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Is there a Light bulb upgrade for an '08 FE 650?

K2Berg

K2Berg

Joined Sep 2008
97 Posts | 6+
Chicago
Hello,

I was wondering if there is a light bulb upgrade for the stock headlight?

My first night ride was 70 miles out of Yellowstone to Cody in the dark. This thing wasn't much better than a candle.

I made a big mistake a couple nights later after trying to make up for lost time after having to get a new set of tires. I went to do another 100 miles in driving rain and wind only to discover I couldn't see anything as I went up the on ramp.

Foolishly not believing in stopping and going back down I continued down the highway trying to fall in behind a semi which worked briefly.

I came to a point where I was looking straight down at the white line trying to stay on the the road.

Yes, the likelyhood of death or serious pain did run through my mind.

I missed a couple exits because I just couldn't see them. The one I did see ended up being only a rest area, nice luck.

Numerous car drivers stopped in because they couldn't see and you can imagine what they said to me.

In the city the lighting situation is not important because it is so well lit but ventures in to the rural areas will require more than a candle.

Thanks,

Kosta
 
K2Berg said:
Hello,

I was wondering if there is a light bulb upgrade for the stock headlight?

My first night ride was 70 miles out of Yellowstone to Cody in the dark. This thing wasn't much better than a candle.

I made a big mistake a couple nights later after trying to make up for lost time after having to get a new set of tires. I went to do another 100 miles in driving rain and wind only to discover I couldn't see anything as I went up the on ramp.

Foolishly not believing in stopping and going back down I continued down the highway trying to fall in behind a semi which worked briefly.

I came to a point where I was looking straight down at the white line trying to stay on the the road.

Yes, the likelyhood of death or serious pain did run through my mind.

I missed a couple exits because I just couldn't see them. The one I did see ended up being only a rest area, nice luck.

Numerous car drivers stopped in because they couldn't see and you can imagine what they said to me.

In the city the lighting situation is not important because it is so well lit but ventures in to the rural areas will require more than a candle.

Thanks,

Kosta
Click to expand...

There really is not a simple bulb upgrade for the 2008 and down bikes. Simply installing a bulb with a higher watt rating won't do anything on a bike that doesn't have the required power to push the uprated bulb. Running an aftermarket light like the X2 is a great upgrade, but it requires modifications to the stator/charging system as well.

The stock lights are powered by AC. HID requires DC power, and even a upgraded halogen light will work much better on DC power too.

The stator mod is easy to do, if you can follow directions and solder, or vendors here in the States like TrailTech sell the converted stators ready to install.

Look up member Sparks or maybe he will chime in with more info here.
 
Thank you for the education and information.

I was contemplating picking up an X2 but I didn't know I needed to do any modifications.

Hmm?

mudd400, thank you for the feedback on this item. I saw it last year while researching my 'Berg. I didn't have much faith.

Initially my thinking is if I cough up that much I may as well spend another $50 and get a better working headlight in the X2 but now that I have been informed it needs a stator/electrical upgrade I am back to square one.

I guess while I decide I should stock up on synthetic oil so I feel guilty wringing my Swedes neck. After checking the valves and putting on a new rear master the reins will be released, except on the dirt. She needs some body armor to stand up to my dirt education. If you do something wrong you must do it again until you get it right. This does not make for an easy life for the blue and yellow ****... but that is what she's for.

Thanks again guys. I may try to reach Sparks to get more info on the X2 install. Nothings better than getting it from the horses mouth.

Hope your riding... 'cause I am.

Cheers!
 
Converting your system over to DC is not that hard. I had sparks do my 04 Kokusan stator, and it now can handle 120 watt's.

The thing that's nice about sparks conversion as opposed to just floating the ground like most conversions, is that his keeps the voltage lower, so that the regulator isn't pushing so much current to ground. Warming the frame is the way sparks put it I believe.

You will need to get a Trail Tech 150W reg/rect that will bolt in place of the original. And just a simple rewiring of the lighting system feed to go directly to the battery.

The best part about setting your lighting system this way is that when the motor stops the lights stay on. You just have to remember to shut the lights off when you stop the bike.

Another benefit is that instead of having 25Watts charging your battery, there is 120 watt's available when the battery is low.

Dale
 
Thank you Husabutt. Have you or anyone you know tried this?

I really am going between the all out rally type big, heavy duty single headlight from Trailtech and something more stock looking. My tendency for bold and over kill so I never have to worry about having significant lighting again is pushing me to get the Trailtech beast of a light. It not being street legal makes me think twice. Spending just under 5 bills on something that may have the suburban cops, whenever I may be unlucky enough to have to venture out there, all over me giving me donation stubs is not good.

The ability to light up a block and express my displeasure with the cager in front of me though is very appealing.

Having these morons pull out right into me is getting old.

Yesterday I finally swung back with an attempted kick of some old Asian's or Mexican's fender but I missed. The jack a@@ pulled out right into me with out looking, then honked. Ok, no light would have helped that is why I am also looking into a high decibel horn instead of the decreped thing on ther now.
 
K2Berg said:
Thank you Husabutt. Have you or anyone you know tried this?

I really am going between the all out rally type big, heavy duty single headlight from Trailtech and something more stock looking. My tendency for bold and over kill so I never have to worry about having significant lighting again is pushing me to get the Trailtech beast of a light. It not being street legal makes me think twice. Spending just under 5 bills on something that may have the suburban cops, whenever I may be unlucky enough to have to venture out there, all over me giving me donation stubs is not good.

