Headlight question

[.]

I'd like to get a little more lighting performance out of my headlight and I can't find what I'm looking for on the search function. My Valk is a 2000 Standard with the single headlight and I can't really see very well at night on dark roads so that limits my night-time riding considerably. I'm considering the Sylvania Silverstar I think it's called (the really expensive one) but I'm reading some about running a 100/90W or 100/80W in place of the standard 60/55W that is currently in there. I'd like to hear from others who have some practical experience what their preference is and, should I run a higher wattage bulb, if that will require any wiring or headlight bucket upgrading. Before I turn loose of my dollars I'd like to get some idea of what I'm getting into. Thanks!

[Jess from VA]

Read (copy - save) Mark T's last post/links in this thread.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,61290.0.html

I would still add a pair of extra running lights on the engine guards, or a light bar (in 35 or 50W) (mainly to be seen in daylight), but I think doing the bucket upgrade with a 80-100 or 90-100 bulb is still a good idea.  The extra lights should be aimed to run together with your bucket dims at night (or day), but you cannot run brights at night with oncoming traffic.

[saddlesore]

When my original bulb burned out I replaced it with a Silverstar.  I didn't  notice a big difference.
This summer I put some white LEDs on the triple tree.  That made the headlight seem dim and yellow.
I replaced the Silverstar bulb but it didn't change anything.
Next summer I'll check out Custom Dynamics.  I think they had a light that I want to try.

[Chrisj CMA]

Instead of the silver star I like the ultravision by sylvania as well....lasts longer than the silverstar and still twice as bright as OEM

Having running lights (as stated above) helps a lot too, but you have to have running lights with the right bulbs.  mini sealed beams like what comes on the Cobra system are great so others can see you but they don't light the road.  A light with halogens, or H3 bulbs do a good job lighting the road along with your headlight.  One last thing aiming plays a huge role, you have to make sure all the lights up front are aimed properly

[MarkT]

I LOVE a lotta light - and so I've rewired my headlight to support a 130/90 bulb - see the other thread link above.  I also have a pair of small spots on the crash bars to make the bike more visible - these aren't for lighting the road.  Then I happened across a deal on some aircraft landing lights - and looking for another bike upgrade for some chromatherapy, I set them up.  Mounted in spot shells from JCWhitney, and powered from a relay with selectable trigger - on with ignition (except when starting), off, and on with high beam.  I already have plenty of light from the headlight, but this provides an ABUNDANCE of light.  And extra visibility I flip on when I get a left turner in front.  With the modulator, I hit the high beam sw and what they get is two blinding spots and the main modulating at 130watts - in addition to the two 55 watt small spots on the crash bars.  IOW, I MELT their retinas.  NO WAY they didn't see me.  Yeah, I was hit by a bimbo left turner in 1970 who said (to the cop, I was unconscious) "HE CAME OUTTA NOWHERE."  Dumb bitch.

[BF]

You can add a brighter bulb, make mods to your bucket so you don't melt it, and several other options (see that thread Jess posted), but if you really want to see the road better at night, IMHO, the best way to do that is to add more lights.  

I ride alot at night commuting to work.  I want and need to see.....and be seen.  I've added a light bar with two lights from Crobra and two 55w lights on the crash bar.  

Not only do I light up the road, but with five lights on the front of the bike, there's that many more chances that the people that pull out in front of me will see me.  

Just ask and I'll provide more details on my set-up if you're interested.  

[saddlesore]

BF, I as looking at the placement of the lights and I'm wondering if your brighter lights "hide" the signal lights.  A stupid cager may see you but if you're signaling they may not see you signaling.
I've had that problem with vehicles that when the lights are so bright it blinds me to everything else. 

[BF]

BF, I as looking at the placement of the lights and I'm wondering if your brighter lights "hide" the signal lights.  A stupid cager may see you but if you're signaling they may not see you signaling.
I've had that problem with vehicles that when the lights are so bright it blinds me to everything else. 

I guess it depends on your prospective, but I don't think so.  Never had a problem signaling my intentions or anyone being confused by them. 

That said, I'm not all that concerned with the signals on the front of the bike....more so at the rear.  Also have a bunch of lights back there too.  I want as many lights and as bright as I can get for the front. 

It's the people with their turn signal on that are gonna make that left hand turn in front of me that I'm more worried about. 

[Freep]

I've been running a 100/55 (I think, could be 100/60) for a couple years now. Lights stuff up pretty well, even to the sides of the road on highbeam. I do tend to dim it sooner than I would with a standard bulb as the sucker is bright. I've had no problems with anything melting or whatever.

All that said, the low beam is not as wide/bright as I would like so I got some foglights, not driving lights, with flat, wide beam patterns I'm going to mount in front of the timing belt cover and on the lower bar of the crash bar. I'll let you know how that works out and post the link if I can find it.

