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Headlight Replacement
Quake, normally quartz/halogen bulbs are hot like that. The quartz crystal is very fragile and the halogen burns extremely hot and a sinlge fingerprint can create a hotspot that oveheats and breaks the glass due to the uneven heat dissipation. Xenon bulbs are much less sensitive in this regard, but still you should always wipe off fingerprints or just don't leave any on the glass.
Ed (Vic) Belanger - 1954-2015
Founder of gl1200goldwings.com

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#31 03-20-2007, 08:34 PM,
I ordered a brighter light from J&P Cycles. It's a 80/100 watt. Hope I have no problems but will keep an eye on it. I would have liked to have found a 60/80 watt but didn't have any luck. And for somebody who is really daring they have a 100/130 watt.
1984 GL 1200 Interstate
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#32 04-21-2007, 10:21 AM,
Found a site with kits for motorcycles in english.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.autoxen.com/store/hid_motorcycle.html">http://www.autoxen.com/store/hid_motorcycle.html</a><!-- m -->
1984 GL 1200 Interstate
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#33 04-21-2007, 10:31 AM,
admin Wrote:Good point about the heat melting components Tim, but , I would like to know which components melt.

The headlight reflector is metal and the headlight lens is glass so it has got to be the fairing itself that is supposed to be melting yet I know a couple of guys who run the brighter and hotter bulbs and they have had no problems with anything melting in spite of one guy living in hot Southern California.

Seems like some guys just like to spread rumors but I would like to have the true facts on this isue.

Has anyone had any part of their bike's fairing or headlight melt due to installing a brighter than stock headlight?

Please no stories, just the facts so we can find the correct answer.

Appears to me that the reflector housing is molded plastic with a plastic chrome reflective face. The lens is glass however.

I have seen some damaged, but not being around the whole time they were in use I can't say what damaged them. I'll strick with H-4s though, these lights are expensive.
Make Courtesy Your "Code of the Road" ......

[Image: 85Winggoodphoto500w.jpg]

...... and whatever you do ... Have a Safe Trip! :shy:
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#34 04-21-2007, 11:00 AM,
You might want to try a magnet on your reflector just to be sure.
Ed (Vic) Belanger - 1954-2015
Founder of gl1200goldwings.com

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#35 04-21-2007, 02:10 PM,
admin Wrote:You might want to try a magnet on your reflector just to be sure.

[Image: coupler.jpg]

Agreed. Next time I have it that far down, I'll pull the bulb out and see if it has a metal insert, but I am sure it's a plastic housing, just like the one pictured above.
Make Courtesy Your "Code of the Road" ......

[Image: 85Winggoodphoto500w.jpg]

...... and whatever you do ... Have a Safe Trip! :shy:
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#36 04-21-2007, 02:33 PM,
Had everything apart today. Lense is glass and chromed plastic inside on mine. I have a 1984 Interstate. While every thing was apart I went and bought a H4 SliverStar headlight. Figured since it was apart and the higher wattage bulb wasn't here might as well try the SilverStar. Then I noticed the trunk lights wern't working. Traced it to a shoddy wiring job. Had two 1157 bulbs in the back but not working. Looked at the sockets and they were for a 1156 bulb. Fixed all the wiring with solder not wire nuts and such. Put 1156 SilverStars in the brake sockets and 1156 LL in the running light sockets. Strange looking at just the 1156 SilverStars. Looks like 2 different filiments and burns 2 different colors. With everything back together the brake lights in the trunk really shine now. Glad I did it even though they were $11.50 for a pair. Guess I'll look into finding 1157 SilverStars for the lower lights next.
1984 GL 1200 Interstate
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#37 04-21-2007, 07:10 PM,
I guess I'm going to have to check mine again because the last time I had the bulb out it I could have sworn that it was a thin metal retainer that held the bulb in place inside the reflector.
Ed (Vic) Belanger - 1954-2015
Founder of gl1200goldwings.com

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#38 04-22-2007, 06:31 AM,
admin Wrote:I guess I'm going to have to check mine again because the last time I had the bulb out it I could have sworn that it was a thin metal retainer that held the bulb in place inside the reflector.

I don't recall specifically past the plastic housing. Could be a thin chromed metal insert, or maybe that chromed plastic like I'm thinking .... I'll try to take notice next time myself.

Likely, had it not been for this discussion, I probly wouldn't give it a thought.
Make Courtesy Your "Code of the Road" ......

[Image: 85Winggoodphoto500w.jpg]

...... and whatever you do ... Have a Safe Trip! :shy:
Reply
#39 04-22-2007, 01:40 PM,
My curiosity is up also. If it wasn't so much work I'd tear my bike down to verify my comment. This old age memory crap, really sucks.
Ed (Vic) Belanger - 1954-2015
Founder of gl1200goldwings.com

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#40 04-23-2007, 04:45 AM,
The lamp sits in a metel holder with a metel swingarm clip to hold it in place.
The connector will heat up with higher wattage lamps and keep in mind that the wiring harness has to handle the higher amperage from a higher wattage bulbs and IF the harness gets to hot and insulation melts you will introduce multiple shorts in the electrical system and possibly a fire.
A 60/55W xenon bulb takes the same amount of power as a 60/55W halogen, however the xenon will produce more lumens then the halogen lamp.
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#41 06-05-2007, 11:28 AM,
The Xenon also has a remotely mounted power supply that feeds the power up to the lights much like the ballast in fluorescent lights so the bulbs run relatively cool yet put out comparatively large amount of light.
Ed (Vic) Belanger - 1954-2015
Founder of gl1200goldwings.com

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#42 06-05-2007, 11:42 AM,
FIRST - Sorry for my english! (I never learn this language)

Secodn - I do not advice 100W bulbs, because they will blast mirrors inside lamp.

If You want to have still bulb H4 - You must instal relay in fairing and two new wires (in SI - 4 mm2) from battery to relay (plus wire with fuse "10A" and minus wire).
In orginal GL 1200 only one minus (ground) wire is from battery to fairing. In my bike (GL 1200 LTD) resistance betwen minus on battery and minus on fairing is 2kOhms (sic). When I install new wires and relay my H4 bulb shines brightly.

Now I have Bi-Xenon lights and my problems with front light - its history.

If you do not understand me - forgive my english Sad

Pawel - Poland
All You needs is LIFE...
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#43 07-19-2007, 07:26 AM,
Thank you very much for the report Pawel, good information to know.

My next headlight will be a bi-xenon for sure because as I get older my night vision gets worse and I need better lighting so it is worth the extra expense to ensure my safety.

Just to be sure, does a bi-xenon mean that you still have a hi beam and a low beam?
Ed (Vic) Belanger - 1954-2015
Founder of gl1200goldwings.com

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#44 07-19-2007, 07:52 AM,
A quick search turned up this...not a bad price for what you get.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://hidsources.com/product_1749_488.html">http://hidsources.com/product_1749_488.html</a><!-- m -->

And this...

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HID-XENON-CONVERSION-KIT-for-Motorcycle-H4-10000K_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ36476QQihZ012QQitemZ220097824449QQtcZphoto">http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HID-XENO ... QQtcZphoto</a><!-- m -->
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#45 07-19-2007, 08:51 AM,


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