Headlight Eyebrow

[Tomcat]

Every now and again I see a headlight eyebrow and wonder, were they for looks or did they actually perform a function?

[muskrat]

G'day Tomcat.
They'd have to be for looks (bad). You'd need to make sure the bolts are done up tight as I recon at speed (OK my speed) the wind would lift the aim.
Cheers

[RogerSB]

Every now and again I see a headlight eyebrow and wonder, were they for looks or did they actually perform a function?

My much loved and travelled GF in mid 60s - so we had them back then.

[Billybream]

And we had the Cibie headlight, the rear rack, mudflaps, crash bars, really classy if you had rear ones to and the Goldie silencers (Dunstalls)

[Tomcat]

I have it on good authority that the headlight eyebrow was originally used on a sidecar headlight to stop the glare in the riders eyes. Probably turned to about 10 o'clock. From there it progressed to the motorcycle headlight for added '60's cool. 

[Rgs-Bill]

  I would Imagine that if the visor stuck out far enough and the light was aimed at night on a white garage door/or wall-- for the proper height, it would focus the upper beam of light down more to the road, instead of just going up up and away, (pun intended )  Thus giving the rider better road visibility at night.  but as short as the ones that I am seeing here are, they must be purely ornamental, they are just too short to direct any light beams down, for better road visibility.

      My 2 cents worth

[duTch]

 Took a while to find this, but on my way to work in the dark an hour or so ago, I had to check with my hand if the light was on.... nothing unusual, but while scheming an idea to save the wave I wondered if these eyebrow things had a bit of functional 'light bleed' as a 'lights-on' indicator..... serious   
 

[muskrat]

May work duTch or you could mount a mirror over the top to be dazzled by your own brilliance 
Cheers

[Black Sheep]

Scraping the depths of memory here,but I do recall the classier headlight eyebrows did have a tell-tale tiny plastic lens which lit up with some of the spilled beam when the headlight was on.
We used to wire the pilot light to stay on when the headlight was on in the hope that the extra few photons dribbling out would help us see where we were going. Not very successful.
Ah, fond memories of riding at night in snow where the engine wasn't turning over fast enough to balance the charge and the headlight would get dimmer and dimmer. Any braking would add an extra current draw as the stop light came on dimming the headlight even further. Usually just at a tricky bend. Talking of which, I fired up the A10 yesterday and the dynamo won't come on line. A delve is in order. Just as well the A7 is OK.

[Ted_Flash]

For monitoring the headlight status - I use a blob of clear silicone on the edge of the glass, going round to where it's visible. Doesn't look a sore thumb.

I believe that the "eyebrows" are very effective mpg reducers, someone did a test with a Morris Minor and it reduced the mpg by about 5 miles.

[duTch]

 

....I believe that the "eyebrows" are very effective mpg reducers, someone did a test with a Morris Minor and it reduced the mpg by about 5 miles....

 And that'd be the 'm' component,  not the 'p' or 'g' component...

 I think I'll work on a tell-tale or preferably work on better lighting..

[Triton Thrasher]

Talking of which, I fired up the A10 yesterday and the dynamo won't come on line. A delve is in order. Just as well the A7 is OK

Just take it for a ride.  The dynamo will probably come to life.

[Black Sheep]

Tried that. Still no joy. Rain forecast for tomorrow, so a good day to investigate.