Mk2 headlight install in mk1

[garyS-NJ]

Anyone doing it? I'd think that the Mk2 light without the extra plastic cover on the mk1 (& Mk2 with a bigger reflector?) Must throw more light from the same h4 bulb. Anyone doing this upgrade? Results? Recommendations on making it fit?

[Prairiehammer]

The fairing stays (right, left and center) are unique to the 1983 and 1984. The 1983-1985 headlight assembly is bolted to the right and left fairing stays. On the 1986 and newer the headlight assembly does not bolt to the fairing stays, but instead sits in grommets on the fairing connector and under the windshield mounting tabs. I believe you will need to replace the fairing stays to mount a 1986+ headlight assembly.

 

You might consider installing dual projector headlight into your 1984. Couple of guys have done it ( @Snaggletooth and Twigg). Here is Twigg's write-up about the project: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?67750-Headlight-Conversion-to-HID-Projector-%28-86-93%29

[Venturous Randy]

I did it a long time ago on my 83 and it was a BIG improvement. I recommend it highly, BUT, it is not as easy to swap it over as you would think it would be. The best way to do it would be to find someone parting out an MKII and get all the pieces necessary.

It has been a long time since I did mine, but I will try to go through what you will need:

 

Headlight assembly

Trim around headlight

Complete adjustment assembly

Left side upper frame

Frame that holds dash

Lower brace that connects the fairing halves together

You can use the chrome trim from your MKI, but there will be about a 1/4 inch gap between the trim and the light trim, but it looks like it was made that way.

 

Like I said, there is a lot more to this than you would think it would be. It is not hard to do, especially if you can find a bike to get all the parts from, but if you have to buy all the parts individually from ebay, it could get costly. Again, I will say that it is a great improvement and well worth it.

Randy

[garyS-NJ]

At Randy: sounds like a pain in ass but seeing good is just so important to me. I might be able to get all the parts tho so about how long did the swap take? (I just hate spending a nice day working on the bike instead of riding (or worse spending a cold day working on it outside)).

Edited December 20, 2015 by garyS-NJ

[garyS-NJ]

So Kevin, I could replace the left and right stays to accommodate the light but my '84 fairing will bolt back on? How's this ring with randy's input below? Oh and yes, thanks, let me look at that link for projectors

 

The fairing stays (right, left and center) are unique to the 1983 and 1984. The 1983-1985 headlight assembly is bolted to the right and left fairing stays. On the 1986 and newer the headlight assembly does not bolt to the fairing stays, but instead sits in grommets on the fairing connector and under the windshield mounting tabs. I believe you will need to replace the fairing stays to mount a 1986+ headlight assembly.

 

You might consider installing dual projector headlight into your 1984. Couple of guys have done it ( @Snaggletooth and Twigg). Here is Twigg's write-up about the project: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?67750-Headlight-Conversion-to-HID-Projector-%28-86-93%29

[garyS-NJ]

wow, funny, the other day I ordered a slightly hotter 65/75 Rallye bulb and last night my high beam went out.. I really want a bright ass LED

[Prairiehammer]

So Kevin, I could replace the left and right stays to accommodate the light but my '84 fairing will bolt back on? How's this ring with randy's input below? Oh and yes, thanks, let me look at that link for projectors

 

Gary,

You will need to replace the left fairing stay to accommodate the MKII headlight adjuster. The headlight adjuster mechanism on the MKI will not work on the MKII headlight assembly. There is an additional mount (a tube) on the fairing stay for the MKII adjuster. See pics below.

 

You may not have to replace the right fairing stay to mount the MKII headlight, but I wonder if the MKI headlight mounting tab will interfere with the MKII headlight assembly. Perhaps just cut off the mounting tab if it interferes with the new headlight. According to Randy, the tab is not a problem?

 

The fairing connector (under the headlight; joins the halves of the fairing) must be changed to accommodate the MKII headlight.

 

The upper or middle fairing stay must be changed to use the MKII headlight.

 

Your 1984 fairing halves will bolt back onto the MKII fairing stays. But of course, the fairings must be removed first to replace the stays.

[garyS-NJ]

I think I could get these parts but after reading that projector retrofit thread, I'm thinking more along those lines or perhaps just drop the penny for the JW speaker or truck lite 5X7 LED. seems all the aftermarket HID bulbs and or ballasts are short lived.

 

that projector retrofit was not a dual projector but rather a single projector I think with a "curtain" that moves for the low beam cut off. This is another likely failure point and looking at most cars we find HIDs for the low beam and a halogen for the high beam (HIDs don't switch on fast enough to "flash" high beams). Two projectors in the headlamp enclosure would solve that (one set for low beam and the other with a high beam (LED?) ). Nice that in my '84 I already have the clear front cover for the HID projector. And I was thinking rather than mount one smallish projector in the light housing, why not mount on the headlight plate?

 

I wonder how long his retrofit lasted (will PM) and what he was talking about regarding the aux lights...

[Prairiehammer]

that projector retrofit was not a dual projector but rather a single projector I think with a "curtain" that moves for the low beam cut off.

 

Yes, sorry for the misleading link. I forgot which way Twigg had gone. But Snaggletooth (and at least one other here) has done a dual headlight. Dingy has dual headlights, too.

 

 

Two projectors in the headlamp enclosure would solve that (one set for low beam and the other with a high beam (LED?) ). Nice that in my '84 I already have the clear front cover for the HID projector. And I was thinking rather than mount one smallish projector in the light housing, why not mount on the headlight plate?

 

Here is a thread started by Mike (Snaggletooth) about his dual headlight: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?47752-Hella-H9-Module-headlight-mod-installed-and-lit-up&highlight=headlight

Edited December 21, 2015 by Prairiehammer

[garyS-NJ]

Thanks again Kevin I'd swear I googled and looked around here without finding much and again, you found the good links. Funny some drama there with gary marketing the dual hella halogen.. I'm thinking an HID LOW and a halogen or maybe LED high beam. I bought an OSRAM 75W rallye bulb for the time being. l'll check gary and mike about their designs and mounting plates. And I PMed the guy who had parts for sale that he never implemented.

 

I have to think HID projectors are more light per watt than halogens but wondering with that sharp low beam cutoff if the curtain in turns would be an issue (on my '78 Honda I had a good aftermarket 7" round and a pair of aux HID pods (one high beam, one fixed low beam) and I was happy with the total light. the 35W HID low beam swamped the stock beam but I'm sure the stock beam helped in the turns. I'm wondering if the truck lite or JW speaker 5X7 LEDs are the way to go now. I'mm post here and the other site to see if anyone has tried either..