Headlight upgrade ?

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jsnorton

jsnorton

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Oct 10, 2018
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1973 850 roadster MK1

Is there a halogen or led headlight bulb made that will replace the original bulb without buying a new shell or wiring adapter or regulator ? Something to just pop in and replace the old bulb ? I see that Andover Norton does not sell the original bulb. I would like halogen or Led.
Thanks for your help
 
I'm running an LED Double Dipper in British Pre-Focus (BPF) format on my 850 with stock 5-3/4" shell ( HiRider size). Direct replacement for the stock incandescent BPF. These can be sourced from Dynamo Regulator Conversions in UK or Classic British Spares in USA.

I do have an issue with it...the high beam warning lamp needs to be removed or else the LED is always on high beam. I guess there's a small current leaking through the warning bulb sufficient to power the high beam. No matter, I rarely need high beam on my trips.
 
You sir have ask a most interesting question, and I anxiously await the knowledgeable to answer this query for both our benefit.

I'm too slow I see.
 
There are options, I'm running these in all my old bikes without issue:

Headlight upgrade ?


Just found these which look like an easier fit
Headlight upgrade ?
 
A little confusing. Do you currently have a H4 (halogen) or BPF beam unit? Are you still positive ground, or have you switched to negative.

I'm in the middle of this right now, and those questions are where you start.

If BPF and Positive ground, then: https://thebonnevilleshop.com/triumph-norton-bsa-bpf-led-headlight-bulb-positive-ground-pn-370-led/ will work.

If BPF, regardless of polarity, then this is supposed to work: https://thebonnevilleshop.com/trium...ght-bulb-positive-negative-ground-pn-446-led/ but I just got one from another place and had to return it - the high beam stayed on all the time and the low beam flashed on and off.

If H4 and negative ground, then you can get the bulbs from Amazon for very little.

If H4 and positive ground - I haven't found a solution.
 
marshg246 said:
I just got one from another place and had to return it - the high beam stayed on all the time and the low beam flashed on and off.

Click to expand...

Yes I had that happen on my BPF led...positive earth. Solution was to remove high beam warning bulb...a diode or resistor may solve it with warning bulb in place.
 
Tornado said:
Yes I had that happen on my BPF led...positive earth. Solution was to remove high beam warning bulb...a diode or resistor may solve it with warning bulb in place.
Click to expand...

The interesting thing is that my high beam warning light is an LED. If I hadn't sent it back already I would experiment.

Although a PITA, switching to negative ground might be in the future. Getting BPF beam units is getting hard. The last ones I got are unusable since they are too deep and hit the lighting switch and warning lights. If I had known I would have this problem, I would have already switched - I just made the wiring harness over the weekend!

The H4 LEDs from Amazon cost $15 delivered but require negative ground.
 
Hi jsnorton

I have just fitted an led headlight bulb from Paul Goff and it is an excellent bulb and maintains the same pattern as an original bulb but a lot brighter.
It only draws 25 watt with an estimated 70 watt output. Just go to Paul Goffs website and he takes card payment over the phone. I also bought the Wipac shallow headlight glass which gives more room for the wiring in the MK 3 commando.

ELLIS
 
I have an LED lamp, fits in the shell no problem, is positive earth and I can now see in the dark. It's very impressive, got it from a UK site, can't remember, but I spent a little time with Google and a couple of days later had it installed. H4 halogen now sitting on the shelf. I also put in an LED pilot light which is impressively bright. Yep rear light also.

Edit: this is the place I used www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/
 
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ELLIS said:
Hi jsnorton

I have just fitted an led headlight bulb from Paul Goff and it is an excellent bulb and maintains the same pattern as an original bulb but a lot brighter.
It only draws 25 watt with an estimated 70 watt output. Just go to Paul Goffs website and he takes card payment over the phone. I also bought the Wipac shallow headlight glass which gives more room for the wiring in the MK 3 commando.

ELLIS
Click to expand...


I purchased an LED package from Mr. Goff as well. Turn signal bulbs, tail/brake lights, and headlamp bulb w/ high and low beam with ignition switch activated running lights all positive ground.
I was very happy with his lighting package and printed wiring guidance.
 
If you don't care about the correct look, the Harley guys swear by these. I think that this is the same bulb that H D sells for $400.
I just fit this one to an Emgo replacement shell. It fit well.
No question though that these are fugly.
Google "Eagle Lights Daymaker"Headlight upgrade ? Headlight upgrade ? Headlight upgrade ?
 
I agree that the LED lights appear "brighter", but can anyone comment on the distance the illumination reaches and the pattern?
 
Ron L said:
I agree that the LED lights appear "brighter", but can anyone comment on the distance the illumination reaches and the pattern?
Click to expand...

They do not appear brighter, they are.
Any rudimentary light meter or basic research will reveal the difference between LED and incandescent

The brightness of a focused beam of light is all about the source. The brighter the ignition source the further the beam will carry with a stronger volume of illumination given the same focusing parameters for each source.
 
My BPF led is better in all respects to the stock incandescent BPF. But bear in mind this is a drop in replacement and does not have a higher voltage power pack like many of the better automotive LEDs available. It is not as good as my Philips LumiLed 3000 lumen led with external power supply that I run on my 2013 Bonneville.
The BPF LED is decent enough to been seen at full daylight for safety while city riding. And it's better than stock at night. And less than half power consumption.
 
ELLIS said:
Hi jsnorton

I have just fitted an led headlight bulb from Paul Goff and it is an excellent bulb and maintains the same pattern as an original bulb but a lot brighter.
It only draws 25 watt with an estimated 70 watt output. Just go to Paul Goffs website and he takes card payment over the phone. I also bought the Wipac shallow headlight glass which gives more room for the wiring in the MK 3 commando.

ELLIS
Click to expand...
I too have fitted the Paul Goff led headlight bulb
But the main beam is not bright enough for me
I do a fair bit of riding at night
 
I have one of those H4 replacement LED headlight bulbs that has a small cooling fan on the base and no problem fitting into a 7" headlight shell.
 
I bought the dynamo regulator LED headlight bulb that fits in the standard headlight shell/reflector, and uses the standard wiring. I never switched to the H4 lamp when they became popular, so I bought the bulb (do we call them bulbs?) to fit the original headlight. The bulb I bought has no heatsink. It's worked fine for a number of years. I also run the original daylight bulb too. I have no warning light assimilator circuit, but I do have a ammeter wired inline to monitor my electrical flow.

Same as steves, I bought my bulb here: http://www.dynamoregulatorconversions.com/

It cost about $30. and took all of 15 minutes to install
 
Thanks for all your replies and help. To answer a few questions, yes I'm running the original type incandescent bulb with positive ground and zener diode. It all works fine, but with aging eyes would like a brighter light at night. I am going to look into some of your suggestions . Again thanks to all for your help.

This is an awesome forum and I'm glad to be part of it :)
 
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