H4 Headlight bulb replacement instructions for ST1100

Already did so in another thread:
you're bound to the dimensions, weight and speed ratings the vehicle was homoligated with listed in the type certificate booklet (coming with every vehicle) an therefore also listed in the registration...
(worse in Germany, where they also had it limited to the specific tire manufacturer... hence beemers could only have Metzeler installed...)

Pretty much the same when it comes to vehicle lighting; whatever the MFG had designed & homoligated it with, sticks... height, distance to the vehicle center, number of light sources....
Putting anything else in, and you'll fail that annual MOT (if not already getting pulled out by the plod right on the road...)
Anything on "accessories" must have the [E] on, an official certification document that has been tested and released for road use on this specific vehicle/model...
Osram and Philips are offering some LED drop in replacements, for specific make and models only... obvious in cooperation with the car makers, all been tested out, headlight design works accordingly, proper light pattern, limited scatter...
No such thing for motorcycles... obviously are the LED drop ins limited to vehicle with automatic headlight leveling system... for a reason...

And those ADV wannabees with their always activated LED aux lights glaring are a total torment...
Coming around a hairpin to suddenly have to stare into those "aviation landing lights", and as usual are they always on the wrong/my side of the road... hate those ignorant egocentric AH's from the depth of my guts for messing up my vision... :mad:
 
On this side of the pond, states often 'delegate' safety inspections to private garages and shops with little supervision.
All of a sudden they become 'profit centers' as they 'discover' repairs that 'must be done' in order to pass inspection.
In my area it always had to be a certified workshop, owner/operator with at least master degree in automotive repair, plus additional training for MOT inspection (§57a around here) and the required infrastructure with brake test rollers, emission test equipment, etc ...
But they were independent, checked all the relevant points, done...

Some "political influence" has always been felt though... like back in the 80ies with unleaded fuel and catalytic converters dawning, they suddenly celebrated a literal witch-hunt on air-cooled flat-4 Volkswagen... like taking a hammer and a screwdriver on your front axle body... yeah, those bad, bad bugs must get off the road...

I reckon my Toyota w/shop owner once calling me "...hmm, just did the §57 on your '96 Carina E estate... got a problem..." "which is?" "...can't find any flaws to enter into the form..." "and that's a problem why?" "...on older cars we have to mark something..." "would things like 'worn rear wiper blade' and 'some rust on the exhaust pipes' be sufficient?" "Yeah that'll do!" (he was obviously pulling my leg there ;) )

Since (I think) 2021 the annual tests must be logged into a government online system, run by the state library... the first few months were chaos, the administration are idiots when it comes to IT systems, servers and network broke down, you had to wait like +4 hours till you got your report through and confirmed...
Everything is logged now, owner, residential address, VIN, engine number, version and fuel type, detailed emission test, etc...
Due this I'm a little worried that I, respectively my vehicles, might be summoned to a state testing facility in the foreseeable future, simply over the age of my automotive and the fact that they're ICE...
OTOH with the green party been forced out the active legislation now, I probably could relax again... we'll see...
 
And those ADV wannabees with their always activated LED aux lights glaring are a total torment...
Coming around a hairpin to suddenly have to stare into those "aviation landing lights", and as usual are they always on the wrong/my side of the road... hate those ignorant egocentric AH's from the depth of my guts for messing up my vision... :mad:
Where I live, it's these new beautiful, high power LED lights for bicycles that drive me crazy.

Not only do their owners have little to no regard for proper aiming, they now have helmet mounted lights that bob and weave with the rider's head movement and invariably default to shining directly into my eyes when pedaling on level ground.

I appreciate a good light on any/every vehicle, but there are rules for a reason.
 
I moved to Oregon from the state of Vermont and before that grew up in New York State. Both have annual or semi annual (every two years) vehicle inspections. These are justified IMO because both states experience severe winters and apply copious amounts of salt on the roads to keep them clear of snow and ice.

But this also hastens the premature rusting and ultimate destruction of nearly every car that's driven year round. From-the-factory corrosion resistance has improved dramatically since I bought my first car in the early 80s but eventually they still suffer its ill effects.

Those inspections force legitimate repairs or removal from service because of the structural damage that corrosion causes. Kinda like a swingarm on a British ST1100.

Moved to Oregon in 2002. Can't believe the number of vintage cars on the highway - and in great condition! I see at lease three or four air-cooled beetles being used as daily drivers every week. Lots of 70s vintage Asian imports like Corollas and 240Zs.

No mandatory inspections, but the primary reason VT and NY needed them is absent here. We don't use salt on our roads and only spread grit or sand when absolutely needed here in the valley where the winter dumps snow deep enough to survive overnight only once or twice a season.

That said, there certainly are some vehicles that I'd drop an anonymous dime on to get them off the road, but fortunately they're few and far between compared to the northeastern US.
 
Where I live, it's these new beautiful, high power LED lights for bicycles that drive me crazy.

Not only do their owners have little to no regard for proper aiming, they now have helmet mounted lights that bob and weave with the rider's head movement and invariably default to shining directly into my eyes when pedaling on level ground.
"Gee, I wonder why motorcycles keep swerving when I look at them?" :unsure:
 
Where I live, it's these new beautiful, high power LED lights for bicycles that drive me crazy.
Not only do their owners have little to no regard for proper aiming, they now have helmet mounted lights that bob and weave with the rider's head movement and invariably default to shining directly into my eyes when pedaling on level ground.
Yep, same ideology/idiocy applied: its all about them, screw the rest...
 
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