Ledhams Big Red Pig was getting lost at nights last time we were in Baja, even with the stock ac lighting you couldnt see where he was as night. I was told thats the way thing are with these bikes unless you buy the Baja Designs lighting kit.
Long story short, I was volunteered to make this project work, and I am always up for the challange
Ledham wants Lights to see and night and doesnt want to pay a lot of money, so HID is out. Anything is better than what comes with the bike so he tried taping some LED flashlights to his helmet, that didnt work. He decided to get one of Ian's Britania Composites Lynx Fairings. Its got a really cool low beam projector halogen and a great hi beam halogen.
I am asked to hook up the electrical for these lights, sure how hard could it be?
but I wasnt told that a few thinks needed to be done first.
Ledham drops the bike off dirty, so some cleaning has to be done
Bike needs a new stator installed
Lynx fairing does not have a model to fit so some modifications have to be made first
Ledham also wants a Vapour speedo mounted and installed
and the water temprature feature installed
and the tackometer feature installed
and make the backlight work when the bike is running
and provide power for his GPS
Had to spend a little time to digest the list and how it was all going to work, remember the XR650L is and AC lighting system.
Ricky Stator has the Stator upgrade that is required to make everything work. what we will end up with is a stator with 4 phases, it sounds kinda strange but that what we need. Instead of rewiring the whole bike into a DC system we will keep the dirt bike type AC for the Coil and CDI unit, these use the ground of the bike. So the bike will continue to operate as it was intended. We will use one phase from the coil to send AC to the front of the bike where we will have a simple Regulator Rectifier voila we have DC power and a small battery to keep everything even.
Done lets get started
Look new stator, stock on the left, I think Honda was trying to save weight by not using so much copper
At least the stator replacement is and easy job, not like removing the skid plate thats rusted in place
First dry fit
Looks like everything will fit as planed
Bottom right on the Lynx is the Regulator Regulator, this will take one of the AC phases from the new stator and power the new lights and anything else that will require DC power
Stating to make some connections
Finally all the wires in place, a lot more that what most people think for just a headlight
Almost done, the hard work is done
The battery for the DC system is a small gel cell that fits nicely in the chin for the lynx fairing
Battery will do a couple of things
1 add about 6 onces of weight to the bike
2 provide a steady scorce of power for the lights, when the engine rpm drops the battery will make up the difference in voltage keep the output to the lights at 12VDC
3 should get about .5 to to light without the bike running, I case you have to fix a flat in the middle of the night
The Dash
Vapour in place and lots of room for a GPS with up to a 10 inch screen
Switch on the right is for power and the switch on the right is for HI beam
Look at all that light, and it doest even need the engine running .
Anyone wanting to do something like this, DONT go buy a new bike instead. If you must do this conversion I will be glad to answer questions
I am going to wrap this up and post the last few pictures
PS I like the new photo GALLERY software
Tom



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