1980 gs550e - headlight replacement (UK)

[Grimly]

Pity that most cars no longer use 7" H4 reflectors, because you could easily go down to your nearest car breakers and find a decent one and try it for fit.
Annoyingly, even though they are the same nominal size, many motorcycle 7" reflectors don't have the same retaining clips inside the shell (and even if they do, they're not in the same position) as the car ones - Honda are particularly guilty of this.
All is not lost if you can molish something - hell, even a gob of silicone or urethane foam holds it in place, for after all the reflector isn't coming back out, just the bulb.

[ukjules]

7" refers to the lense !!!!!!
let's just be clear......

yep I am sure something can be cobbled together
but I will keep on with these guys as the lenses....
looks ideal and for less that 15-20£ ! new.

I will update when I find the perfect replacement for all !

[Grimly]

7" refers to the lense !!!!!!
let's just be clear......

yep I am sure something can be cobbled together
but I will keep on with these guys as the lenses....
looks ideal and for less that 15-20£ ! new.

I will update when I find the perfect replacement for all !

But it won't be. It will be crap.
Why not fit the best light you can?

[ukjules]

I look for soming cost effective!
I can't see how it can be crap ? visually
it is exactly what I need.

the best light I can get is from cmsl.
too expensive for I .....

The light I have now is crap but I happily
went round Europe with it...

I just want to know where k can get a replacement
which looks exactly the same and uses
stock easy to get bulbs.

so its cmsl or possibly my new place .
Will inform

do note my sealed one does work !
But it's crap ! stupid design ..

[Grimly]

It's almost a given that standard lighting was crap on the bikes we know. Not just because of the often laughably low-powered bulb (or sealed beam) but bad lens and reflector design. Why replace crap with more crap?

If it were me, I'd look at a Hella H4 7" reflector/lens (all one unit) and see if it will hook into the standard Suzuki 7" shell. You never know your luck.
If you can't get Hella (cheaply available for excellent design) or Cibie (the best but can be expensive as a lot of classic nuts drool for them) for your shell, then Lucas are quite good (and better than standard), and there's a seller on ebay who was punting out some Indian-made headlights a year or two back, which were direct copies of Cibies, iirc. They were quite highly rated by those who tried them - something like Light Pal. I'm having a look to see if I can find them.
If they're as good as they reckon, it was a very economical route to go down.
Luckily for me, I found other sources. I got a pair of brand-new-in-box Hella H4 lighting units and fitted them to a set of spotlight shells. They complement the Cibie headlight on the fairing quite nicely - the Cibie light was a total windfall. If I'd gone looking for one I'd not have paid what is being asked for them nowadays.

Another source of really good H4 7" units is the Mitsubishi Pajero of the late '80s/ early 90s. It was fitted with Koito units which were computer designed and as good as Cibies for a fraction of the price. They're totally under the radar of the classic guys, so go for next to nothing. I snapped up a pair of them a few years ago and fitted one to the Vetter with an LED bulb. Holy bejasus, it was the best bike light up to that point I've ever used.

[Grimly]

Lucas...

https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/984/category/187

Wipac... these were very, very good back in the day.

https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/986/category/187

Cheap and cheerful Durite - workmanlike lamps that are ok. Not great, but good enough for general use.

https://www.auto-electrical-supplies.co.uk/durite_products/lighting/headlamps_and_driving_lamps/headlamps/durite_0-422-50_7_inch_headlamp_unit__dipped_beam_and_sidelight_domed_lens

Just found the Indian maker is Autopal. You can buy them singly on ebay or buy a pair here...

https://www.autoelectricalspares.co.uk/h4-halogen-headlamp-12v-conversion-kit-7-rhd--pilot-239-p.asp

[ukjules]

Wow what an answer....
I think you have answered all my and anyone
else questions on headlights forever!

I will take your advice. I can't see how any of
the ones on your links can't be made to fit as you say.

Many thanks for this.
This should be added in some way as a help
item for headlights !!!

thanks, Jules.

[Steve]

Nice to see these recommendations:

If it were me, I'd look at a Hella H4 7" reflector/lens (all one unit) and see if it will hook into the standard Suzuki 7" shell. You never know your luck.
If you can't get Hella (cheaply available for excellent design) or Cibie (the best but can be expensive as a lot of classic nuts drool for them) for your shell, then Lucas are quite good (and better than standard), and there's a seller on ebay who was punting out some Indian-made headlights a year or two back, which were direct copies of Cibies, iirc. They were quite highly rated by those who tried them - something like Light Pal. I'm having a look to see if I can find them.

