Adventures in lighting

[david3921]

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The lights came with 65w/55w lights in each housing. I was very afraid that I would burn something out if I ran them like that so I changed them to 35W each. I used the stock wiring to the new light as it's just plug and play. I ran into a problem a few weeks later, however. On the way home from work (in the daylight) I noticed the hi-beam indicator come on. I checked the switch and found that it was off so I couldn't see what the problem was until I came up to a vehicle at a stop light. I looked at my reflection on the back and saw that my headlights weren't on! I wasn't too far from home so I didn't panic too much but knew I needed to get into it ASAP. The indicator flashed on and off a few times the rest of the way home so I figured something was loose. Sure enough when I got the box open the light would flicker on and off when I moved the stock plug around. It was also hot to the touch. Near as I could figure is the stock plug couldn't handle the total of 70w going through it. I fixed it by hard wiring the stock wires to a new shorter plug wire and all is good. I do wonder if the indicator coming on is a safety feature letting you know that the headlight is not on. I do know that if a turn signal light is out the indicator will flash at a quicker pace like a car does.

Now for a question; the 35w from both lights is still not enough. Based on the manual, the bike is putting out 150w. I should be able to go to 45w bulbs in each with out any problems. But what about the wiring? I need someone to chime in about whether I can go that high and still not melt anything. It will be a total of 90w going through the stock wiring. I would really love to have more light as I have passed a few deer on the way to work and have not seen them until I was right up on them.

I'm not married to the dominators either as I was looking at the Yamaha WR250F headlight first and really like the look, so changing it (again) can still be an option. I did notice that the Konker KSM200 version of the bike has a headlight very close to the Yamaha's. I know the Yamy one has up and down adjustability so my problems might be solved if I could buy a Konker headlight. Any Canadian brothers here that might be able to help?

By the way, the small windshield does actually work. Not a lot but enough to notice. Along with the handguards I put on (pictures later) they both really help in cold weather riding.