Brighter spotlights

[sidecarrick]

 I see posts about the brighter Sylvania headlight bulb and would like to go that route, But I wonder if anyone makes brighter bulbs for spots as well. I have a couple aftermarket HD spots and they're already a bit dim compared to the stock headlamp. Any help is appreciated.

[GOOSE]

sidecarrick.....there have been a number of posts on this forum about the extra driving lights (brighter, etc.).....wal-mart has the small 2-21/2 size ones with 50 watt halogen bulbs for like $19.00 each.....one member found the aircraft landing 4 1/2 inch bulbs to fit the h-d/aftermarket shells, and those are the bright boys.

[Blackduck]

Landing lights for low flying Valk's
The holders are aftermarket automotive units, originaaly came with semi-seals.
Landing lights are also available in a smaller diameter that will fit most holders.
Wired with a separate circuit breaker at the battery and the relay in the headlight shell.
Cheers Steve

[sandy]

If you have the 4" PAR 36 bulbs, there are many options for you. Go to 1000bulbs.com . You might call them and get some advice. I switched out my 30 Watt PAR 36's for some 36 Watt Halogen floods. Much brighter and no wiring changes needed.

[X Ring]

I see posts about the brighter Sylvania headlight bulb and would like to go that route, But I wonder if anyone makes brighter bulbs for spots as well. I have a couple aftermarket HD spots and they're already a bit dim compared to the stock headlamp. Any help is appreciated.

I used to run HD spots on my Tourer till one of them caught a rock and the lens ended up with 3 cracks across it.  Mine had the wattage ratings listed on the backside of the reflector.  Iirc, 55 watts was listed on mine.  If yours are too then you can substitute the Silverstar 55 watt H-3 bulbs.

Marty

[R J]

This is not a 50 watt bulb, but it is just as bright for about 1/2 the $$$$.

I replaced my 50 watt halogen about 5 years or so ago.  Still shining bright and have a nice pattern in front of ya.     Ya want to set them in the dark like a parking lot.     Took me about 4 adjustments before I hit on this.

The spotlights are GE H7616 they only use 36.5 watts and put out 70000 CP. Lights up the road very well.    

Did I say before, I love them.    I run them with my high beam during the day and with either high or low at night.   Mine are on a seperate switch, and go off when ya hit the starter button just like the main light.

They must get the other drivers attention, cause I have had people start to turn or pull out in front of me and stop or remain at the intersection till I've gone by.

PS:   I have to give David in Mississippi credit for the information on these bulbs.  Also I think Highbinder said something about them also.    Been too damn long ago to remember with my pea brain anymore.

[hubcapsc]

If they ever show up I'll have something to say about LED spots... HDL sez that
lots of Gold Wing riders are getting them...

I need some 3 inch spots to make my Cobra lightbar and Hoppe Fairing be happy
together...

-Mike

[MarkT]

These are Wagner H7604 spots, also used as A/C landing lights, I got from someone on ebay who was closing out inventory for the San Diego police - they use them as spots on their cruisers.  I bought a case of them.  Check ebay for the bulbs.  They fit in standard spot shells.

[T.P.]

HEY MARKT,  Who made the fork mounts for those spots?

[MarkT]

HEY MARKT,  Who made the fork mounts for those spots?

Those are Rifle billet windshield mounts

[Warlock]

This is not a 50 watt bulb, but it is just as bright for about 1/2 the $$$$.

I replaced my 50 watt halogen about 5 years or so ago.  Still shining bright and have a nice pattern in front of ya.     Ya want to set them in the dark like a parking lot.     Took me about 4 adjustments before I hit on this.

The spotlights are GE H7616 they only use 36.5 watts and put out 70000 CP. Lights up the road very well.    

Did I say before, I love them.    I run them with my high beam during the day and with either high or low at night.   Mine are on a seperate switch, and go off when ya hit the starter button just like the main light.

They must get the other drivers attention, cause I have had people start to turn or pull out in front of me and stop or remain at the intersection till I've gone by.

PS:   I have to give David in Mississippi credit for the information on these bulbs.  Also I think Highbinder said something about them also.    Been too damn long ago to remember with my pea brain anymore.

What RJ uses 
David

[Ricky-D]

If one of the reasons for the extra lighting is to be a warning for oncoming traffic and other traffic entering the roadway,

Has no one considered headlight modulators?

Being absolutely legal in all the states, modulators really get the attention and desired effect from all the traffic that is in front of the bike.

***

[Brian]

Ricky-D,
I hate to ask but what is a headlight modulator?

[gordonv]

If one of the reasons for the extra lighting is to be a warning for oncoming traffic and other traffic entering the roadway,

Has no one considered headlight modulators?

Being absolutely legal in all the states, modulators really get the attention and desired effect from all the traffic that is in front of the bike.

***

I love them, and love what they do to the other vehicles on the road. I "sold" mine to a fellow rider going on a 3K miles trip, and proceeded to buy 2 more to put onto my 2 bikes.

Riding without, and then with a modulator, the way the traffic behaves is so noticable. Then there is also the way the hwy traffic infront of me pulls over to the slow lane, is a nice site to see!

[Ricky-D]

Ricky-D,
I hate to ask but what is a headlight modulator?

Here Brian, this link will tell it all:

https://www.kisantech.com/index.php?cat_id=2

I've the modulators on my Interstate and they work in unison due to a connector wire. They are plug and play absolutely.

Mine work (only) when you click on the brights. Now I see they work with both high and low beams. Not sure I like that but I am receptive to the idea.

Traffic in front generally think I'm a cop cycle when I have them on and they usually move over right smartly.

It will stop people in their tracks when they look as if they are thinking to pull out in front of me.

***

[X Ring]

I've got headlight modulators on my Tourer and I/S.  They've saved by butt a couple of times.

