Headlight Modifications?

OK, so let's see if I'm understanding this correctly:

I've been reading up on the threads about headlight improvements and such. Since my headlight got trashed, I'm planning to switch out the square headlight and auxiliary light for a single round headlight with a more modern beam pattern.

As I understand it, the stock headlight is 55W low / 60W high, and the auxiliary bulb is 35W. Now if I'm only using a single lamp, and if I install a relay circuit so that the main headlight current isn't running through the computer anymore, it follows that I should be able to use a bulb rated as high as 95W (I'm planning to use an Osram 80/85) without having any adverse effect on the electrical/charging systems. Does this seem correct, or am I missing something?

Thanks for the help...

 

Do a search on this subject. Last year Fitz did a very nice Head Lamp upgrade on one of his bikes. Also check out his speedo upgrade.

MN

 

I am wondering if the bike has enough juice to use one of those light bars?? I am thinking that there is not much power left over for any accessories.

Rob

 

so far so good but there are a few other things
you want new bigger wire all the way through, battery to relays to light, the switch wires that will now run the relays is ok as is

when you bypass the "computer" the bulb check is going to fail
then the warning light is going to blink
but if you take the warning bulb out it stops blinking right away, funny how that works
the lcd stays on

 

If you are going to upgrade to a higher wattage bulb, you will want to upgrade to a relay. The stock wiring will not handle the added load. As Polock suggests, run a heavier wire (14 AWG will do nicely) to supply the power and use the existing wiring to activate the relay. Your alternator is rated at 19 amps and running a high amp bulb may pull more current than is available with all systems energized. 80 watt bulb will pull close to 7 amps so I'd run the numbers before I spent the money on a part that would ensure a melted electrical system.

 

That's the kind of thing I'm looking for. I am planning on running heavier wire (I was planning 12 AWG, but if 14 will do, that might be easier to run) and relays.

By my calculations, an 85W bulb should draw about 6.64A if it's getting 12.8V. The 60W stock headlight plus the 35W aux light combined would pull about 7.42A at the same voltage (with my stock, unmodified, 28-year-old wiring, I'd be willing to bet it's been pulling over 8A due to voltage losses). So theoretically, I'd actually be reducing the draw by doing it this way.

Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything else.

 

if you use the wires that are on the headlight now (after the computer) the bulb check for the headlight will work but it may draw enough current to keep the new low beam relay picked up when you switch on the hi beam
then you get hi and low at once
all i could come up with was to bypass the computer altogether and just use the switch, then the warning flasher went off
so i took out the warning bulb and live with the lcd being on
if i listen real close i can hear something in there trying to blink the bulb
this is with a 90/100 bulb, yours may act different

 

Instead of going through all the modifications, might I suggest a more "normal" wattage H4 upgrade?

I used a Candlepower SuperBlu 60/55W in one of my Secas and a Hella I got from Len in the other:




The Hella is on the left, the Superblu on the right.
They both work about 200% better than the stock light; the Hella lights up the highway nearly as well as my '08 VW and that's FOUR H7's on high beam.

 

14 AWG is rated at 32 amps (look at Wire Gauge and Current Limits under technical resources at www.PowerStream.com ) so you could run 18 AWG without ill effects. Smaller wire will run a little warmer though.

I would agree given the propensity of our wiring harnesses to corrode.

Always a good idea. The more eyes on the problem, the more likely errors will be detected (if they exist).
I like Fitz's Hella suggestion. I'm thinking about it as well.

 

I think bigfitz in on the money here....

I was considering a dual light setup (mainly for cosmetic reasons)
After reading a lot of reviews stating wattage and actual light coverage, the H$ upgrade makes the most sense. AND you can get a Euro pattern reflector which is legal on bikes in NA for even better light coverage.

So brighter light, better coverage, same wattage and less modding.

 

BOTH of my choices have the Euro-spec pattern reflector; I thought the SuperBlu would be even brighter yet than a normal "clear" light, but it's not, really. More abnoxious, definitely, and therefore maybe more visible to cage jockeys? Cost considerably more than the Hella; can't say it was necessarily worth it.

But then THIS PUPPY kicks some serious butt:

HCP8567 Aftermarket HELLA brand EURO Vision+ DOT-approved round 7" MODULAR HEADLIGHT SYSTEM, includes the lense/reflector unit, a 55/60W Halogen bulb, and the bulb socket cover. So let there be even better light! The Hella Euro-design lense---which is street-legal for motorcycles in the USA---puts more light where you need it (in front of you and off to the right side) while minimizing the "wasted' overhead light dispersion that DOT rules require for automotive headlights. More light, less glare to oncoming traffic, everyone wins. Not street-legal for use on automobiles, trucks, vans, etc. NOTE: aftermarket modular headlights are slightly deeper, front-to-back, than stock lense/reflector units, and may produce a very cramped "wiring rats-nest" in the back of the housing!
$ 64.95

(from You-Know-Who's catalog.)