Crappy Headlights

[Grambo]

I know this is not a new topic, but I can't seem to find the thread that addresses this issue, but the low beams on my '06 Tigger suck! I live in the white mountains of New Hampshire and we have dark winding roads that Moose that like to stand in the middle of. Some have mentioned HID lights as a replacement for the originals, I have heard relays...and LED lighting. What do you suggest?

Thanks in advance!
Chris

[supercoupe1993]

Not sure if this helps, But me and my "ambush "(group of tigers) all use Silver star Ultra bulbs. That is a huge improbement over the stock bulbs. They are pricy. but i think well worth it. and a direct replacement.

Chris
2000 Tiger

[Grambo]

Not sure if this helps, But me and my "ambush "(group of tigers) all use Silver star Ultra bulbs. That is a huge improbement over the stock bulbs. They are pricy. but i think well worth it. and a direct replacement.

Chris
2000 Tiger

I will give them a shot !!! Thanks for the tip! Do you happen to know the item #?

[Grambo]

Thoughts on these?

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/piaa-h4-xtreme-white-plus-bulb

Or these plasma bulbs?
http://www.bikebandit.com/aftermarket-parts/motorcycle-electrical-parts/lighting-universal/piaa-super-plasma-gt-x-bulbs?m=121573

[vince]

I used these in my 2005 Girly
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PIAA-70456-Xtreme-White-Plus-H4-Anti-vibration-Bulb-/201252271732?hash=item2edb91f674
pretty bright 4000 lumens
now using them in my tiger 800

cheers vince

[Sin_Tiger]

Stage 1
Take your reflector units out and clean them. No seriously, clan the inside of the lens and reflector with mild detergent, make up some cleaning tips with rags and some thin wood like chop sticks. Don't use metal or be over aggressive to avoid damage. You can also heat and bend an old toothbrush. You will be amazed at the crap that had collected in there.

Stage 2
Run some heavy gauge cable via a fuse direct to a relay near the lamp. Use a solid state relay like an M-Relay if possible. Now use the original wires to switch the relay. This reduces the losses through the original thin cable, various connections and the switches, you will seed a noticeable difference in output with negligible extra load.

Stage 3
Now you can consider if you need higher performance lamps, if you skip stages 1&2 you'll put a lot more strain on your alternator, Battery and all the associated systems.

[motoOzarks]

Stage 1
Take your reflector units out and clean them. No seriously, clan the inside of the lens and reflector with mild detergent, make up some cleaning tips with rags and some thin wood like chop sticks. Don't use metal or be over aggressive to avoid damage. You can also heat and bend an old toothbrush. You will be amazed at the crap that had collected in there.

Stage 2
Run some heavy gauge cable via a fuse direct to a relay near the lamp. Use a solid state relay like an M-Relay if possible. Now use the original wires to switch the relay. This reduces the losses through the original thin cable, various connections and the switches, you will seed a noticeable difference in output with negligible extra load.

Stage 3
Now you can consider if you need higher performance lamps, if you skip stages 1&2 you'll put a lot more strain on your alternator, Battery and all the associated systems.

Post like a boss

[Grambo]

Stage 1
Take your reflector units out and clean them. No seriously, clan the inside of the lens and reflector with mild detergent, make up some cleaning tips with rags and some thin wood like chop sticks. Don't use metal or be over aggressive to avoid damage. You can also heat and bend an old toothbrush. You will be amazed at the crap that had collected in there.

Stage 2
Run some heavy gauge cable via a fuse direct to a relay near the lamp. Use a solid state relay like an M-Relay if possible. Now use the original wires to switch the relay. This reduces the losses through the original thin cable, various connections and the switches, you will seed a noticeable difference in output with negligible extra load.

Stage 3
Now you can consider if you need higher performance lamps, if you skip stages 1&2 you'll put a lot more strain on your alternator, Battery and all the associated systems.

Total Noob when it comes to electrical systems in bikes, but I will see if I can do this. Will have to locate the relay. Any chance you have a picture of what it looks like and where it lives? Thanks for the great advice. Would rather not put an extra strain on the alternator if I can help it but I thought these new bulbs took less power to run than the traditional halogens? No?

Thanks again for the solid advice!!!
Chris

[Sin_Tiger]

Now I should have been a bit clearer in that this was very generic advice rather than Girly specific, one of our specialists will be along shortly for guidance.

Start with a good clean, I suggest doing one side first and then you will be able to compare the difference. You might be thinking of HID's http://www.tigertriple.com/forum/index.php/topic,8906.0.html which is a different ball game.

In theory a 55/60 is a 55/60 and should draw the same load but my trust ammeter has shown differently

[Grambo]

Now I should have been a bit clearer in that this was very generic advice rather than Girly specific, one of our specialists will be along shortly for guidance.

Start with a good clean, I suggest doing one side first and then you will be able to compare the difference. You might be thinking of HID's http://www.tigertriple.com/forum/index.php/topic,8906.0.html which is a different ball game.

In theory a 55/60 is a 55/60 and should draw the same load but my trust ammeter has shown differently

Okay...gotcha. Ill start with the cleaning. I am constantly overdriving the low beams and it has gotten quite dangerous. Looking forward to correcting this issue as I am required to drive at night due to my occupation and commute

[Grambo]

Stage 2
Run some heavy gauge cable via a fuse direct to a relay near the lamp. Use a solid state relay like an M-Relay if possible. Now use the original wires to switch the relay. This reduces the losses through the original thin cable, various connections and the switches, you will seed a noticeable difference in output with negligible extra load.

This will be a challenge for me as I have no idea what the relay looks like...lol. Sorry.  But sounds like I would need another relay. Where would one find this?

Something like this?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004KEL4LG/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687742&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000VU5FPE&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0A3FADQK2YFT4VKMDAEX

[Bixxer Bob]

that'll do!

I'll try to draw up a bit of a diagram to help you.

Edit:  I've removed the drawing because guiding a newb through doing both headlamps is going to take some thinking about.  do the relay thing I suggested first.

[trophydave]

Yebbut dont Girlies already use relays for the headlights?

A ride to Wales last winter in the dark put me off night riding completely.Of course being a lazy person I have done nothing about improving my lights and I now find myself leaving for work in the dark in a morning.

[Bixxer Bob]

The Girly headlight circuits are not exactly straight forward because Triumph remove one relay so that one lamp is lit on dip but the other is lit on main beam. Since you don't know where the relay is I'm assuming you've not upgraded it to light both lamps on dip and both on main beam???

There's a load of info on here about which replay to buy as some of the cheap ones can drain your battery by introducing a voltage leak.  Fitting it is plug and play, the socket is behind a rubber sock under the front cowl on the left side.  If you reach under the dashboard against the cowl edge you'll feel it.  The relay can be fitted without removing the cowl but it is easier if you can see what you're doing.

Having done that and the cleaning, if you're still not happy., then we'll get on with Sin's wiring suggestion.

I'm guessing there's a good reason why you aren't considering just fitting a couple of LED driving lamps???

[Bixxer Bob]

Yebbut dont Girlies already use relays for the headlights?

A ride to Wales last winter in the dark put me off night riding completely.Of course being a lazy person I have done nothing about improving my lights and I now find myself leaving for work in the dark in a morning.

Yes Dave, but have you looked at how thin the loom wiring is?? It's a wonder we don't have fires.  The thicker wire direct from the battery removes a significant voltage drop.