Quote from: MarkB on June 21, 2013, 10:27:55 AM

Quote from: Clint21 on June 20, 2013, 06:10:57 PM
Ohgood, you say the low amperage will cause waste at the stator.  Well what if you have additional accessories?  Then no waste/heat right?

In a shunt regulator system like the GS500 (and most small bikes) the alternator produces a constant current output at a particular RPM.  Excess current (i.e. whatever is not dissipated by lights and accessories) is dissipated by the voltage regulator.  Hence reducing the load by going to LED lighting makes the voltage regulator run hotter which will reduce it's reliability, though maybe not enough to be of concern.  If you've added other accessories then there is that much less power that has to be dissipated at the regulator.

good, someone that understands electrics piped up...


can you explain why a stator that is capable of 200w output is less reliable than a 150ish watt output unit ?

I've been through 5 stators in 24000 miles.

Quote from: ohgood on June 21, 2013, 03:14:51 PMI've been through 5 stators in 24000 miles.

If you're going through a stator every few thousand miles, first I'd check if they all failed in the same manner. If so, start looking for a root cause rather than at the stator itself. Find what's breaking the stator.

I went through trying to find LED bulbs to use some time back and even bought several. None of them were sufficient to use as headlights. In the end I ended up buy the parts and doing a HID projector retrofit.

Quote from: weedahoe on June 21, 2013, 03:41:32 PM
I went through trying to find LED bulbs to use some time back and even bought several. None of them were sufficient to use as headlights. In the end I ended up buy the parts and doing a HID projector retrofit.

and a very nice looking retrofit it is too!! ..  ... one day when i have time i want to do the same!

looks up Weeds thread on this Clint21 !! .. it may make your underpants go all fizzy with excitement!! 

Quote from: RossLH on June 21, 2013, 03:35:16 PM

Quote from: ohgood on June 21, 2013, 03:14:51 PMI've been through 5 stators in 24000 miles.

If you're going through a stator every few thousand miles, first I'd check if they all failed in the same manner. If so, start looking for a root cause rather than at the stator itself. Find what's breaking the stator.

yes, I've tried. the drzs that are road queens usually have a failure every 20000.

bikes used in hot (offroad) conditions combined with tough slow riding can have failures as often as 5000 recurring miles.

some theories are heat soak, or the low oil level of a oil-in-frame design combined with heat soak, but the failures are consistant and not exactly predictable.

I'm still on the original clutch at 25000 miles, if that shows the level of care taken on the bikes, and servicing regimens, while 60% or better of its miles are off road.

its a known weak point in a fairly weak charging system, unfortunately.

Janx you were right.  That retrofit is sick Weeds. 

I put this kit on mine.

Yana Shiki HIDH4BIX-6K White 6000K 35W H4 Motorized Bi-Xenon HID Kit

It's been about 2 months and its working great.  Nice white light and the high beam gets out there.

I also installed 2 - 10w auxiliary driving lights to the left and right of the primary reflector.  These are VERY bright and have a 8 deg beam spread from the LED.  I will post some pics when I get home.

Quote from: Buckmaw on June 24, 2013, 08:42:41 PM
I put this kit on mine.

Yana Shiki HIDH4BIX-6K White 6000K 35W H4 Motorized Bi-Xenon HID Kit

It's been about 2 months and its working great.  Nice white light and the high beam gets out there.

I also installed 2 - 10w auxiliary driving lights to the left and right of the primary reflector.  These are VERY bright and have a 8 deg beam spread from the LED.  I will post some pics when I get home.

A 4th gen mini HID ballast should run you about $8-15. A single bulb should cost about the same. That's all you really need. Even if you bought the harness separately, that's another $10-20

I always hate to see guys over pay for things.

Quote from: Soloratov on June 20, 2013, 04:10:50 PM
There are a few legal ones, but mostly designed around Harleys. You could probably fit one, but not correctly. Plus, the cheapest I found quick was specifically for a Harley Softail and it was pushing $300...however, I do like the idea. If one could be found that worked easy, I would do it too.

This is how their pricing works.
The product costs $1.
The Harley Logo costs $100.
The Box that that is packaged in costs $100.
The dealership you walk into costs $100. $150 if its got some strategic grease stains on the wall.
Total $351.
Discount $52.

You pay $299, and tax ... man aint that a deal.

Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: The Buddha on June 25, 2013, 07:49:54 AM

Quote from: Soloratov on June 20, 2013, 04:10:50 PM
There are a few legal ones, but mostly designed around Harleys. You could probably fit one, but not correctly. Plus, the cheapest I found quick was specifically for a Harley Softail and it was pushing $300...however, I do like the idea. If one could be found that worked easy, I would do it too.

This is how their pricing works.
The product costs $1.
The Harley Logo costs $100.
The Box that that is packaged in costs $100.
The dealership you walk into costs $100. $150 if its got some strategic grease stains on the wall.
Total $351.
Discount $52.

You pay $299, and tax ... man aint that a deal.

Cool.
Buddha.

LOL......Good one!

Quote from: weedahoe on June 25, 2013, 01:30:44 AM

Quote from: Buckmaw on June 24, 2013, 08:42:41 PM
I put this kit on mine.

Yana Shiki HIDH4BIX-6K White 6000K 35W H4 Motorized Bi-Xenon HID Kit

It's been about 2 months and its working great.  Nice white light and the high beam gets out there.

I also installed 2 - 10w auxiliary driving lights to the left and right of the primary reflector.  These are VERY bright and have a 8 deg beam spread from the LED.  I will post some pics when I get home.

A 4th gen mini HID ballast should run you about $8-15. A single bulb should cost about the same. That's all you really need. Even if you bought the harness separately, that's another $10-20

I always hate to see guys over pay for things.

Will it survive offroad abuse and vibrations ?

It will be fine. They're all made overseas these days anyway.