Author Topic: Headlight Conversion Kit--JCWhitney, anyone tried this one? (Read 8544 times)

alis · « **on:** January 30, 2009, 04:15:57 PM »

Anyone tried this headlignt conversion kit, I found it on JCWhitneys website. Looking for something better than the stock lite on a 78 750k.
Heres the link to it:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/PILOT-SEAL-BEAM-HALOGEN-HEADLAMP-CONVERSION-KITS/GP_2003804_N_111+10201+600002824_10101.jcw

Not sure if its worth it, but it does come with 2 bulbs

pablo78cb550 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2009, 04:38:43 PM »

you could go to pep boys or auto zone and pick up a halogen for $16. Sylvania part number H6024
and will be better than stock.
i am curious about that item though....

alis · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2009, 06:52:52 PM »

Yeah I thought about doing that too, Im just curious what the light intensity of this conversion kit is and how easy it is to make the conversion. Is it worth it?

78CB750CAFE · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2009, 07:47:02 PM »

Firstly, put some relays on your headlight, here is a link to my install thread which I will be adding some pix soon. It is easy, cheap and it WORKS.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=45894.0

Then if you still need or want more you can mount a halogen and it will burn brighter then if you didn't have the relays.

I would watch out for and halogen lamps with "HID look" or something like that in the description as they are just either blue tinted bulbs or Zenon halogens and the color spectrum of the light really isn't that good especially for motorcycles.

good luck!

Mach-5(50) · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2009, 07:58:42 PM »

the pilot kits i have seen aren't the best quality. i can't remember if it is a plastic lens, but i think so. i am not a fan of plastic headlight lenses. i think there is a real benefit to changing to an H4 or 9003 capsule type bulb. i don't know about power draw and what not, but i can tell you they should be significantly brighter. also, if you go to a real parts store, that actually has catalogs with specifications, you can compare candle power of different bulbs. i sold wagner at NAPA, and different models can have different candle powers even if they are the same style bulb. one model isn't necessarily the brightest across the board. hella also makes conversion kits, and i remember them being much higher quality.

later,

ryan

Jonesy · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2009, 08:19:37 PM »

I can't speak for the newer kit, but the old H4 halogen "Conversion" headlight they sold didn't fit properly in the headlight mounting ring.

coyotecowboy · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2009, 04:21:32 AM »

Quote from: Mach-5(50) on January 30, 2009, 07:58:42 PM

hella also makes conversion kits, and i remember them being much higher quality.

Would that make them hella high quality? yo

OK that was really bad but I couldn't stop myself

78CB750CAFE · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2009, 04:14:40 PM »

Just as a follow up, I grabbed one of the Sylvania SilverStar H6024 lamps last night for about $20, and man, WHAT a difference. I thought my stocker w/ relays was 2x better then the stocker just rigged through the harness, this is 2x brighter again. Much brighter, better color light, wider and longer beam spread, and it actually seems to run cooler to the touch then the old Stanley sealed beam I was running.

Definitely worth $20 as long as it lasts a year.... we'll see how it holds up

Really? · « **Reply #8 on:** February 22, 2009, 05:27:23 PM »

The silverstar is recommended for my VR as well and has good reviews. I still need to change mine on my VR, just have not gotten around to it. The $15 Walmart Platinum Burners (driving lights) I added are much brighter than the stock headlight and have just lived with those cause they have been doing the job.

MCRider · « **Reply #9 on:** February 22, 2009, 05:54:00 PM »

Quote from: 78CB750CAFE on January 30, 2009, 07:47:02 PM

Firstly, put some relays on your headlight, here is a link to my install thread which I will be adding some pix soon. It is easy, cheap and it WORKS.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=45894.0

Then if you still need or want more you can mount a halogen and it will burn brighter then if you didn't have the relays.

I would watch out for and halogen lamps with "HID look" or something like that in the description as they are just either blue tinted bulbs or Zenon halogens and the color spectrum of the light really isn't that good especially for motorcycles.

good luck!

