Topic: CB750 K1 STANLEY Headlight

[TideWater2]

Sorry for such a dumb beginner question but, can you still find any STANLEY headlight for a K1? If not, what is a replacement option without remanufacturing the system?

[BenelliSEI]

Try EBay. I’ve collected a few from old project bikes. The Sandcast has an original “Koito” that actually works! They’re actually a pretty lousy lights. My favourite replacements are older Cibie or Marchal units with a replaceable bulbs. The concave lens in the Cibie in my old K3 gives the best lighting of all.

[BenelliSEI]

There is one on EBay…..

[TideWater2]

Try EBay. I’ve collected a few from old project bikes. The Sandcast has an original “Kioto” that actually works! They’re actually a pretty lousy lights. My favourite replacements are older Cibie or Marchal units with a replaceable bulbs. The concave lens in the Cibie in my old K3 gives the best lighting of all.

THANKS!

[Don R]

 It's non original but I like the Yamiya Marchal with the parking lamp in the reflector. On my K1 I added a yellow LED to the park position and wired it to the "key on" system so I can't forget to turn on the headlamp.

[Don R]

  I had a Stanley lens with a removable H4 bulb too, it didn't throw as good a pattern as a Bosch lens but it looked original.

[jonda500]

In Australia several cars of the same era used exactly the same stanley sealed beam headlights (e.g. holden, valiant, etc.), so I have had no problem sourcing new old stock replacements for all my hondas. They have the non symmetrical beam pattern designed for driving on the left side though which earlier honda bulb type stanley headlights didn't have.
John

[Deltarider]

The European H4 lenses, like Cibié, Marechal, Hella, Bosch are all good as they all have to comply with the same regulations. The US sealed beam lights are hopeless and a thing of the past. I've posted about my minor rewiring here: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,193385.msg2257531.html#msg2257531
According to research in Europe, biker's safety is best served by a yellow lens. 

[bryanj]

You have to be careful with car type replacements.
Motorcycle headlamps tend to dip straight up and down whilst car ones dip to left or right depending on country and which side of road you drive on

[TideWater2]

Thanks guys for all your help. I got lazy on this one and didn't have the time to do all the research, so I just asked you guys. I appreciate all your input. 

[MauiK3]

I have the Yamiya Marchal on my K3, nice light, I have a clear bulb in the extra location, I'd like to put an LED in it to improve the effect, it is also wired to the ignition so it's on while riding. Have to remember what bulb is in there!

[Deltarider]

So far I have not seen a Ba9s LED that performs as well as the Ba9s 21W halogen in my headlight.

[Rookster]

This is actually a really intelligent question which is more complicated than you would expect.  It appears there is no consensus on which headlight came on the CB750 bikes from stock.  There was a Stanley 001-1014 headlight that had no logo on it that was fitted to early bikes.  There was also a Stanley Headlight with a round logo and the word MOTORCYCLE in the glass.  There were also the Koito headlights with the rectangular logo.  All of these headlights were sealed beam and fitted by Honda. 

I went looking on bring a trailer for all K1 and earlier bikes to see what headlights they had on them.  I got as far back as 2022.  Most of the bikes had either the no logo Stanley headlight or the Koito Headlight.  None of them had the round logo Stanley headlight.  A bunch had generic or replacement headlights.  This is just a small sample and one of the easiest and cheapest things to do to a CB750 is go to the auto parts store and buy a new sealed beam headlight.  So most of these bikes have either been restored or updated and fitted with different lights than what they would have come with from Honda. In my opinion if you are looking for originality then any of the 2 Stanley options or the Koito is correct.

Scott

[Don R]

 A few years ago, I was riding the sandcast, did a u turn into a parking space and looked up to find a police car. The officer already knew my name and just wanted to tell me my "motorcycle Headlight" wasn't on. I turned the key on, checked it and the low beam was gone. I told him Dang that was the original headlight bulb, he laughed and went on his way. He said he didn't want me getting a ticket from another officer, Thank You.
 Our local Honda shop owner recommended running the high beam in the daytime to equalize the runtime of the high/low and be seen better in the daylight.

[BenelliSEI]

This is actually a really intelligent question which is more complicated than you would expect.  It appears there is no consensus on which headlight came on the CB750 bikes from stock.  There was a Stanley 001-1014 headlight that had no logo on it that was fitted to early bikes.  There was also a Stanley Headlight with a round logo and the word MOTORCYCLE in the glass.  There were also the Koito headlights with the rectangular logo.  All of these headlights were sealed beam and fitted by Honda. 

I went looking on bring a trailer for all K1 and earlier bikes to see what headlights they had on them.  I got as far back as 2022.  Most of the bikes had either the no logo Stanley headlight or the Koito Headlight.  None of them had the round logo Stanley headlight.  A bunch had generic or replacement headlights.  This is just a small sample and one of the easiest and cheapest things to do to a CB750 is go to the auto parts store and buy a new sealed beam headlight.  So most of these bikes have either been restored or updated and fitted with different lights than what they would have come with from Honda. In my opinion if you are looking for originality then any of the 2 Stanley options or the Koito is correct.

Scott

Scott…. Interesting details, thanks for posting. My K1 still has a Stanley “Motorcycle” head light and the Sandcast still has what I assume is the original Koito sealed beam lamp. Now I’ll have to check what else I have in my bins!

[Little_Phil]

I have two Koito and a Westinghouse sealed beam units. We just take them off US imports and replace them in the UK.