Okay the little Sporty now runs great and looks good, time to ride.:tour I hesitate to ride at night unless necessary, my stock lighting is barely useful at speed. I need some ideas:rolleyes: for improved lighting up front; maybe auxillary lights or something along those lines. I'll have to take into consideration my windshield that sort of wraps around the headlight. It's easy to get ideas for BT's, but not Sporties. I have the stock headlight that bolts from the brow and have relocated the directionals to the fork pinch clamps. This is my winter project so if you can shoot me a few ideas it would be appreciated.
thanks for the help
Wagondog

I slapped on a couple of walmart $20 fog lamps zip tied to the forks. Pointed them about 45 degrees outboard each side and they light up the night for me, especially on the side of the cagers face as I approach their blind spots, at night they know "something" is coming up on them...

I'm with you there. You need a deathwish to ride 60 mph at night on an ulnlit road. The reflector/lens on earlier XLs are crap. You can put all kind of expensive and more powerful bulbs in but the return is minimal. I've heard the last couple of model years have an improved assembly but don't know if they can be retrofitted to earlier models.

Candlepower sells a kit which replaces your existing reflector and lense for about $60. J&P Cycles carries them. For the buks it is a pretty good improvement but still not great, 'specially if you ride in an area with a lot of nighttime wildlife like Steve and I.

I like the look of the MotoLight caliper mount lights - but damn - they're pricey. Much too pricey to "try out". Wish I could get the mounts only and add some Kuryakyn or Lazer Star driving lamps.


I hesitate to ride at night unless necessary, my stock lighting is barely useful at speed. Wagondog

I mounted PIAA lamps to my downtubes. Pointed them slightly downward, so I don't blind the poor cagers. Tried putting them on the Lindby engine guard for a few days, but didn't like the look.

I have a 2005 883XL thought that the pattern of the stock H4 left alot to be desired :doh I simply went with a "hotter" bulb with excellent results. I use an 80/100 H4 "German Touring" from J&P about $16 :wonderlan Been running it since May have my high beams ON in daylight (through the summer-didn't melt the wires) and just run normal (as needed) at night. This Bulb :gun LIGHTS UP:gun the road There is an even "hotter" bulb 100/130 but from what I have read this one "could" melt your wires. Here's a link for J&P but I'm sure there a many different choices.:danccow

http://www.jpcycles.com/productdetail.aspx?PID=380-887&cs=Harley&GID=827F2857-A697-4B11-B445-0BABCFA8BC91&store=Harley&page=1&search=h4%20german%20touring%20bulb

:gun rICK:gun

Thanks for the links, I'm going to have to check out some retrofit bulbs or see if there is complete headlamp upgrade available. the catalogs are full of headlights but none that hang from the brow visor. I'll keep watching the posts, someone will have a similar problem and solution.
thanks for the help
Wagondog

Simple bulb change can increase your lighting without having to run new wiring, etc.

I installed a Sylvania 9003CB (Cool Blue) bulb ($9.00 each at Wal-MArt) . It's ranked just after the Sylvania Silverstar (9003ST). ($39.00 for a package of 2 at Wal-Mart.)

Big difference at night. I had other riders following me comment how far the lighting reached.

For $9.00 and a little time installing, it's a good quick upgrade. If it isn't what you're looking for, you can always add more (spend more also) but you can still keep the Cool Blue and not worry about burning up your wiring.