Adding extra spots to my @T

[AfriCAN]

I need some advice about the electrics on my @. I ride an '89 650 rd03 and I've recently put spotlights on, each one has a 55w globe, but I live in Africa and the roads here can be non-existant at the best of times, so I'd like to put in bigger globes. I found 130w globes but can anyone tell me whether or not the wiring and the alternator can handle this load.

[BobA]

AfriCAN


Depending on how you've wired the additional lights into your electrics, it could be that you've just been lucky so far!!!

I would be VERY careful unless you want a nice small fire on your hands in the middle of the night, on an empty road!!

Make sure you have a suitable relay in your circuit, which is activated by the original lighting circuit, but also make sure that the feed/load on the other side of the relay comes directly from the battery to the additional lights. Also, I would add a suitable fuse to the feed from the battery to the new lights, and one on the feed from the original light circuit to the relay just for peace of mind.


Cheers


Bob

[anton88]

I need some advice about the electrics on my @. I ride an '89 650 rd03 and I've recently put spotlights on, each one has a 55w globe, but I live in Africa and the roads here can be non-existant at the best of times, so I'd like to put in bigger globes. I found 130w globes but can anyone tell me whether or not the wiring and the alternator can handle this load.

I'm pretty sure you will fry something with spots that powerfull - the existing electrics will not be able to handle it - i guess you would probably just blow lots of fuses or worse something will melt

[AfriCAN]

Thanks for the advice, I've rewired the spots so they are running on completely different wiring to everything else, and via a relay, and installed the correct fuses and so far, it's been smooth sailing. I have to admit- and I don't want to promote bad vibes from biker to cage drivers- but it is a very satisfactory feeling when an approaching vehicle won't dim their bright lights and i can put on the spots, they work a charm for the rural areas i traverse.

[Wee Bro]

but it is a very satisfactory feeling when an approaching vehicle won't dim their bright lights and i can put on the spots, they work a charm for the rural areas i traverse.

I've gotta agree. Its very comforting to know you can be seen if nothing else. Simon has spots on his RD07 and you simple CANT miss him.
I'm gonna fit same to my RD04.

[Opinel]

Thanks for the advice, I've rewired the spots so they are running on completely different wiring to everything else, and via a relay, and installed the correct fuses and so far, it's been smooth sailing. I have to admit- and I don't want to promote bad vibes from biker to cage drivers- but it is a very satisfactory feeling when an approaching vehicle won't dim their bright lights and i can put on the spots, they work a charm for the rural areas i traverse.

Yes melt their goddam eyes.

[Pussyhorse]

Cool.

Standard RD03 lights are scarey bad. A zippo cable tied to the front would be better.

[Richardg]

There is a way to get much better lights from your @, Fit HID lights, they give off the same light as 2 X 200W halogens but only use 35W of power each, Your RD03 altinator will cope with this fine as the origonal lights are also 35W.

As the posts above say, Don't put bigger bulbs in or use extra spot lights as these will cook the wiring.

If you want info on HID coversions for your @ then do a search for 'HID' on this site or PM me

My RD 07 has been converted for the past six months and is fantastic, headlight beams on High are over two miles, By far the brightest lights I have ever seen on a bike and consuming just 70W in total (saves fuel and cooking the wiring). You can order HID kits on ebay

[AfriCAN]

The spots are actually a tester for a trip I'm doing with a friend on a KTM, (Kak To Maintain is the long of the abbr.) We're riding from South Africa through Zimbabwe, Mozambique to Malawi, and then back via the Mozambique coastline. I am going to probably mount another two, but not the same as the 130w, probably just 55w. I've travelled in Africa before and the worst thing about it is the amount of cars that not only have no lights, but also no reflectors, and it seems they all drive at night, as well as all the domestic animals roam freely and there are no fences. It gets really scary from time to time.