Headlight Options

[SteelD]

Planning a test ride on a GS in the next couple of weeks. Still deciding whether a GS is a good move for me - hoping the ride will convince me.

My only sticking point really is the poor-looking headlight. The BM dealer reckons it is OK but my current bike has big twin lights on both dip and main beam and really lights up the road ahead of me. I'll be doing a lot of commuting down dark country lanes in the winter and good lights are important to me.

I don't fancy spending £700 on extra spotlights from NN when a bike the price of a BMW should come with decent lights. Is there a Xenon conversion for the GS?

Thanks

David

 

[Marks adventure]

Is there a Xenon conversion for the GS?

Yes i have done both lights on my 1150gsa.

There was a link Linky thing

The guy sells them on ebay ebay link.

Also try HIDS4U.

Hope that helps.

 

[VAL. H.]

Planning a test ride on a GS in the next couple of weeks. Still deciding whether a GS is a good move for me - hoping the ride will convince me.

My only sticking point really is the poor-looking headlight. The BM dealer reckons it is OK but my current bike has big twin lights on both dip and main beam and really lights up the road ahead of me. I'll be doing a lot of commuting down dark country lanes in the winter and good lights are important to me.

I don't fancy spending £700 on extra spotlights from NN when a bike the price of a BMW should come with decent lights. Is there a Xenon conversion for the GS?

Thanks

David

Hi If you're not willing to add spotlights to the 12gs then sadly you will be dissapointed with the standard lights.
The low beem is ok but the high is 'in my opinion' not worth switching on, as it just points at the trees.

Don't think the bike aint worth it though. The Gs 1200 is probably the best bike I've owned in twenty years. I think it's a cracking bike, great fun and more than caperble all round.

You can apparently fit Hidd lights but they will just be brighter not realy better, because the reflector for the high beem is the main problem. The general concensous is that Hidd are significantly better than standard. I would tend to aggree as more light is generated equaling better vision. In my oppinion the best of the extra light generated is pointing in the wrong direction ie; the trees 'what a wast'

What is realy needed is a redesigned reflector so the hi-beem light points the right way and is independently adjustable.

I'm sorry to bring bad tidings about the head light though there are numorous choises for fitting extra lights, just do a search on the forum.

So test ride the bike before you make a desision about lights as these can be sorted in various different ways. The 12 GS realy is a very good bike.

I hope I haven't compleatly put you off, because as much as I hate the lights, I don't want to be riding anything ells at the moment.

Val.

 

[SteelD]

Some good links there. It looks like there may be a solution though I'm curious as to what the HIDS4U solution gives since it costs £210 and seems to be much dearer than other HID solutions.

David

 

[Greybeard]

The headlights on the 1200 gs aren't brilliant, but I've just added some auxilliary lights (Hella FF50 and Micro DEs plus a Migsel bar). Tried them last night and the results are good.

Cost? about £210 plus quite a bit of time to do the wiring (something I haven't done before). But definitely worth it.

I would say don't let the lights put you off - the 1200gs is a great bike and any shortfalls such as lights can be sorted at relatively low cost.

Paul

 

[Gonzo]

I don't fancy spending £700 on extra spotlights from NN when a bike the price of a BMW should come with decent lights. Is there a Xenon conversion for the GS?

Thanks

David

David

Try this link on Cannon's website. They're quite near to you in Braintree and I think one or two members of the forum have got the kit and found it easy to install. I'm sure Cannon will also install it if you need them to.

 

[alimey4u2]

David

Try this link on Cannon's website. They're quite near to you in Braintree and I think one or two members of the forum have got the kit and found it easy to install. I'm sure Cannon will also install it if you need them to.

Any of the one or two board members like to comment (pro's & cons) on the Cannon HID kit.......

 

[timeandtide]

Great bike. Dip not too bad with Phillips bulbs main beam significantly improved by PIAA 510's for about half the price you're quoting.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

lights on the 1200GS

Touratech do a Xenon spotlight for 340euros (about £230 ?) I have seen it demonstrated - it is VERY powerful.
Of course the headlamps can easily be adjusted by hand but because of the relatively long movement suspension it is not easy to get it right.

 

[alimey4u2]

Thank you both for your replies but I really didn't want any dangly bits hanging off but just wanted to upgrade the stock lighting.....

