R100 headlight improvements.

[Major Softie]

Looked at his site (before you discovered he'd dropped the article). When the hell did people start referring to high-efficiency lights as "high-efficacy lamps?"

[Max Headroom]

Looked at his site (before you discovered he'd dropped the article). When the hell did people start referring to high-efficiency lights as "high-efficacy lamps?"

Perhaps the same type of people who refuse to call a damper a "shock absorber", or who refuse to refer to a capacitor as a "condenser" . . .

[ME 109]

My brother fitted a HID to his RS. Very neat and all.
The low beam is excellent but the high beam is not a lot better.
GSPD expresses valid concerns re riding in the dark. It can't be done.
My choice is a brighter H4 hi-lo combination and a H3? driving light.
I might add some hid driving lights and do away with the large driving light.

[Max Headroom]

Yeah, I had a 130/100w H4 fitted to my old R90/6 many years ago. Never had any problems with cooked wiring or fried switchgear, but, having heard a few horror stories since, I won't be running another big-watt bulb again without some serious mods to circuitry!

Excellent bulb though, you could almost watch the tarseal rippling in front of the bike at night . . .

[ME 109]

I used 130/100 in my truck years ago but found they blew on high beam too often, don't know why because I beefed the wiring.
I have used 100/65 in the RS without problem, mind you that wasn't using high beam hours on end. That might melt the bulb holder.
I have been using those phillips? higher brightness for the same wattage without trouble.

[Max Headroom]

I used 130/100 in my truck years ago but found they blew on high beam too often, don't know why because I beefed the wiring.
I have used 100/65 in the RS without problem, mind you that wasn't using high beam hours on end. That might melt the bulb holder.
I have been using those phillips? higher brightness for the same wattage without trouble.

I've done the same - I've got a 60/55W + 50 and it's either a Phillips or a Narva, can't recall which. Combined with a new reflector and lens, it's quite good. I have no trouble with night vision.

[ME 109]

Have you still got the bulb cover in the headlight? Apparently taking it out will increase the brightness of the light.
Ken took his out recently and said he noticed an improvement. Mine is still in there but next time I'm in there I'll whip it out.

[Max Headroom]

Have you still got the bulb cover in the headlight? Apparently taking it out will increase the brightness of the light.
Ken took his out recently and said he noticed an improvement. Mine is still in there but next time I'm in there I'll whip it out.

mine's still in. i didn't wanna risk having the headlight fluid leak out . . . .

[guy]

One thing you can try is to put a relay in the high beam filament wire. Use the power going to the high beam side of the lamp to signal the relay to turn on. Run a fused #12 wire from the battery to the relay to power the high beam filament. This may not be as bright as a HID setup but is a lot more economical. This web site should explain in enough detail. <http://www.classictruckshop.com/clubs/e ... /relay.htm>
Guy

[SteveD]

http://www.classictruckshop.com/clubs/e ... /relay.htm

Thanks Guy.