Lighting Improvements
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Yea, yea, we all know. Waaaa waaaa waaaa! My headlight needs to be brighter.
Well get a car then. If that is not a viable option, perhaps one of the
following items may resolve your lighting trauma. I urge you to check out
Daniel Stern Lighting
for info on various lighting methods, and their costs and benefits.
Baja Designs
and
Casper's Electronics
both produce High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting conversion kits that
utilize the standard H-4 headlamp socket.
HID lighting offers superior lighting at a lower amperage cost. Tastes great
and less filling!
Baja Designs
ran a bike equipped wih HID lighting in the 98 Baja 1000, so I am fairly
confident the lighting system can handle the vibration and shock delivered in
dual sport riding.
Daniel Stern Lighting
has concerns about HID conversion kits, check it out.
A more cost-effective solution to improved lighting is available from
PIAA
. They have standard H-4 bulbs with some type of magical technology that
results in much improved lighting, or so states the claims (Splitfire anyone?
;)).
Daniel Stern Lighting
has concerns about the claims and effectiveness of these bulbs, check it out.
You can add more bulbs if so desired.
PIAA
offers many options for auxiliary lighting.
Check out
CBT Imports
for custom mounting kits (for BMW's :(), and useful info on each PIAA model.
Saeng Night Cutters
are a great option. They offer multiple mounting options. I have heard only
positive feedback about this lighting system.
Motolight
offers an unusual fork-mount lighting system. I really like this system for the KLR, or any long-travel bike because the aim of the light is consistent, regardless of front-end dive. Slam on the brakes on your KLR at night and you end up illuminating a very small spot on the road just in front of your front tire, and not much more. There are downsides to this mounting system (ain't there always). One is cost, the Motolight system retails for $245. A second downside is during off-road riding through brush or rocky areas, the lights are exposed to great risk of damage or destruction.
Xenon light bulbs? I suggest checking out the
analysis
of these bulbs by David Harrison.
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In
my search to obtain additional electrical output, I was warned the stock
voltage regulator can not handle much more than the stock output of the
alternator. The KLR charging system uses a fixed magnet. The electrical
output of the charging system is entirely dependent upon the rpm of the
engine. The stock voltage regulator grounds excessive charge that exceeds
~14 volts or so. Obviously, this produces a lot of heat. This is why there
are heat sinks on the regulator. If the electrical output is increased
significantly, the regulator would build up more heat than it was designed
for when dealing with minimal drain of the system.