[aaggoswami]

Yes, the stock bulb is 35/35W, IIRC.
Try Halonix +60 55/60W. This will give much better light. I have used one in my Caliber.

[bblost]

Clean your headlight lens and watch your stock headlight get an extra 20% brightness.
Use brisk or colin for a clean shine and wipe with a microfiber cloth.

Do this once every 100 kms on a long ride.
You will be amazed at the amount of dirt stuck on it.

[Ricci]

Originally Posted by aaggoswami

Yes, you are correct in your doubt. Anything over 65W and wiring will have to be changed.

I don't know about the rest of the bikes , but on my Karizma I have used 60/55W and 100/90W bulbs without any modifications , and both have served reliably for rides upto 45mins ( I hadn't toured until recently ). I do believe the 100/90W bulb didn't operate at 100% effectiveness due to the battery being unable to put out enough amps , cars with 100/90W bulbs seemed brighter and the Nightbreaker I had seemed as bright as the 100/90.

Sure the lens got hotter, but nothing melted ,nothing discoloured . Only downside was the battery headlamp would dim when brakes were applied - 2 x 21W brake lamps ! And if you had to use the horn at the same time, all it manages is a weak beep . The stock 7AH battery doesn't have enough amperage to power all that together .

I've read others who have used 60/55 and 100/90 bulbs for longer durations like 4-5 hrs at a time , for months without any reliability issue.

The reason I mention this is, do we really know for sure the OEM wiring harnesses and switchgear are incapable of handling the extra current ? Before doing the change, I did armchair research ( ie, google ! ) , and some folks mentioned that even the thin wires OEMs provide for low cost have enough room to power 130/90W bulbs , similar wires are used in home appliances with more power and then there are fuse wires which are even thinner but rated for about twice the amps the headlamp draws . I didn't measure the actual guage of the wires , but it made sense to me , and after 4.5 years of total use of 60/55 and 100/90 bulbs , it seems right . Maybe I'll look up wire guages and their maximum current capacity , but that's half the story, what actual metal is used for the wire is harder to know , without a lab .

[Exhaust_Note]

Hi Everyone!

I am using a Gladiator and it came with a 35/35 halogen bulb. The bulb is bright enough but the throw (reflector) is so bad that any king of night riding is almost a guessing game. Especially in the old (semi discarded) Vashi bridge, it is like riding blind.

Any possibilities of having a better lighting capability without borrowing another model's/brand's headlight assembly? It would be a shame to replace Gladi's headlight assembly with another ones'

Thanks!!

[aaggoswami]

Originally Posted by Ricci

1) I don't know about the rest of the bikes , but on my Karizma I have used 60/55W and 100/90W bulbs without any modifications , and both have served reliably for rides upto 45mins ( I hadn't toured until recently ). I do believe the 100/90W bulb didn't operate at 100% effectiveness due to the battery being unable to put out enough amps , cars with 100/90W bulbs seemed brighter and the Nightbreaker I had seemed as bright as the 100/90.

2) Sure the lens got hotter, but nothing melted ,nothing discoloured .
I've read others who have used 60/55 and 100/90 bulbs for longer durations like 4-5 hrs at a time , for months without any reliability issue.

3) The reason I mention this is, do we really know for sure the OEM wiring harnesses and switchgear are incapable of handling the extra current ? Before doing the change, I did armchair research ( ie, google ! ) , and some folks mentioned that even the thin wires OEMs provide for low cost have enough room to power 130/90W bulbs , similar wires are used in home appliances with more power and then there are fuse wires which are even thinner but rated for about twice the amps the headlamp draws . I didn't measure the actual guage of the wires , but it made sense to me , and after 4.5 years of total use of 60/55 and 100/90 bulbs , it seems right .

1) Anything about 60-65W wont be utilized in full efficiency. The current electrical systems are not powerful enough. I have tried this earlier, but only to get failures.

2) I have seen even Kaz give up some reliability issues. 4-5 hours riding was out of question, what I saw is that within 30 mins the bulb was not turning on. The glass did get hot, and when opened, we saw a melted wire. This is true for discover, Pulsar, X-trem and Hunk.

3) Again as I have mentioned in point no. 2, going beyond 65W will not be effective as bulb will not be utilized to full potential and from what I have seen/involved into, the outcome is not reliable.
I think that operating conditions do play a role in this.

