Headlight / running light mods...(needing guidance)

[ERM83]

So, about a week ago, I had an accident. There was a tree down (not fully) in the lane I was in on a 35mph road here...it was on a hill, and basically wasn't fully down, just enough to clothesline me off the bike. I could tell that it had just fallen, because it was still waving up and down a bit...total garbage luck. I was going the speed limit, and it still felt like an NFL linebacker clotheslining me...the tree was the size of one's bicep as well. I'm okay, just my left side is killing me. It was on a hill, so I didn't see it until my headlight caught it, and I definitely wasn't happy with the brightness of the headlight anyway, despite trying to get a new bucket / brighter bulb / setting the aim.

That being said, I'm almost done with the repairs (they're minimal, thankfully), and figured I should probably do these conversions...feels dumb to NOT do them while i'm in there. Should've done them right off the bat.

I looked them up on here, and thought the guides might be a bit outdated. My questions are:

The running lights: do I just need to get a splitter for the actual turn signal wires, then plug them into the two blue wires??

HID conversion: Do I need a special relay for this?? I have no idea where to start on it.

Sorry if this seems stupid / amateur hour here...I just don't want to screw anything up more than it already was.

Eric

[ERM83]

Oh....

It's the 80' SG...NOT the SF.

[IanDMacDonald]

Howdy-
The front lights should be running lights already, correct? It's the rear lights that are not running lights, as they're amber (I bought red lenses). Running lights will not provide much direct light to the road, unless you mean "auxillary" lights. In that case, I'd run the lights straight to the battery via a switched & fused relay.

HID.s. No, no relay required. However, H.I.D. bulb in a halogen fixture is a big no-no. Also, if your bike does not kill the headlight during starting, that's bad for an H.I.D. ballast. Your best bet is to buy an LED headlight. However, it may not be all that it's cracked-up to bed, so u may want to research auxillary fog lights as-well.

[jetmechmarty]

Ian,
Specials don't have running lights like the standards.

Eric,
Best advice, don't ride in the dark. I run the stock light and it's pretty fair although easy to outrun and sucks on the curves. There are inexpensive options on several of the forums. Some are cheap, some are good. I'm not sure about both. LED's are what's coming. Some are very bright and do not conform to DOT standards. Some are as simple as installing an LED lamp. After my own research, I think the detractors may outweigh the benefits. There are some plug-n-play DOT LED headlights. If you want cheap, they aren't it.

https://www.dimecitycycles.com/motor...eadlights.html

https://revivalcycles.com/collection...-led-headlight

https://revivalcycles.com/collection...-led-headlight

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Eric,

Several years ago HID was the big thing, and I did an actual HID mini Projector inside an aftermarket H4 Special/round headlight housing/reflector, but it was a PITA to MOD. And the light still wasn't that great.

Like Marty said, Hi Power LEDS are the new thing. They are positioning the LEDS very similar to the HALOGEN filament so that they work fairly well with OEM halogen housing/reflectors, but OEM reflector/housings also have that FRESNEL/prism type surface to spread the light out across the road and so not so much DOWN the road.

SO..that's why I got some aftermarket CLEAR/Crystal front lens H4 reflector housings/Round that would fit into the Special headlight bucket, so I would get/project much more of the light outward down the road. The silver/reflector inside the OEM reflector housings can DULL and don't reflect/project as much of the bulbs light forward as well, so a NEW reflector housing ensures nice new chrome reflective type silvering on the inside!

But even with this newer hi powered LED bulb, I still like and added a pair of hi powered LED Spot lights as well, which provide more light down/across the road, as well as more light spots to make ME and my bike more visible to oncoming vehicles vs. just the 1 single headlight!

See my recent reply to Bruce Doucette's post about LED headlights.

T.C.

[dansmith65]

I don't know if it will work but I've been wondering about this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KJPPSY8..._tzf6zb4D2NPBN

I like that it comes as a complete unit; so I don't have to worry if the bulb works with the stock reflector or about the lense diffusing the beam.

[DiverRay]

That looks like a very good solution! DOT approved so the local LEO can't say anything about it!

[txtriathlete]

I don't know if it will work but I've been wondering about this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KJPPSY8..._tzf6zb4D2NPBN

I like that it comes as a complete unit; so I don't have to worry if the bulb works with the stock reflector or about the lense diffusing the beam.

