[meilaushi]

Innnnteresting... When I first had the bike a couple of months ago ('08 "Iron Maiden" Classic) it's burn out the headlights in a whipstich.  Jerry (Chief Mech Guru at L & L Classic Cycle), at the 500 mile breakin service, discovered the voltage regulator for the headlight hadn't been plugged in.  He connected it and ever since the (now new 7"--we got ride of that cobbled up 5" thing) headlight's been working fine... EXCEPT:
The low beam is nice and bright and one can see delightfully with it at night... BUT:  Turn on the high beam, and at first... nothing... then a low-powered warm glow only that hardly gives light enough to see unless you really rev the engine.  Any ideas as to why, fellows & gals?  I'd like the high beam to be as nice and bright and come on as immediately as the low beam.  Is the voltage reg doing somthing?  Is it the bulb? What?

It'd sure help to know what to look for as to the cause of this so maybe I could fix it and see at night with the high beam on. 

[mtrude]

Hello, Since the light works well on low,  can you try switching the leads on the back of the headlight so the positions are reversed? If it then works on "high"  you know its not the bulb. I wonder if the switch is bad and/or a poor high resistance connection exists and is not allowing full power to the light? Is there any change in the taillight brightness when you switch the headlight? I think if the regulator was faulty that light would dim also. Has it done this since the headlight conversion? have fun, mtrude

[meilaushi]

Thanks, MTrude, I'll give those a checkout, and see what happens if I switch leads on the bulb.

[baird4444]

One thing we need to remember is that the headlamps are powered directly from the alternator, not the full 12 or 13 volts from the battery like "modern" vehicles. The more rpm's - the more volts. The hi beam will be a higher wattage so more volts or rpm's are required. The lag between lo and hi will test your nerves in the beginning but you will get used to it.
   One thing that you can do is assure that your main ground is  good. The main ground on the backside of the battery box is usually suspect. Remove it and scrape the paint off the box so that you have bare metal. A dab of that dielectric grease, or what ever it's called, will keep down any corrosion. I think you'll find your lights may be brighter but that lag tween hi and lo will be there...
                   - Mike

[meilaushi]

Thanks!  Good points.  Will do.

[clamp]

There must be some reason that Re thought that running the headlamp directly off the alternator was a good Idea,  I cant imagine what that could be . If I ever get trouble with mine I shall wire it to the battery and let the regulator charge the battery accordingly.

[ERC]

I believe the reason the bikes have the lights running off the alternator is that with the electric starter the alternator couldn't put out enough juice to charge the battery back especially when the lights are wired to be on all the time.You could wire the lights to be  on the on off switch so you could have them off when starting or during the daytime,depending on state laws.Even so the charging system and battery are small for this function.  Roger

[clamp]

Good point, but you must have American specifications. Mine does allow me to turn the lights out, and I can have my headlamp on without running the engine.

      There are some dim wits (no pun intended)  out there,-- but I would rather have my machine wired in such a way that I am in control.

[baird4444]

I figure that it was designed this way so the bike could still be run with a marginal or bad battery so long as it wasn't shorted out. A capacitor could be installed to run with NO battery as well. With lights wired thru the battery I don't think they would work very well on a dead battery. Now days we keep good batteries and keep them charged.
     As far as not being able to turn our lights off and on here in the U.S., the switch can be made usable in less than 5 minutes. I turn mine off while idling for warm up and I can tell that the speed increases just a little.
                        - Mike

[Leonard]

Mike,
  You ever forget to turn on your headlight?  Hell, sometimes I can't remember to zip up, how am I supposed to remember to turn on a headlight in broad daylight.
Leonard

[baird4444]

as a matter of fact I have. I usually catch it pretty quick or
at least before I'm pulled over.

........as for zipping up?? 
NOT YET, but I'm sure my time is getting close....
                - Mike

[bob bezin]

this is the time to talk about senility ..there are three stages,, ist stage you forget peoples names  ,especially those  you"ve just met, second stage you forget to zip up your pants..third stage  you forget to zip down your pants.

[clamp]

Zips on pants Geeeez I can remember that. I only wear shorts with elastic around the waist,--same with my neck tie ,--when I wear one,--I think George bush has one .

[PhilJ]

That should be reason enough to never go near one.

[baird4444]

Zips on pants Geeeez I can remember that. I only wear shorts with elastic around the waist,--same with my neck tie ,--when I wear one,--I think George bush has one .

Nope...  I'm pretty sure his tie would be a clip on.