|
|
Post by gerald on Aug 11, 2004 9:42:29 GMT -5
Whats a "W" clip.
|
|
|
|
Post by steve78650 on Aug 11, 2004 11:24:40 GMT -5
|
|
TWILKIN
Full Member
'72 XS2 650, FJR1300 Cypress, Tx.
Posts: 214
|
Post by TWILKIN on Sept 10, 2004 20:45:32 GMT -5
A little additional follow up on the Mike's XS halogen swap I did. I got out last night for the first time in a while and noted that the low beam was plenty bright and pointed in about the right place. My only concern is that when I switch to high beam, it seems to be aimed pretty high. Nothing I'd ever need around town, but I'll have to try it on a DARK country road to compare.
All in all a good decision and not too expensive fix.
|
|
Göran Persson
Full Member
Senior Technical Advisor
Wellington - New Zealand
Posts: 183
|
Post by Göran Persson on Sept 14, 2004 1:34:32 GMT -5
Hello,
One more thing,
The original wiring to the headlamps is usually
done with cables that is to small.
(Both cars and motorcycles).
By replacing the supply wires up to the headlamp with a bigger size, there will be less voltage drop.
On some lamps, 1 volt drop at the lamp can reduce the light output with 20%.
Regards
Göran Persson
New Zealand
|
|
orygun
Full Member
Franklin Oregon
Posts: 148
|
Post by orygun on Sept 16, 2004 13:08:16 GMT -5
I did the Mike's H4 conversion a few months ago, easy to install, MUCH brighter and no problems through the summer. This has got to be one of the easiest and cheapest safety improvements you can do on an XS. Note of caution, don't cheap out like I did and try using a Wagner Halegon sealed beam auto light, about $12 (which fits right in the XS headlight shell). It only lasted about two months before the unsupported Halegon lamp started to seperate from the back of the sealed beam.
|
|
|
|
Post by 50gary on Sept 16, 2004 20:46:44 GMT -5
Another reason NOT to use auto headlights is that bike and cars have different "cut" lens pattern. Car headlights will not light the roadway in the same manner as needed in a motorcycle application.
Cheers, 50gary
|
|
|
|
Post by Ratledge on Sept 23, 2004 14:04:43 GMT -5
I also did the Mikes XS headlight conversion, but consider it only temporary. I don't know exactly what my next setup will be, but I'm really looking into HID lighting. HID's are High Intensity Discharge lights you see on BMW's for example. (the cars, don't know about their bikes) They differ from halogen lights in many ways. They don't burn a filament, they operate like street lamps or flourescent tubes, and multiplex movie-projectors; with a ballast that regulates the current and works to create an electrical arc to jump between two electrodes in a sealed glass bulb that is also filled with a gas that also determines the color temperature of the light. That's why sodium-vapor streetlights are amber-colored, and mercury-vapor streetlights are a cool blue-green. There are many different HID kits available, and they are very pricey. But the other advantage is that the lamps last A LOT longer than the halogen lamps, and are MUCH more energy efficient. You can use less power and get more light from a lower-wattage unit. The bad news is the price, but also the lamps are also only single use, not a combo lo/hi beam bulb like the H4 halogens. Here's some links: www.hidexpress.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=10Here's a 7" lamp with a HID low beam and a Halogen high beam, from police motorcycle outfitter, but you'll have to download the catalog PDF on the following page to see it: www.squadfitters.com/catalog.shtml |
|
|
|
Post by Six-Five-O on Sept 23, 2004 22:35:42 GMT -5
Ratledge,
What iare the wattage requirements and the amperage draw of the HID set-ups you're looking at?
|
|
|
|
Post by jetmechmarty on Sept 24, 2004 6:13:52 GMT -5
My XS1100 uses a halogen headlight similar to the MIKE'S replacement light. That the light is brighter than the light on my 650 is a "no brainer". I still ride the 650 in the dim every morning. I don't know if I'll ever change it because I have some spare lamps. I am the original owner of my 650 and I've never replaced the headlamp. They last forever!
|
|
|
|
Post by Ratledge on Sept 24, 2004 14:07:42 GMT -5
six-five-0,
That's something I still have to determine, because I'm learning more and more how poor the xs's charging system is. The first like I provided doesn't seem to have that information available, so I emailed them to ask, haven't heard back yet.
I'm sure there are other options out there as well that I'm yet to find. I don't plan on doing this for a while anyway, with the winter approaching.
|
|
orygun
Full Member
Franklin Oregon
Posts: 148
|
Post by orygun on Sept 29, 2004 10:04:34 GMT -5
Hhmmm, after looking at the link it appears that if you already have a Mikes conversion with the H4 bulb that part of the HID conversion would not be a problem. The picture doesn't give much detail as to how big the ballast is though. Looks like it might be roughly 1/2 the size of the battery. My guess is the biggest issue would be locating the ballast on the XS650 where things are crammed in pretty tight to begin with. Also, would the 35% reduction in current draw for the HID cause problems with the lighting reserve unit? Might it think the bulb is going bad due to reduced current draw? I don't know if I'de spend that kind of money for the additional light but then again my eyes are not as good as they were when I was younger so it could be worth it.
|
|
|
|
Post by steve78650 on Sept 29, 2004 10:24:50 GMT -5
I'd chop out that RLU unit..they are just an extra hunk of stuff that isn't needed. You'll know it if your headlight goes out, you won't need an indicator light  |
|
|
|
Post by Ratledge on Sept 30, 2004 23:24:42 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm with getting rid of the RLU unit also. six-five-0, Most of the HID units I've been able to find burn a 35w bulb, which is a lot less than the 55/60 H4's. The thing is it needs an ignitor in addition to the ballast, which must be like a little capacitor unit, cause it takes like 22k volts to ignite the lamp, but a 12v system can keep it running. Still have a lot of investigating to do, but if I go the custom route, I might use these 90mm projector units from Hella: www.hella.com/produktion/HellaPortal/WebSite/Internet_usa/ProductsServices/Performance_Lighting/Conversion_Headlamps/Modules_90mm/Modules_90mm.jspThe projector-type lamps output a really flat, even spread of light, with no center dark spots and wasted spill everywhere right under the lamp. Plus they're pretty small, about 3.5-4" in diameter, (not counting the mounting ears) so it may be possible to create a custom headlamp housing that could hold two of these side-by-side, one for the low beam, one for the high beam. You can get them in either Halogen or HID. |
|
|
|
Post by elcapitan83 on Oct 1, 2004 18:07:31 GMT -5
regarding the HID unit that is around 240 or so...NOT the hella or cop ones...
The ballast is 3" x 3" x 1.5" and igniter is 2" x 2" x 1.5"
ask and ye shall recieve.
totally worth it, in my opinion. i will be figuring out a way to get this on my bike, and if you guys are interested, maybe a could fab a few extra mounts or something
|
|
|
|
Post by Ratledge on Oct 5, 2004 11:12:39 GMT -5
I got an email back from the folks at Hella, about some questions I sent them regarding the projection modules I linked to above.
They say the ballast/ignitor is a single unit, measuring just 3x3x1 inches, and has a 12" cable connecting to the lamp unit. They were kinda unclear as to wether or not you could get a longer cable, but mentioned something about an 18" version as well.
|
|
Aug 23, 2016 7:57:01 GMT -5