The ability to light up a block and express my displeasure with the cager in front of me though is very appealing.

Having these morons pull out right into me is getting old.

Yesterday I finally swung back with an attempted kick of some old Asian's or Mexican's fender but I missed. The jack a@@ pulled out right into me with out looking, then honked. Ok, no light would have helped that is why I am also looking into a high decibel horn instead of the decreped thing on ther now.
Click to expand...

The Baja Design light will be a bit better. I think it has a glass lens and a better reflector set up, so the light pattern is better. It would be a good choice WITH a DC conversion. The pmxtec is only one beam, not a high/low. Iwouldn't consider either of them for any type of real night riding, other than to find your way back to camp at dusk.
 
It doesn't help that the stock headlight on my bike doesn't stay pointed at the road it keeps shooting for the moon. I have no idea how to stop that. I will upgrade my FE to the X2 the same as my supermoto - if I can still use it on the road that is.
 
I haven't tried the head lamp myself but will be getting one soon as the plastic stocker on the 05 has gotten a bit sand blasted over the years of desert riding.

As Dale said the DC conversion is the way to go. You can go for the Sparks rewind at 120 watts or I bet one of these KTM Trail Tech kits rated at 100 watts for $170.00 would work (give them a call).

S-8310_r1_w450.jpg


The 100 watt stator plus the Baja Designs upgrade head lamp would be an inexpensive way to brighten up your head lamp and you could always spend a small fortune, in the future, for a super high wattage lamp if you want to.

Baja Designs also has stators and tech support.

husaberg_w450.jpg
 
Yup! That second picture is the light that keeps whispering in my ear saying, " If you're going to get a headlight you might as well get a REAL headlight. I'm strong like Russian bull. You won't be able to break me."

I'm quite sure I would have no problems in the city as long as I had it properly pointed (most of the time) but the suburban Johnnys don't have enough interesting things to do. Pulling me over would make for good conversation.

The only other issue would be that it would be quite memorable so when on urban adventures it would make me too easy to identify.

Sounds like a stator upgrade with a real light bulb may be the simplest and most efficient way to upgrade. Real juice being given off to power a real bulb. It would also facilitate any future upgrades.

Ok, off to do some work so I don't feel guilty going to a bachelor party. It's out in the burbs so I must keep repeating the mantra, " obey the law, look at your speedo, obey the law, look at your speedo." Better to spend money on naked women then donating funds to the state so they can be improperly used or stolen/imbezzled. Just my opinion.

Cheers!
 
One other option--LED technology is getting better fast. Baja Designs has some very cool LED auxillary headlights that put out serious power. Not HID powerful, but much more powerful than the stock lights can output. They only draw 10w!

Low current draw and bright. You could run a switch in line direct to the battery, and not have to convert your stator. It wouldn't be a street legal set up, but you would be able to see. :D
 
Try checking out this thread: http://www.husaberg.org/index.php?name= ... 6443#76443

This is my best attempt at a step by step description of my Sparks DC conversion and my wiring up grade that I did along with it. NOTE: You do not have to go to the extreme I did in this thread. I was doing a pretty big upgrade to the wiring in preparation for a 24 hour event, HID headlight, two HID helmet lights, and I also wanted to be able to run a GPS too.

Main thing is that there are some measured values in that thread after the conversion with the headlight, and fan on. And, the values that Sparks had sent me.

Hope this helps.
 
mud400 said:
I like these. Nice way to get more light without getting a new headlight.

http://www.pmxtec.com/Upgrade4.htm
Click to expand...

I can also vouch for the PMXTec upgrade. I installed the premium kit in my '08 KTM. I would guess that the light beam is at least five times as bright as the stock bulb, and all this with the stock AC system. Initially, the main reason that I switched was that the flimsy stock bulbs kept burning out. The replacement PMXTec bulb is much more durable. The only caveat is that the new bulb is only single filament so it is not technically DOT legal. What I did was to adjust the beam just below the level of approaching riders and cars so as not to blind them. This has worked out great for my rather limited night riding.
 
Chas said:
mud400 said:
I like these. Nice way to get more light without getting a new headlight.

http://www.pmxtec.com/Upgrade4.htm
Click to expand...

I can also vouch for the PMXTec upgrade. I installed the premium kit in my '08 KTM. I would guess that the light beam is at least five times as bright as the stock bulb, and all this with the stock AC system. Initially, the main reason that I switched was that the flimsy stock bulbs kept burning out. The replacement PMXTec bulb is much more durable. The only caveat is that the new bulb is only single filament so it is not technically DOT legal. What I did was to adjust the beam just below the level of approaching riders and cars so as not to blind them. This has worked out great for my rather limited night riding.
Click to expand...

I run the PMXTEC upgrade as well with good success. But if I wan't to go faster at night I slap on my Trail Tech halogen with a 55w bulb and it is super bright.
buurg.jpg
 
HeyJohnnyPark said:
Check this thead out on SM Junkie about HID kits, I dont think they talk about having to rewind anything.

http://www.supermotojunkie.com/showthread.php?t=88835

Cheap kits off of eBay.
Click to expand...

HID requires DC power, no way around it. A stock stator that has been converted to full DC and run through a regulator would power one stock 35W HID easily without rewinding. The 2009 and 2010 Husabergs already output DC power to the lights, but the 2008-down do not (at least those with Kokusan stators, back to 2004).
 
Thanks for all the info guys.

Huskyfatman,

Yup! That's what I thought though it may be over kill in the city.
 

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