Author Topic: Headlight bulb conversion  (Read 6639 times)

Offline Soggz

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Headlight bulb conversion
« on: September 20, 2019, 04:04:59 PM »
To LED.
Is there a led bulb available for the k75?
Thanks in advance.
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Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2019, 04:58:10 PM »
Do you want an LED replacement that works properly and is legal? 

If the answer is no, there are a lot of LED H4 replacements out there, some of them are pretty cheap, too.

If the answer is yes, then you need to wait.  There are no LED H4 replacements that meet D.O.T. requirements for pattern and scatter.

  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Soggz

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2019, 07:10:11 PM »
Do you want an LED replacement that works properly and is legal? 

If the answer is no, there are a lot of LED H4 replacements out there, some of them are pretty cheap, too.

If the answer is yes, then you need to wait.  There are no LED H4 replacements that meet D.O.T. requirements for pattern and scatter.
just something that works,really.
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Offline stokester

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2019, 07:22:56 PM »
Do you want an LED replacement that works properly and is legal? 

If the answer is no, there are a lot of LED H4 replacements out there, some of them are pretty cheap, too.

If the answer is yes, then you need to wait.  There are no LED H4 replacements that meet D.O.T. requirements for pattern and scatter.
As a former licensed Virginia State Inspector I've had this discussion with many riders.

You are correct, and in the Commonwealth of Virginia the installed bulb must match the embossed label on the headlight assembly.  Most inspectors will not go to that extent to fail you on an inspection but by the law it is still not allowed.  It is the same with cars.  If the headlamp says H4 and you have an HID or LED bulb in there it does not pass inspection.

There is a reason for this.  The light pattern of the original bulb was matched to the headlamp assembly and frequently an improper replacement will not illuminate the road according to the law.
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Offline Filmcamera

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #4 on: September 20, 2019, 09:05:50 PM »
I had a dodgy LED for a while but though bright it was rubbish.


In the end I went this route


http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Wiring_Kits/H4_Kits/h4_kits.html


with this bulb


https://www.amazon.com/BREAKER-Halogen-Headlight-64193NBL-Folding/dp/B01LLKFX8Q/ref=dp_ob_title_auto


It is not quite a bright as an LED but saves your switches and has the proper pattern.  For out and out brightness I have some cheap and cheerful spots added.
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Offline Martin

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2019, 09:37:29 PM »
Use a legal high wattage H4 bulb, add a relay and if that's not bright enough add a couple of auxiliary LED spots or a LED light bar.
Regards Martin.
  • North Lakes Queensland Australia
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Offline Chri5

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2019, 10:32:04 PM »
You wont pass an MOT with an led bulb in the stock housing the new mot rules (2018) have been tightened. aftermarket led bulbs in normal housing are strictly prohibited unless your on good terms with the inspector and hes willing to fudge it for you

But you can always swap the bulbs for the mot but watch out for vosa vehicles they will pull you for it as its easily spotted
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Offline Soggz

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2019, 02:28:45 AM »
Ok.
Thanks all. Basically, the reason I’m asking, is that
my low beam went out last night, so I was thinking that while I had all the cowl off to change the bulb, would it be worth me putting an led in.
Where would I get the twin spotlights from, And is it easy to wire them in? ( I’m not good at electrickery).
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Offline Martin

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2019, 03:06:55 AM »
Ebay or Aliexpress I picked up 2 x 6" light bars for $16.00 Au. The bricks should really be fitted with a relay to stop the switch from overloading., see Eastern Beaver. With a relay fitted it is easy to wire in the auxiliary lights to the high beam circuit with a separate switch to switch off when not required. There are also heaps of wiring diagrams on the net.
Regards Martin.
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Offline Soggz

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2019, 03:09:01 AM »
Ebay or Aliexpress I picked up 2 x 6" light bars for $16.00 Au. The bricks should really be fitted with a relay to stop the switch from overloading., see Eastern Beaver. With a relay fitted it is easy to wire in the auxiliary lights to the high beam circuit with a separate switch to switch off when not required. There are also heaps of wiring diagrams on the net.
Regards Martin.
Thanks Martin.
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Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2019, 10:01:55 AM »
I just bought an Eastern Beaver harness for the "new" brick.  They now have an option for a pigtail to power driving lights from either the hi or lo beam.

http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Wiring_Kits/H4_Kits/h4_kits.html

These relay harnesses are the best upgrade you can make to your brick.

