R100 headlight improvements.

[gspd]

The stock system already has a headlight relay.
The hi/lo switch directs the power from that relay to either the hi beam or the lo beam.
Adding another relay won't make the light brighter if the existing switch and wiring are good.

Removing the metal shield in the reflector WILL make it appear a bit brighter.

[grant81rs]

Gidday Fellas,
I whipped out the headlight tonight and cleaned up the reflector as she was a little dirty/smeared, it did brighten it up nice, have a H4 65/50 in there and also took out the little metal globe cover, so I will see what and how it goes for now....
Many thanks for the advise

[StephenB]

Those are the ones that I installed too (slim ballast as opposed to normal sized balast) and run it as single beam. 2 yrs of TAT and other gravel roads and they are still going strong. I had to replace the original igniter after the two years though, it was getting unreliable. It appears not to be watertight. As I opened it I observed oxydation and subsequently silicon'ed the second one in.



I can not confirm comments about a less than expected light output. I don't need a high beam anymore, the HID does it all. I am running it through a normal relay, obvioulsy, on a wiring harness that was greatly improved and refurbished. Those HID put out easily double of what normal H4 does, with the added reliability on the bulb (not the ignitier!). Compare Lumen/amps, you arrive at a factor of at least 4: half the amps (=half the wattage), twice the light!

[The Veg]

Stephen, I had no moisture problems with mine. All the connectors had really nice grommets that would make a sharp vacuum 'POP' when pulled apart, but of course where I had them located (all under the R1200GS's tupperware, but not as far from the elements as they'd be in an RT) may have helped too.

[StephenB]

No, you misunderstood, I was talking about the igniter itself that started playing up, not the connections, they are perfect as you say (looks like an AMP design). I opened the igniter itself to investigate its malfunction only to find oxydation inside that may or may not have contributed to its random function. The housing is obviously not watertight and I replaced it with the second one (not before it being watewrproof'ed with silicon) as I had bought a car kit!

[Chuey]

[quote="StephenB"

I can not confirm comments about a less than expected light output. I don't need a high beam anymore, the HID does it all.


Is it not too bright for oncoming traffic?

Chuey

[Duane Ausherman]

I think that those are the white/blue god awful lights that come towards me. I won't be having one on any vehicle of mine. They "punish" for no reason. Why do that to someone you don't even know?

[ME 109]

I think that those are the white/blue god awful lights that come towards me. I won't be having one on any vehicle of mine. They "punish" for no reason. Why do that to someone you don't even know?

Not necessarily HID. I think there are also blueish H4?
Any headlight out of alignment is punishing.

[StephenB]

Is it not too bright for oncoming traffic?

Chuey

Don't know ... riding my bike and being oncoming traftic at the same time is an art that I haven't mastered yet.

On a serious note: I have it adjusted just a tad higher than low beam, and ignore those flashing at me. So it hurts the eye a little bit: tough luck. They have a visor, I only have one light and one life. At least they know I am there!

Really it is only a tad but it illuminates a lot more than a H4 and there weren't any complaints (as in people flashing at me constantly).

[SteveD]

My low beam blew the other day. Lasted 32 months.

I'm looking at H4 replacements now. The PIAA is twice the price of the Osram, but both make similar claims. Anyone made real comparisons between H4 "lamps"?



Tests, but no info. Just the results in recommended order as "best buys".http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/p ... _blue.html

The H4 +50 bulbs from the big four reputable European bulb makers (Philips VisionPlus, Osram SilverStar, Narva RangePower+50, Tungsram Megalicht) are functionally identical. When we pick ten samples of each and put each one through photometric, optical comparator and life tests, there's a very narrow range of performance and life differences, and those differences are randomized among the four brands.