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high power headlight?

  • Thread starter Thread starter txironhead
  • Start date Start date
T

txironhead

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Well, my bike ('81 GS750EX) was missing the headlight assembly when I got it. All that's left are the mounting brackets. I don't really care for rectangular headlights, I'd like to put a 6"-7" round one on it. Worse case scenario I know I can get universal mounting brackets from Ebay or a dozen "chopper" sites.

I have heard a couple of people mention a 100/?? Watt headlight. I would prefer a halogen bulb, especially one that powerful as I do (well, did) a lot of night riding. Is this a special conversion, bulb or what? Does the wiring or anything have to be replaced to handle the higher current? Different plug? And will the factory "rat's nest" of wiring still fit in the bucket?
 
There is some high power H4 bulbs available, up to 130/100W. They fit directly on place of standard H4 halogen bulb. I have used these on my GS1100. They output nice amount of light but usually they last only few months. This might be just because all what I have tried have been some cheap brands. Brand name (like Osram, Philips etc.) high power bulbs are quite rare and very expensive.

If you are going to use high power bulbs it's strongly recommended to upgrade the wiring. Thick wires directly from the battery and relays will do the trick. And don't forget a fuse. This modification will improve the stock light too. I measured about 2V drop from the battery to headlight with the stock wiring on my bike. This kind voltage drop reduces significantly power output of the bulb.
 
Better practice to run it through a relay. That way you get less voltage drop too.

Dan :)
 
If you are looking for a chrome 6" headlight bucket, I have one that came off an '82 850L. Because it is narrower than the light that came on your bike, the mounting ears should also be changed. I have them, too.

About the brighter bulb...yes, they work, but they tend to be a bit more fragile. I use 100/80 watt bulbs in my cars, but have given up on brighter bulbs on the bikes. A standard 60/55 watt bulb does wonders when it's properly focused on the road.


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txironhead said:
Well, my bike ('81 GS750EX) was missing the headlight assembly when I got it. All that's left are the mounting brackets. I don't really care for rectangular headlights, I'd like to put a 6"-7" round one on it. Worse case scenario I know I can get universal mounting brackets from Ebay or a dozen "chopper" sites.

I have heard a couple of people mention a 100/?? Watt headlight. I would prefer a halogen bulb, especially one that powerful as I do (well, did) a lot of night riding. Is this a special conversion, bulb or what? Does the wiring or anything have to be replaced to handle the higher current? Different plug? And will the factory "rat's nest" of wiring still fit in the bucket?
Click to expand...

You've gotten some good advice from others. My own experience trying to use automotive sealed beam halogen headlights has been that they don't last as long as a motorcycle headlamp....vibration probably. The main issue (in my opinion) with your desire for a high power lamp is going to be your stator's ability to handle the load. For example, the stator on my 79 GS1000 gives best reliability if the total rectified current is kept under 10 amps....this only amounts to 120 to 130 watts capacity. The ignition will average 20-40 watts...stock headlamp 40-60 watts and your marker and dash lighting on top of that. Obviously there's no huge overhead for additional power consumption - the small wiring and marginal connections are aggravating factors as to WHERE the power will be dissipated!

What has worked pretty good for me.....is to keep the stock headlamp, replace marker and signal bulbs with LED replacements and add a pair of 4" regular incandescent tractor lamps on a bar crossing near the top of the exhaust. Make up a seperate switch for these and run the wire to the auxiliary "output" terminal fuse. This will do 2 things.....it'll give you redundant lighting (important!) and will open up the headlight "tunnel" you see at night much more like a car - a lot easier to drive with and it'll just max out (what I've found) to be the capacity of your stator to keep up.

My .02 worth ;)
 
The 8" GS headlights put out incredible light even with the standard 55/60 watt bulbs.
 
Sylvania Silverstar bulbs seem to a favorite for bulbs. You just need to remember that they are an automotive bulb, so the vibration on a bike will greatly reduce their life. But Wal-Mart offers them in twin packs with a decent replacement warranty.

If you use a greater-than-stock wattage bulb, you need to consider the connection at the headlight. I seem to remember members talking about melted connections at the headlight plug due to the added heat.

Brad bt
 
Have you considered a HID bulb? (High intensity discharge)...
 
I have bought motorcycle bulbs In higher wattage from Dennis Kirk. I've had no issues with longevity. The 85/120 watt bulb in my black 80 GS11et has been in there for almost 40 thousand miles. Yes the rectangular headlight throws a lousy pattern but it's really bright compared to the stocker in my silver 80 et
 
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