebonho]

Ok, unblinding the identities of the different beams.

Originally Posted by VijayAnand1

In the order of my preference as per your photos.

I would prefer these.

But I somehow feel the images are boosted rather than the actual image out of a halogen.. Because having used both it's sinisterly out of place..

Cheers!
VJ

There is no boosting. My 26 year old son with the perfect eyesight of a young man was alongside me while I was doing this photo experiment (he's a Gixxer SF 250 rider ... the one with the white headlights) and the photos are exactly as what we see in the darkened compound of my home when you put on each light.

To give you further perspective, attached below are similar photos of my battery pack powered bicycle headlamp, on Full Power and Eco modes.

Taken early morning the NEXT day.

Originally Posted by 100Kmphormore

The first pic of both low and high beam.

So, Vijay likes the warmer yellow and the more even and wider spread of the STOCK KTM H4 halogen (that is also an Osram bulb) for both the low and high beams.

Personally, I love the low beam (this has been adjusted by me from factory stock, prior to the Sikkim tour, using the manual prescribed wall method) of the KTM stock bulb headlight. This is my second bulb (replaced at Siliguri, or after returning).

100Kmphormore likes similarly the low beam of the stock bulb, but the high beam of the imported German Osram Night Breaker Laser h4 halogen. At 3900K it is slightly whiter than the stock bulb for the high beam, while its low beam is nearly as yellow as the stock bulb (not as yellow though) though more focused (spot) and not as wide spread.

The German Osram, both beams are slightly narrower and have less of a spread, the high beam is definitely brighter, and whiter, and has a slightly longer throw (you can compare where the vertical bright line falls on the ground by the position of the two dog bowls, as well as see how the far wall across the road is slightly more lit with the German bulb). However it is not as evenly spread the light and has sharper shadows and cut off lines/zones. Both to the sides, and centrally just ahead of the bike.

Frankly, the stock bulb is really good, and very close to the import that cost as much as 4 times more!

Kudos Bajaj for giving us the good stuff.

Cheers, Doc

[b16h22]

Originally Posted by ebonho

Ok, unblinding the identities of the different beams.

Frankly, the stock bulb is really good, and very close to the import that cost as much as 4 times more!

Kudos Bajaj for giving us the good stuff.

Cheers, Doc

The narrow reflector design of the Duke is the main limiting factor, I feel. Both of these Halogens might offer a better spread and focus in a more optimized reflector design.

Btw, I switched to a Gixxer 250 after the 390 and the white beams from the LED unit is better than the Duke on a clean road with no lights but gets completely eaten up in the presence of oncoming headlights and street lights. Still relatively better than a few recent OE LED units.

[ebonho]

Originally Posted by b16h22

Btw, I switched to a Gixxer 250 after the 390 and the white beams from the LED unit is better than the Duke on a clean road with no lights but gets completely eaten up in the presence of oncoming headlights and street lights. Still relatively better than a few recent OE LED units.

I honestly miss the beautiful round glass sealed beam unit of the old Bullets. I had an HID on my Machismo 500 (at a time it was still relatively unknown in India - around 2007) and that light was simply awesome on the highway. On group rides, everyone would want me to lead, and light up the road!

The Gixxer is a sweet bike. He's having issues with the front tyre having gone hard (its a first lot Gixxer from 2019 - tread is still fine). Any suggestions for a good inexpensive replacement?

Cheers, Doc

[b16h22]

Originally Posted by ebonho

The Gixxer is a sweet bike. He's having issues with the front tyre having gone hard (its a first lot Gixxer from 2019 - tread is still fine). Any suggestions for a good inexpensive replacement?

Cheers, Doc

I have switched to an inexpensive set of Maxxis Extramaxx (M6233/M6234) rubber. The whole set was under 6k. Good tyres in the dry at least. Haven't tested these in wet conditions extensively as I don't tour anymore. They are somewhat soft compound rubber and not radials (I think). I feel the grip and feedback is better compared to MRFs. They are not widely known tyres though.

https://maxxistyres.co.in/products/Motorcycle/M6233

Or you can stick with the stock MRFs as they are a competent tyre for daily use and touring. Also widely available compared to the Maxxis.

The other options are Apollo Alpha H1s & TVS eurogrip protorq extremes. Both will run into 10-11K per set. They are leaning towards the sportier end of the spectrum.