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LineArtist wrote: I was just looking at replacing the headlight on my 79/650. Factory spec is 35/50w 12v. ...

Another option is to get the H4 headlight from an 80s KZ750-4. You'd need the lens unit, dust cover, & H4 bulb (55/60W). Z1Enterprises.com sells the bulb. The parts from an 82 Ltd were a direct fit to my 81 650-CSR. The lens unit was cloudy which I cleaned w denatured alcohol. The earlier 650s have the same headlight rim n stuff as mine, so it should work on your bike.

Side note. I read somwhere that a motorcycle beam pattern is different from a car's..... maybe wider?

martin_csr wrote:

LineArtist wrote: I was just looking at replacing the headlight on my 79/650. Factory spec is 35/50w 12v. ...

Another option is to get the H4 headlight from an 80s KZ750-4. You'd need the lens unit, dust cover, & H4 bulb (55/60W). Z1Enterprises.com sells the bulb. The parts from an 82 Ltd was a direct fit to my 81 650-CSR. The lens unit was cloudy which I cleaned w denatured alcohol. The earlier 650s have the same headlight rim n stuff as mine, so it should work on your bike.

Side note. I read somwhere that a motorcycle beam pattern is different from a car's..... maybe wider?

Uh huh, and then get an H4 LED bulb

I've been thinking about trying a set of those LED headlight bulbs in my truck. Hate to spend $100 and discover I don't like them.

steell wrote: ......I've been thinking about trying a set of those LED headlight bulbs in my truck. Hate to spend $100 and discover I don't like them.

Speaking of which.....

media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/...r-LED-headlamps.html

650ed wrote:

steell wrote: ......I've been thinking about trying a set of those LED headlight bulbs in my truck. Hate to spend $100 and discover I don't like them.

Speaking of which.....

media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/...r-LED-headlamps.html

Yeah but, those are on a Ford truck, and while I really like Ford trucks, those are priced way out of my budget.
I'll just have to stick with my 99 Ford Ranger Extended cab 4wd. Truck-Lite sells a 7" round LED headlight that is DOT approved and a drop in to any of the KZs with 7" round headlights. Might not be room for all those wires inside the shell though.

Installed the Wagner H6024 this morning and rode all day until the sun set. Using the new dictionary term "amazeballs" is an understatement. I can see the road. The light is white and not yellow and is about 4-6x brighter than the aftermarket headlight that came on the bike.

I strongly recommend Wagner as a forum standard replacement headlamp.

LineArtist wrote: Installed the Wagner H6024 this morning and rode all day until the sun set. Using the new dictionary term "amazeballs" is an understatement. I can see the road. The light is white and not yellow and is about 4-6x brighter than the aftermarket headlight that came on the bike.

I strongly recommend Wagner as a forum standard replacement headlamp.

I've been running the H6024 lights since about 1982. I remember once when it blew out and I put the original bulb back in until I could get a new H6024. Drove off at night.... and pulled over to check and see if the headlight was working. Was so dim by comparison, I turned around and drove right back into my garage. Can't believe I ever rode with that thing....

I found the H6024 sealed headlamp on Ebay for under $11 with 2 day shipping included. The light is actually brighter than on my friend's 2004 HD. (amazeballs)

UPDATE: Do not buy bulbs on ebey, after a week the low bulb burned out and the seller refuses to ship a replacement, although Wagner says they would replace it if I had bought the product from a local retailer.

Hello all, new member here, with a 1980 kz550 Ltd. I was following this thread, as my headlight went out about halfway through my 30 mile ride home, approaching dark. Decidedly unpleasant experience! Anyhow, wanting to ride and not wait for shipping, I decided to go to my local auto parts store to by a new Sylvania headlight ( I know ,Ed ). Well after going from place to place, looking for one, I stumble into Napa. Long story short, Napa branded h6024 headlights, are actually Wagner! I paid 11.99 plus the governors wages. Just thought I'd share that with y'all.

Awesome find...!

BTW, when your headlight burns out you can always turn on your high beam bulb to get home safely. That's one reason I don't recommend to the chop project to get rid of that extra switch.

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configuration

saprophyte00 wrote: Hello all, new member here, with a 1980 kz550 Ltd. I was following this thread, as my headlight went out about halfway through my 30 mile ride home, approaching dark. Decidedly unpleasant experience! Anyhow, wanting to ride and not wait for shipping, I decided to go to my local auto parts store to by a new Sylvania headlight ( I know ,Ed ). Well after going from place to place, looking for one, I stumble into Napa. Long story short, Napa branded h6024 headlights, are actually Wagner! I paid 11.99 plus the governors wages. Just thought I'd share that with y'all.

Just bought one too!

I have a 82 KZ750H which has the H4 light with a replaceable bulb. I don't see too many recommendations for stock wattage replacement H4 bulbs, but the H6024 seems to be very highly recommended. Can I do the reverse of the swap discussed earlier, remove my H4 and install the H6024 in it's place? Do I have to be concerned with the power consumption at all? Are there any differences in how it would mount?

Also, the Wagner H6024 appears to be from the BriteLite series, whatever that really means they seem to be quite good, is the NAPA one the same? Or is this a case of 9003 vs 9003LL vs 9003HO ..., where the same number gets re-used but means something different?

I tried out the H4 on my bike and it is scary dim, utterly useless in my opinion and very very orange. I can't see ever considering riding at night with this bulb in so I need to do something. Coming from the car world my first thought was to do a HID projector retrofit (not just HID in the stock housing) but I also considered a LED headlamp.