Winter upgarde for yamaha xt600 tenere (3aj)
 

Hi, thinking ahead to winter comuting and wondering about lights and electricity:

LED replacement panels for rear light?
brighter headlight bulbs?
running lights from crash bars?
easily removed heated grips - park in school car park and if I don't take them off some other bugger will
will I need to upgrade alternator/battery? - indicators slow down with lights on as it is.

Any links to dealers/websites would be much appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Note: BBcode and smileys are still usable.

Hiya Freawaru,
hope you/we manage to sort this one out. I am no motto electrician and would like to do something like (akin to) your proposal.
As I understand there is a requirement for some kind of electrical buffer (relay?) should additional lighting be fixed as you propose.
Apparently there is no point in fitting bulbs beyond the standard, as this will just not help the situation.
The alternator would, it appears be the best solution, however what this would entail I am yet to discover. I think a guy called Dave Lambeth was going to look into the possibilities of doing this. (Here on the Hubb) and DL is a renowned xt man.
A quality battery would indeed help, infact there is a discussion currently ongoing here on the "Hubb" about adding a second battery. Although I think this is to a BMW.
I have some "podlights" that I am yet to fit to another bike (VFR) so this may be one avenue to research for you. These lights are not for lighting ahead of the bike, more, allowing other road users to see you.

Oh, did I say I am working on the same, 3AJ (u)

Hopefully, some one will be along soon and convince us that this or that way is the way to go.

PS Hope your chosen sign in name (freawaru) is not because of a sell off!, but more of a “peacemaker”

Socks (don't ask)

PPS,
In the school yard its either "respect or/and protect" is this area not out of bounds to some?

I've run my heated grips through a relay, so they turn off with the ignition.

I've also added relays for both low and high beam. It really helps with the light, and makes it possible to run higher wattage bulbs if you want.

My bike still charges well with 100W highbeam, and heated grips. It charges around 0.20 volts higher with a regular beam, but thats not a big deal.

Easternbeaver.com have smart solutions for relays, especilly for the headlights. They're plug and play.

By replacing the instrumentbulbs and rear light to LED's you should save around 10W, and more when braking.

The bike should handle 2 xenon spots or some 20-30w-ish bulb/LED spots) in addition to the stock lightbulb. Not sure if it will charge the bike if you through in some headted grips.

The bike puts out around 170-180W but you dont have all that for xtra gear. The bike uses some to run, and you need a buffer so you dont drain the bike when idling.

Some good info in here! Thanks guys!

Has anyone considered upgrading to the X2 Headlights ( X2 Motorcycle Headlight at Trail Tech Home )? I am thinking about picking them up one of the halogen ones (and maybe converting it to HID's at a later point in time). I haven't decided on to get the on/off road ones or just the off-road ones. I know the off-road ones will blind people... but my goal is to be seen easier rather than to see the road (not much night driving that I do). I read that some need new stators, but I figure since we already have a high electrical draw it shouldn't matter as they are comparing to many bikes that don't have lights to begin with.

Also thinking about upgrading to LED turn signals / brake lights, but I from my understanding the blinkers won't blink at the right speed w/o a relay. I think overall I will be reducing the power required by the lights.

Thanks for your reply guys,

Over the next week I will do some invesigations on this and report back should I get any good information.

Would you do the same please.

I note that we may have the same bike or simlar, as we are in different countries, the electrics could well be slightly different.

Keep those recommendations coming please.

BikeVis Store | LED Mini Daytime Running Light Pods (DRL)

And thank you

Socks

I'd say your first task is to find the electrical fault that causes the indicators to slow down, it isn't normal on an XT and adding more power will just make the leak to earth faster. How old is your battery?

Lights can be a nightmare. The LED tail light is easy and will always help. Headlights are not so easy and power isn't the answer. I've known nice simple (usually round) 45W lights that would let you ride forrest trails at midnight and I've tried others (usually squinty eye style over function TUV approved halogen jobs) that you might as well turn off and ride on the spots the manufactuter will sell you for an extra 500-quid. No amount of lighting makes the slightest difference to car drivers in cities, they just think "Ooo, that's a bit bright" and pull out anyway. Buy a copy of Roadcraft if you've never read it, use your position and speed as part of the defence and use your horn in the way it's intended and braking practice on slippery surfaces can be limited to where you choose to do it. Check the aim of your light of course, lazy MOT twerps have been known to point them at the mudguard.

Heated kit wise, I'd go for clothing and planning over shopping for gadgets. Grips only warm your palms, pointless if the single half cup of coffee you had for breakfast is dehydrating you and what heat you do have is escaping via the vent holes in your jacket. One piece thermals, two finger gloves, balaclava, socks that reach the knee, muffs/extended hand guards and getting up in time for cereal and toast works better and doesn't fail when you stand on the plug.

More thoughts here https://sites.google.com/site/threew...laces/clothing .

It would be useful to know where you are. In the UK there is no need for alternator upgrades and sump heaters, just a bit of planning. High in the Alps or the middle of Norway and the game changes completely as the temperatures get down to the point where the components of the electrical system start to fall off in peformance.

Andy

Well I said that I would come and return on this subject. However!

Most of whats to be said has been said. And thank you guys

Which is

Yes you can upgrade. Use of relays are of benefit.

Make sure your battery is a good healthy condition.

Make sure your electrical connections are all good and clean. It is possible to remove those male/female connectors from the blocks, by using a small clock makers screwdriver. Slide in shaft of screwdriver along the back of the connector, to release the clip and pull out from cable entry end. Not easy but possible.

Ensure your Regulator/Rectifier has a good clean and sound grounding to the frame, one might even use a (small smear) heat sink paste to aid heat transfer. In some cases, an upgrade of R/R might help.

There are a number of indicators on the market that allow you to monitor the battery condition. Some are simple (led that change colour as charge held in battery differs), and then, the heavier ones you see in cars.:funmeteryes:

I hope this is and the above entries are of some help for those looking here.

Again, thank you all for contributing

Socks

Think your talking to yourself here Socks. :(

The author of this post has not logged in to the forum for a couple of weeks, this was his only post & he`s not responded.

I did the same as you to remove the pins out of the block connector by using the watchmakers screwdriver, bit slow & a bit hit n miss.

Then i found they make a tool for doing that job.

http://www.polevolt.co.uk/acatalog/TT99-195.jpg

Mezo.

I kind of realised that the original author was no longer around mezo, yet I kind of hope that the information we place here will be of use to all.

Which leads me to thank you for the info so farbier,

Yet, Where, When and how much for those there discs for electrical manipulation? Ooh err :mchappy:

Socks

In the UK id say Farnell`s or RS components, or the quickest way to find anything on the net is to do a Google image search.

terminal pin removal tool

Then just click the pic & your straight to it.

Mezo.