Got the spot lamp fitted on my Pulsar 180
After I got the Avenger coil plate and 55/60w H4 halogen fitted in my motorcycle, touring at night has been a lot safer than earlier and majority of the time, I have been able to maintain 80+kmph at night. But I finally decided to add another 55w light, in the form of a spot lamp, last night.
This is due to the fact that there have been times, especially on the single lane roads, when the lights from the oncoming traffic blinded me so much that I couldn’t see a pedestrian or a cyclist on the road.
If you can’t see them, you can’t avoid them, so I decided to do something about it.
I had three options to increase the visibility:
Get coil rewinding done and fit a 100w headlamp: I ruled this out, since it would have had a major impact on the reliability of my motorcycle and that is something I am not ready to compromise with.
Get HID: This was the most expensive option, HIDs (High Intensity Dischargers) are quite good at providing illumination and would have provided me the best lighting setup out of all the options. However with a single ballast and xenon costing a minimum of Rs. 2000 if imported and Rs.3000 if bought from Delhi, it was ruled out for the time being. In any scenario, if I were to add an HID, I would add it in a spot lamp. That way I would get to retain my current headlight, which runs off the magneto. Since HID is dependent upon battery power i.e. needs DC setup and I don’t want to be totally dependent upon the battery.
Get a spot lamp with 55w halogen: This was the most logical and cost effective option for me, spot lamps are cheaply available and can be easily fitted to the battery, without messing with the current wiring. This meant, if some thing was to go wrong with the spot lamp or its wiring, it wouldn’t cause any problem to my bike’s wiring and I would still be able to use the headlight. Add to this, I do plan to purchase HID later on and it would come in handy, even at that time.
So yesterday I went to Karol Bagh with Shamik, Manik, Eric, Deepak and Sparsh, to hunt for a spot lamp. We visited quite a few shops and checked out at least half a dozen spot lamps, before deciding on the pair which looked pretty decent and well built and got it fitted on my motorcycle.
For Rs.150 a piece, this is relatively cheap (even cheaper options are available) and provide decent illumination.
Total cost for the spot lamp setup turned out to be:
Spot lamp (including halogen) = Rs. 150
Bracket, wire and switch = Rs.45
Labor = Rs. 50
Total cost = Rs. 245 (US$ 6)
Not a bad deal at all, though its beam is a little wider than what I wanted, but with the low beam of my motorcycle, I get much better light and I can easily see the road and people/traffic even at 80+kmph. Though I am yet to test it on a single lane highway, which I would most probably do this weekend.
Oh yes, the mechanic that fitted them on my motorcycle said, they will suck all the power from the battery in 5 minutes. However on the ~20 minutes ride back home, I had the spot lamp on and I must have used the electric starter 3-4 times, plus horn numerous times and indicators to check if there was a significant load on the battery, but it didn’t looked it.
However it would be only after the continuous use of 3-4 months and a major ride that I would be able to confirm if they have any adverse effects on the battery or not.
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hi Yogesh!i read through all the information provided by you and i must say,u hv done a lot of homework!fabulous job,boss!now, i hv a 1st-generation apache and i am not really satisfied with it’s headlight. i tried using the charger from yamaha. it does provide a better wattage, leading to brighter beam, with PHILIPS 35/35 w halogen bulb. however it burns the bulb in absolutely no time! on the other hand, a 60/55 w buld is too much even wit the charger installed. is thr a way i can get my bike’s coil rewound by sm exp mechanic in delhi?if u can provide me with any detail of any mechanic/shop etc. i’ll be highly thankful. plzz drop a line at only_das@yahoo.com, boss..
Hi Ayan,
Best option would be to convert your bike’s headlight to DC and get an HID. Few of my friends bought it directly from this ebay dealer, who ships directly to India in a way that you won’t have to pay custom duty on it. Cost of HID + Shipping etc. came out to be less than Rs. 4,000 and since the kit contains two HIDs, you can buy it along a friend and the whole setup would cost you <2,500.
As for the coil rewinding thing, well I won’t really recommend that especially if you travel on the highway etc. because it is not that reliable. Few of the guys I know down south had experimented with it and in the end just switched to HIDs.
Alternatively you can simply make your headlight DC and get the coil shorted to provide all the current to battery charging and use 60w headlamp with it. Though it is also not fool proof and chances of something going wrong does exists.
In case you want to get the last option done i.e. conversion to DC, let me know I’ll send you the details of an electrican who recently did the same thing on a friend’s apache.