Marty

[Brian]

Is this something that can be switched on when you need it? Or do the lights modulate all the time like this?

[gordonv]

I forget the actual #'s, but head light modulaters have a Federal criteria to be met. Most (or all of them) turn on when you place the head lamp onto hi beam, and then will reduce the voltage to 60%-70% of that power, and back again. It must modulate 240 times a minute. It must turn off auto matical when the light level goes down (dusk/dawn/night/tunnels/garages), via a photo cell

The flashing is fast and noticiable compared to emergency vehicles, and can not be mistaken for one.

Since almost no one has ever seen one in operation, most first confuse the light flashing for an emergency vehicle (cop bike), and behave accordingly.

I 1st saw one on a bike coming up behind me, and I did a double take. Took a few seconds to realize what I was seeing. When seeing them from an on-coming MC, about once or twice a year (not often after 10K miles ride a year!), it really draws the eyes and makes them stand out. I now know why people behave like they see it.

[PhredValk]

Could anyone please inform us on where to purchase these for an I/S, and is there an installation doc anywhere?
Fred.

[X Ring]

Both of mine are Kisan.  I've got the Pathfinder P115W On the Tourer and the P115W-D on the I/S.  Both are plug and play.  You unplug the headlight bulb, plug the modulator onto the bulb then plug the headlight harness onto the modulator.  Run the sensor wire where it is exposed to sunlight.  Mine is zip tied to the wiring harness going to the right switchbox. 

Marty

[Chiefy]

Is this something that can be switched on when you need it? Or do the lights modulate all the time like this?

Have never owned one.  But according to some safety information I read "somewhere".......

You connect them to the the high beam only.  This way, if you're riding back in a group you can flip to low beam so the modulating doesn't "bug" the rider in front of you.  And they all (AFAIK) have a sensor so that they don't modulate at night.

Many of the smaller bikes around here use them.  Most of the larger bikes seem to only use extra spots.  Although I use spots, I'm thinking modulators would be good too.  Between the texters, and a large demographic group with eroding driving skills, I feel like I'm a duck in a shooting gallery when I ride.

Oh, I just saw that Gordon just told you all that.  "Coffee!!!  Yoo-hoo!! More coffee over here!!"

[MarkT]

I have been running the high-power, wire-in modulator on my standard for about a dozen years now with no problems.  I only activate it when someone is about to cross my path.  At the same time the high beam switch triggers the relay to my A/C landing light spots.  No question I'm coming - got hit in this same situation 8/3/70 on my Ducati running with high beam on in Wis - totalled the '70 Buick and my bike and almost me, doing 70 at the time - cursed bimbo said "He came out of nowhere - I thought I hit a dog."  I've had so many close calls in Wis - I've come to the conclusion the cheese is blocking up their brains. I didn't ride again for 27 years, but said if I ever do again, I'm going to MAKE SURE they see me coming. My headlight now is 130/90, modulating, with A/C landing lights and 2 more 50 watt halogen spots on the crash bars - 5 bright lights (three illegal), 1 modulating in a pyramid pattern.  Never had a problem with this modulator.

However, my buddy, who at the time lived in Wis, I talked into installing one, had his plug-in Kisan unit fail so he tossed it - I told him he shoulda told Kisan about it, they'll back it up.  He since was so impressed with CO he moved to Durango and installed spots. I also installed modulators on my wing - and they failed on a road trip, wouldn't turn off at night when I really needed my high beams to see the hundreds of deer on the road, on the top of Red Mountain Pass at midnight (Million Dollar Highway between Ouray and Silverton). Those were the plug-in ones on the back of the bulbs.  They are REALLY hard to get to on a wing - not only are you not going to access them on the side of the road, but it needs to be done in a shop with a special tool, and it takes me hours just to change a light bulb.  I had Kisan replace them, but they are still in the box as I don't want to deal with that again.  The wing has incredibly bright lights already - I expect it will take a close call before I decide to install them again.  Or maybe I'll add some spots, and install them on the spots.

[rocketray]

the wagner H7604 spots fit right into my cobra lite bar--got them off the shelf at the local NAPA...the honda dealer wired up a seperate switch to turn them off and on...the boards say you will burn up the ignition switch if you start up with the switch on as best I could gather.......that and an "offroad "bulb for the central light pushing a few more watts than stock hooked up to a headlight modulator  has been very effective in getting me seen...... remember to always make sure that you are not lined up with the "A" pillar-the one by the cars windshield-bikes easily at even a short distance can be obscured by it...

[Toolman Tom]

Ricky-D,
I hate to ask but what is a headlight modulator?

 
The Kisen modulators are great!  I do a lot of long rides (Route 66 all the way, 8,500 last year out west, Americade and others)  All of these trips start in Atlanta GA.  The modulators are controled by your high and low beam switch on the left handlebar.  I know they have caused cagers to be more alert.  I've actually had people pull over if I was behind them.  Most important is the cars that are coming out from side streets or about to turn in front of you.  I always have them on.  The light sensor is mounted in the headlight housing and when it gets dark, the modulator won't be activated.  Tom

[Mildew]

Be careful running a bunch of brights. Critters see less with more lighting and are more prone to jump in front of you based on my own multimillion mile study. Low beams and one head light works for me

[Hef]

I have been running the Kissan Modulator for about 6 years now. Very simple to install on my standard and has never failed. As previously mentioned, it operates only on high beam during daylight hours and does attract attention. You can shut it off merely by going to low beam. The Light sensor keeps it off at night regardless of high or low beam. Anyone using a modulator should be aware that in town they can be very annoying to the driver in front of you especially at a stop sign. Since they operate on high beam they are usually glaring in the drivers rear-view mirror. Need to be courteous and use some wisdom when using the modulator. Very good safety device when used properly.