Re: Running both headlight filaments

[Guest]

On my bike, I have noticed that I can find a spot on the headlight switch in between "high" and "low" that will illuminate both filaments at once. I like the additional light output and the additional beam pattern on the road that this nets me on poorly lit country roads.

Provided that my charging system can adequately handle the additional draw, are there any potential problems with running both filaments simultaneously?

[Erki]

Im not sure about the charging system question. but the wiring harness that I got with my 76 750 had a jumper wire to the headlight plug which Im led to believe thats what they were doing for high beams.

[JEEPRUSTY]

Hey eyah I have this same switch
It would more than double the wattage of the bulb.

[Steve]

Provided that my charging system can adequately handle the additional draw, are there any potential problems with running both filaments simultaneously?

Besides the obvious problems possible with the charging system, please also consider the wiring in general, as you will almost be doubling the load on the headlight wiring AND the contacts in the left switch housing.

If you are doing this to get more light on the road, you would be far better off getting a new headlight with a better beam pattern and installing a quality CLEAR bulb, don't waste your money on anything that has a blue tint. If you still have the stock headlight, I believe that it is a "sealed beam" unit, and really should be upgraded to a quality H4 unit.

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[tom203]

Back in dark ages, in an attempt to get better lighting, I ran both headlight filaments on my xl350 (magneto 6 volt system) simultaneously- fantastic for ten minutes, then extra heat blew bulb.

[tkent02]

I've been doing this since the GSes were new, but only for a few seconds when I need to see a little better, have never done it continuously. Maybe when passing a car at night, or going over an area of broken pavement or whatever. Never had an electrical problem from doing it.

[Steve]

I've been doing this since the GSes were new, but only for a few seconds when I need to see a little better, have never done it continuously. Maybe when passing a car at night, or going over an area of broken pavement or whatever. Never had an electrical problem from doing it.

I have highlighted the important parts.

Almost anything done for just a short time is not going to hurt anything.

The worst culprit is heat, either directly from the bulb, as tom203 mentioned or from overloading wires or switches.

Heat takes a bit of time to do its job.

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[wkmpt]

I've been doing this since the GSes were new, but only for a few seconds when I need to see a little better, have never done it continuously. Maybe when passing a car at night, or going over an area of broken pavement or whatever. Never had an electrical problem from doing it.

This is more or less how I have been using the "in between" "setting."

I am looking into a replacement bulb/lens assembly that will allow me to use bulbs instead of the sealed beam.

I've posted them in a thread before, but these are what I'm looking at. I have the 5-3/4" size assembly in my E30 and they work great, and the price point is superior too.

[tkent02]

I've posted them in a thread before, but these are what I'm looking at.

Look for lights with a correct beam pattern for motorcycles.

[wkmpt]

Look for lights with a correct beam pattern for motorcycles.

Thanks for the heads-up, I would have forgotten about that...

[mike_of_bbg]

a la:

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