H4 Headlight Upgrade! Anyone done it?

[Guest]

I was wondering If any one has upgraded from a sealed beam headlight to an interchangeable H4 bulb headlight?

It seems like a sweet and relatively cheap upgrade from the existing sealed beam set-up and you can buy higher wattage bulbs for added candle watt power.

Here is the one I'm thinking of going with.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-DOT-H4-MOT...ht_2176wt_1398

[rustybronco]

I was wondering If any one has upgraded from a sealed beam headlight to an interchangeable H4 bulb headlight?

I do it all the time. it's a direct swap for your bike.

[Steve]

Most of the GSes came with H4 lights, starting in '80, so that's no problem at all.

As rustybronco said, it happens all the time.

If you are getting the one in your link, make sure it does NOT include that blue bulb. You want a WHITE bulb, in the stock 55/60 watts.

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[DanTheMan]

I did it for my Windjammer that had a sealed beam in it. I bought mine from these people, no problems with them. http://store.candlepower.com/ca7inquhhe.html

[mike_of_bbg]

Yep, candlepower here too. Bought this reflector ($36 shipped IIRC):

http://store.candlepower.com/fco7h4mohebd.html

And a bulb from my local parts store. Think the bulb was a Sylvania Xtravision (the one between the base bulb and Silver Star). Much brighter than the old sealed beam...

[Steve]

Much brighter than the old sealed beam...

More important than brightness, it has a better beam pattern, too.

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[mike_of_bbg]

Hear, hear!

More important than brightness, it has a better beam pattern, too.

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[ChicagoBob]

I did it in 1979, and loved the improvement. No charging problems, either.

[Allie]

Done it. Do it. A spare H4 fits in your tail section too, along with other bulbs and fuses.

[argonsagas]

Most of the GSes came with H4 lights, starting in '80, so that's no problem at all.

As rustybronco said, it happens all the time.

If you are getting the one in your link, make sure it does NOT include that blue bulb. You want a WHITE bulb, in the stock 55/60 watts.

.

A small disagreement....it depends on which "blue" is involved.

I have compared the stock halogen 4300k with 4800K and 5600K xenon bulbs, which both came with a blue coating that affects the colour temperature of the light emitted, and found a noticeable improvement in illumination with the xenon ones. (Approximately 5500K is equivalent to daylight in colour temperature.) It it not so important in city riding, but on empty roads with no other lighting, these bulbs can make a significant difference.

Going above 6000K moves you into a new area, however, as the blue in the light issued becomes more intense, and as the numbers rise higher the illumination value depreciates rapidly. This depreciating effect is what you get with HID lighting, as well, as human eyes work best with light that is in the daylight portion of the visible spectrum

[Steve]

Done it. Do it. A spare H4 fits in your tail section too, along with other bulbs and fuses.

And you can fit yet another one in the bike's tail section.

Approximately 5500K is equivalent to daylight in colour temperature.

Absolutely no argument that 5500K is equivalent to daylight.

Where I tend to disagree is with the assumption that daylight "color" is best.

Ever wonder why shooters wear yellow glasses? Ever notice the popularity/effectiveness of ?Blue-Blocker" sunglasses?

Both of them work on the same physiologic principle. Ultraviolet light scatters in the fluid of the human eye, over-exciting the receptors on the retina. Blocking UV with yellow lenses keeps the retina more relaxed, allowing you to see better. The higher "color temps" produce more UV light, which gives the appearance of being brighter, but only because your eye is being over-excited. For the actual ability to see better, "color temps" closer to 4000K work better. If you want to read a little more on this topic, you can read this page from Daniel Stern Lighting.

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[gmoore]

Hmmmm, that is some interesting stuff that I have not given too much thought.
I will most certainly keep that in mind.

And thank you guys for the feedback, I will definitely be making this upgrade!

Is there a legal reason to keep the light bulb @ 60/55 watts?? what about getting a more powerful bulb? Wouldn't a 100/55 bulb be better and provide more visibility from the high beam?

[Nessism]

Wouldn't a 100/55 bulb be better and provide more visibility from the high beam?

Yes, it will. But it's illegal so you could get a ticket.

[Steve]

Is there a legal reason to keep the light bulb @ 60/55 watts?? what about getting a more powerful bulb? Wouldn't a 100/55 bulb be better and provide more visibility from the high beam?

Yes, it will. But it's illegal so you could get a ticket.

Agree. It will give you better light on high beam. But, ... (you know there's always a big butt in there somewhere )

Like nessism said, it is illegal. However, the probability of being caught with an illegal bulb is rather small, unless you have vehicle inspections that either look at the bulb or put a meter in front of it.

Some riders tend to run with high beams on during the daytime. Some states actually suggest doing so in the motorcyle rider's handbook.
Sitting behind someone at a light with a 100-watt light staring in their mirror is somewhat "less than polite".

I don't know how many on this forum use a headlight modulator. If you do use one, you have to make sure it's rated for the higher load.

The additional load will also push the charging system to its limits. The saving grace there is that, when you slow down in town, you are more likely to use the low beam, reducing the load at the same time the stator is less-able to handle it.

Lastly, you would want to be sure to upgrade the wiring to the headlight. All of the current going to the headlight goes through the small contacts in the dimmer switch in the left handgrip. The brighter light will about double the current through those small contacts, increasing the heat. The best way to get around that is to use the stock wiring to control a relay that runs proper-sized wiring from the battery to the headlight, much as the popular "coil relay mod" assures proper voltage to the coils.

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[Allie]

Done it. Do it. A spare H4 fits in your tail section too, along with other bulbs and fuses.

And you can fit yet another one in the bike's tail section.

But, ... (you know there's always a big butt in there somewhere )

YOU, mister, are flirtin' with disaster!