Modern headlamp options?

[surviverguy]

I was replacing my wiring harness yesterday and noticed that my headlamp only has one filament. No high beam. That won't do at all. I live in a rural area and need both H and L beams. Are there any modern lamps available to fit GS450 which really throw out lots of light? Where to buy? Price? Any recomendations?

[7981GS]

Depending one the size of your headlight bucket, find a Sylvania Silver-star Ultra Halogen automotive lamp to replace it.
You will love it!

Eric

[surviverguy]

Thanks for that tip. Are those bulbs available with two filaments for high and low beam? Dual filaments might give some added safety as you would have a spare filament (high) if (low) burns out...and lighting options..

[OldVet66]

http://store.candlepower.com/ca53mohe.html

[mike_of_bbg]

Do you already have a reflector or a sealed beam? If it's a sealed beam I would highly suggest going to a motorcycle-specific reflector with H4 bulb as OldVet66 has posted below. I have a 7" Bosch reflector from Candlepower on my 550L but I think the twins take something smaller? Definitely a worthwhile upgrade from a car sealed beam - it's not just the brightness of the light, it's the pattern, too.

http://store.candlepower.com/ca53mohe.html

[surviverguy]

Wow that's a Headlamp SUPERSTORE! I think I'll have to call them. I've got a Osram 64210 base with only two slots as a lamp holder. There is a working lamp in the holder (tested). Not sure what type of base/lamp holder I've got...

[surviverguy]

The back of the reflector

[surviverguy]

Any idea how much wattage I can use without over-taxing the charging system? 45w, 55w, 65w..?

[jimfj]

I would reccomend changing over to an HID set up. Seach for how to's and reviews here. It will draw at 35Watts instead of 55w and the output is amazing. You will probably need a new reflector and those can be had for about 35.00 on Ebay.

I have HID kits on both a 550 and an 1100. On the 550 I run just the low beam only. The light output is so great that a high beam is not needed.

My .02 Pm me if you need help

[musicman]

+1 for the HID, I run a single beam 35w 5000k setup on my bike, the HID kit itself is from DDM Tuning. I had to buy a new headlight, housing, etc. for my bike since it had a windjammer on it when I bought it, got the 8" setup from flyncycle, mounted to the stock ears like it was made for the bike. Haven't ridden at night yet though, the rain seams to refuse to go away...

[surviverguy]

Thanks guys. I'll look into this HID design. I confess to not knowing anything about modern lighting options. In a couple hours from now, I guess I won't be able to say that anymore.

[LoopGaroo]

Do you guys with HIDs ride with other people often? It seems like those could be pretty annoying to see in your mirrors while riding at night. Any feedback as to things like that?

[Normk]

FWIW, the HID headlights I have measured all draw around 2.1 - 2.2 amps after the reach full operation. Initial is a bit over 4 amps which is about the same as a standard headlight. Quoting wattage is not of much use as watts are a derivative.

Any of the GS bikes is challenged in the electrical capacity department and my 1979 GS850 likely leads the way with only about 20 amps available from the alternator. Switching to an H4 headlight shell was a huge improvement, as some have said, over the sealed beam but moving to the HID produces a better light and saves a couple of amps which can be utilized for other purposes such as grip heaters.

Another advantage to the HID is that the kits come with a relay and wiring harness which connects to the starter relay (you wouldn't connect to the battery, would you? VBG) which removes the largest load from the wiring harness. The reduced harness load increases voltage to other components which is always an advantage and may make it unnecessary to add a relay for the ignition. Voltage drop testing will always tell that story but consider the HID mod first.

The HID is more visible to other drivers which was my incentive to convert my Honda ST1100 as the lighting from two 100 watt H4's was very effective and on balance with the HID. The Honda doesn't care about the electrical load so the tipping point was the visiblity to others as my two accidents in 47 years on the road have both been due to the other driver not seeing me. First time, in 1966, a small school bus turned left in front of me because she didn't see while the second, a couple of years ago was because the driver was stupid. (can't express someone who drifts across the oncoming lane over a hundred yards of space to enter a view point. Problem was I was beside him, passing. Nice!)

My son is riding two of my bikes now and want him to be seen so HID. As for bothering others....they really show up in the rear views but have not had anyone flash me, even though I run high beams during the day. I think that people would have complained a decade or more ago but today there are so many vehicles with misaligned OEM driving lights/running lights that people have become resigned. Not saying I'm correct....

Removing the load from the headlight and dimmer switch in these old harnesses seems to be a good practice also so that's a bonus.

One point regarding HID is to be sure to run 4600k color rather than the higher colors. 6000k is just a bit blue and is not bad but the higher colors reduce effective light output. 12,000k only deliver about 2x the light while 4600 deliver 3x.

Another consideration, if one cares, is that "technically" HID lights are not legal to use in non-HID approved headlights, in some jurisdictions. I haven't heard of anyone running 4600k being bothered and since it looks reasonably stock I see no advantage to running a color which produces poorer lighting while screaming, "Look, I'm running illegal lights!!!"

Maybe not the thread for it, but has anyone had negative feedback while running HID?

[bwringer]

What no one has mentioned thus far (and now we're totally off-topic and talking about HIDs) is that ALL GS models came with high and low beam.

Therefore, some bastard PO has changed the bulb or perhaps the whole reflector for a fog lamp. And the wiring looks like it's been diddled with.

Find the missing wire, figure out what bulb is really supposed to be there, and you should be able to get this sorted.


Also, WHICH GS450 do you have? It makes a difference, headlight-wise.

If you have to replace it, something like this might be a good option, depending on which model you have:

http://www.flyncycle.com/Motorcycle_Headlight_Halogen_Bulb_p/hlhcb900.htm

[surviverguy]

Test Headlamp from Harbour Freight Tools

Thanks for the ideas. I wanted good and modern and legal and cheap with dual filaments. Sometimes it's hard to get it all. I wasn't sure what I had exactly and still don't really know.
I decided to go to motorcycle dealer this morning for some odds and ends which I forgot to put on my list when shopping online recently. I found the motorcycle dealer was closed on Mondays. Nearby the dealer was a Harbour Freight Tools store where shop sometimes. It's great place to find various CHEAP tools and handyman type stuff. I was no hurry and was browsing for motorcycle related stuff. I found some headlights there on sale for $5.99- the price was so good that I decided to get TWO!
These Harbour Freight Tools headlamps seemed to meet all of my criteria. 1)Good- probubly 2)modern-YES 3)legal-YES 4)cheap-YES

The socket is a little larger, but I think I can make it fit.