Gotta +1 on that. You may not want/need more after a relay. If you don't want to wire your own, get a kit from here http://easternbeaver.com/ If you still want more, any conversion will work better with relay(s).

fang · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2009, 08:03:24 PM »

I just posted a link to this, so I might as well do it again. This is on a Yamahahaha RD350, but headlights are headlights, and I might just swap it over to my CB750....
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIkGkSd6i2Q[/youtube]
(

I recently upgraded an old headlight.
1. polished the old glass lens inside and out.
2. replaced the old flaking refelctor and its 35w screw-in bulb with a 'modern' tribar reflector and room for an H4 bulb
3. replaced the H4 bulb with a bixenon true HID light set up. The bixenon HID offers both high and low beam in one bulb. The bulb is mounted to an electro magnet and it actually physically moves forward and backward in the light to obtain the hi and low beams.

It puts a tremendous amount of light out there on the road, and it only sucks 35w. I often drive out in remote dark places, and this has been a very satisfying upgrade for me.

The set up cost about: $40 for the headlight housing + $20 for the tribar lens + $110 for the HID setup + $60 for the small clock that fits the headlight housing.

peace and grease.
-fang

super pasty white guy · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2009, 08:12:19 PM »

I've been through two Silverstars- each lasted about 1 year. Trying a PIAA vibration resistant motorcyle bulb now. It appears brighter than the Silverstar, also more expensive.

spwg

cb750fbomb · « **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2009, 12:18:00 AM »

To use a Silverstar do I need to do the relay conversion?

Steve F · « **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2009, 02:44:58 AM »

Quote from: cb750fbomb on February 23, 2009, 12:18:00 AM

To use a Silverstar do I need to do the relay conversion?

I used a Silverstar lamp in my headlight all last year, and all I gotta say is DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY! I took it out last week when I was fitting in a H.I.D. system, looked at the 1-year-old bulb and it (the filament) was about to burn in half. I fitted the relays in my bike to get the most voltage to the bulb, and that works great. It's a good idea to use relays even if you don't go with a halogen. The difference is really noticable.

eldar · « **Reply #14 on:** February 23, 2009, 06:07:12 AM »

WOW I must have the super sylvania. It is about 8 years old and still works fine. I also have no relays. I drive out in the country at night and there are not road lights. The bulb does very well and I never feel like I need more light.
I know sylvanias are vibration lovers! You have to use rubber dampers to remove some of the vibs.

flybox1 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2009, 07:22:22 AM »

For my CB350F the 7" was too large, and the 5 3/4" too small for the chrome headlight mount. Any non-sealed replacement H4 headlamps out there that will fit my stock headlight housing?

fb1

chrislib · « **Reply #16 on:** February 23, 2009, 07:40:54 AM »

Quote from: 78CB750CAFE on February 22, 2009, 04:14:40 PM

Just as a follow up, I grabbed one of the Sylvania SilverStar H6024 lamps last night for about $20, and man, WHAT a difference. I thought my stocker w/ relays was 2x better then the stocker just rigged through the harness, this is 2x brighter again. Much brighter, better color light, wider and longer beam spread, and it actually seems to run cooler to the touch then the old Stanley sealed beam I was running.

Definitely worth $20 as long as it lasts a year.... we'll see how it holds up

X2 on the Silverstar, that's what I`m using, plenty bright and so far no charging issues. I do plan on doing a relay upgrade in the next couple of weeks to take the load off the switch. FWIW I have used Silverstars on all my veh`s and have been very pleased with the light output and service life...I figgered whats good for the car might be good for the bike and it`s good choice so far IMO.

78CB750CAFE · « **Reply #17 on:** February 23, 2009, 07:52:06 AM »

Quote from: eldar, Master of the K8 Thunder! on February 23, 2009, 06:07:12 AM

WOW I must have the super sylvania. It is about 8 years old and still works fine. I also have no relays. I drive out in the country at night and there are not road lights. The bulb does very well and I never feel like I need more light.
I know sylvanias are vibration lovers! You have to use rubber dampers to remove some of the vibs.

