Make Gl1000 Headlight Brighter?

[TheRobbie1950]

I have been away from here out of the country and I could not access this site from where I was.
I have a 1978 Gl1000 that I have been riding for some time and I would like to know if there are any headlight modifications or upgrades available to have a brighter headlight?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,

[Mh434]

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=44666

These bulbs will vastly increase your lighting, while maintaining a proper light pattern...

[Stew]

If the GL1000 uses a standard round sealed beam automotive headlight you'll need an adapter housing that will let you use a standard H4 type headlight bulb, then you have a world of options such as the LEDs Mh434 provided the link for.

Sorry, I don't have a GL1000 so I don't know if it's using the old automotive type sealed beam or not, it looks like it in pictures.

Here's a link to the type of adapter housing you'll need:
https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Crystal- ... B00GF5LI96

[SnoBrdr]

If the GL1000 uses a standard round sealed beam automotive headlight you'll need an adapter housing that will let you use a standard H4 type headlight bulb, then you have a world of options such as the LEDs Mh434 provided the link for.

Sorry, I don't have a GL1000 so I don't know if it's using the old automotive type sealed beam or not, it looks like it in pictures.

Here's a link to the type of adapter housing you'll need:
https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Crystal- ... B00GF5LI96

we just had a disagreement on this recently.

My original to me 78 has a sealed beam. The parts fiche says it is a H4 setup.

I know what I have so it could be either.

[SnoBrdr]

I have been away from here out of the country and I could not access this site from where I was.
I have a 1978 Gl1000 that I have been riding for some time and I would like to know if there are any headlight modifications or upgrades available to have a brighter headlight?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,

LED is the way to go.

Was something blocking the site or no internet ?

[rudolphwolven]

Very bright driving lights from China at $ 12,- each (free delivery) on my GL1000 K1.............directly connected to the current circuit; evt. with extra on/off switch........
In my situation bolted on using the oem-bolt of the orange winker .....without the use of the alu-clamps supplied with the lights......

[landisr]

Those lights look great and appear to work great, too. Could you provide any purchase information?

Thanks. Ron in AZ

[virgilmobile]

I got a much brighter headlight on my 1000 by rewiring it to a relay and #12 wire(fused) straight from the battery.

I also replaced the green ground(#18 gauge) with a #12 right to the frame.
You can use 2 relays..one for low beam and the other for high beam...use the existing wire to operate the relay.
This increased the voltage at the headlight and brightness by a noticible amount.
There was a significant voltage drop between the battery and headlight on the original wiring.

[rudolphwolven]

Those lights look great and appear to work great, too. Could you provide any purchase information?

Thanks. Ron in AZ

Hi Ron,
Available both in black or silver....2 of these lights have the same power as a passenger car's dimmed head lights..........
Picture below is head light "on" and 2x DRL's "on".........what a difference.....!

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/U2-1200 ... autifyAB=0

Regards, Ruud

[virgilmobile]

If these are the same as what I just got be aware of it's features.
When power is first applied they go to Max bright...if you cycle the power off then on within 20 seconds or so it switched to low brightness..if you cycle the power again it goes to strobe flashing mode...
Very annoying having to wait to turn them off then back on and not have them strobing...If you cycle the power off and wait a full minute it goes back to high every time.
I did modify mine to shorten that timing cycle to about 5 seconds...
If you Google about modifying them there's a few ideas...Don't bother..they don't work..smoked the part suggested to use anf where to solder it on the PCB.I tried... But I did resolve the problem by discharging the 4.7 mf cap with a 12k resistor...This took away the static memory power.

[rudolphwolven]

Hi virgilmobile,
Indeed, you are right with the mode change with quick on /offs.
Thanks for your tip ref. the 12 k resistor.
However I have these lights as DRL's on both my GL1000 and a Mazda 2 car and in real life (for me) this is not a real problem.

[virgilmobile]

As long as your not quick on the switch,there great lights.
I wanted a fast switch on/off/on... thus the circuit mod.

12k to discharge the cap.

I've also designed a special switch mount for the Goldwings so it can be operated by the thumb and hand still on the grip.

Round switch holder

Front and back rectangular switches

I'm working on other switch arrangements too.
I just didn't want to take my hand off the grip and feel around somewhere for the switch...Especially on a dark windy road at 60mph.

[rudolphwolven]

very nice solutions...!
Regards, Ruud

[Fred Camper]

Like Virgilmobile said, running relays puts a good 1.5volts higher to the headlight and that really matters for halogen H4 bulbs. I suggest you wire the relay before searching out bulbs as the relays make the lighting more reliable also, sending less current though the ignition switch and handlebar wire looms.

[TheRobbie1950]

I have been away from here out of the country and I could not access this site from where I was.
I have a 1978 Gl1000 that I have been riding for some time and I would like to know if there are any headlight modifications or upgrades available to have a brighter headlight?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,

LED is the way to go.

