Headlight conversion?

[Asher]

I brought a panasonic bulb IIRC that 50% brighter than standard, its not major but it was a noticeable difference. Not sure if they come in 35W (mine is 55W) but they are only ~$40 from repco.

[Matariki]

A 35W incandscent bulb isnt for lighting the way on a dark night, its more a navigation light to stop you being run over by a bus. Mr Suzuki never really thought anyone would actually use a TS185 much at night so back in the day it was made it was 'enough'...

My suggestion is something around 45/55W H4 which will be a missive improvement but hopefully not generate so much heat your headlight will collapse seconds before your electrical system into molten slag.

YOU WILL NEED TO OVERLAY YOUR WIRING AND ADD RELAYS.....

In other words build an auxillary loom to cope with it. The standard wiring switch etc can't cope. Use the battery feed to the current bulb to turn the relay off / on.

If you are unsure about what I mean by that sing out and I can post up a simple diagram

Fortunately my dad is a master when it comes to anything electrical, but he's not familiar with motorcycles (and I'm still learning), so a diagram would be greatly appreciated. I'll show it to him and see what he thinks. He usually gives me a hand with most stuff in the garage.

[BMWST?]

Fortunately my dad is a master when it comes to anything electrical, but he's not familiar with motorcycles (and I'm still learning), so a diagram would be greatly appreciated. I'll show it to him and see what he thinks. He usually gives me a hand with most stuff in the garage.

You can continue down this path if you can actually get an updated bulb for your headlamp but I think your best bet is going to a motorcycle wrecker and buying a whole new headlamp which has a more modern lamp in it,but make sure it's something that your electrical system can cope with.Your dad may be able to suss that out,there is not that much difference between cars and bikes at the output end

[spanner spinner]

sorry to be the bringer of bad news but there is no easy way to get a better headlight on these bikes, and i do this sort of thing for a living.Your bike has a direct AC feed for the headlight which comes direct off the headlight power coil. The relay option off the battery will not work as there is just enought power going to the battery to keep it charged so the indercators and brake light will work. If you connect the headlight to the battery circuit it will flatten it 15 to 20 minutes. The headlight charge coil only has enought power to run the standard wattage bulb a larger bulb will be no brighter as it will not be supplied with enough power, and the larger bulb usally will burn out the coil. There is only one option to get a better headlight on these bikes which is to do a full rewire and rewind to the charging circuit and fit a full 3 wave charging system, very involved and very expensive. I have done this to crf450's ect so that they can run big wattage headlight systems, BUT!!! there are aftermarket kits availabe for these models which keep the cost down nothing i can find would fit straight onto your bike. Google a wiring diagram to see how the lights work on your bike to get a better idear of how the lights work as there are even separate coils for high and low beam. The headlights have allways been shit on these bikes.

[Matariki]

sorry to be the bringer of bad news but there is no easy way to get a better headlight on these bikes, and i do this sort of thing for a living.Your bike has a direct AC feed for the headlight which comes direct off the headlight power coil. The relay option off the battery will not work as there is just enought power going to the battery to keep it charged so the indercators and brake light will work. If you connect the headlight to the battery circuit it will flatten it 15 to 20 minutes. The headlight charge coil only has enought power to run the standard wattage bulb a larger bulb will be no brighter as it will not be supplied with enough power, and the larger bulb usally will burn out the coil. There is only one option to get a better headlight on these bikes which is to do a full rewire and rewind to the charging circuit and fit a full 3 wave charging system, very involved and very expensive. I have done this to crf450's ect so that they can run big wattage headlight systems, BUT!!! there are aftermarket kits availabe for these models which keep the cost down nothing i can find would fit straight onto your bike. Google a wiring diagram to see how the lights work on your bike to get a better idear of how the lights work as there are even separate coils for high and low beam. The headlights have allways been shit on these bikes.

Damn... what about replacing the bulb that my bike takes (12v 35/35w) to something that is same but of higher quality, would that improve the lighting?

[Matariki]

I've been having a look around the internet for some ideas on what is available. I don't know though whether or not they would be legal, yet alone if they would work with my motorcycle. But I show the list of stuff that I've found (so far I've found two);

For those wondering, the fitting on my light (I think) is a Bosch BA20d.

