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Posted by JagLite
- February 20, 2015, 00:06:43 AMQuote from: Bucko on February 19, 2015, 20:22:42 PMThanks for the suggestions!The original Kawasaki F&S spots came with 25W bulbs. Replacement 25W bulbs are hard to find but they're out there (and the 25's are just as bright as the 35's IMHO) although they tend to be a bit more expensive. Switching back to 25's from 35's will save 20W right there which is probably enough to drive a higher wattage headlamp.
The other thing you can do to conserve some power is to go to LED running, signal and tail lights which will save quite a few watts, easily making up for a larger headlamp draw. I'll do that at some point for for now the cost of LED replacement 1157's is still way to high and the reliability questionable. Keep in mind you don't want to 'save' too many watts as any power that's not used is 'consumed' (shunted) in the R/R which will cause it to get hotter and possibly fail prematurely.
I hadn't thought about the spot lights.
I can't find a bulb size/number for the F&S spots on the parts fiche,probably because they weren't provided from the factory.
Do you know what bulbs they use?
I ordered the Cyclops H4 LED a few days ago and I would like to see about getting the spot lights in LED too.
Eventually I will probably switch all the lights over to LED's.
Interesting thought about surplus power being possibly detrimental, I have not heard that before.
Posted by John Hopkins
- February 19, 2015, 20:56:37 PMQuote from: JagLite on February 16, 2015, 00:23:05 AMOne big advantage is the lower power draw of 30w on low and only 40w on high which will leave some power for heated grips or...Heated grips are really wonderful.. I have fitted them on several bikes, always the same way, I wire them directly to the battery (they come with an inline fuse) and I fit a handlebar switch (also included) Then I leave them switched off.. I ride with motorcycle gloves and underneath them I wear very thin leather gloves, I ride until the frost nips my fingers and then I switch on the grips, straight to full power, it takes no more than a minute for the warmth to spread through both sets of gloves and then I switch off and the gloves retain the heat for quite a while. I wait until the frost nips my fingers again and then repeat the cycle, this keeps me warm and keeps my battery charged.
John.
Posted by Bucko
- February 19, 2015, 20:22:42 PMThe original Kawasaki F&S spots came with 25W bulbs. Replacement 25W bulbs are hard to find but they're out there (and the 25's are just as bright as the 35's IMHO) although they tend to be a bit more expensive. Switching back to 25's from 35's will save 20W right there which is probably enough to drive a higher wattage headlamp.
The other thing you can do to conserve some power is to go to LED running, signal and tail lights which will save quite a few watts, easily making up for a larger headlamp draw. I'll do that at some point for for now the cost of LED replacement 1157's is still way to high and the reliability questionable. Keep in mind you don't want to 'save' too many watts as any power that's not used is 'consumed' (shunted) in the R/R which will cause it to get hotter and possibly fail prematurely.
Posted by JagLite
- February 16, 2015, 00:23:05 AMQuote from: John Hopkins on February 15, 2015, 08:39:47 AMAll LED's are not the sameI think I saw a review on here a while back.
From what I gathered.
Other people can see led lights from a long way off.
They do not light the road ahead up as well as other lights.
John.
Just like all H4 bulbs are not the same in the light they produce.
Many cars are now using LED'a for headlights and it is only a matter of time before all will come equipped with them.
I have read lots of posts from people who tried various brands of LED's (most from China via Ebay) and almost all of them were junk.
What a surprise, eh? 
The Cyclops brand is getting excellent reviews so I am going to order one for my trip in June.
Hopefully I will be able to mount it with the heat sink and fan clear of wires without too much trouble.
One big advantage is the lower power draw of 30w on low and only 40w on high which will leave some power for heated grips or...
I won't need the light up here since I haven't ridden in the dark in 30 years.
Alaska summer daylight hours and all. 
Posted by John Hopkins
- February 15, 2015, 17:46:18 PMThat's true but Wagner don't exist in any uk supplier lists.
It seems we really take those off road only laws very seriously, so the 80/100 bulbs are either very very expensive or almost free if you can find them.
I don't know what make I have actually ordered, it would be funny if it actually turns out to be Wagner.
John.
