Author Topic: Headlight upgrade  (Read 3194 times)

Offline RGP750

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Headlight upgrade
« on: July 21, 2014, 03:14:10 PM »
Hi All
Any tips on up grading the original headlight to something
brighter without it looking too different.
I remember back in the day it was the Cibie z beam, concave lense if i remember correctly.
Cheers Rich
1972 500/4
1973 CB175
1972 CB175
1959 BSA Super rocket
1927 960cc Matchless 'v' twin
1969 750 K0

Offline Bryanj

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Re: Headlight upgrade
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2014, 04:19:38 PM »
You can fit a standard car H4 unit but you need to keep the motor revs over 4,000 for the charging system to cope

Offline JamesH

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Re: Headlight upgrade
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2014, 04:27:46 PM »

You can fit a standard car H4 unit but you need to keep the motor revs over 4,000 for the charging system to cope
Bryan, has anyone tried an h4 until with an H4 LED lamp replacement? Might be less taxing on the charging circuit?

Offline JamesH

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Re: Headlight upgrade
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2014, 07:42:13 PM »
Cb750 supply do h4 replacements...

http://www.cb750supply.com/products/5/electrical/40/headlamps-headlamps-brackets-headlamp-parts

I'd be tempted by one of theae and an H4 LED...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390857438281


May even try it out myself on one of the 750's....


Offline UK Pete

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Re: Headlight upgrade
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2014, 08:41:29 PM »
I got left behind in a group ride out , in some dark lanes 2 autumns ago on my F2 the lights are so bad i was thinking of stopping and calling the RAC to get me home, i had to proceed at about 30mph for my own safety, never again
pete

Offline RGP750

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Re: Headlight upgrade
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2014, 10:26:32 PM »
Thanks for the link James , I'll report how good it is.
Last night ride out with my Son he was behind on his modern Triumph on main beam so i could see where i was round the lanes,just had to really slow down when someone came the other way and he dipped,like turning the lights out. scarey hence the update.
Cheers guys Rich
1972 500/4
1973 CB175
1972 CB175
1959 BSA Super rocket
1927 960cc Matchless 'v' twin
1969 750 K0

Offline K2-K6

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Re: Headlight upgrade
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2014, 09:57:34 PM »
Rich, as Bryan says they are a standard fit for 7inch units and there are alot of choices for the car guys out there that ask the same question about upgrading for things like the original mini, escort mk1, triumph and land rover as a good scource of newer kit to suit.

Often done on older rally cars was to feed the headlights etc straight from the battery via a fuse and then use a relay turned on and off by the original switching tom make sure the correct amps could be supplied and make the most of 60watt halogen bulbs.

I'm guessing that's not required if you run led lights though, does anyone know if that's correct?

Offline Green1

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Re: Headlight upgrade
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2014, 10:28:48 PM »
Oddjob don't you mean 100kph  ;)

Mick
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Offline spookycooky

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Re: Headlight upgrade
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2014, 11:59:19 PM »
I think Goffy does some 45/40w H4's as a reasonable compromise. http://www.norbsa02.freeuk.com/goffybulbs.htm

You might want to think about replacing your binnacle lights with LED's to reduce some of the load on the charging system, but that's about it. I would shy away from replacing headlights/taillights with LED's. As far as I'm aware, the UK legality of these LED units is still very grey. Also, make sure your wiring loom and contacts/connections are clean, properly seated and in good nick. I asked much the same questions myself when I first showed up on here and that was pretty much the sage and sane advice I was given. There's plenty of searchable discussion in the archives about this on here and over on the US site.
Nick.

Offline K2-K6

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Re: Headlight upgrade
« Reply #9 on: July 23, 2014, 10:59:19 PM »
I understood that the LED front lights fitted by car manufacturers are driven at something like 400% of their rated spec. Because this would ordinarily overheat the led unit, they are pulsed like a strobe light at a rate you can't normally see so they look continuous. If you see some slow-mo footage of them on something like top-gear you can see them flashing.

It doesn't look like any of the straight bulb replacements would do this, so interesting to see if anyone buys and trys an led "bulb".

I've always run CB750s with Cibie Z180 and 55/60w halogen bulbs with no problems.

 

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