2001 XC 300 headlamp bulb

[jhendr3702]

made the mistake of trying to ride my 300 at night again this last weekend..
it has the 2k2 ignition and stock s1 type 25w bulb.. it is impossible to ride at any real speed...
anyone change bulbs and make it any better ?

 

[gasgasman]

You can switch the wires (at headlight bulb) to where the high beam is on all the time.

 

[motogroove]

FWIW,
A trusted long time Gas Gas advocate advised me to go aftermarket for a complete headlight if I want to make it better. And that was a few years ago. New bulb technology might make the aftermarket units even better than before.

Or, maybe new bulb technology has the answer for the OEM headlight (a.k.a. the answer you're looking for). I'm sure we could retrofit a bulb mount if we had to.

I'm not sure my 2001 XC300 makes enough juice for serious candlepower. It might not be the bulb's fault in my case. Ultra efficient new bulb technology might cure that (or not tollerate it at all).

-Dean
they don't call me "Sparky" because I'm good with electricity

 

[stainlesscycle]

2k2 puts out 40watts if you're lucky. 2k3 puts out 110watts. you really have no options with 2k2. maybe someone could rewind it for more output, but that's doubtfull. you could research 25-35watt bulbs with highest lumens. but you'll probably lose beam pattern/reliability....

 

[jhendr3702]

thanks guys.. i ran it on high G, it was worse.. the beam got up in the dust and it was like in a fog on brights in your car.. could not adjust it down with no tools...
one of the guys had a trail tech helmet mount with a remote battery... it was awesome.. I ended up following (and almost running over him)..
I think he said it was around 200... he could have ran it on low and been fine.. on high it was very good..

the one other gg here is just like mine, his was bad also.. he had a flashlight thing taped to his helmet, it was better than I had..

found some xenon bulbs and some halogen last night on the net with the same base, but not alot brighter..

 

[motogroove]

I think those helmet lights are they way to go if you're serious about night riding, no matter how good your standard headlight is.

 

[jhendr3702]

I think those helmet lights are they way to go if you're serious about night riding, no matter how good your standard headlight is.

i think so also... i was very impressed with the trail tech light.. he ran it on high so we all could see out, it was about an hour in the dark and it still showed full charge on the led..

it was better with him in front of me than behind fyi... esp in the whoops when we got off time.. it was kinda spooky..

we were on a recon mission to find this... 2009 crf250x

 

[motogroove]

i think so also... i was very impressed with the trail tech light.. he ran it on high so we all could see out, it was about an hour in the dark and it still showed full charge on the led..

it was better with him in front of me than behind fyi... esp in the whoops when we got off time.. it was kinda spooky..

we were on a recon mission to find this... 2009 crf250x

I bet somebody could get a smokin' deal on that parts bike!

 

[jhendr3702]

really... it is a DR's here spare bike.. he had taken a newby riding so we are not too sure what happened... but... we are in a severe drought.. had wild fires everywhere.. the story is, he got back to the bike, saw it was already on fire and did everything they could to keep the fire from spreading..
they did an awesome job...
they was nothing left of the bike.. the sub frame was melted, by the time we got to it, the wheels tires all the plastics..gone
it was a frame, handle bars, hand guards.. that was about it..
a buddy that picked it up said he thought he saw an air filter, but realized it was the plates out of the battery..

 

[egesledder]

I've got the 2k-3 stator re-wrapped and DC converted with the Trail Tech Halogen lamp (soon to be HID) on my '99. That along with helmet lights makes night riding a breeze.

The "helmet lights" that I use are just 2 small, high output LED flashlights that you can buy at Costco for cheap mounted to the sides of my helmet. They put out a surprising amount of light and I have less than 30 bucks in them.

 

[Todd5774]

I bought 2 mountain bike helmet LED lights, with a remote battery for night riding, very good last about 3 hrs before needing a charge and I can run at race pace.. Only cost about ?70 each, and I've learnt over the years that night riding works best with helmet lights as the light is where you are looking and not just pointing down the trail, I turn my main light off as it creates too much glare back towards you.

 

[jhendr3702]

I bought 2 mountain bike helmet LED lights, with a remote battery for night riding, very good last about 3 hrs before needing a charge and I can run at race pace.. Only cost about ?70 each, and I've learnt over the years that night riding works best with helmet lights as the light is where you are looking and not just pointing down the trail, I turn my main light off as it creates too much glare back towards you.

this is what i think i am gonna try... i found a halogen replacement bulb for the s1.. when i get it in i will post back with results..