Posted by pcarrell
- February 15, 2015, 17:07:12 PMQuote from: John Hopkins on February 15, 2015, 13:34:00 PMThat part number I gave is for a Wagner bulb I believe.I couldn't find the bulb quoted BP1210/H4 80/100 anywhere in Britain although one firm offered me a different make same spec for £35 about $50 each, I declined and found a firm on ebay uk selling 12v 80/100w H4 bulbs for £2.99 about $5 for two. I figured I can afford to lose that much and if they are good.. I'm happy.
John.
Posted by greenbarn
- February 15, 2015, 14:14:11 PMQuote from: pcarrell on February 15, 2015, 08:51:24 AMI used a cheaper solution when I wanted more light. I went to my local NAPA store and bought PN BP1210/H4. It is a drop in replacement bulb that is 80w on low beam and 100w on high. Let me tell ya, that lights up the night! It does pull some power though, so when I added my fog lamps I didn't know if it would be too much draw, so I put the stock bulb back in.
I can tell you with a stock wattage headlight, I added (by mistake) H3 driving lights of 50 or 55 watts (I thought I asked for 35w), it was too much for the charging system. On a long ride last fall, with the GPS also running, it drained my battery while riding.
I use a higher-end headlight in the standard wattage--phillips crystal vision or sylvania silverstar- whatever is available in a single (some of the time they sell a pair). I don't buy the highest-price bulbs - but these IMO are a lot brighter and better light than the stock or the $5 standard bulb.
Posted by John Hopkins
- February 15, 2015, 13:34:00 PMQuote from: jmbo on February 15, 2015, 10:51:15 AMAll that you say is true.. but I can deduct the spots from mine because I haven't got any fitted and with 100/80 watts from the headlight I don't think I will bother fitting them..Wow! 100 watts. Ya that would light up the road. The problem is that is over 8 amps for the headlight alone and with a charging system only putting out 23 amps, that's eating up a lot of output. Add a couple of 35w spots @ 6 amps and brake/taillight @ 2 amps, that's 16 amps out of 23 just for lights. Not much left over for things like fuel pumps and remember that EI needs a lot of juice to work properly. Wise choice to go back to stock.
I couldn't find the bulb quoted BP1210/H4 80/100 anywhere in Britain although one firm offered me a different make same spec for £35 about $50 each, I declined and found a firm on ebay uk selling 12v 80/100w H4 bulbs for £2.99 about $5 for two. I figured I can afford to lose that much and if they are good.. I'm happy.
John.
Posted by pcarrell
- February 15, 2015, 11:57:13 AMYeah, even the low beam was brighter then the stock high beam, but when you hit the high beam......DAYLIGHT!
If you aren't running other add-on electrical, it's the way to go for sure!
Posted by jmbo
- February 15, 2015, 10:51:15 AMWow! 100 watts. Ya that would light up the road. The problem is that is over 8 amps for the headlight alone and with a charging system only putting out 23 amps, that's eating up a lot of output. Add a couple of 35w spots @ 6 amps and brake/taillight @ 2 amps, that's 16 amps out of 23 just for lights. Not much left over for things like fuel pumps and remember that EI needs a lot of juice to work properly. Wise choice to go back to stock.
Posted by pcarrell
- February 15, 2015, 08:51:24 AMI used a cheaper solution when I wanted more light. I went to my local NAPA store and bought PN BP1210/H4. It is a drop in replacement bulb that is 80w on low beam and 100w on high. Let me tell ya, that lights up the night! It does pull some power though, so when I added my fog lamps I didn't know if it would be too much draw, so I put the stock bulb back in.
Posted by John Hopkins
- February 15, 2015, 08:39:47 AMI think I saw a review on here a while back.
From what I gathered.
Other people can see led lights from a long way off.
They do not light the road ahead up as well as other lights.
John.
Posted by pcarrell
- February 14, 2015, 12:04:26 PMThe Drifter headlight bucket is bigger then most, so it should fit.
Posted by JagLite
- February 13, 2015, 18:14:35 PMHas anyone tried this new Cyclops H4 LED bulb?
http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.com/3800-Lumen-H4-LED-Headlight-bulb-_p_83.html
It has great reviews on the other forums I am on but I don't know if it will fit in the Drifter headlight shell.