I want more light for night riding in the woods.  The cockpit is already crowded for handlebar mounting.  What did you use for lights?  How did you mount them?  How did you electrify them?
thanks

I installed aftermarket LED's, but I wish I'd seen this first:

Problem:
The two element incandescent bulb (BA20D) used on the EXC model line and 2009 690 is too dim.

Solution:
Have both low and high beam elements on at same time 35 + 35 = 70 watts possible when high beam is on.

Procedure:
In the white connector used to disconect headlight shell from bike there are four wires. Blue(high), Green(low), White(park), Brown (Negative). The wires are held in white connector with tiny barbs on the blades. Use jewelers screw driver to push down on barb and another driver to gently push out blade. Change green and white wire postions in the connector.

Test after connected:
Low beam is the same ,one bulb element on and park light on.
High beam has both elements in headlight bulb on and park light off.

Things to consider:

I have not tested this on actual ride as the snow lies deep in Calgary, Canada.

All wires are the same gauge and on the same fuse so probably on same relay so circuit should take the power with just adding another 35 watts being used at the same time.

Others are using adapters to put in hotter Halogen bulbs so I believe the reflector can take the heat of 70 watts.

I would be interested if other inmates could do further tests.

The Earl of Leisure
Thinker and Drinker
pirate277 is offline     

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=541899

I'm gonna do this mod when I return to Houston.  I'll be sure to post a full write up.  I have a 2014 model, but I don't think the headlight wiring has changed.

I run a trail tech rally headlight, h4 hi spec globe for racing.
 I usually use an old '05 ktm headlight and mask for general night riding...much less weight than the trail tech. I also use an Hid helmet mounted light.

Seabee, there is a replacement led bulb from http://cyclopsadventuresports.com/3800-Lumen-H4-LED-Headlight-bulb-_p_83.html.  I have the older h4 bulb at 3600 lumens.  It worked well and was a big improvement over the stock bulb.  I did have to mod the rubber boot which seals the base of the bulb to make it fit.  Cyclops claims the 3800 lumen unit to be smaller and have an actual hi and low beam.  However, I desired more light and went with Baja Designs Squadron XL Pro kit from Motominded.com.

Hope this helps.

Seabee, that bulb should be a vast improvement over the stock bulb.  I still prefer Leds because of their durability and less power consumption.

I just followed Rusty Shovels post idea and Im much happier with the lighting on my 2015.
The issue before was how low beam gave good light in close and to the sides, then this was gone when high beam came on which lit up more further in front and to a point out to the trees on the sides of the road.
So with low beam on I saw everything in close but nothing further away...
With high beam on I saw things further away but nothing in close.
I live out in the rural area with no street lights and being in Northern Australia we have literally hundreds of stupid wallabies and kangaroos hell bent on kamikaze action.
Now on high beam it still runs low beam so a lot more of the immediate forward area is illuminated.
Is it as good as additional dedicated spot / flood lights? - No, but it is a free 5 min job that drastically improves whats already there and probably good enough to stop going ahead with additional lights for some people.

I did try starting the bike after the mod with the high beam on and noticed the starter being a bit sluggish from the additional load on the battery but it still started ok, just start it in low beam only.
I also noticed a bit more head light heat when the bike was parked with the high beam on, it didnt hurt anything but I will make sure high beam is on only when Im moving.

Cheers

Problem:
The two element incandescent bulb (BA20D) used on the EXC model line and 2009 690 is too dim.

Solution:
Have both low and high beam elements on at same time 35 + 35 = 70 watts possible when high beam is on.

Procedure:
In the white connector used to disconect headlight shell from bike there are four wires. Blue(high), Green(low), White(park), Brown (Negative). The wires are held in white connector with tiny barbs on the blades. Use jewelers screw driver to push down on barb and another driver to gently push out blade. Change green and white wire postions in the connector.

Test after connected:
Low beam is the same ,one bulb element on and park light on.
High beam has both elements in headlight bulb on and park light off.

Things to consider:

I have not tested this on actual ride as the snow lies deep in Calgary, Canada.

All wires are the same gauge and on the same fuse so probably on same relay so circuit should take the power with just adding another 35 watts being used at the same time.

Others are using adapters to put in hotter Halogen bulbs so I believe the reflector can take the heat of 70 watts.

I would be interested if other inmates could do further tests.