See Eldar, they work so well for us because we have the BEST model CB750's ever built, the iconic, mighty K8!

As far as vibration goes, I have fit some rubber washers on both sides of my aftermarket cheapie headlight brackets, any other suggestions from the class?

goon 1492 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 23, 2009, 09:48:55 AM »

Hmmm, I'm gonna have to follow this one. I need to upgrade my light, I noticed that Dennis Kirk has some crazy head lights. I spotted one that has an Iron cross in the headlight and it took a bulb though and not sealed...

78CB750CAFE · « **Reply #19 on:** February 23, 2009, 10:01:00 AM »

Goon-
The headlight you are talking about is made by Adjure and I have wanted one for like 3 years, but can'r justify $80-100 for a freakin headlight. Kewl as hell though....

Maybe a cheaper headlight + a $5 can of spray on window frosting + an exacto knife + some good masking tape is in both of our futures?

goon 1492 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 23, 2009, 01:03:04 PM »

Quote from: 78CB750CAFE on February 23, 2009, 10:01:00 AM

Goon-
The headlight you are talking about is made by Adjure and I have wanted one for like 3 years, but can'r justify $80-100 for a freakin headlight. Kewl as hell though....

Maybe a cheaper headlight + a $5 can of spray on window frosting + an exacto knife + some good masking tape is in both of our futures?

Sounds like that's gonna be the deal, man that is pricy for a headlight, forgot about that part.... That thing better say "hello Jason" when I turn on the lights for that kinda price....
Just kidding..
Your right that thing is Kewl...

Steve F · « **Reply #21 on:** February 26, 2009, 02:46:41 AM »

Quote from: fang on February 22, 2009, 08:03:24 PM

I just posted a link to this, so I might as well do it again. This is on a Yamahahaha RD350, but headlights are headlights, and I might just swap it over to my CB750....
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIkGkSd6i2Q[/youtube]
(
I recently upgraded an old headlight.
1. polished the old glass lens inside and out.
2. replaced the old flaking refelctor and its 35w screw-in bulb with a 'modern' tribar reflector and room for an H4 bulb
3. replaced the H4 bulb with a bixenon true HID light set up. The bixenon HID offers both high and low beam in one bulb. The bulb is mounted to an electro magnet and it actually physically moves forward and backward in the light to obtain the hi and low beams.

It puts a tremendous amount of light out there on the road, and it only sucks 35w. I often drive out in remote dark places, and this has been a very satisfying upgrade for me.

The set up cost about: $40 for the headlight housing + $20 for the tribar lens + $110 for the HID setup + $60 for the small clock that fits the headlight housing.

peace and grease.
-fang

Fang,
Do you have any info about the HI-LOW H.I.D. bulb that you put in? I'm trying to find one that has the solenoid activated bulb positioning like you have. The HID system that I bought has nothing like this (just one position for low-beam), and the company that I tried to buy just the bulb from sells them only in pairs for $100

Where did you get yours from? Any wiring diagrams to share before I continue trying to locate another bulb?
Thanks, Steve F

hevykevy420 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 26, 2009, 07:36:28 AM »

Quote from: Jonesy on January 30, 2009, 08:19:37 PM

I can't speak for the newer kit, but the old H4 halogen "Conversion" headlight they sold didn't fit properly in the headlight mounting ring.

I bought a halogen conversion kit on ebay and I noted the same thing...the light is a little loose in the mounting ring. I"m going to have to try to shim it tight or something...not good to have the headlight bouncing around.

Frankenkit · « **Reply #23 on:** February 26, 2009, 07:56:31 AM »

Quote from: GigaWhiskey on February 22, 2009, 05:27:23 PM

The silverstar is recommended for my VR as well and has good reviews. I still need to change mine on my VR, just have not gotten around to it. The $15 Walmart Platinum Burners (driving lights) I added are much brighter than the stock headlight and have just lived with those cause they have been doing the job.

+1 I love my silverstar. VERY bright, clean white light.

News:

Author Topic: Headlight Conversion Kit--JCWhitney, anyone tried this one? (Read 8544 times)

alis

alis

eldar