  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline johnny

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2019, 10:18:14 AM »
greetings...

eastern beaver user here... osram was my go to bulb... then catz hyperwhite which is no longer imported from japan... then back to osram... they discoed the ralley which was one of the best... now my go to bulb guy says the vosla is now his go to bulb...

i have 1 more spare catz hyperwhite on the shelf... the catz hyperwhite is what is in the herseyb rs eleven hundert... those things are amazing... bonsai tora tora tora...

yeeeeeerhaaaaaaa...

j o
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2019, 12:41:57 PM »
JO, how's the life of your Osram bulb on the Eastern Beaver harness.  I found that bulb life went down a lot, probably because the bulb was seeing more voltage and current which put lots more light downrange.  Right now I'm averaging about 15,000 miles per bulb on Ilsa, the horizon chaser.

That Vosla bulb looks interesting.  I might have to put some in the fleet this winter. 
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline johnny

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #13 on: September 21, 2019, 02:22:13 PM »
greetings...

caints say cause i dont know... butts the sylvanias didnt seem to last that long... the catzs certainly didnt last that long... butts the osrams did seem to last longer than the rest...

j o
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline Soggz

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2019, 04:48:17 PM »
Problem solved. Took the cowl off to reveal the top connected in the bulb block had come out. Bulbs ok.
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Offline Martin

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #15 on: September 21, 2019, 05:45:46 PM »
You still need to fit a relay if you want to avoid future switch problems.
Regards Martin.
  • North Lakes Queensland Australia
  • 1992 K75s Hybrid, Lefaux, Vespa V twin.

Offline Soggz

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #16 on: September 21, 2019, 07:11:33 PM »
You still need to fit a relay if you want to avoid future switch problems.
Regards Martin.
Thanks Martin. How do I go about doing that please?
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Offline Martin

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #17 on: September 21, 2019, 07:23:08 PM »
Eastern Beaver kit is recommended by a lot of Brick riders. And as per Gryph you might want to get the one with the facilities to add driving lights or fog lights. Buying the kit will make it a lot easier for an electrical novice to fit it.
Regards Martin.
  • North Lakes Queensland Australia
  • 1992 K75s Hybrid, Lefaux, Vespa V twin.
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Offline Soggz

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #18 on: September 21, 2019, 07:29:21 PM »
Eastern Beaver kit is recommended by a lot of Brick riders. And as per Gryph you might want to get the one with the facilities to add driving lights or fog lights. Buying the kit will make it a lot easier for an electrical novice to fit it.
Regards Martin.
ok. Thanks. Is it available in the uk?
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Offline Martin

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #19 on: September 21, 2019, 07:38:46 PM »
Seek and ye may or ye may not find. It can be ordered from the US.
Regards Martin.
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Offline Laitch

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #20 on: September 21, 2019, 08:16:20 PM »
It can be ordered from the US.
It'll be shipped from Japan regardless of where it's ordered. The UK isn't on EB's no ship list. Google Easter Beaver relays and go directly to the site.
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Offline Soggz

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #21 on: September 22, 2019, 04:19:27 AM »
It'll be shipped from Japan regardless of where it's ordered. The UK isn't on EB's no ship list. Google Easter Beaver relays and go directly to the site.
Hey, thanks.
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Offline Soggz

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #22 on: September 22, 2019, 04:25:05 AM »
Erm... looked on the site. Which one do I need, please?
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Offline Laitch

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #23 on: September 22, 2019, 05:39:10 AM »
Erm... looked on the site. Which one do I need, please?
It might be that one or the other of the H4 Single 'In Shell' Relay Kits will work for you based on your confidence about installing using Posilocks and shrinktubing. Plenty of YouTube videos are available on both products. The LO Cut option is unnecessary. It also depends on how the wiring is configured into that headlight fairing. As Martin and The Mighty G have indicated, get the kit with the two extra leads if you can see driving lights in your future.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles
I wept because I had no radials until I met a man who had no splines.
https://tinyurl.com/RillRider

Offline Soggz

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Re: Headlight bulb conversion
« Reply #24 on: September 22, 2019, 06:04:26 AM »
It might be that one or the other of the H4 Single 'In Shell' Relay Kits will work for you based on your confidence about installing using Posilocks and shrinktubing. Plenty of YouTube videos are available on both products. The LO Cut option is unnecessary. It also depends on how the wiring is configured into that headlight fairing. As Martin and The Mighty G have indicated, get the kit with the two extra leads if you can see driving lights in your future.
Ok, yes, I’m no good at electrics, as I said. The loom comes from under the tank to the headlight plug. That’s about it really. There is no indication that anything goes into the shell.
There is plenty of room in the cowl, as there is a redundant alarm system in there that can come out as it dosnt work.
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  • 1986 K75C, 1982 Honda CX500EC Eurostreetbrat
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