HS1 Phillips MotoVision - http://www.regalautobulbs.co.uk/prod...vision-hs1.php

M5 Bosch Pin 12v 35/35w BA20d - http://www.anzamotorcycles.co.nz/par...att_ba20d.aspx

[Akzle]

...

you're in the souf eh?

best bet migt be to find someone who IS clever, put on the coffee and do some ol' fashioned learnin...

[Paul in NZ]

I've been having a look around the internet for some ideas on what is available. I don't know though whether or not they would be legal, yet alone if they would work with my motorcycle. But I show the list of stuff that I've found (so far I've found two);

For those wondering, the fitting on my light (I think) is a Bosch BA20d.

HS1 Phillips MotoVision - http://www.regalautobulbs.co.uk/prod...vision-hs1.php

M5 Bosch Pin 12v 35/35w BA20d - http://www.anzamotorcycles.co.nz/par...att_ba20d.aspx

Well the 35W is the amount of power the bulb uses and has nothing to do with the amount of light it outputs... So worth a try..

Good comments from Mr Spanner Spinner there... I was having thoughts about that but hoping the electrical system was more advanced than the ancient TS250 I once owned - apparently not...

[F5 Dave]

ok so here we go. You are pretty much stuck with 35w, but I'm guessing it is a plain incandescent bulb & unlike the H4 bulbs shown. It will fit into a socket with 2 bumps on the bottom similar to a tail bulb, but with a locator. ie no long tangs to plug onto.

Find a Yam shop & buy a Blaster (ATV) headlight bulb. it will have a Halogen & same fitting (unless I am wrong, but FXR150s for example have this setup & benefit). Darbi (wholesale only distributor) will carry them & deliver to any bike shop.

Do be aware that if you did uprate your system with a complete rewind to run a bigger wattage hotter bulb the lamp which will be plastic will melt. They do this std if left to idle for a prolonged period whilst interfering with a sheep I am told.

[Matariki]

ok so here we go. You are pretty much stuck with 35w, but I'm guessing it is a plain incandescent bulb & unlike the H4 bulbs shown. It will fit into a socket with 2 bumps on the bottom similar to a tail bulb, but with a locator. ie no long tangs to plug onto.

Find a Yam shop & buy a Blaster (ATV) headlight bulb. it will have a Halogen & same fitting (unless I am wrong, but FXR150s for example have this setup & benefit). Darbi (wholesale only distributor) will carry them & deliver to any bike shop.

Do be aware that if you did uprate your system with a complete rewind to run a bigger wattage hotter bulb the lamp which will be plastic will melt. They do this std if left to idle for a prolonged period whilst interfering with a sheep I am told.

Interesting, I'll look into it.

[Matariki]

I quite like the light bulbs that have been developed by Phillips, but the ones that 12v 35/35w have a different fitting on them (three prongs - P36t 463). Would it be possible to change the fitting on my motorcycle to accommodate those sorts of bulbs?

[F5 Dave]

3 pronged ones are considerably bigger than the type I think you have so won't fit the headlight shell. If you pull back the cover you will quickly see the type you have. & it will be a spring backed bayonet arrangement. Probably a bit corroded as well.

[Matariki]

3 pronged ones are considerably bigger than the type I think you have so won't fit the headlight shell. If you pull back the cover you will quickly see the type you have. & it will be a spring backed bayonet arrangement. Probably a bit corroded as well.

Yes, it is a spring backed bayonet arrangement and you're right, it is a bit corroded. But is there nothing I can do to replace the fitting itself (larger headlight shell and fitting)?
Or would that mean I would have to replace the front of the bike with a new headlight?

[F5 Dave]

I think you clean up the contacts & buy a (YFS200) Blaster bulb (check that it is Halogen). It will be better than what you have for sure. After that it gets quantums harder & you will have to ask yourself what type of investment for the amount of night riding you do.

I did the Halogen upgrade on my RG50 & it was heaps better than std. Std bulb is a plain bulb like a house light bulb. Halogens will be like some black paint on the tip & a funny shape. It is a J base.

something like this, not sure if only 30w or 35, but Halogen is heaps better than plain incadescent .
http://www.hyperparts.com/wc.dll?ctw...1~part~H280709

[Matariki]

I think you clean up the contacts & buy a Blaster bulb. It will be better than what you have for sure. After that it gets quantums harder & you will have to ask yourself what type of investment for the amount of night riding you do.

Yes, I had another look on the net and I found what you were talking about. I'll go down to my local Yamaha dealer and see what they have.