Author Topic: Headlight option? 76 550k (Read 5824 times)

Ryan66 · « **on:** February 17, 2012, 03:50:19 PM »

What are my options for headlights? I have a dead one. Whats needed to upgrade to a newer style. Isnt the stock one sealed?

Ryan66 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2012, 02:05:01 PM »

anybody?

cameron · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2012, 03:11:37 PM »

what "newer style"? Bucket, or just the light?

There is A LOT of material on HID lighting kicking around here..., IIRC.

Ryan66 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 22, 2012, 03:19:46 PM »

I searched and i came up empty. Not the bucket but the headlight itself. I think ive heard about upgrading to halogen?

Gordon · « **Reply #4 on:** February 22, 2012, 03:30:19 PM »

Search for "H4"

Duanob · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2012, 03:32:51 PM »

I went with a 7" Bosch headlight lense and a 35/35w H4 bulb, works fine. if you do a lot of night riding you might want to with 55/60W bulb.

Ryan66 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2012, 03:33:47 PM »

Your search query didn't return any matches. i put h4 and h4 headlight

Ryan66 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2012, 03:34:58 PM »

Quote from: Duanob on February 22, 2012, 03:32:51 PM

I went with a 7" Bosch headlight lense and a 35/35w H4 bulb, works fine. if you do a lot of night riding you might want to with 55/60W bulb.

plug and play? isnt the stock headlight a sealed unit? i took the rings off but the glass itself and headlight seemed to be sealed

Gordon · « **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2012, 03:40:05 PM »

Quote from: Ryan66 on February 22, 2012, 03:33:47 PM

Your search query didn't return any matches. i put h4 and h4 headlight

You have to search from the main page, otherwise you're just searching within this specific thread.

Ryan66 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 22, 2012, 03:42:45 PM »

Hahha noooob!

cameron · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2012, 03:50:45 PM »

Here are some relevant data:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=55032.msg591962#msg591962
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=56854.0

and
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=52615.0
for basic electrics sake.

Ryan66 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2012, 03:57:09 PM »

God i need a wiring class. Talkin about relays and electrical draw. All chinese to me

cameron · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2012, 04:06:41 PM »

Maybe stick with stock for now then

Ryan66 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2012, 04:27:28 PM »

If it werent broke i would

TwoTired · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2012, 04:39:06 PM »

Stock bulb is a 40/50W. More wattage with any lighting option will tax the alternator and reduce battery recharging efficiency. The stock alternator only makes 40-50 watts at idle speed. So, is is already depleting at stop lights. More wattage at the headlight will increase the deplete rate and decrease recharging rate when the engine is revved.

Good luck!

Duanob · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2012, 09:42:07 AM »

Quote from: Ryan66 on February 22, 2012, 03:34:58 PM

Quote from: Duanob on February 22, 2012, 03:32:51 PM
I went with a 7" Bosch headlight lense and a 35/35w H4 bulb, works fine. if you do a lot of night riding you might want to with 55/60W bulb.
plug and play? isnt the stock headlight a sealed unit? i took the rings off but the glass itself and headlight seemed to be sealed

Yep plug and play. You can have more than one size bulb, takes about 5 minutes to pull one out and put the other one in. I got mine on ebay for pretty cheap compared to what some sellers think OEM headlight units are worth.

lens
://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Motorcycle-Bosch-H4-7-Inch-Round-Headlight-Lamp-/330553414464?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item4cf684d340

bulb
://www.ebay.com/itm/Halogen-Lamp-Headlight-Bulb-12v-35-35w-Motorcycle-9001-H4-HB1-P43T-Scooter-GY6-/270819190431?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item3f0e14e69f

Also keep in mind that halogen lighting is brighter than incandescent lighting. There are studies online. I really believe my 35W H4 is whiter and brighter than the oem 40w light was to start with.

RFogelsong · « **Reply #16 on:** February 23, 2012, 11:37:35 AM »

Not sure exactly what you're thinking for "newer style" or exactly what you're wanting out of a newer one, but if you want to keep all the current running gear and just upgrade brightness I have a 55/65w headlight that fits our 550's which is an upgrade from the stock brightness of, I believe, 45/55w I'd sell ya. Definitely nice on those dark country roads.

Ryan66 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 23, 2012, 12:08:46 PM »

Quote from: RFogelsong on February 23, 2012, 11:37:35 AM

Not sure exactly what you're thinking for "newer style" or exactly what you're wanting out of a newer one, but if you want to keep all the current running gear and just upgrade brightness I have a 55/65w headlight that fits our 550's which is an upgrade from the stock brightness of, I believe, 45/55w I'd sell ya. Definitely nice on those dark country roads.

Doesnt have to be anyting special. Just a replacement for the stock broken one i have is all. How much?

RFogelsong · « **Reply #18 on:** February 23, 2012, 12:13:54 PM »

Yeah, this is just a plug and play (same style and size) sealed bulb. My mistake on the wattages, I was over by 5 on all the numbers, stock is 40/50 my extra is 50/60. I'd like $45 for it total after shipping and everything is tagged on.

Ryan66 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2012, 01:19:06 PM »

Can i have a pic?

RFogelsong · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2012, 02:36:43 PM »

It's at my parents house right now and that's 100 miles away, I'm going home tomorrow and can send you a pic of it when I get there. It's new and never used (as I found out it was just a blown fuse, not the bulb, stupid PO). Pm me your email and I'll get it to you.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #21 on:** February 23, 2012, 04:23:53 PM »

With all this talk about weak output and upgrading lights, does this also apply to the UK? We don't use daytime running lights here. I need more light....

TwoTired · « **Reply #22 on:** February 23, 2012, 05:37:27 PM »

I don't believe the alternators for UK bikes were any different than the US/NA models. Being able to switch off the headlight will certainly help with battery recharging when lighting is off.

I don't know what standard bulb wattage is for your bike since you didn't tell us what you have or what model/year bike you have.

You should measure what voltage is getting to your headlight compared to what is at the battery. Aged/worn connectors, switches and fuse terminals can all lose some voltage. And, if the headlight doesn't get full battery voltage it will be weaker than is should be, and "upgrading" to a higher wattage headlight will only create more voltage loss through those same connectors, switches and fuse terminals.

FYI: the watt ratings on the bulbs are when 12.8 V are applied to them. More voltage = brighter, less voltage = dimmer.

I'm pretty sure that electricity adheres to the same electrical and physical laws we have in the US.

Cheers,

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #23 on:** February 23, 2012, 05:42:42 PM »

It's a 550f. I was wondering as we don't have running lights would there be less of a load on the alternator letting us use higher wattage bulbs. Bear in mind headlight only running at night.

mjstone · « **Reply #24 on:** February 23, 2012, 06:07:19 PM »

Ryan66, just go to Autozone or what ever and spend $15 on a sealed beam 7" halogen headlight. It won't have a "motorcycle" light pattern, but will work well. I bought the cheapest Sylvania Halogen and it fit perfectly. I think the low beam is 35 watts.

MJ

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Author Topic: Headlight option? 76 550k (Read 5824 times)