Headlamp options?

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

H4

The bulb I am talking about is a plug and play for a H4 stock plug / headlight houseing. Don't know what you are up againest with PO's wireing and the small parts ie, trim rings etc, are very availbule, Ebay and others

Tom...if that "short connector" you mentioned is a 3-wire jumper that connects the bulb to the wiring harness, I have that.

T.C. ...a nice, clear, bright headlight is exactly what I'm after. Yours looks GREAT. I don't have any kind of retainer or trim ring though....just the bucket shell and wiring. Can you point me to a site where I can take a look at the conversion you're talking about?

Also...everybody's talking about reflectors and bulbs. Are these things set up with a separate housing and halogen bulb cartridge? Or is that the conversion T.C. is talking about? I thought everything was sealed-beam back when these were new.

Nate: you're speaking my language now. Got a link to those? Google isn't cooperating.

[JasonRedbeard]

Thanks Phil, that at least gives me SOME idea of what I'm actually looking for. I was a touch confused because the fairing DOES have a sealed beam headlight mounted in it...but that hardware does not appear to be compatible with the bucket on the bike.

[JasonRedbeard]

OEM...that's just the problem. -I- don't know what I'm up against with small parts/trim rings/etc because there's simply nothing there. I don't know what I'm -supposed- to have, and I don't like the thought of paying $80-100 for a full assembly when maybe all I need is $30 worth of mounting and trim rings....

However. Since the sealed beam bulb that I have is clearly not what I need, and is probably inferior as far as light output anyway, I think we're down to the "ebay used assembly" vs. "upgrade/conversion kit" debate.

[JasonRedbeard]

The wiring I'm reasonably sure I can sort out. I do automotive electrical work for a living, so this is nothing new, and I'm sure this bike is waaaay less complex than the new cars I'm used to. It's just a spaghetti mess where they tied the fairing harness in to the bike harness....which is all in the headlight bucket.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Headlight

Hey, I get your frustration. Phil knows more about these bikes then many of us. I wouuld love to be of help to you, if you could post some pic's of what you have and don't have, I will invest my time to find the best price for missing items to try and help before you spend your $$$, one of the things I think I am good at Just want to help if I can

OEM...that's just the problem. -I- don't know what I'm up against with small parts/trim rings/etc because there's simply nothing there. I don't know what I'm -supposed- to have, and I don't like the thought of paying $80-100 for a full assembly when maybe all I need is $30 worth of mounting and trim rings....

However. Since the sealed beam bulb that I have is clearly not what I need, and is probably inferior as far as light output anyway, I think we're down to the "ebay used assembly" vs. "upgrade/conversion kit" debate.

[bikerphil]

If you have the outer shell already, you'll need the parts in the center diagram. These parts usually remain attached together all as one unit. This unit will bolt right in the outer shell and you're all set.

[Barnfresh]

This fairing had a sealed beam. At night it was really easy to overrun the light. - very dangerous. When we got home the other 11 I was riding with said "did you see those deer by the side of the road?" I was like "What deer?"
So the next day I fit this stock 79 bucket with H4. I had to trim the fairing fiberglass and grind down some tabs on the bucket, then drill some side mounting holes. It kind of sticks out some but what a difference. I think at least a 5X improvement over the feeble seal beam.

[crazy steve]

I am surprised Steve hasn't been here yet to talk about the Cibie reflectors .

Haven't used them myself but others swear by them. New materials with new prism and reflecting geometry=more light where you want it.

Heh heh... Ok, I'll throw in my .02 worth...

Yes, I'm a big booster for Cibie lights, as they've proven to be much superior to any other lights I've ran. Here's an independant view...

http://www.allpar.com/fix/electrical...ghts/ecode.php

The XS specials are set up to accept a 'standard' 7" round lens assembly, so you're not stuck with OEM. The DOT-compliant lens that Yamaha used has only middlin' optics at best IMO; while using a 'better' lamp can help, a E-code lens offers better optics with less glare for oncoming traffic. Beware the cheap E-code knock-offs you see on eBay, as most aren't even equal to DOT specs, claims to the contrary.

For more than you probably want to know about lighting, look here: http://www.jag-lovers.org/books/xj-s/26-Lightmods.html

There's only two downsides to these; first is cost. Expect to pay $80 for a new, quality E-code lens assembly. Second is legality; these are legal in Canada, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska, but nowhere else in the US. But enforcement is generally non-existent, so if properly aimed, I wouldn't expect any problems. These present less glare to oncoming traffic compared to DOT lights if aimed right, and aren't obviously 'different' like an illegal HID conversion. The only other difference is being an automotive-sourced lamp, the low-beam cut-off is biased to the right (as seen in the first link pic where the lights are shining on a wall), where a motorcycle-specific lens is 'level'. This actually allows you to aim the light a bit higher, as you won't glare oncoming traffic as easily and gives you better 'roadside' light (great for spotting critters...). I'll also note that these use standard H-4 lamps, so there's no replacement issues if a lamp burn out.

For some very interesting tech pieces, and prices on Cibie lights; look here: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/home.html

[JasonRedbeard]

There's the diagram I was looking for. Thanks Phil.

Steve...those E-code lenses look nice, but I think the cost (on top of still having to source the rest of the hardware,) is gonna be a bit much at the moment. Maybe once I get her roadworthy and sort the other glitches out....

