Headlight Mod

[Perez]

That must be some serious light you are throwing out there!

If I were to get a set of driving lamps like you have, I assume I'd need a toggle switch on the bars and I'd need another relay setup like esatern beaver makes?

[racerman_27410]

i have a switched power distribution box and took my fused circuit from there.... i installed a lighted 2 position switch where the stock reserve switch was on the left hand inner fairing panel (since the reserve function is basically useless anyway)

relays are good.... they take all the load off the switchgear.

Kookaloo!


Frank

[Perez]

Follow up: I just put one of them Eastern Beaver relay setups along with an 80/85 W bulb in mind and its (I'm guessing) 2X brighter. I was too chicken to go for the 95/100W bulb. I gave the 80/85 the 'finger test' .....let it run for @ 5 minutes and put my finger on the back of the socket to see if it was getting hot. It was slightly warm, thats about it. Cannot say how much hotter it will be on a 90 degree day but I don't think ambient temp has much of an effect on something like this. And as far as wind and airflow go, you want to plan for the worst case scenaio.....none.

Conclusion: 80/85 bulb driven by a relay works nice. Seems 2X brighter. No overheating.

[nchattaway]

I Have a New H4 High Output Headlight Harness by The Electrical Connection for an FJ that I never installed - It's still in the delivery box so any member can have it for FREE if you pay the postage from Australia.

It cost me US $12.30 postage from the US to Australia years ago.

It has a plastic connector & yes Frank........... it's the one you recommended to me years ago that I never fitted.

Kookaloo

Hey TeeCee, I'll claim that free headlight relay harness offer! Happy to pay for postage to Adelaide.

Cheers,
Nathan

[Ross1]

An alternative is to consider an LED headlight.
I replaced the incandescent in one of my XJ's with one from these people

http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.com/led-headlight-bulbs.html

Beam is a bit more scattered than the incandescent, but I live in deer country, so it's not a bad thing.
VERY bright. Noticeable even during the daytime.    Mine is 25/55 watts, but I think that they've improved the product since last summer.

[Neoday2]

An alternative is to consider an LED headlight.
I replaced the incandescent in one of my XJ's with one from these people

http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.com/led-headlight-bulbs.html

Beam is a bit more scattered than the incandescent, but I live in deer country, so it's not a bad thing.
VERY bright. Noticeable even during the daytime.    Mine is 25/55 watts, but I think that they've improved the product since last summer.

Is it the H4 bulb for our FJs?  A quick search online and that is what I found, just want to see what you went with @Ross1

[FJmonkey]

It is the H4 bulb/socket.

[Pat Conlon]

I'm going to retrofit the bulb in my '84 with a fanless H4 version (I don't want or trust moving parts)
http://www.xenondepot.com/H4-LED-motorcycle-headlight-kit-p/h4-led-mhl.htm

In the above link there's a comparison between the Phillips LED diode vs the CREE China LED.

Although 3800 lumen output on the new generation CREE LED vs 2500 on the Phillips LED is a significant difference

[Ross1]

         I have the "CIL-LEDMD-H4 3800 Lumen H4 LED Headlight bulb" on the XJ900 which is ridden regularly. 
      Looks like they have a new and improvedproduct for 2016.
They gave me a 10% off coupon, because they were out of stock when I called to order.
     Within a week the unit was shipped (way before they told me the new shipment was expected) and still honored the discount.
Very courteous on the phone.
                It came with two circular spacers (to narrow the beam and modify the side-scatter). Spoke with one of their techs. He suggested that I could, by using longer screws, install both spacers and narrow the beam considerably. I used the larger of the two, with satisfactory results.
             Coming home at dusk that first evening after installing, the side scatter illuminated a four-point buck in the brush along the road. Slowed down quickly and simultaneously hit the horn. (This is very near where I had to dump my 750 and slide under a six-pointer a couple years ago. Still have the helmet with the hoof marks.)
         So, whatever the source, MORE LIGHT is good.
        Being new (a couple of weeks) to the FJ1200's torque, I'd be happy with flood lights pointing down the road in front of me.    

[ribbert]

......I don't want or trust moving parts......

........then buy a Harley and wait a week.

Noel

[TexasDave]

......I don't want or trust moving parts......

........then buy a Harley and wait a week.

Noel

Those Harley parts keep moving-- just very sloooowly.      Dave