Maintenance & Technical > KX500 Original
KX500 Lighting
jtktoby:
I have a 2000 KX500 with a moose lighting coil. The output is enough to power a headlight and get me street legal but it does not put out enough light to see very well out in the trails.
The two options I have found are an E-line external stator and battery powered HID lights (I was specifically looking at the set up from Trail Tech). I am not sure which option would be the best.
Here are some of the plus/minuses as I see them.
E-Line
- I can not seem to find one. E-Line will not even give me a time
frame of when they might have them.
- Has an effect of an 11oz flywheel weight whether I want it or not
+ 180 watts of output
Battery powered HID lights
+ can mount to helmet so I can see where I am looking not just
where the bike is pointing.
- + 2 hour battery life. If I purchased 2 batteries that would give
me 4 hours of lighting plus I always have my stator driven
headlight if both batteries run out.
- + 76 effective watts of light. I am not sure if this would be
enough even after adding my current light output to the
equation.
Any thought or comments are greatly appreciated.
BTW I am a new KX500 owner and I must say that every time I take the 500 out I am amazed at the versatility of this bike. Thanks.
Timbowe:
Why do you want to ride at night? More carrots :wink: Any way welcome to the sight!
:mrgreen:
Polar-Bus:
--- Quote from: jtktoby on June 14, 2006, 02:48:10 PM ---I have a 2000 KX500 with a moose lighting coil. The output is enough to power a headlight and get me street legal but it does not put out enough light to see very well out in the trails.
The two options I have found are an E-line external stator and battery powered HID lights (I was specifically looking at the set up from Trail Tech). I am not sure which option would be the best.
Here are some of the plus/minuses as I see them.
E-Line
- I can not seem to find one. E-Line will not even give me a time
frame of when they might have them.
- Has an effect of an 11oz flywheel weight whether I want it or not
+ 180 watts of output
Battery powered HID lights
+ can mount to helmet so I can see where I am looking not just
where the bike is pointing.
- + 2 hour battery life. If I purchased 2 batteries that would give
me 4 hours of lighting plus I always have my stator driven
headlight if both batteries run out.
- + 76 effective watts of light. I am not sure if this would be
enough even after adding my current light output to the
equation.
Any thought or comments are greatly appreciated.
BTW I am a new KX500 owner and I must say that every time I take the 500 out I am amazed at the versatility of this bike. Thanks.
--- End quote ---
I can barely see clearly during the DAY on my 5 at speed, let alone on the trails at night!
My last bike was a Yamaha WR250F, and the problem with lighting coil only (no battery) power system is that the engine needs to start revving for the headlight to adequately light up the trail. I found on my WR that unless you kept the engine revving good, the lighting was very poor. Blasting down smooth roads at night was no problem, as rpm's were higher. If you absolutely have to have lights, get a full blown battery type system like Baja Designs.
jtktoby:
I live 5 minutes from hundreds of miles of single track, 2 tracks and seasonal roads (I am also street legal so I can ride straight from my house without any problems). I try to ride 4 nights a week (my wife is the best) but by the time I get home from work and out riding there is not much day light left on a weekday.
What is the ?full blown battery type system like Baja Designs?? I called them and they told me all the offer for the KX500 is the E-Line external stator which they would have to order and wait on just like me. Thanks.
jtktoby:
Just in case anyone can find this of use, I ended up purchasing the Trail Tech dual HID helmet light set up. It was a little pricey but the light out put is awesome and it is also amazing to have the lights point where you looking not just where the bike is pointed.
The system seems very well made and their claimed battery life seems to be right on target. So now since my main riding time is after the lights go out, I get the trails to my self, the temp is a few degrees cooler and I can see where I am going.
Thanks,
Jon
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