G1 headlamp upgrade osram wattage

[motonut]

Hi all. Newbie here to the forum. Here's a topic to get my feet wet. Hopefully it's not old ground. I've got a 2000 gsf 1200s G1 bandit which takes the older style H4 bulbs. Has anyone tried running a bulb higher in wattage than the 60/55 standard size? Options i've seen are the 85/80 and the 70/65. I have a stock wiring harness. I want to see at night but I don't want to melt my bike down...

[PaulVS]

The higher watter bulbs are definitely not recommended without beefed-up wiring.

[motonut]

OK, just didn't know whether the 70/65w was still within tolerance limits for the existing wiring. That being said, does anyone think it's worth changing the bulb out to a 55/60w Osram?

[LowRyter]

I've been running 100/80 bulbs for about 8 years on my Gen 1 bike.  Costs $6, can see better than with any expensive solution, like auxiliary lights and expensive "blue" bulbs.  I burned one out and am on my second one now.  I would guess I have 50k miles of riding with hi watt bulbs

I just plugged it in and rode.

I'd like to use one on the Guzzi but don't have confidence that the wiring & electrical system can take it.  But on the Bandit, some of the Gen 1 guys tried the hi watts out and they seem to work fine.  A little brite to other traffic, which is a good thing .  YMMV.

[motonut]

thanks LowRyter. Maybe I'll just try to throw in a 80/85 and see what happens!

[LowRyter]

thanks LowRyter. Maybe I'll just try to throw in a 80/85 and see what happens!

let us know how it works out....I've been running 100 wt  bulbs for 8 or 10 years.   Anyone try it with 98 Guzzi let me know.

[Vlad]

LowRyter's experience notwithstanding (real life trumps theory any time :) ), I definitely suggest beefing up the wiring harness. If G1 harness is anything like G2, you'll gain more by proper wiring than by 20W more powerful bulb. I wouldn't crank up the bulb output by more than 15-20% anyway for fear of reflector damage. I've seen a few that ran 100W bulbs for a while and they don't look good. Again, the poor reflection properties of the burned reflector will offset the gain of the extra wattage. Do the harness first and if that doesn't produce desired increase in light output complement it with a ~80W bulb.

[LowRyter]

man, I must be screwing it up.