Mike, This seems like Ducati prices - $450 - yikes! and seems like just for Halogen lights with relays - big deal. What they mean about "measuring the voltage at the bulb with the bike running and see how much below battery voltage it is?" is seeing how much of a voltage drop (from resistance in the wiring to your lights) you have. You will need a digital voltmeter. First measure the voltage at your battery terminals with the bike running at cruise RPM (like 3-4k rpm). Black lead from voltmeter to ground, red lead to positive (+) terminal of your battery. Should read 13-14 volts if your battery is in good shape. Now you need to measure the voltage at your headlight. This is probably easiest done by removing the front cowling and pulling your headlight assy out. Pull back the boot covering the H4 bulb connector and clip the red lead of the voltmeter to the green lead (low beam) and read with the bike running at the same rpm your read for your battery reading. Do the same for the yellow (high beam) lead. Both readings should be within 1 volt of your battery reading. If not you are loosing voltage thru your wiring. This is what relays will do for you, but are not really needed unless you go to higher wattage bulbs.
Here are some less expensive alternatives and will get you a lot more. 1. Just put in a higher wattage H4 bulb - I highly recommend the PIAA Extreme White bulb - will only set you back $45. You can get them from CBT Imports; CBT Imports (800)782-4686 PIAA H-4 Bulbs You can also inquire about a relay and wiring harness if you want to upgrade your stock wiring, but isn't really necessary because these bulbs are rated same as stock. They also sell auxiliary lights you can add on, the 1000X do a great job of lighting up the side of the road and use only 55W bulbs, so you won't overtax the minimal wattage output of our GTS alternator. 2. Buy a dual bulb headlight assembly from Yamaha of Germany. This utilizes an H4 bulb and a H3 bulb. Replace the stock bulbs with upgraded PIAA's from CBTI. This will set you back about $350 for the new headlight assy + another ~ $75 for bulbs plus some wiring mods. 3. Go to an HID light from Baja Designs. This will set you back $355 + shipping Baja Designs Motorcycle Store: Lighting Kits - H.I.D. The lighting is second to none, longer lasting, but since it is a gas bulb (no filament) there is no high/low beam. It uses an adapter ring, so it is direct replacement of the H4. You have to choose the "shielded bulb" since you would be running it as your low beam and give up a high beam. If you don't do a lot of night, mountain driving, it works well. Other wise you can add a set of auxiliary lights for high beam. I have tried all the above. Am currently running the dual European headlamp assy with PIAA bulbs -H4 Extreme White as my high/low with a Super White H3 85W as a dedicated low beam augmented by a pair of PIAA 1000X mounted on the side (on top of the turn signal housings). I also have tried the Baja Designs HID which is great, but wanted the longer range of the high beam H4 for my rally work, which necessitate multi-day, all night driving. Unfortunately the European light doesn't have 2 H4 sockets; the HID won't fit in the H3 socket without some special machining and I wanted to keep the H4, as the H3 isn't as good for long distance lighting. Hope this helps. -- Dave Biasotti // Fremont, CA Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 17:36:21 -0800 From: Mike <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: New headlights There is a company making new headlights for the Ducati that I think would work great on the GTS. Website is www.ducatidesigns.com. Would anyone else be interested in having these guys make the same thing for the GTS? They ask the following: measure the voltage at the bulb with the bike running and see how much below battery voltage it is? Anyone know what this means? Mike Coan