[cywelchjr]

I kinda surprised that the wire was butchered to install the fairing, as it's not supposed to be, as the pigtail for connecting the fairing to the bike comes with bullet connectors and such and is designed to just plug in to the harness. One might throw some electrical tape on there to hold some things together and such, but no wire cutting should have been required, and is certainly not recommended, and AFAIK, even in the 81H which comes from the factory with the fairing it's all plugged in and is just a matter of unplugging everything and plugging in the non-fairing parts. I know mine, which is not factory being an 80 but I was told was dealer installed doesn't have a single cut or splice involved in the fairing install, it's all plugged in to the pigtail which plugs into the fairing. The only butchered wires are/were inside the fairing itself (other than the bypassing of the starter button to put that in the fairing when that button broke). It's amazing how the fool figured out how to pretty much bypass the headlight relay without actually bypassing it all inside the fairing. Fortunately because of how it was done it was just a matter of moving some wires around so the colors matched inside the fairing, it was all done with insulated spade connectors. I'd like to either do the CIBIE light at some point, or put one of the DOT HID kits in, but I gotta save up the almost $500 needed to do the HID, and I'm not quite sure it's worth it, but the way they are starting to crack down on more and more stuff that's not DOT approved around here, I don't want to take a chance on a non DOT conversion, and I'm even a little leery of the CIBIE unit cause I've seen CHP officers who really get mad at you go over everything on the bike with a fine tooth comb, and every light on the bike better be DOT approved or if they are THAT upset they will probably IMPOUND the bike, not just give a fixit ticket. I'd like to think I'd never give one reason to feel that way, but one never knows what kind of experience the officer had with the LAST rider he pulled over, and he may just HATE bikers (yes, they ARE out there and look for reasons to take the bike away).

[crazy steve]

..I'd like to either do the CIBIE light at some point, or put one of the DOT HID kits in, but I gotta save up the almost $500 needed to do the HID, and I'm not quite sure it's worth it, but the way they are starting to crack down on more and more stuff that's not DOT approved around here, I don't want to take a chance on a non DOT conversion, and I'm even a little leery of the CIBIE unit cause I've seen CHP officers who really get mad at you go over everything on the bike with a fine tooth comb, and every light on the bike better be DOT approved or if they are THAT upset they will probably IMPOUND the bike, not just give a fixit ticket...

I don't think you'd have any trouble with a Cibie headlight; further research indicates that all current Cibie lights are ECE and SAE M compliant, with the latter approval being the critical one. SAE M is a motorcycle spec; there more info here: http://www.ratwell.com/technical/BoschH4.html , you'll need to read the whole thing. It's a bit confusing, and I attempted to track this down further but got bogged down in legalese. Regulations were relaxed in 1997 to allow 'ECE-similar' light patterns (while still requiring DOT markings), so it's not like you're going to stand out. But according to this site, you can get a Bosch E-code/DOT/SAE M motorcycle-specific headlight for about $45 a pair, as that's what this guy is recommending; check the link to 'bus depot'. No help for a square-light standard owner, but a pretty good deal for a quality 7" round light. I don't personally think the Bosch is quite equal to a Cibie (I've ran them in the past), but still a nice unit.

And I think your paranoia over an non-DOT-marked aftermarket halogen is a bit misplaced; I went and checked my OEM Yamaha lenses I have, and neither type (round or square) has any DOT markings on them. Or SAE/ECE for that matter; the only identifier on them is both are marked 'motorcycle'.... So either Yamaha snuck these past the feds, or that 'DOT' marking requirement isn't written in stone as hard as some think..

[Lonerider62]

About the only thing that will really get a rider, or any other vehicle, in trouble in Michigan is a blue light. The trend lately has been towards "white" and in many cases, those have anywhere from a slightly blue hue to a definite blue color. Our MVC in Michigan makes it very clear that blue is NOT allowed and if you have one of the headlights that has a blue color, you'll probably get pulled over and ticketed. I was at an AutoZone looking for a set of fog lights that I liked but I thought they were too blue. I asked the AutoZone guy if he thought they'd pass the scruitiny of the State police and he acted as if he didn't know what I was talking about. I asked him if I could take them down to the State Police post for an idea of their legality. When the State trooper took one look he said, "blue, not legal". Then we went over the Motor Vehicle Code for about an hour and in several places it mentioned blue lights and emulating police colors etc. I took the lights back and bought some that were definitely white, not blue.

[fredintoon]

The wiring I'm reasonably sure I can sort out. - - -

Hi Jason,
now you have seen the diagram I'm sure you can sort it out but there's one thing you may not be aware of:- The factory put more wire and connectors inside the bucket than will comfortably fit. You may have trouble cramming it all back in there but so does everybody else.

[JasonRedbeard]

The factory put more wire and connectors inside the bucket than will comfortably fit. You may have trouble cramming it all back in there but so does everybody else.

Haha...thanks for the warning. >.o

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Jason,

Sorry didn't get back to you sooner, xmas and such!

The Clear Lens I have are designed for 6024 automotive replacements/conversions! They are sold in pairs, but are not necessarily marked for Left or Right, but as Steve and others have stated, their light pattern "may" be more to the right on high beams, but not sure, thought that was achieved by the actual aiming of the lights while on the car?

They do take an H4 bulb, and fit into the 7" round headlight shell, and are SAE approved..street legal..according to their website, but their website hasn't been updated...the catalog I downloaded was also slightly in error...was their 08-09 catalog...and it said for H3 bulbs! However, when you follow this AMAZON LINK:

http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Automoti...4267431&sr=1-1

You can look at the other images..the one showing the backside, and then zoom in on it, you can see the sticker that states for H4 55/60 watt bulb! And I'm sure I've put an H4 bulb in mine as well. With this price you even get a SPARE.....they are GLASS!

I found some other brands while searching for Clear Lens headlight conversion that were specifically MOTORCYCLE....Rampage was one brand, but also HELLA and such, but then you start talking $$$.

Hope you find the rest of the mounting hardware on ebay not too $$, and at least you know you can do the clear lens conversion IF you find the OEM reflector housing and it's light projection wanting!

T.C.