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Upgrade light for 1981 kz750 ltd

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22 Oct 2021 05:58 #856910 by Julius21
Upgrade light for 1981 kz750 ltd was created by Julius21
Can anybody tell me if there is a modern, plug and play replacement light for the 1981 KZ750 Ltd? I heard that JW Speaker had one that was installed by simply replacing the existing 7” bulb with their modern led replacement but is this correct or is there an additional unit you need to add into the electrical system. If there is an additional unit required, where do you place it? Under the seat?
 

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22 Oct 2021 07:25 - 22 Oct 2021 08:34 #856917 by JR
Replied by JR on topic Upgrade light for 1981 kz750 ltd
I  replaced stock headlight a few years back with a Wagner H6024. Halogen, 7 inch, sealed beam, plug and play. Wont break the bank. Much better than stock. I see Summit Racing advertise a wagner H6024BL BriteLite which may be better yet.  The Wagner brand is important as I have read that other automotive brand H6024s dont last in motorcyvles.

 

1980 kz750E1, Delkevic exhaust
Last edit: 22 Oct 2021 08:34 by JR.
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22 Oct 2021 08:22 #856921 by Nessism
Replied by Nessism on topic Upgrade light for 1981 kz750 ltd
There are tons of modern bulbs you can install such as Sylvania 9003 bulbs which increase brightness.  A Trucklite LED lamp assembly takes it to the next level (at extra cost of course.)   
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22 Oct 2021 08:34 #856923 by Julius21
Replied by Julius21 on topic Upgrade light for 1981 kz750 ltd
And these options fit in the stock bucket, are plug and play and require no additional hardware? 

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22 Oct 2021 09:36 - 22 Oct 2021 09:38 #856924 by martin_csr
Replied by martin_csr on topic Upgrade light for 1981 kz750 ltd
Do you know what sort of headlight you have right now? 
The KZ750H Ltd came stock w an H4 halogen headlight consisting of a lens unit, 60/55W H4 bulb & dust cover.
Z1Enterprises has regular H4 bulbs plus an "Xtreme White" H4 which is pricy.

Here's an LED headlight topic.   www.kzrider.com/forum/4-electrical/61229...d-headlights?start=0
 
Last edit: 22 Oct 2021 09:38 by martin_csr.
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22 Oct 2021 09:39 #856925 by Nessism
Replied by Nessism on topic Upgrade light for 1981 kz750 ltd

And these options fit in the stock bucket, are plug and play and require no additional hardware? 

Remove original H4 bulb and install a brighter version.  This is plug and play and the easiest upgrade path.  A new headlamp assembly is next step.  Search Trucklite.  They have a great reputation if you want even more light.
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22 Oct 2021 15:31 #856928 by BobZ
Replied by BobZ on topic Upgrade light for 1981 kz750 ltd
The reflector in your headlight is 40 years old....if it's faded a more powerful bulb won't help much.  I was up to a 90/130 bulb in my old BMW w/Windjammer.  I found a late model 7" harley headlight at a swap meet and the difference was amazing. When I sold the bike i kept it and it's in my 83 Goldwing now.  

Had I known I'd live this long I'd have taken better care of my Led Zeppelin albums


1983 Goldwing Interstate
1982 KZ750 LTD
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22 Oct 2021 17:55 - 23 Oct 2021 07:50 #856937 by martin_csr
Replied by martin_csr on topic Upgrade light for 1981 kz750 ltd
By BobZ:  The reflector in your headlight is 40 years old....if it's faded a more powerful bulb won't help much.... 

Thanks. The lens unit I got was cloudy, so I cleaned it w denatured alcohol which helped a lot. I don't remember if I cleaned the reflector, though. doh.  The lens is starting to get cloudy again, so it's time to redo that job.  The clean headlight w new H4 bulb is much brighter than the old sealed beam it replaced, but I'm sure there are better headlights available.
Last edit: 23 Oct 2021 07:50 by martin_csr.

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07 Nov 2021 20:57 - 07 Nov 2021 20:58 #857631 by Setton
Replied by Setton on topic Upgrade light for 1981 kz750 ltd
I had an '82 KZ750 LTD. It used an H4 bulb in a 7 inch reflector, not a 7 inch sealed beam. If yours is like that, I have got just the bulb for you. It's an LED that is practically a drop in replacement for H4 halogens. The only real difference as far as fitment goes is that it has a sizeable heat sink and a driver that a regular H4 bulb wouldn't have. On the Rebel, the driver hangs out of the back of the headlight bucket and is secured to the triple tree with a zip tie. The heat sink makes it a bit fiddly to install... but the trick is to remove the bulb from the collar that it rotates inside of and then install the collar first, then insert the bulb. That way you don't have to get the holder spring around the heat sink.

www.amazon.com/HIKARI-Headlight-Conversi...rranty/dp/B077B3SNJR

It'll say it won't fit, but it'll fit... I've got one in two KZ1000-Ps and a Honda Rebel 250. As soon as I get my new KZ1100 running again I'm going to put one in it.

It is BRIIIIIGHT, but not only that, the LED chips are in the same place the halogen filaments would be, which means it produces the same projection pattern as a halogen... in otherwords, it doesn't blind other drivers, despite being literally 3-4 times the brightness of halogen. I've had mine for about 2 years now and they're still going great.

The only disadvantages I've found is that the white doesn't cut through rain and fog as well as the yellow of a halogen, and it comes two in a pack because they're intended for cars, so you end up buying twice as many as you need if you're only converting a single bike.

KZs I own
1982 KZ750-H3 LTD (frame's bent, no longer rideable, RIP)
1982 KZ1100 LTD Shaft (thought it was a Spectre)
1988 KZ1000 Police
1989 KZ1000 Police (basket case)
2002 KZ1000 Police

Non-KZs:
1983 Hondamatic 450
2001 Honda Rebel


I don't understand soup. Put a flower on my nose.
Last edit: 07 Nov 2021 20:58 by Setton.

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