Hi Yogesh,
The info was really helpful. I dun have any budgetary constraints and am planning to get an HID installed on my P180. Could you please direct me to where i can get this kit in Delhi and also a mechanic who could install it?
Kaustubh best option is to get the HID from a Chinese seller at Ebay (USA), that way the entire kit (which is enough for two motorcycles) would end up costing you < 5k including shipping.
Problem with HID kits available in the local market is, nearly all of them are of 6000 Kelvin and above, which means white and bluish light, which is ok for showing off, but bad for visibility. Best option is to get an HID kit with 4300kelvin rating, which is hard to find in India, barring from good brands which cost 12k upwards. That’s the reason; nearly all of my friend’s got their HID kits from this guy.
If you still want to buy it in Delhi, then simply head to Karol Bagh’s nai wallah market and go to any car accessory shops (you can even get them at bike accessory shops) and ask for a HID kit for motorcycle (make sure you get an H4 bixenon one, where the bulb moves up and down to provide both upper and lower beam). It should end up costing you around 3-4k for the motorcycle (single ballast and bulb, search around and bargain for best price).
As for fitting, I have heard Salim mechanic who sits in front of Sagar Auto can do the fitting, alternatively you can also check Maha Laxmi Auto, they will also sell you the kit and get the fitting done.
Haven’t done any dealing with either of them, so can’t recommend one over the other.
i own pulsar 180 dtsi model,can i install 55/60 watt bulb directly or i need to purchase avenger coil.and how i need to replace the coil.
Aadil you need Avenger 180 coil plate to take full advantage of the 55/60 halogen else it will provide even less illumination at lower rpm and would take a lot of time to switch between low and high beam. Details of which are provided here.
http://www.bcmtouring.com/forum/articles-f20/increase-bajaj-pulsar-s-headlight-intensity-170-a-t3671/
Hi Yogesh,
thats a good piece of information, thankx. i want you to help me out modifying my Pulsar 150 (new). i want to fix a similar smaller lamp inside the headlamp. i have done a little experimenting, there is no shadowing in the original beam, and i feel it would look really good and also have a beeter beam. idea is to fix the lamp to the fibre transparent dom from inside, at the lower centre. i am looking for 35W halogen white or yellow.
Kindly suggest.
So you wish to fit another 35w halogen inside your current headlight? Well it can be done, however it would end up burning up the reflector after a while and might not provide that good a headlight beam. Better option would be to simply upgrade the current 35w halogen to 55/60w halogen, with the help of Avenger Coil Plate.
hi yogesh
i have a query regarding conversion as u have told to fit the avenger coil.i have latest 2007 model which i think comes with some relay near the head lamp so will it create any problem and one more think can i take my p180 for touring long distances say 1000 – 2000 kms,will it create any problem is pulsar reliable for touring.
Nope to both.
Hi Yogesh,
I have a 2000 CBZ and the lights has become really poor. I was thinking of doing something except changing to HID as it would be too costly for such an old bike.
Could you pls let me know if I could fit 55/60 W halogan with the help of Avenger Coil Plate in my CBZ. And if not what are the other options to upgrade the main light.
Thanks,
Chitranshu.
chitranshu.basak@gmail.com
Chitranshu, Avenger coil isn’t going to fit on a CBZ. You can try and get the coil rewound or get the headlight to fun off the battery and use a 55/60w halogen. Though its not going to provide much better light as the design of the headlight of the original CBZ isn’t good. So you might just be better off changing the headlight to a round one with clear glass or get a 55w spot lamp.
Hi Yogesh,
Those are nice pieces of infos n advices you have given…but i’m still confused… i own a pulsar 150 2004 model and i’m not satisfied with my headlights… i was thinking of installing a HID which my friend has. i don have to worry abt the cost.. the thing is do i have to change the coil plate to avenger’s to install a HID? what effect does it have on my batteries? also you said abt converting headlights to DC? can you explain more abt this? i’m confused whether to install a HID or a higher powered halogen bulb.. plz help me out… thnks…
You do not need to change the coil plate to use the HID. Though if you want to run it as main headlight, you will have to change the electrical system to DC i.e. make the headlight run on battery, like it does in Karizma, Pulsar 220 etc. You will also need to install a charger to ensure the battery charges more quickly.
Alternatively you can put the HID in a spot lamp and use it as a backup solution for when there is a need for more light.
