Philois1984 140 Posted July 12 Can anyone tell me what the material used on the headlight lens is? Was going to remount my AMHP headlight protector for my upcoming ride but someone told me I shouldn’t need it as most modern headlight lenses are not made from glass but the same type of material used in aircraft windscreens? I had assumed the headlight lenses were glass. Don’t like the look of the headlight protector so I will be happy if I don’t need it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grum 701 Posted July 12 On 12 July 2020 at 4:58 PM, Philois1984 said: Can anyone tell me what the material used on the headlight lens is? Was going to remount my AMHP headlight protector for my upcoming ride but someone told me I shouldn’t need it as most modern headlight lenses are not made from glass but the same type of material used in aircraft windscreens? I had assumed the headlight lenses were glass. Don’t like the look of the headlight protector so I will be happy if I don’t need it. Definetly feels and sounds like plastic so it's probably polycarbonate, very tough stuff. You'd be pretty unlucky to damage one, haven't heard of that happening on an 8gen, though I guess it could happen. You'll be right!! Enjoy your trip. Cheers. Post Edit - Front clear housing is made from a strong, high impact resistant plastic called PBT+PET. Even better the Polycarbonate. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Philois1984 140 Posted July 12 Thanks Grum certainly looking forward to it, this time next week should have another six hundred kilometres on the clock. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thumbs 93 Posted July 12 Mines definitely glass and has got protection on it They're over £1100 new Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grum 701 Posted July 13 21 hours ago, Thumbs said: Mines definitely glass and has got protection on it They're over £1100 new Hey Thumbs are you sure about that? Specs I've found on the whole headlight assembly shows it's all fancy plastics, including the inner lens, reflector and clear front outer. No glass and that saves weight. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fatshoutybloke 178 Posted July 14 Well it certainly feels like glass to me! I too have spent £20 on protectors, on the sites I've seen in UK they're over £1200 for the unit and it would only take one stone... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grum 701 Posted July 14 51 minutes ago, fatshoutybloke said: Well it certainly feels like glass to me! I too have spent £20 on protectors, on the sites I've seen in UK they're over £1200 for the unit and it would only take one stone... The stuff they are made of has probably greater impact resistance than glass. Lot of automotive headlight assemblies are no longer made of glass. If you give the front section a tap it definetly has that plastic sound to it unlike a bit of a ring you get with glass. Also makes for good weight saving being plastic. Here's the back of an 8gen headlight assembly (From a crashed bike). If you zoom in you'll see it specifies the various plastics used for the assembly, External = PBT+PET Reflector = PC Lens = PC and Housing = PP-1030. Cheers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thumbs 93 Posted July 14 Are those the R&G covers? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fatshoutybloke 178 Posted July 15 17 hours ago, Thumbs said: Are those the R&G covers? No, Pyramid Plastics. https://pyramid-plastics.co.uk/collections/headlight-protection/products/honda-vfr-800-f-headlight-cover-clear-2014 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fink 222 Posted July 15 Ventura shield headlight cover which came as part of the protection kit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thumbs 93 Posted July 16 15 hours ago, fink said: Ventura shield headlight cover which came as part of the protection kit. Have you got a link to that Fink? All I can find is some film Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fink 222 Posted July 18 https://www.invisiblepatterns.co.uk/bikes/honda-vfr-800-f-2015 Have the full kit and panniers on mine. Not the best pic, you can’t even see it when in place. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeePee 11 Posted yesterday at 11:24 AM On 7/14/2020 at 2:17 PM, fatshoutybloke said: Well it certainly feels like glass to me! I too have spent £20 on protectors, on the sites I've seen in UK they're over £1200 for the unit and it would only take one stone... O.M.G you've ruined that bike ! That looks horrendous, sorry. How do these designers get away with thinking that will look ok ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thumbs 93 Posted yesterday at 12:13 PM On 7/15/2020 at 9:30 PM, fink said: Ventura shield headlight cover which came as part of the protection kit. It looks like a film that goes over the headlight, is that correct? The protectors I’ve got are solid curve acrylic about 3mm thick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MaxSwell 1033 Posted yesterday at 05:56 PM I'd suggest the cover destroys the aerodynamics of the front end. Probably decreases the machines fuel mileage and add wind noise. My highest mileage fifth gen, at 105,000+ miles on her when KIA'd by a deer, had no visible damage until the deer turned it into bits and pieces. A big waste of money IMHO. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dangeruss 19 Posted 23 hours ago I don't think glass has been used for vehicular headlights since they stopped using standard round and rectangular lamps. The production costs for those fancy shapes in glass, plus as mentioned already the weight preclude it. My RZ350 has a rectangular glass headlight and it's the same one it left Japan with 35 years ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fink 222 Posted 22 hours ago 7 hours ago, Thumbs said: It looks like a film that goes over the headlight, is that correct? The protectors I’ve got are solid curve acrylic about 3mm thick Yes it’s a film, the same form that protects the bodywork. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superfunkomatic 122 Posted 18 hours ago I'd go with 3M Scotchguard or XPEL film to cover the lenses. The XPEL is easier to apply and tends to yellow less. It does a remarkable job of protection as well. Unless you're constantly on gravel roads with your VFR it's unlikely you'll ever break the polycarbonate lenses on the bike. We have lots of spring gravel left over from the winter and I can't think of anyone I know that has had a broken lens. You could film over the whole bike (I've done that on my Africa Twin). https://thetankslapper.biz/film/ https://thetankslapper.biz/vfr800f-total-protection-kit/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
