Complete headlight upgrade

[Stookie]

Hi
I’m having real issues with headlights and brightness.
I’ve tried a few different bulbs cheap, expensive and even LED.
The low beam is terrible and I really need it as I sometimes get home in the dark and when there is other traffic around and I can’t use my led lightbar on high beam the low beam simply doesn’t cut it and I have to slow right down. I’m in Australia so kangaroos and wallabies are a real issue on nightfall.
I used to have a BMW F800 which had terrible headlights but you could buy a complete headlight assembly fairly cheap with led and Angel eye driving light built in. It was great

Is there a replacement led headlight assembly for the S10 ?

Has anyone run an led lightbar (flood light) for a low beam and a led bar spotlight for high beams ?
And bypassed factory light ?

I was looking at purchasing a new S10 but the headlight is really putting me off as I do need to ride at night for a fair part of the year.

Thanks for any advice


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[Fennellg]

I have found the headlights to be adequate. Many members have complained about our bulbs Burning out or being too sensitive to vibrations and bumps. They have gone threw a few to many bulbs. There has been a cottage industry created. All sort of led products adapted also 3d printed bulb caps that allow these larger bulbs to fit.

The question you have asked to illuminated has 2 different answers.

1. The leds will be brighter some have pattern problems.
2. The longevity problem seems to be mostly unloved. They fail quite a bit.

While my bike was relatively new, I was eager to have more light and wanted a complete back up head light. High and low beam. I added a rigid led light bar with an eastern beaver pc8 fuse block. It was worth the effort.

Funny thing is my bike is a 2015 with 30k and my headlight is still going.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Over 25 years of experience. I might suggest some cheep $40 HID. They work great for about five years typically. If you want a nice set they are about $150-200
If your open to light bars or driving lights I would highly suggest virtually any product from Baja Designs. I’ve used these folks for 20+ years. In fact, I don’t even look anywhere else. I find what I think I need and get it. Life time warranty, made in the USA.
I currently run HID in the headlight, and two sets of Baja lights. You can ride home from work safely or ride across Utah on a BDR at 2AM.
Either- you have enough light.

 

[Fennellg]

I have found Tabascos recommendations to be sound. Personally I would look for something with a high and low. They are somewhat rare and a little more expensive. My thoughts were a redundant or back up system also wanted to be able to run it on low at night with my headlight.

A little time, thought and expense can save you in the long run.

Assuming you don’t just convert to led head lights.

 

[Stookie]

I have found Tabascos recommendations to be sound. Personally I would look for something with a high and low. They are somewhat rare and a little more expensive. My thoughts were a redundant or back up system also wanted to be able to run it on low at night with my headlight.

A little time, thought and expense can save you in the long run.

Assuming you don’t just convert to led head lights.

I already have an LED lightbar which only works on hi beam setting and it’s great. However you can’t ride around with it on all the time as it blinds other drivers.
The LED headlights I’ve already tried and the beam pattern is bright but doesn’t go very far from the bike, worse than factory I’ve found.
I’ve spent on cheap headlights halogen and LED , I’ve purchased more expensive units halogen and LED and I’m thinking that whilst the lights are bright there seems to be blank spots in the beam. I’ve tried adjusting the lights left right up down and just can’t get it right.

I’m guessing by responses so far there is no LED replacement assembly you just have to deal with the way yamaha designed an H7 to be hi and low with a change of reflector pattern.
Ok
This pic is of an aftermarket led light for the BMW GS800 which was amazing , does anyone do a complete led light assembly was the question I was looking for answers on.
Thanks

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[Fennellg]

There are endless threads knock your self out. Maybe come at it from a different angle. A few have put a dimmer on the way too bright light bars. Bigger pain I looked into it. Decided the modest savings was not worth it. I too was almost seduced by the affordability and brightness. My Rgid on Hi can’t be legal it could wake the dead. No one seems to mind the low setting. My ridding buddies complain even during the day. But they also say when hanging back I am the only one the can see Till we get closer.

Sometimes you just have to start over. Perhaps sell your old light and start with a blank slate.

 

[Jlq1969]

I already have an LED lightbar which only works on hi beam setting and it’s great. However you can’t ride around with it on all the time as it blinds other drivers.
The LED headlights I’ve already tried and the beam pattern is bright but doesn’t go very far from the bike, worse than factory I’ve found.
I’ve spent on cheap headlights halogen and LED , I’ve purchased more expensive units halogen and LED and I’m thinking that whilst the lights are bright there seems to be blank spots in the beam. I’ve tried adjusting the lights left right up down and just can’t get it right.

I’m guessing by responses so far there is no LED replacement assembly you just have to deal with the way yamaha designed an H7 to be hi and low with a change of reflector pattern.
Ok
This pic is of an aftermarket led light for the BMW GS800 which was amazing , does anyone do a complete led light assembly was the question I was looking for answers on.
Thanks

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All the adjustments you did, and all the lamps you tried…..are we supposed to rule out that they were in the “only” correct position that they have to fit??……It is easy on the S10 to place the lamps in the wrong position and this causes the beam of light to be projected badly
I have some leds of 35 W each. I adjusted the optics a little higher and a little more open, then readjusted the right optic a little higher than the left, to have more depth of illumination on the road shoulder….for me, they light very well

 

[Fennellg]

There’s no getting around it the problem has to be worked.