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Thank you both for your replies but I really didn't want any dangly bits hanging off but just wanted to upgrade the stock lighting.....

A friend of mine who is in the Auto electrical business (installations mainly) has converted my 1200 Adventure dipped beam to Xenon tonight It's awesome!
Main beam is no longer necessary on even the darkest of country lanes,installation is relatively quick (90 mins to 2 hours) and straightforward,he adds a voltage regulator so as not to upset the 1200'sensitive wiring system,no permanent changes are made to the loom and the system can be put back to standard very easily.
He is hoping to offer these in kit form soon for 1150 & 1200 models (more details soon) and may even fit them for a small fee if you are local to South Wales.
Xenon-it's the way to go

 

[medicbike]

Hade my HID fitted 3 weeks ago. Has made my auxillary lights and even full beam redundant. This is THE must have mod. without a doubt. Best upgrade I have made.
Contact Nick at www.kits-n-bits.com

 

[gee-ess]

He is hoping to offer these in kit form soon for 1150 & 1200 models (more details soon)

I'd be interested in these. Quite happy to fit them myself. What kind of price you talking about?

 

[Droopy Dick]

Notwithstanding the comments about extra lamps, and I have fitted those and HIDs, there is no doubt that BMW has fitted really trashy lamps to the GS.

Coming from a Blackbird, and owning a VFR, both of which can illuminate the surface of Mars, it was a real shock to be reduced to the pitiful beam shape of the 1150 dip beam. The main beam is OK-ish if you're OK with a thin pencil of light, but it beggars belief that BMW weren't able to come up with something far better.

 

[The Sea Dog]

A friend of mine who is in the Auto electrical business (installations mainly) has converted my 1200 Adventure dipped beam to Xenon tonight

Xenon-it's the way to go

Don't mean to be pedantic or picky, but I take it you actually mean HID, Xenon is merely a gas that is used to fill the glass to allow a higher burn on filament bulbs as well as being used in High Intensity Discharge lights ( hence HID). Because a light says Xenon does not mean it's HID.

I'll fetch my coat.. . . .

 

[2 wheel humvee]

I'll fetch my coat.. . . .

HID yes that's the fella,you'll be telling me bulbs should really be called lamps next

 

[The Sea Dog]

HID yes that's the fella,you'll be telling me bulbs should really be called lamps next

You can call them Sandra if it keeps you happy !

 

[alimey4u2]

I'm going to call Cannons & get the price plus installation, sure it will cost a bomb but it gives me a greater safety factor both night & day.......

 

[Les Wassall]

Had HID fitted to my 1150 and was very impressed, have now fitted the same kit (new bulb) to the 1200 and even more impressed than when it was on the 1150.
So with all the hype about the Hella micro DE's got a set and fitted to a set of Gazza light brackets put one of the Peakmoto switches on, all looks well and works a treat.
So HID to low beam, PIAA Extreme to high beam, two Micro DE’s on the side, and no problems with the Canbus.

Now the acid test, I find the HID is better and brighter and the DE's only add a touch of yellow light (Halogen) to the outer pattern, so put blue 50% brighter bulbs in, not so yellow now, but IMHO the HID was the best way to go, the DE's will give good additional touring light but do not really enhance the now bright low beam.

Happy with the result but could have been cheaper to put on 2 HID's

 

[Packer]

I don't fancy spending £700 on extra spotlights from NN when a bike the price of a BMW should come with decent lights. Is there a Xenon conversion for the GS?

Hi David, talking about just this on the GS Mods part of the forum. See http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81412&page=2&pp=16

The £200 for the HIDS4U pack contains everything needed to do both head and dip beam except the tools. My bike is an 1150GS but if the 12 still uses H1 bulbs it will be the same kit that you need. VAL makes the comment that the high beam just points in the trees and I don't know if he means upwards or to the sides. If it's the sides then I think that is great as it gives a bit of light around bends. If you just had a perfect searchlight like beam you would be able to see nothing except straight in front of the bike. If he means upwards (and assuming that the 12's lights have similar adjustment available to the 1150) you can change the relative angle of the headbeam to the dip beam, I did this myself as on my bike the standard headbeam just gave an extra puddle of light at the top of the dip beam. If you have looked at the link above you will see that I am v.pleased with the modded lights and you'd still have £500 to spend on other goodies!