DL650 LED Lights
 

Hi everyone,

Well now that I have got my trusty RTW steed (K4 DL650) I am now thinking of getting it ready for the trip. While pouring through the various sites I found a lot of reports saying that there isn't that much spare power coming from the standard alternator (around 100W I think). Anyway quite a few folk suggested that a way in which to get some more power back was to replace the lights (indicators and brake light) with LED equivalents. I have been looking around the motorbike accessory shops but can't find anything has anyone got any idea of where to look?

Thanks

Christopher

LED tail light bulb
 

Perhaps it is simply a case of getting a LED bulb for the tail-light?
Some are shown here:-

eBay.co.uk - led suzuki, led suzuki Motorcycle Parts Accessories, Accessories, Motorcycle Parts items at low prices=

Try this then World Of Power Tools. Garden Powertools, Chainsaws, Generators, Heaters, UK

Cheers
Ian:thumbup1:

Don't bother
 

The stop light (standard) is 21 watts .. and it would only be 'on' less than half the time .. so average consumption less than 10 watts.. indicators will be even less than this..

The reasons to go with led lights is thay last longer, come 'on' sooner ... but that is about it. The power gained is not enough to be worthwhile.

How much 'extra' power are you after? I'd think the DL would have at least as much as a DR .. 200 watts. For RTW travel you don't want extra lights, hair dryers, CB radios, etc etc...

Makes sense.

Hobospy,
By "spare power" I guess you mean the amount remaining after "normal" power consumption while riding the bike; so what are you using at present while riding and are you sure about your figures?
A Yam Fazer 1000 generates 365W (easy figure to remember!) at 5000 rpm (which is a reminder that the generator output is dependent on how fast the engine is turning over).


Fit a switch to kill the headlight and you gain around 55W for running other electrical goodies - if you need your headlight in poor weather etc, then turn off the goodies and turn on the headlight.

Walkabout,

You are right about my idea of "spare"! :) I've not been able to find official figures but checking around other forums I am pretty sure that the 100W spare is about right. I was also thinking about fitting a kill switch to one of the headlights, going to be a bit hard "hacking" into my new toy though to fit it!

Frank,

I haven't got a total list of the other electrical items I want to fit to the bike for my trip but as this topic was being discussed I thought I should really have an idea of how to tackle it before it became an issue on my bike (think I am one of those guys that wants to make sure everything is OK before it happens, sure it won't be possible though but then that might end up being half the fun of the trip).

Thanks guys.

How much stuff are you wanting to run at the same time??? I found that my Wee-strom had plenty of power for the basics, like grip heaters, AA battery charger, GPS. After these, I probably would have been able to run a heated vest as well. If it were really cold, I would think if you just ran a heated vest and grips you should be fine. Anything more and you would definitely tax the system.

Just encase you haven't seen these V-Strom specific forums check them out. They help me out a lot while getting my wee-strom ready for her ride to South America.

http://www.stromtrooper.com
V-Strom Forum - powered by Tex Arts

You already have gotten some good advice here. The best way to get more power is to put in a headlight switch.

Hobospy,
Don't think you'll have a problem with the charging system on the Wee-Strom. I rode my 04 DL650 to TDF last year with these Farkles: 2610 GPS,
Roady2 XM radio, Mixit2, Heated Vest, plus keeping the battery charged on a NUVI 350. Had a flat tire in the Seven Lakes region of Argentina and use my Coleman compessor to inflate the rear tire! Not to worry 'bout the Wee-Strom, just ride it!

Harold

alternator output dr650
 

Im sure the output is 200 w last year we did 4 months in Mongolia and to Magadan on 2 650/s we both ran gps cb radio heated grips with plenty left over for -10c cold starts but had an interupter switch in high beam.Leave as much standard as you can Suzuki knows best