Thanks a lot for ur advice…
hi yogesh its me kaushik again…
my bike is now almost 5 years old. its performance has gone down considerably.. pickup is down n mileage is just 3o… sometimes below that.. i have not done any kind of modifications to my engine or exhaust.. what could be the problem n how to rectify it? i’ll be thankful to you if you could help me out.. thought of going for a new bike but i don’t wanna dispose this baby…
Kaushik is the bike drinking oil and how many kms has it clocked and have you gotten the engine overhauled?
my engine oil was leaking for sometime i got tat rectified… i’ve changed my engine oil twice this year… i’ve run the bike for abt 50000 kms… i have’t got the engine overhauled..
i feel my bike is drinking too much oil…
If that is the case, then it is due for Piston kit change and that is why it is producing less power. Take it to a authorized service center and let them have a look at it, they will give you an estimate.
okay.. thanks a lot…
i’ve heard that changing the stock air filter to k&n air filter and upjetting will increase the performance? what does this upjetting mean? i’m not much into these bikes n stuff n do’nt know much abt them. so could u tell me more abt this air filter n jets …
Check this out, http://www.indiaon2wheels.com/performance-tuning-part-2-fluid-flow/
so wat u suggest …? should i go for the change or should i stay with stock?
i’m goin to singapore in august. so thot of buyin these things there.. any other modifications i should do to my bike to increase the performance? are there any other things tat i could buy for my bike??
Personally I am not in favor of such mods, stock is always better and more reliable.
In any case it is a hit and trial method to achieve full benefit, so be ready to spend some time, money and effort on it, along side the mechanic.
yup… thanks
hi yogesh i have a avenger 200cc…i am having the same problem with the head light… i tried HID…it sucked all the battery in 2 days… pls give me any alternative if u have.. thanks
oh yea u must be knowing 200cc has no kick start….
hi yogesh,
The HID is install on it but, it consume battery a lot. Can i connect lighting coil to custom rectifier and give its output directly to battery, is there any bad effect on battery.
Can i fix pulser 220 Stator plate and RR to avi 200.
thanks & regards
Prashant
hi prashant pls inform me if u get any side effect in ur battery after u installed HID..becoz my i feel there must be some wiring fault with my bike…thank u..
yogesh are u alive…??
From where did you get the HID installed from? It is common knowledge and sense to redirect the current going to the headlight and now use it to charge the battery. This is done by either shorting the coil plate or by redirecting the current going into the wiring and then by using a Bullet charger (maybe the new 180’s charger can be used as well), use it to charge the battery.
Which city are you both from?
im from kolkata…
Hi,
I am from mumbai, and thanks 4 your reply.
1. I personally installed HID on my avenger 200.
2. There is no bad effect on battery except it will drain after continuous driving of 1 and 1/2 hrs. & avi 200 does not have kick.
My daily running is 124 km of which half running in night after 11pm .
On sunday i check Rectifier of APE tempo with Battery charging coil(not with Lighting coil) of stock RR & measure the current flowing to battery, it was almost double(6 amps) of stock RR.
Will it be ok to charge battery with HID or i should use lighting coil to charge battery. If it is ok then i can use lighting coil for Extra light ( Spot Light)
I want to know mainly that, charging with lighting coil may not over charge battery while we driving bike in morning.
I have compare Stator plate of avenger 180 and 200. There is slight diff. in arrangment of charging coil and lighting coil. in 200 it is alternate and in 180 it was 1st 3 coils of charging and then 4 coils of lighting. Only in 200 charging coil wire is slight thicker than 180.
Lee, what problem u face in u r wiring, can u expand it?
thanks & regards
Prashant
pnm1606@gmail.com
You would need to redirect the lighting coil to charge the battery as well, since it is not being used any longer. Any expert motorcycle electrician would be able to help you with this. Sadly I do not know any one in Kolkata and Mumbai, who does this.
thank u so much……but i think there is no solution to HID sucking all the battery….guess i would carrying on using the original dull head light lol… anyways tc…keep riding
Try and get in touch with a good motorcycle electrician first, I have a friend who has been running a 55/60w halogen on battery and quite a few others who are running HIDs and none so far have reported an issue like this.
Hi,
I already disconect lighting coil earting and pull separate wire to custom rectifier. I also got the number of bridge rectifier of 30amps 400 volt (KBPC3510) with hole in center to fix on body. I also check 100/90 w bulb which also give me good light.
