690 Enduro headlight - VisionX LED

**dmoo1790** · 20th March 2012, 12:56

Has anyone tried the VisionX LED lights? I'm looking for a reliable headlight upgrade. The standard 690 candle is pathetic and looks like it might be prone to blowing filaments so I'm not sure if going to a higher wattage incandescent bulb is a good long term solution.

**Gremlin** · 20th March 2012, 14:17

What sort of VisionX?

I have the Denali D1 LED spots from Twisted Throttle which are oem visionx, and think they are excellent, but they're only extra lamps and not replacing the main lamps.

**dmoo1790** · 20th March 2012, 14:32

Originally Posted by Gremlin

What sort of VisionX?

I have the Denali D1 LED spots from Twisted Throttle which are oem visionx, and think they are excellent, but they're only extra lamps and not replacing the main lamps.

I was thinking of the Solstice Solo. Been doing lots of googling and so far looks good except for possible glare for oncoming drivers. Unless I replace the whole headlight/reflector/mask assembly on the 690 I think I'm stuck with living with the feeble 35W standard lamp but I figure the LEDs would be just as bright and far less likely to fail. So add one or two LEDs and I'd have more light or at least the same amount of light if the standard candle failed.

**dmoo1790** · 20th March 2012, 16:49

Bugger! Seems the rules (http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/ge...hts-right.html) don't allow additional dipped beam headlights: "You may not fit any additional dipped beam headlamps to a vehicle." So I can't legally run LEDs to help out my pathetic low beam. Still worth it to have better light on high beam I suppose.

**Night Falcon** · 20th March 2012, 17:08

Originally Posted by dmoo1790

Bugger! Seems the rules (http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/ge...hts-right.html) don't allow additional dipped beam headlights: "You may not fit any additional dipped beam headlamps to a vehicle." So I can't legally run LEDs to help out my pathetic low beam. Still worth it to have better light on high beam I suppose.

A blind man can see better at night than someone riding a 690. I'm not condoning breaking the law

but if you are doing alot of night riding I'd be givng it some extra eyesight. you can always remove it so not to upset the WOF man when the time comes...I never said that

**NordieBoy** · 20th March 2012, 18:36

Originally Posted by dmoo1790

Bugger! Seems the rules (http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/ge...hts-right.html) don't allow additional dipped beam headlights: "You may not fit any additional dipped beam headlamps to a vehicle." So I can't legally run LEDs to help out my pathetic low beam. Still worth it to have better light on high beam I suppose.

Then don't call them "dipped headlights". Call them "running lights".

**NordieBoy** · 20th March 2012, 18:40

Originally Posted by Night Falcon

A blind man can see better at night than someone riding a 690. I'm not condoning breaking the law

but if you are doing alot of night riding I'd be givng it some extra eyesight. you can always remove it so not to upset the WOF man when the time comes...I never said that

Ride a TT350 at night over technical terrain then.
6v 35w.
Drop revs for a corner - headlight dims.
Brake for the corner - brake light glows - headlight dims even more.

I came back from the Mt Patriarch snow ride, through the Maungatapu at about 7pm in the dark and recorded it on the GoPro - Completely black footage with engine noises

**dmoo1790** · 20th March 2012, 19:29

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Then don't call them "dipped headlights". Call them "running lights".

Trouble is I think there's another gotcha in the rules that says running lights need to turn off when the head lights turn on. Anyway I think I'll just get creative with switches/wiring so I can pass WOF but still run what I need/want. Or fork out for a new headlight assembly which will take an H4 bulb. Or get a surplus NVG...

**dmoo1790** · 20th March 2012, 19:34

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Ride a TT350 at night over technical terrain then.
6v 35w.
Drop revs for a corner - headlight dims.
Brake for the corner - brake light glows - headlight dims even more.

I came back from the Mt Patriarch snow ride, through the Maungatapu at about 7pm in the dark and recorded it on the GoPro - Completely black footage with engine noises

XR500A (twin shock) was pretty bad too. I remember running up a side road off the intended road once because I couldn't see which road was which on a corner.

**Gremlin** · 20th March 2012, 21:23

Forward facing position lamps do not have the same restriction as Daytime Running lamps (namely they have to be off if headlight is on). You could also have fog lamps I think.

Also look up the Solstice Prime I think, new range, Twisted Throttle has them as the Denali D2's. You get a nice wiring loom etc. I replaced the switch that came with the Denali D1 as I didn't like it much.

**umopom** · 20th March 2012, 22:03

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I have fitted the Trail Tech X2 halogen set up which works well - not sure how legal it is but at WoF time its only 10 minutes to change back to the stock light.

**NordieBoy** · 21st March 2012, 07:05

Originally Posted by umopom

I have fitted the Trail Tech X2 halogen set up which works well - not sure how legal it is but at WoF time its only 10 minutes to change back to the stock light.

The brightest of the KLX, KLR and KTM in the mirrors too.

**vegeman** · 21st March 2012, 07:57

Interestingly, the new 2012 690's have gone more back to the E's config (lower suspension, E dashboard, 55W/60W/headlamp) plus 690cc's instead of 650...

The E's light is very good, as its a normal H4 halogen bulbs...I'd try and get one of them assembles or get the new 2012 :-)

**dmoo1790** · 21st March 2012, 10:21

Originally Posted by vegeman

Interestingly, the new 2012 690's have gone more back to the E's config (lower suspension, E dashboard, 55W/60W/headlamp) plus 690cc's instead of 650...

The E's light is very good, as its a normal H4 halogen bulbs...I'd try and get one of them assembles or get the new 2012 :-)

Yeah, the E or 2012 mask/light is one option I'm considering. Not sure I'm quite ready to trade in for a 2012 690 yet given I've only had my bike since December.

And I'm not sure I want to be an early adopter of the stroked engine.

I think KTM misjudged the market for the 690 when they released the R. I suppose there are some good riders who want a tall, heavy, powerful dirt bike but most of us just want a really good dual-purpose bike. So raising the seat height just to get another 25 mm suspension travel must have lost KTM quite a few sales to BMW. Looks like the 2012 690 is moving away from the "hard enduro" market niche back to the larger dual-purpose/adventure market.

**vegeman** · 21st March 2012, 15:42

Originally Posted by dmoo1790

Yeah, the E or 2012 mask/light is one option I'm considering. Not sure I'm quite ready to trade in for a 2012 690 yet given I've only had my bike since December.

And I'm not sure I want to be an early adopter of the stroked engine.

I think KTM misjudged the market for the 690 when they released the R. I suppose there are some good riders who want a tall, heavy, powerful dirt bike but most of us just want a really good dual-purpose bike. So raising the seat height just to get another 25 mm suspension travel must have lost KTM quite a few sales to BMW. Looks like the 2012 690 is moving away from the "hard enduro" market niche back to the larger dual-purpose/adventure market.

yeah I agree, I think the 690R now is a great machine. All us E riders from 08, helped iron out the bugs for the later machines. I'm lucky enough to have one of the upgraded clock/dashboards which are now in the 2012 model. I also have long legs so the height thing was never an issue, but the height of all these tall thumpers was an issue. I see that the 2012 also has a new oil pressure switch/sensor running off the RHS oil filter cover...so thats nice

also..didn't really expect you to truly consider the upgrade to the new model :-) I expect the stoked version still to be a weapon, they have done that mod to a lot of there bikes i.e. 530 is a stroked 450