Was something blocking the site or no internet ?

Sorry for the delay in answering you ,..........I was in the Philippines and Unfortunately the GoldwingDocs site blocked my access from that country. I think that the explanation was that they get too much spam from there and hence even though I am a member, my access was denied.

I sort of got away from my Gl1000 headlight issue because looking at the replies that I got, I did not understand how to use the information that I received.
Some of the responses were about attaching little headlights to the turn signal posts, BUT I have a vetter fairing and hence the signal lights are built into it.

Maybe I missed something in the replies, so if there really is a way that I can replace my single sealed beam headlight in my fairing with something significantly brighter then i would appreciate any help pointing me in the right direction for a conversion kit or the like.

Oh, and by the way Admin,....I am again going to the Philippines at the beginning of November for the winter as we do every year, so if there might be a secret back door that I could still access this site from that country, it would be greatly appreciated.

[WingAdmin]

Sorry for the delay in answering you ,..........I was in the Philippines and Unfortunately the GoldwingDocs site blocked my access from that country. I think that the explanation was that they get too much spam from there and hence even though I am a member, my access was denied.

We do block users from REGISTERING from certain countries - mainly former Eastern Bloc countries and China, where 99% of the spam comes from. However, if you have an account, we don't block you from ACCESSING from any country. I'd be interested in finding out just how you were being blocked.

[TheRobbie1950]

When I get back there then I will try again to access this site.
I believe that I even emailed you about this issue and was told the reason was as I mentioned.
It was last year so I don't remember exactly how I emailed you (what email address I used), I just gave up after receiving the
no access from that country response.

[captdecker]

My first Goldwing was a 77 GL1000.
With low light output, I researched for a "MOTORCYCLE" replacement one. What I found ( & got) came from the UK. (Halogen bulb) BUT was true light for a motorcycle as it had a cut off of light not to blind on coming drivers and a up lighting on right side for road sighs. The wiring was not up to it, so used a relay trigger by the bike's wiring to provide Bat power to light switch. Worked well.
While a "auto" light would give more light but would not the right pattern of light.(Something to keep in mind)
Be nice to see if there is an LED one that is made for a motorcycle, now.

[TheRobbie1950]

I will not do anything about the light for the winter, however any useful information about upgrading the light is always welcome.
Thank you to all that responded to my post.

[Ms_Mike]

My son-in-law installed running lights beside the fender for me on my '76. He put a push-pull type switch on the left side of the fairing, just below the side pocket. It works great and I don't have to look for it in the dark. That won't help on a naked Wing, but is wonderful on a fairing.

[TheRobbie1950]

Again thanks for all of the posts on my question about the headlight on my Gl1000.
As I said I will not be doing anything till spring now and I do like the idea of the switch on the fairing for running lights mounted by the fender.
Tyvm everyone.

[bruce swaybill]

In the product reviews section, search on ‘KC Hilites’ for my review from a couple years ago. Today they have newer models but the improvement over the oem light should be even better.

Ride safe!
Bruce S.

[TheRobbie1950]

In the product reviews section, search on ‘KC Hilites’ for my review from a couple years ago. Today they have newer models but the improvement over the oem light should be even better.

Ride safe!
Bruce S.

Hi Bruce,
I did go and read your review of the KC Hilites, and I also saw that the Petersen 701-C was pretty much the same and cheaper.
I see that you ride a Gl1100 and I ride a Gl1000, so I would need to be certain that those replacements would in fact fit physically and
work electrically on my Gl1000? (I have heard that the Gl1000 electrical can't handle much more than is on the stock bike)
I am not really up on all of the differences of the newer models, but i do know that many times things are not interchangeable.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated, because I definitely want to upgrade my headlight next spring,

Thanks
Rob

[captdecker]

Rob
I believe that all 7" headlights will fit. The thing to remember is the light pattern. There looks like there all a lot of one's mostly for Harley's that would fit and LED'S . As the LED'S take less power than incandescent (stock) there should be the power in the GL1000 to light the road up nicely.

Verne

[bruce swaybill]

Hi Rob,

The GL1000 and 1100 both use a standard (for that time) automotive size 7 inch diameter headlight assembly. These were used on two headlight cars with round lights and the H4 bulb that consumed 55W on low and 60W on high beam. Back then there were only four headlight configurations allowed for cars: Two large round or rectangular, or four small round or rectangular. Motorcycles used the large round size format with a "motorcycle lens" until the mid 80's when the world when nuts and everything changed to rectangles! Light, speedos, dashes ... all square-ish and ugly!
The KC unit I bought consumes 20W low and 25W high beam - way less than original, that's why I got it, to reduce the load on the alternator, plus better light.

I think any package like the KC's (not just a H4 bulb replacement) will perform well providing a modern light pattern on the road, better than a 70's/80's sealed beam light our bikes came with.

May the light be with you!
Bruce S.