SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1300428704

Message started by krsanky on 03/17/11 at 23:11:44

Title: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by krsanky on 03/17/11 at 23:11:44

I've searched through the forums, and see different ways to get brighter
headlights.

My question is what's the easiest least intrusive way to do that?

I can change out the main headlight housing, or i can add a
lightbar with supplemental lights. BUT, i'm afraid to change or
touch anything in the charging system.

any ideas, i just want to see more road at night.

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by verslagen1 on 03/17/11 at 23:43:11

3 options; more lights, brighter light or bigger light.

the current light is a 55/60 watt bulb, you probably are safe doubling that.

So you could add another identical headlight.

Or a higher wattage bulb, 95/100. Beware of the extra heat, the headlight shell is plastic.

Or a HID lightbulb only 35 watts and a hell of a lot more light.

Or a zennon lightbulb, 100 watts acts like a 135 watt bulb.

Or find yourself a 8" or 10" headlight.

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by IN-S40 on 03/18/11 at 05:51:50

Or a HID lightbulb only 35 watts and a hell of a lot more light.

+1

A little more work mounting everything like the balast but lots more light! My girlfriend and I both have Savages hers has a standared headlight mine is HID and the difference is amazing, Hers will be getting a HID next month. I'll have to do a write up for the Tech section when I do the install.

Darren
IN-S40

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by kernel ken on 03/18/11 at 06:50:55

Darren,

Looking forward to seeing your write-up. Hope you can add pictures also.

Kernel Ken

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by MotoBuddha on 03/18/11 at 06:55:47

Easiest? Tape some flashlights to the front of the bike.

;D

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by babyhog on 03/18/11 at 06:58:10

56584F5358513D0 wrote:

Darren,

Looking forward to seeing your write-up. Hope you can add pictures also.

Kernel Ken

+1
I've been considering this also, so I'd love to see a write-up on it.

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by IN-S40 on 03/18/11 at 08:07:16

The kit i used came from DDM Tuning it runs $40 plus shipping for the Hi/Lo beam version. It comes with NO instructions so it took a bit of head scratching to get it put in but the results are worth it. The write up will have pics!

Darren
IN-S40

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by JohnBoy on 03/18/11 at 08:47:40

0904092E2B38382F244A0 wrote:

Or a HID lightbulb only 35 watts and a hell of a lot more light.
A little more work mounting everything like the balast ...

Can you tell us a little about the ballast? size. mounting requirements, heat...

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by verslagen1 on 03/18/11 at 09:02:08

Ballast size depends on the unit you buy, they vary some.
But the one I got was like 2 or 3 cd cases stacked up and a couple heavy wires running from it.

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by wallysurfr on 03/18/11 at 09:43:33

where would you mount that so that it isn't seen?

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by thumperclone on 03/18/11 at 09:46:23

EASIEST >change the bulb
PIAA comes to mind
some wattage brighter light
i did that and added led mr11 driving lights

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by greenmonster on 03/18/11 at 10:06:53

66445F44695E4F4F434A2B0 wrote:

Easiest? Tape some flashlights to the front of the bike.

;D

Naa, easiest is to wipe the dirt off the lens. :D

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by IN-S40 on 03/18/11 at 10:19:10

Ill try to get a couple pics up of my install this evening, unles I can talk my boss into letting me park my bike by my desk... ::) but i doubt it lol

Darren

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by krsanky on 03/18/11 at 12:49:35

wow, thanks for the advice (and jokes :) ) .

my bike is still snowed into its shed, so i'll be doing one of the suggested light improvements soon. i shall report back.

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by arteacher on 03/18/11 at 15:31:38

Second the Piaa post- I put a Piaa "plasma" H4 bulb in mine and it made quite a difference. I am not over driving the low beam anymore.

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by krsanky on 03/18/11 at 18:12:29

I'm getting this for now:
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/330-752

but im also interested in seeing a write-up on a HID upgrade

thanks again

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by IN-S40 on 03/18/11 at 20:07:17

Here a couple pics of the setup:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g255/cncdarren/suzuki/DPP_0134.jpg
Here is a pic of a stock 03 on the right and my 05 with HID on the left. This is a 6000K bulb.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g255/cncdarren/suzuki/DPP_0135.jpg
This small box is between the ballast and the bulb, simply zip tied to the exising wires.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g255/cncdarren/suzuki/DPP_0137.jpg
I have the ballast mounted under the tank right above the engine. You can see the decomp selonoid right above it.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g255/cncdarren/suzuki/DPP_0136.jpg
Overall look at the front setup.

There is also a relay that i have mounted under the seat so that the ballast draws its power straight from the battery and doesnt draw the power through the controls. The relay is included in the HID kit I bought and it was sugested to use one when I was looking at HID kits.

Once I get the kit in for the girlfriends bike I will do a full write up with photos..

Darren
IN-S40

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by Pannonia on 03/19/11 at 08:15:51

Wondering if the main reason to get a brighter light is to see better, or be seen better. If it's the latter, I read somewhere that the best way to do this is to get a headlight modulator, which catches drivers attention by creating somewhat of a flicker in the headlamp. Any thoughts on this?

[of course, if the main reason is to see better at night - which is less interesting for me as I rarely ride at night - then the modulator is obviously not an answer...]

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by IN-S40 on 03/19/11 at 10:52:50

The main reason I put in the HID was to see better in the early morning riding into work. However during daytime while riding i can sometimes see the light bouncing off the reflective street signs. My girlfriend said that when she is riding in front of me it does have a flickering look to it when you go over bumps in the road. So for me i think its a good deal all around, brighter light and it does seen to get noticed more duting the day.

Darren

Title: Re: best/easiest way to get brighter headlights
Post by arteacher on 03/19/11 at 13:06:55

My experience with the Piaa "plasma" bulb was: before installation I drove with the high beams on all the time. Once in a while oncoming traffic would flash their lights at night. Now , if I forget to turn tit back to low beam I almost always get flashed. I also bought a headlight modulator, but haven't had a chance to install it yet.