Originally Posted by Exhaust_Note

I am using a Gladiator and it came with a 35/35 halogen bulb. The bulb is bright enough but the throw (reflector) is so bad that any king of night riding is almost a guessing game. Especially in the old (semi discarded) Vashi bridge, it is like riding blind.

Any possibilities of having a better lighting capability without borrowing another model's/brand's headlight assembly?

First of all install a higher wattage bulb like Halonix +60 55/60W. But if you still want higher performance, then you will have to work on electricals a bit like changing wires, rewinding the coils to fit in a higher wattage bulb.

I have seen people put in HID Xenon in thier bikes and they work around the electricals in appropriate manner. But this is strictly reserved for experts as changes are to be made at more than one place.

[Exhaust_Note]

Originally Posted by aaggoswami

First of all install a higher wattage bulb like Halonix +60 55/60W. But if you still want higher performance, then you will have to work on electricals a bit like changing wires, rewinding the coils to fit in a higher wattage bulb..

Thanks aaggoswami. will try with the Halonix +60. I am just looking for a good night support thats all. So even if the current reflectors and Halonix +60 combination does not provide the "Halonix" brightness but give me ample light, I am OK.

Just a small doubt, the Halonix +60 shall not require any changes right? My Gladi is a ES model an has a 9mAh Battery.

Thanks!

[aaggoswami]

Originally Posted by Exhaust_Note

Just a small doubt, the Halonix +60 shall not require any changes right? My Gladi is a ES model an has a 9mAh Battery.

IMHO, there will not be any changes required.
But if the battery gets drained out after some riding, revert back to original bulb, rewind the coils and then put in 55/60W again.

But mostly you will not need any changes.

[Exhaust_Note]

Will do that this week itself and let others know of the results. If it rides well with the Gladi battery then it shall be a good news for a lot of us

[Rennjit]

Originally Posted by aaggoswami

...But if the battery gets drained out after some riding,..rewind the coils and then put in 55/60W again. But mostly you will not need any changes.

Gladi runs a DC headlamp? If yes, you get the real output of 55/60w lamp. 9Ah battery is good enough to handle the load. But if its an AC 35W headlamp, putting any 60W without conversion to DC or Coil rewinding would not give the expected result.

[mandyrana]

Sorry for delayed reply being busy for couple of weeks. I have Yamaha Gladiator and my night driving is not more than 20-30 mins

[Exhaust_Note]

Sorry guys! Was so.... busy in the week ends and also from this month onwards I am using my car for office commuting (monsoons you see.. no you don't, neither do I )

Will upgrade soon and let you al know of the results. In the mean time, met a Pulsar 200 user with an HID. He said he had to change the battery from AMCO to Excide and rest all was stock.

@mandyrana: Well I see another person uses the Gladiator . RS or SS?

[vrprabhu]

Originally Posted by Exhaust_Note

Will upgrade soon and let you al know of the results. In the mean time, met a Pulsar 200 user with an HID. He said he had to change the battery from AMCO to Excide and rest all was stock.

Hi, E_N! Did you manage to replace the bulb and test it out? Am waiting for your post since long.

I have a Gladiator DLX (model prior to RS to SS). I too feel that the headlight intensity is not good enough for night journey. I ensure that the headlamp cover is kept clean as possible - clean it twice a week - and also tried to focus/align the beam. After several attempts, I was able to improve the illumination / throw somewhat. Adjusting the focus is pretty easy, and you can see the difference by raising and lowering the height.

As regards using a higher wattage bulb, I was told that the coils may have to changed as it may not generate sufficient output. I was told that enticer coils may be a good replacement.

Awaiting your update.

[amtak]

Although the headlight is quite powerful, I am still not satisfied with it for highway rides. What is the ideal upgrade without changing the wires?

[Technocrat]

I am not sure how similar the electricals are in Hunk when compared to ZMA as ZMA can easily take upto 90/100 w bulb without any changes but then ZMA is full DC.

[amtak]

Originally Posted by Technocrat

I am not sure how similar the electricals are in Hunk when compared to ZMA as ZMA can easily take upto 90/100 w bulb without any changes but then ZMA is full DC.

I think its AC (or alternator/Dynamo?) current since the light flickers when I accelerate or slow down. Not too sure whats the output of light but I am not at all happy with it. I am literally blind while riding on the highway and have to wait for a vehicle to see the road ahead.