Way back in 1977/78, I had a KZ650 and installed a Cibie light. WONDERFUL improvement. When I traded the bike for a KZ1300 (rectangular light), I put the original light back in and got a matching Cibie to install in my Corolla. I can verify that the Cibie is about as it gets in a 7" H4 light.

In a previous 850 that I had, I installed one of the AutoPal lights. Very decent pattern on the road at a very decent price.

When I put the fairing on my current 850, I installed a Hella rectangular light. Also very good, but it pales in comparison to the TruckLite LED light that is in there now.

As for "best motorcycle light", my 2000 Goldwing is definitely in the running. Speaking with other Goldwingers who have had both, they prefer the lights on their 2001-and-newer bikes to my 2000, but I have not ridden one of those bikes to see the difference.

Jules, it's too bad you want to keep it "affordable". How much do ride at night? You might want to reconsider "affordable" and upgrade to something that is more practical. I don't know if the TruckLite is available in a British pattern, but they are about $150. Once you ride with one at night, you will wonder how you ever managed without one.

.

[ukjules]

Not a great deal('re using bike in dark) even on my EU tour.
BUT
As the thread is the one stop headlight shop.....

What light , 7" , fits GS , and obviously looks exactly
the same (not some ghastly modification) is
available in the upper price range? giving superb
brightness ?

Cibie

https://www.europaspares.com/cibie-h4-headlamps-7-inch.html

Trucklite

I'll try and find links to these and any others people add to thread

[uk gs nut]

Jules, I have 2 gs bikes with Wipac crystal headlamps. Look for Land Rover upgrade headlamps, with quality bulbs they give a good beam pattern.

[ukjules]

Only just bought a new headlight.
Took you guys advice and used "grimly's" url and bought from them - Wipac Quadoptic light with sidelight.

https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/986/category/187

Tesyed this eve and I can see !!! even with low beam. With high beam - superb !
This with a 55/60w halogen bulb too. I also have a 100/80 bulb but no real need for it !

Thanks for advice - much appreciated - it was spot on ! it simply makes the bike totally usable at night.
I advise anyone to get one of these ! comes with all fittings.

[cowboyup3371]

Pictures of the light output?

[ukjules]

Damn should have took some pics.
Will post when out in the dark again.

But this light will allow me to do some
long journeys with no concern of the night.
and in Europe.
The original is hopeless. This is better than my
Cbr900r (when I had one of those sad bikes years ago)

[Grimly]

Only just bought a new headlight.
Took you guys advice and used "grimly's" url and bought from them - Wipac Quadoptic light with sidelight.

https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/986/category/187

Tesyed this eve and I can see !!! even with low beam. With high beam - superb !
This with a 55/60w halogen bulb too. I also have a 100/80 bulb but no real need for it !

Thanks for advice - much appreciated - it was spot on ! it simply makes the bike totally usable at night.
I advise anyone to get one of these ! comes with all fittings.

Glad to see you sorted.
I'd advise against using the 100/80 as it puts a lot of extra load on the switchgear and really eats into the paltry reserve of the alternator output, leaving you with nothing much. I seriously recommend a decent H4 LED bulb with the smallest filament sections you can get, to preserve the output pattern of the light shell and avoid dazzling anyone. Also means you will have about twice the light output you have now (even with the improved lamp unit) and for half the current draw.

<edit>
Like these ones. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232046628787
The LEDs aren't quite as small as I'd like to see, but they're not bad and produce a fairly decently controlled output and beam pattern with a good lamp unit.
The copper braid cooling is a bonus, as you can easily squeeze them into the limited space behind that you have to share with the bundle of bike wiring in the shell.

[ukjules]

I will look into that.I can see LED's are the way to go.
Found one like you suggest for 27£ with the copper
band cooling (same brand).

But even now I refuse to be put off knowing
I could squeeze more focused light .....
as the difference from.original to what I have now
with halogen 55/60w is probably enough for me.
I can see now.

But i agree when it blows LED it is and no higher than 70ish on the watts.

I no longer fear the night