I am planing to use both coils for battery charging. I will use 5 point relay to switch battery coil durung day time and lighting coil during night by automatic swiching with help of tail light which get power when we swich on light in night. As soon as we swich light, relay will operate and give lighting coil supply to battery otherwise default it will give supply from charging coil to Battery. Lets hope for better.
If it succed i will give its diagram 2 u .
regards
Prashant
i dont know anything abt bikes…been riding bikes for 12 years now..this is the 1st time i am trying to do something with my bike becoz i am riding more at night and its hard to see the road soemtimes… and i have no idea where it had gone wrong…i spoke to a motorcycle electrician…will try again..then will post back…
hi Yogesh
i have read your article… above..
how is the total assembly with stator plate change working..
i am also thinking of doing the same……
please advise
Ashish, it has been running great. No issues so far.
Dear Yogesh,
I have tested all chages and they work fine from last 2 weeks. Now my battery charge during day time with charging coil and in night when i start HL it will automatically charge with lighting coil to boost chrging current for HID. It works fine. I apply large Heat sink from my old P4 CPU, so there is no issue of heating. Now bike run on completely DC power.
prashant
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Yogesh,
Can we connect the spot lamp directly to the engine’s output and not the battery?
Like it comes on only when the engine is on and no way connected to the battery?
Hi Yogesh,am Kushal from Karnataka n by reading your expert advices to Lee n all am really impressed by You…..I’ve Pulsar UG3 2007 which has clocked 12.5k n nd is doin jus fine to reach 123kmph n FE of 43-50kmpl……jus recently i got new piston valves from a good mech here n after that it started getting some kind of strange problem..while driving in low rpm i sometimes feel that engine gets switched off n wen i rev da engine again it starts….i’ve even checked both spark plugs n both are doin fine n even air filters are in good condition,don’t know what problem am getting….please help me
Regards Kushal
Thanks in advance
Kushal, get the carb tuned and get the valves and tappets checked.
Hi Mr. Yogesh.
Im Mahesh.
Im Having a Hero Honda Glamour which had original battery 12 v 5 Amp. Last week I changed that in to 9 Amp. Now i want to make its electrical system totally D.C. in order to fix a HID kit in next month.
As you have mentioned above when we making it DC,
1. Will my Glamour 125 alternator be enough to charge the 9 Amp
battery?
2. If NO, Is it ok to Redirect currunt from Lighting coil for
charging the battery?
3. Tell me the reliable way to redirect power to battery. And also
please explain how to use a Charger for charging the battery.
Thanks in Advance.
TC
Thanks a lot for the advice Yogesh……as you suggested about installing stator plate of Avenger 180 i.e. part no. DV111005, I’ve done that job on my bike and has yielded great result in brightness n beam throw but it has slowed down the reaction time in dipping…I’ve heard that changing RR unit will solve this problem and Yogesh please let me know whether I can convert headlight unit from AC to DC and procedures involved in my Pulsar 180 UG3….Happy Holi:)
Warm Regards
Mahesh, you will need to reroute the power to battery, in order to charge it fast enough. There are two ways of doing that:
1. You can do this at coil level and reroute the whole power to the battery (apart from that going to CDI).
2. You can reroute the wires powering the headlight.
You will also need to install a dedicated DC charger (the one found in Bullets) to ensure faster charging. Any good motorcycle electrician ought to be able to do this for you and I would recommend getting this done through one.
Kushal which halogen are you using? As for converting the setup to DC, the above things will apply to your bike as well.
Sorry for late reply Yogesh as i was busy studying for my internals..
After changing stator plate i installed Mico(i.e. Bosch) Premium Blue 60/55 P 43t base which was superiorly whiter,brighter n visibility was considerably high as compared to stock 35/35 Halonix n visibility was superior at da dusk i.e. wer we find difficulty wit normal ones…..
Now I’ve istalled Osram Night breaker H4 nd yes i can see da difference now as da beam is very intense n visibility has increased still more……
I’ been to one of da mech here in my place n he told dat conversion of AC to DC in UG3 is possible only after changin BCU unit(as what he told,I dont know exactly) n told cant direct DC to headlight without BCU as da whole electricals(speedo,illuminating switch,breaklights etc) are connected to dis BCUnit…..I’ve asked dis before reading your reply…..will go and ask to do as what you’ve stated,have to see what he says n will reply you soon…..can you please tell da price of DC charger n thing reqd for da mod….will be waitin for our reply…
Thanks a lot Bro
Take Care n Safe Biking
The one we got fitted on Apache was around 100-200bucks (don’t remember exactly) and it should also fit on Pulsar.