[.]

BF, I do like that setup you have and would love to have more info on how to do the appropriate wiring and such (bearing in mind that I am a complete noob when it comes to electricity). That looks like a set up that's hard to miss.

[brian1726]

I have changed the h/light globe to 90/130 with relays & have a cobra light bar with 35watt lights,but I would like some more light for riding at night.
BF please supply some info on you're set up.
cheers...
Brian.

[BF]

Specifically, and starting with the headlight.....the headlight is an aftermarket light in the oem bucket.  It's an Adjure 7" Iron Cross.

http://www.adjureinc.com/t7adircrmohe.html

It looks sorta cool, but that's about it.  It's not as bright as the original oem light....and it's a pain to install.  I get complinments on it all the time, however, I wouldn't do it again and I'm in fact looking at intalling an HID kit in my headlight bucket eventually.

What lights up the road for me though, is the driving lights on the light bar and the ones on the crash bar.  

My light bar is from Big Bike Parts.  This one....

http://www.bigbikeparts.com/Inventory/Navision/55-312?catalogNo=1

They come with spots that are brighter with higher wattage bulbs now than when I bought mine....and mine didn't have visors built onto them when I bought it......but it looks like they do now.  

After running with the old BBP spots on them for awhile, I replaced them with some Cobra spots.  These.....

http://www.cruisercustomizing.com/lightbar-spotlight-replacement/part/BLV4-9002

However, the spots that come on the BBP light bar now, I don't think I'd replace.  

The mini driving lights mounted on the engine guard/crash bars, are also from Big Bike Parts.  These.....

http://www.bigbikeparts.com/Inventory/Navision/16-104A?catalogNo=1

There's several ways to mount them, but I used a set of Kury mounts.  



Shadow......

The light bar from BBP comes with simple wiring instructions.  They are easy to hook up.  

The mini lights, one wire goes to ground (doesn't matter which one....really) and the other to a hot wire.....power wire (positive.....usually a red wire).  

The absolute best way to add accessories though, is to add a fused power block.  You run all of your wiring from your accessories to one of those.  

You don't have to add one to add your light bar and mini lights if you don't want to, but if you want to ever add anything else, you really should have one.  

If you want to add one (they're easy to install and not hard to understand), I very highly recommend the PC-8.  

http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Wiring_Kits/Fuseboxes/PC-8/pc-8.html

Here's some threads to read (you can also search for PC-8 and come up with a bunch more).....

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,38349.0.html

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,52385.0.html

[JC]

I've been using a 100/80 blub from NAPA for the past 5 years without any issues. I also have a National bar with 55w blubs aimed low that I run all the time. Has worked well for me.

[MarkT]

I have changed the h/light globe to 90/130 with relays & have a cobra light bar with 35watt lights,but I would like some more light for riding at night.
BF please supply some info on you're set up.
cheers...
Brian.

Wow.  Are you sure it's aimed right?  Just the headlight w/ 130/90 on high beam, lights up the road here CLEARLY for 0.6 mile.  By "clearly", I mean brown mule deer against a brown backdrop are easily seen a half mile away on a black night.  Even so, I have plenty of juice and more is always better, so my high beam sw also activates the aircraft landing lights via relay.  Sometimes there's TOO MUCH light, reflecting off reflective road signs.

[.]

I've been using a 100/80 blub from NAPA for the past 5 years without any issues. I also have a National bar with 55w blubs aimed low that I run all the time. Has worked well for me.

Any wiring or switch issues with that or did you do anything to make the wiring more robust?

[Jess from VA]

Tooling around at night with that kind of light Mark, I'm surprised you haven't attracted the Roswell/UFO crowd.

I come in peace....  

 

[MarkT]

Tooling around at night with that kind of light Mark, I'm surprised you haven't attracted the Roswell/UFO crowd.

I come in peace....  

 

Per Mapsource, Roswell is 492 miles away.  My lights aren't THAT bright.  Yet.

Wagner A/C lights.  Note the unusual design to place the filiment precisely at the reflector focus.  Yep they are sealed - but still halogen bulbs.  Nearly all halogen lights have a replacable bulb which does not place the filiment exactly at the focus.  And nearly all sealed beams are not halogen which burns brighter than pre-halogen tech.

[brian1726]

Mark T, I am happy with the h/light...might just upgrade the 35w driving lights to 55w & go from there.
cheers...
Brian.

[9Ball]

I've been using a 100/80 blub from NAPA for the past 5 years without any issues. I also have a National bar with 55w blubs aimed low that I run all the time. Has worked well for me.

I've been using the 100/80 bulb for over 13 years and replaced the plug with a NAPA ceramic one about 4 years ago due to some heat discoloration and minor plastic distortion of the plug.  No other changes to the wiring.