Headlight upgrade

[SteveW]

Just wondered what everyone does to upgrade their headlights?

Took my 1980 650 out yesterday for the first time at night and the light output is terrible.

It’s not a sealed beam so could replace the bulb or replace the entire headlight.

Any recommendations, thanks.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

The regulations on retro fitting of LED bulbs has changed and is now legal provided the dip beam cut off meets the Mot standard.

My cheap one off e-bay failed before I rode my bike - I bought a replacement from Classic Car LEDs I think it was.

[SteveW]

The regulations on retro fitting of LED bulbs has changed and is now legal provided the dip beam cut off meets the Mot standard.

My cheap one off e-bay failed before I rode my bike - I bought a replacement from Classic Car LEDs I think it was.

Just had a look on their website, thanks.
Did you have any trouble fitting in in the headlight bucket?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I used the shallower of the two bulbs they listed to be on the safe side iirc.

[SteveW]

Thanks, I’ll give it a try.

[mike the bike]

I used a Superdream headlamp on my 400four.   It looks exactly the same as the original.   It took me less than an hour to fit.  I had to update the main fuse from 15A to 20A.

[Oddjob]

Try and find a 7" Cibie Z beam headlight or failing that any Cibie 7" one.

Difference is like night and day (see what I did there  )

I bought a new Cibie headlight some years ago from M&P as it was advertised as being a Z beam. Paid about £50 for it only to find it wasn't the Z beam version. I did keep it however as I wasn't sure at that time just how my old Z beam had stood the test of time. Turns out it's just fine so the new Cibie is available if your interested.