Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Abysmal headlight performance -- need upgrade!
Collapse
X
-
Forum LongTimerBard Award Winner
GSResource Superstar
Past Site Supporter
Super Site Supporter- Oct 2003
- 17441
- Indianapolis
I use a Sylvania Silverstar, and I'll happily accept shorter bulb life and the doubled cost in exchange for the incredible flood of bright white light that keeps me alive...1983 GS850G, Cosmos Blue.
2005 KLR685, Aztec Pink - Turd II.3, the ReReReTurdening
2015 Yamaha FJ-09, Magma Red Power Corrupts...
Eat more venison.
Please provide details. The GSR Hive Mind is nearly omniscient, but not yet clairvoyant.
Celeriter equita, converteque saepe.
SUPPORT THIS SITE! DONATE TODAY!
Co-host of "The Riding Obsession" sport-touring motorcycling podcast at tro.bike!
-
focus frenzy
Originally posted by bwringerI use a Sylvania Silverstar, and I'll happily accept shorter bulb life and the doubled cost in exchange for the incredible flood of bright white light that keeps me alive...
great having a headlight so bright it blinds the bugs and they cant home in on you.
also with the silverstar I can come up on left lane parkers during the daytime and line up to their left and the glare they get in their mirror snaps them out of their coma and they get over, they never did that with the old headlight and wiring!! (and this is just using the low beam!!!)
you are lucky Earl if you only have a 2 tenths voltage drop at the headlight, I had a 1.5 volt drop that cleaning contacts and connections could not get rid of.
bulbs last substantialy longer at 13.5 volts than they do at 14.5 volts
with my car I have never seen voltage over 14.2 volts but the silverstars never lasted more than about a year, and in 4 years the only other bulbs I have had to replace are the licence plate lights and one front turnsignal bulb.
the PIAA ION bulb is even better than the silver star but it is very expensive and definatly wont last any longer.
Comment
-
Forum LongTimerCharter Member
GSResource Superstar
Past Site Supporter- May 2002
- 44506
- Brooksville Fl.
Just wait until I get the quarter fairing molded and installed for the 1150 that will sport dual headlight silverstars. That ought to wake up the cagers. LOL
Earl
[quote="focus frenzy"]
OH YEA!!
great having a headlight so bright it blinds the bugs and they cant home in on you.
also with the silverstar I can come up on left lane parkers during the daytime and line up to their left and the glare they get in their mirror snaps them out of their coma and they get over, they never did that with the old headlight and wiring!! (and this is just using the low beam!!!)Komorebi-The light filtering through the trees.
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. H.D.T.
Comment
-
IanFrancisco
It'll not only wake 'em up it'll have 'em reaching for their gun to extinguish the source of their irritation - well, hopefully not. I know I get hot under the collar when these guys in their 4x4s come up behind me with their blazing lights right at mirror level, but, I don't carry a gun so I guess we can all live with that. People don't pull out in front of me as much when I run the H4 lo beams during the day. When I was having charging problems I was riding without the lights, they're switchable on my bike, and had two close calls with comatose cagers just not seeing me.
Comment
-
Mr. Jiggles
Originally posted by focus frenzyOriginally posted by bwringerI use a Sylvania Silverstar, and I'll happily accept shorter bulb life and the doubled cost in exchange for the incredible flood of bright white light that keeps me alive...
great having a headlight so bright it blinds the bugs and they cant home in on you.
also with the silverstar I can come up on left lane parkers during the daytime and line up to their left and the glare they get in their mirror snaps them out of their coma and they get over, they never did that with the old headlight and wiring!! (and this is just using the low beam!!!)
you are lucky Earl if you only have a 2 tenths voltage drop at the headlight, I had a 1.5 volt drop that cleaning contacts and connections could not get rid of.
Sorry Earl, I couldn't resist. But I am happy that you made it home OK.
Comment
-
jtcrespo
I've had a few too many run-ins with Afternoon Cage Zombies, so I run my Silverstar on bright during the day now. Haven't had much of a problem since I started.
Now if I could get one for each side and the rear I would be set.
Comment
-
Forum LongTimerCharter Member
GSResource Superstar
Past Site Supporter- May 2002
- 44506
- Brooksville Fl.
Nah, the bike is back to a normal battery. :-) In case you do cook your charging system a long way from home and dont have the option of waiting two weeks for parts, a 285 amp garden tractor battery piggybacked to the bike battery will run the bike with normal use of all lighting and electric start for about 30 hours continuous. :-) Then stop at a rest stop, pull out your battery charger and you can cross the country that way if you have to. :-)
Earl
Originally posted by Mr. Jiggles
Might that be where the tractor battery comes in???
Sorry Earl, I couldn't resist. But I am happy that you made it home OK.Komorebi-The light filtering through the trees.
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. H.D.T.
Comment
-
Billy Ricks
This is what I'm considering. http://www.austreetfighter.com.au/scart/html/172.html About $390 US. The big GS headlight is pretty good too. Close to 9" and puts out a huge, clear beam. You can sometimes pick them up cheap on Ebay. They were used on '83 and up GS1100E and 1150E models as well as the '85 700E.
Comment
-
Originally posted by earlforNah, the bike is back to a normal battery. :-) In case you do cook your charging system a long way from home and dont have the option of waiting two weeks for parts, a 285 amp garden tractor battery piggybacked to the bike battery will run the bike with normal use of all lighting and electric start for about 30 hours continuous. :-) Then stop at a rest stop, pull out your battery charger and you can cross the country that way if you have to. :-)
Earl
I learned that a stator doesn't always go out completely; it might actually be putting out some charge, different levels at different rpm. Being able to determine that is real helpful in such situations. I think a meter would make a real sensible addition to any GS.Believe in truth. To abandon fact is to abandon freedom.
Nature bats last.
80 GS850G / 2010 Yamaha Majesty / 81 GS850G
Comment
-
My 850 headlight was so dim I did not consider it safe to ride at night. A headlight relay and a Silverstar sealed beam changed all that, I ride with confidence at night now though I will say that the stock headlight on the Honda Nighthawk is still noticably brighter.
I bought my Silverstar at Discount Auto a couple of years ago at least. I'm sure it is an automotive model.
They cost a little more, but I prefer using the sealed beams. If I am out on the road I can find a ready replacement at just about any gas station or WalMart. And they are easier to swap out at night in a parking lot.Believe in truth. To abandon fact is to abandon freedom.
Nature bats last.
80 GS850G / 2010 Yamaha Majesty / 81 GS850G
Comment
-
Billy Ricks
Comment
-
Forum LongTimerCharter Member
GSResource Superstar
Past Site Supporter- May 2002
- 44506
- Brooksville Fl.
I carry a spare silverstar h4 in my kit always, flashlight too. :-)
Earl
Originally posted by dpep
They cost a little more, but I prefer using the sealed beams. If I am out on the road I can find a ready replacement at just about any gas station or WalMart. And they are easier to swap out at night in a parking lot.Komorebi-The light filtering through the trees.
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. H.D.T.
Comment
-
Forum LongTimerCharter Member
GSResource Superstar
Past Site Supporter- May 2002
- 44506
- Brooksville Fl.
I really like the 8" headlight. I think it puts out about 30% more light than a 7" with the same bulb.
Earl
Originally posted by Billy RicksThis is one of the big ones.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVWKomorebi-The light filtering through the trees.
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion. H.D.T.
Comment
Comment