 

[Cycledude]

Friend has complete aftermarket headlight on his GS and it’s a major improvement and it really didn’t cost much, it’s simple install plug and play. Unfortunately there ain’t no complete aftermarket headlight made for the Tenere, at least none that I’m aware of.
Bought and installed Cyclops LED headlights in my Tenere they ain’t cheap but they work decent, tried some cheaper LED’s that were pretty highly recommended by board members but in my opinion they were worse than the stock bulbs.
Also have a set of Denali lights mounted on crashbars, they are dimmable , the entire setup is decent for night riding but nothing to brag about.

 

[WJBertrand]

I was similarly dissatisfied with various LED bulbs. I finally bit the bullet and installed an HID system. The HIDs have been very adequate, throwing plenty of light on the road.


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[Stookie]

All the adjustments you did, and all the lamps you tried…..are we supposed to rule out that they were in the “only” correct position that they have to fit??……It is easy on the S10 to place the lamps in the wrong position and this causes the beam of light to be projected badly
[/ QUOTE]

You can rule out what you like and assume what you will. However I’ve exhausted the “position” of the bulb as spoken about in many threads I’ve read already.
Yes it is easy to place the light bulbs in the wrong spot but I’ve tried them in numerous positions, different globes and led bulbs

However as another guy just said that there is no known complete LED light assemblies for the tenere that he is aware of and that answers more of my question than your answer but I thank you kindly for taking the time to assume I’ve done it all wrong and only tried one thing and spat the dummy

Have a fantastic day


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[Stookie]

There are endless threads knock your self out. Maybe come at it from a different angle. A few have put a dimmer on the way too bright light bars. Bigger pain I looked into it. Decided the modest savings was not worth it. I too was almost seduced by the affordability and brightness. My Rgid on Hi can’t be legal it could wake the dead. No one seems to mind the low setting. My ridding buddies complain even during the day. But they also say when hanging back I am the only one the can see Till we get closer.

Sometimes you just have to start over. Perhaps sell your old light and start with a blank slate.

Thanks I think I might have to start again.
Maybe some HID and a dimmable lightbar might be the next move.
I had HID on a previous bike and they worked well however I thought by now there may have been a better option and it appears not for this bike.
Thanks for the advice greatly appreciated


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[bimota]

don,t have a issue in the dark to be honest lol

 

[fac191]

don,t have a issue in the dark to be honest lolView attachment 98432

And thats without the lights on !

 

[Ric H]

I've tried LED upgrades. They are a pia for just a little improvement imho. Denali d4's with the optional datadim will give you all the light you need.

 

[~TABASCO~]

I have found Tabascos recommendations to be sound. Personally I would look for something with a high and low. They are somewhat rare and a little more expensive. My thoughts were a redundant or back up system also wanted to be able to run it on low at night with my headlight.

A little time, thought and expense can save you in the long run.

Assuming you don’t just convert to led head lights.

(For fun side note-everyone). "Anyone" can wire a pair of driving lights up High / low beam. Ive done this many times. Wire one light to come on with a normal toggle switch. (You can have this switched or un switched power) The other driving light can actually be positioned slightly at a different angle and wired into the factory high beam switch (both lights would be on individual relays).
You can wire virtually all aftermarket lights with a high / low... They don't necessarily have to be shipped with that feature.
Once again, I use Baja Designes and all there lights have these features, very robust, and never given me any issues with 20+ years of use.

 

[AusTexS10]

don,t have a issue in the dark to be honest lolView attachment 98432

There's some wasted space between the l/r guard bars and the fork tubes, maybe enough for a couple of small aircraft landing lights?

 

[Fennellg]

Efficient and out of the box thinking. I like it. Tabascos post.

Won’t work for a light bar though. I like the light Centred. And the unit is protected in a drop. It spreads more than the stock and fill in the dark areas on low. Complements our stock setup nicely. Also wanted a stand alone high low back up to my headlight. Read quite a few posts about Burt bulbs. Did not want to be caught off guard or have a trip interrupted. If I had know my stock would last 7 years and 30k not sure I would have bothered. The extra light is nice though.

Gave this a lot of thought. Took my time. Put in an eastern pc 8. plug and play. Did not want failures, electrical gremlins spent batteries due to lights left on. I really did not want any of that especially during a trip. The system has been flawless for 8 years. Pc8 is nice, makes adding something a snap, switched or unstitched.

 

[~TABASCO~]

My friends just make fun of me ! LOL


But I can see in the dark !

 

[AusTexS10]

My friends just make fun of me ! LOL


But I can see in the dark !



View attachment 98461

You're light years ahead of the rest of us.