Wonder if it will fit into the round trim ring/bezel without mods. Tempting.

[TopCatGr58]

The H6024 7" round headlight is the style/size that fits the specials headlight bucket/ring. THat's what I've gotten with regards to the clear lens conversion headlight reflector housings that mount into the headlight bucket/ring.

I don't know if the Harley 7" round uses the same standards as the automotive H6024 7" round design??

T.C.

PS, I will say that I've seen some HD's and such with these type of headlights, and they are not very visible as a cager/driver coming from the other direction towards the bike. That's why I like the H4 LED replacement bulbs in either the OEM housing/reflector, or a clear lens reflector housing so that the entire headlight lights up/shines and you can see a large spot of light which IMHO makes a motorcycle more visible to oncoming vehicles!

T.C.

[dansmith65]

The H6024 7" round headlight is the style/size that fits the specials headlight bucket/ring. THat's what I've gotten with regards to the clear lens conversion headlight reflector housings that mount into the headlight bucket/ring.

I don't know if the Harley 7" round uses the same standards as the automotive H6024 7" round design??

T.C.

PS, I will say that I've seen some HD's and such with these type of headlights, and they are not very visible as a cager/driver coming from the other direction towards the bike. That's why I like the H4 LED replacement bulbs in either the OEM housing/reflector, or a clear lens reflector housing so that the entire headlight lights up/shines and you can see a large spot of light which IMHO makes a motorcycle more visible to oncoming vehicles!

T.C.

Thanks for the input TC. I have never seen one of these (or one like these) in-person and had never thought of what it might look like to oncoming traffic. Since there seems to be interest in these, and there are others to bounce ideas off of, I've been doing some more research:

The description says "Any Cars Models with 7 Inch Round Headlight", which leads me to believe that it likely uses an automotive H6024.

I had assumed that a brighter light would be more obvious to oncoming traffic, but I can also see the logic in a larger reflective surface being more obvious. I did find this image from an Amazon review, which looks pretty eye-catching:


It seems to fit other bikes, or does it? Reviews can be confusing sometimes! But it does seem at least some people have luck with it in other bikes, even an XS650.

Here's a video with a good overview of the sealed unit LED headlights available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNZT6QqHHOo

I don't think the LX-LIGHT I linked to is in that video, but it is a Chinese knock-off, so you can't be sure of what you're getting.

[jetmechmarty]

I believe the '79 Special headlight shell has more room in it than the later model. The SG/SH bucket could be tight, but I really don't know if it will be a problem.

[ERM83]

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your help, everyone. Ok, so the better option is to just get auxiliary LED's?? Which wires / how do I hook them up?? I'm assuming it'll be used by the auxiliary fuse circuit?? Doing some more research as we speak. I'm not worried about money...however, one of the headlights in the links above was $799, and that about made me piss myself! Not trying to go THAT high...I don't mind spending $100-$200, though! When it comes to the bike, I don't mind spending money...ESPECIALLY when it comes to safety!!

Eric

[jetmechmarty]

I'm not worried about money...however, one of the headlights in the links above was $799, and that about made me piss myself! Not trying to go THAT high...I don't mind spending $100-$200, though! When it comes to the bike, I don't mind spending money...ESPECIALLY when it comes to safety!!

Eric

It's an adaptive light. Pretty neat stuff. https://youtu.be/RuphwluUvMM

[spectra]

It's an adaptive light. Pretty neat stuff. https://youtu.be/RuphwluUvMM

That thing is nice but I didn't even pay that much for my bike Revival has some nice stuff though......I have spent my fair share with them on another build I did on a little XS that I have.

I am really interested in these LED headlights so I keep on looking at everything.

[ERM83]

^^^^ I eventually want to get some of those...just looking for a temporary lighting solution for now. Found a pair that will easily hook on physically for a good deal. Came with the lights, harness, and a switch. I'm trying to figure out how to wire them, though...only positive and negative wires. Don't know where to hook them into the headlight cluster! Also, it came with a fused wire, so I'm assuming that I need a relay?? I wanted to put them on today, but I gotta go sling drinks for a bunch of heathens now. Going to try tomorrow! Any help is appreciated, once again!