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Headlight Upgrade

  • Thread starter Thread starter bbjumper
  • Start date Start date
B

bbjumper

Guest
Hi Guys,

I know this has been covered but my search skills suck so lookin for direction. My 82 850G is mechanically tip top and now I'm just trying to improve function with out changing the stock nature of the bike. I have the sealed beam 7" headlight and I'm looking for a better beam, any suggestions :idea:. Also this winter I will be painting the tank, tail piece and side covers back to stock. I have not been able to find the stripe decals anywhere for this year and model, any ideas?

Thanks
"G" forever
 
You can get a headlamp that takes an H4 bulb. Then drop in a Silverstar bulb and ride happy.

Third item down on this page:
http://www.newmotorcycleparts.com/electrical/lighting/head_tail_light/head_light.html

The other thing to do is to make sure your headlamp connector is good and tight (if it's burned, replaced with a high-temp version from any auto parts store) and make sure you're getting full voltage at the headlight. Many bikes, even new ones, have a significant voltage drop from the switch contacts and the various connectors on the way to the headlight. You can clean connectors or install relays to supply full voltage to the high and low beams.

Eastern Beaver sells excellent relay kits:
http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Wiring_Kits/H4_Kits/h4_kits.html
 
bwringer said:
You can get a headlamp that takes an H4 bulb. Then drop in a Silverstar bulb and ride happy.

Third item down on this page:
http://www.newmotorcycleparts.com/electrical/lighting/head_tail_light/head_light.html

The other thing to do is to make sure your headlamp connector is good and tight (if it's burned, replaced with a high-temp version from any auto parts store) and make sure you're getting full voltage at the headlight. Many bikes, even new ones, have a significant voltage drop from the switch contacts and the various connectors on the way to the headlight. You can clean connectors or install relays to supply full voltage to the high and low beams.

Eastern Beaver sells excellent relay kits:
http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Wiring_Kits/H4_Kits/h4_kits.html
Click to expand...


Skip the Silverstar, and get a Philips +80 bulb. The Silverstar Ultras are better, but the blue tint to the bulb on the regular and Ultra bulbs actually costs you some lumens, and the 5000k+ white coloration is more harsh to your own eyes, not to mention oncoming drivers. The harsher color will cause your pupils to close more than using a standard 4000k color light (like the +80). The +80 is a standard draw 55/60 bulb, but it's got a better filament design, and really do put out a lot more light, even over the Silverstars. Don't confuse color temperature for useable light, especially on a motorcycle.

You also have to be careful with your wattage at the bulb. These bikes use a lower powered headlight than the typical 55/60 watt automotive H4. The bulb will pull more current, and as such, your headlight harness will run hotter. It might not be enough of a draw to melt the wires, but it can happen, especially on older wiring. This is where a relay will be a good idea. Use the stock wiring to trigger the relay, and use a heavier gauge wire to power the light.
 
bwringer said:
Many bikes, even new ones, have a significant voltage drop from the switch contacts and the various connectors on the way to the headlight. You can clean connectors or install relays to supply full voltage to the high and low beams.

Eastern Beaver sells excellent relay kits:
http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Wiring_Kits/H4_Kits/h4_kits.html
Click to expand...

You'd really have to see the difference this makes to believe it. (Or, more accurately, you'd have to ride with it at night).

My GS1000's headlight was so anemic -- even after installing a new H4 -- that it would stay home at night in favor of another bike. The relay approach solved this completely, and took a lot of the load off of the aging wiring harness at the same time. Eastern Beaver makes an excellent product, very high quality, and very effective.

For night riding, antiques like me can use all the vision help available!
 
Thanks, will go with the relay and heavier wiring.

Thanks to you all...
 
Also, when you install your H4 that you make sure that you use dielectric grease on the prongs.
 
Steve said:
Your '82 should already have a light that uses an H4 bulb, not a sealed beam light. :-k

.
Click to expand...

Steve is correct. If the bike has a sealed beam someone replaced the stock lamp with H4 bulb.
 
kdo58 said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2nzhvIXP0g&feature=related
Click to expand...
HID "conversions" are not really the way to go, unless you do the COMPLETE assembly, not just the "bulb".

However, if you do go to an HID setup, stick with the lower-numbered "temperature rating" bulbs, around the 4000 or 4100K range.
They brag about how the higher-numbered bulbs are "closer to daylight", but fail to mention that daylight is NOT the perfect light. :eek:

Look at it this way: if daylight were so 'perfect', why do "Blue-Blocker" type glasses work so well?
They work by blocking ultra-violet (UV) light, which causes glare inside the eyeball.
Those HID kits with the higher numbers attached to them, especially the ones over 6000K, put out a LOT of UV,
which looks brighter, but you can't actually see any better. :cool:

.
 
Nessism said:
Steve is correct. If the bike has a sealed beam someone replaced the stock lamp with H4 bulb.
Click to expand...

That's what I figure happened when he mentioned the sealed beam -- it was pretty common in 70s/80s bikes to find that someone had dropped in a sealed beam from a car instead of scaring up an H4 bulb. :mad:

Nowadays, there aren't any cars with big round headlights and so the H4/9003 is a lot more common.
 
Steve said:
Your '82 should already have a light that uses an H4 bulb, not a sealed beam light. :-k

.
Click to expand...
Understand, mine was in a front ender before I bought it. Inst. cluster, headlight had been replaced by the PO. I'm still looking for the correct tank, currently it has one from an 81 model. I will be checking voltage at the light and ordering a new reflector to handle an H4 bulb this weekend.

Thanks for the response
 
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