The vision X Lights are good (use one) but i also use a £14 let cycle light with a battery pack (rechargeable) from ebay on my helmet. Cheaper to replace if you damage it.

 

Upgrading the headlight is tricky as you're limited by the standard lowish powered AC system. There are better lights but it's not going to be lots better. Something worth trying is run dipped beam from the tail light wire and leave main beam as it is, that means both headlight bulbs are on in the high beam position. The down side is that at low revs on high beam thing will go pretty dim.

The DC system on the bike is pretty limited but it will run a couple of bar mounted LED lights assuming you still have the capacitor fitted (run the lights from the horn +ve wire, through a switch).

An option is to float the earth, use a Trail Tech Regulator (for AC) or Reg/rect and battery for DC - you'll get 50/60 watts I'd have thought, not enough for big HID but enough for a decent halogen headlight (X2) or more powerful bulbs. HID and LED need a DC system (except LED enduro rear lights, they have a basic form of rectifier built in).

For big lighting the only practical option is a Trail Tech Stator and reg/rect.

For any kind of night time off-road riding a decent helmet light is essential. Without it you can't see over drops, round corners or find your way back to the track when you ride off it.

 

Halfords sell the Ba20d 35/35W halogen bulb that goes straight in the headlight. Cheap upgrade.

 

Are these still available from Halfords, nowt seems to be showing..? would rather buy one there than get from Ebay.

 

You can upgrade the bulb with a better Halogen equivalent:

LINK: 12V 35/35W BA20D H1 HALOGEN UPGRADE BULB BO395HW | eBay

I also stumbled across a youtube video showing a HID kit fitted:

LINK: how to fit HID HEAD LIGHT KIT to ktm exc freeride 350 250 etc H.I.D - YouTube

I have ordered the HID kit to try myself but will give the Halogen bulb a go while waiting delivery from china!

Will let you know tomorrow evening if the halogen is much better or not

 

If you have a Freeride then it'd make sense to do the first ride with the HID on easy trails - if the HID drains the battery you'll be bump starting. It should all work fine though. A word of caution with HID - if the battery is draining they don't go dim - they just switch off (the actual voltage will vary depending on bulb).

For the OP with the EXC - unless you have a battery ( I've assumed you don't on the '10 6 Days EXC), HID will literally be a non starter.

 

leave the bulb as standard go and get a head torch from ebay £35.00 that way your leaving the already fragile wiring loom alone

 

Do you recommend one specifically? I have a small one already but would not say its up to the task of illuminating ahead when riding

If you have a Freeride then it'd make sense to do the first ride with the HID on easy trails - if the HID drains the battery you'll be bump starting. It should all work fine though. A word of caution with HID - if the battery is draining they don't go dim - they just switch off (the actual voltage will vary depending on bulb).

For the OP with the EXC - unless you have a battery ( I've assumed you don't on the '10 6 Days EXC), HID will literally be a non starter.

I did not know know they did this, pleased you let me know!

I am fitting to a 250 EXC-F (has battery) that I use to ride unsurfaced byways (greenlanes)

 

any thing like this is what we use
CREE XML MTB Bike Light T6 LED 1800 Lumens Bicycle Rechargable Head Lights Lamp | eBay

 

Do you wear the light you linked to with a peaked helmet? If so where have you attached?

 

The Halogen upgrade bulb is definitely better than stock ,not amazing but certainly worth a mere £4!

here's the link again:

12V 35/35W BA20D H1 HALOGEN UPGRADE BULB BO395HW | eBay

Hopefully the HID kit will arrive soon

 

Wonder if these are any good for additional lighting?

125W Motorcycle Motorbike CREE U5 LED Fog Head Spot Light Waterproof Headlight | eBay

 

Buy one and try it, looks interesting. I have a pair of 30W cree lamps on my 990 and they give a good flood of light.

 

looks bulky and on top of your lid think you'd feel it

 

To mount to the bike

 

I use one of these; 121345977805
They come with a battery buy mine packed in after a while, overcharged i think so I bought one of these; 151223134430 slightly hight amp hour batter so last's that bit longer. Use one for walking the dog at night too, easily lights over a football pitch sized field so a good view.

 

thanks everyone . think i will try a bulb from halfords and set of cree lights off ebay to go on my helmet.

 

Halfords sell a 12v and a 6v version ofthese bulbs and they are usually next to each other on the shelf. Take care not to pick the 6v version.

Halfords | Halfords Bike it Motorcycle Bulb HMB417 12v 35/35w

 

Got a link to abr please?

 

http://www.adventurebikerider.com/forum/27-technical/366637-bmw-f650800gs-spot-lights.html#366669

and a thread I started which has led about 10 people to order them lol:

http://adventurebikerider.com/forum/21-accessories-/366812-ebay-led-spotlights-any-good.html

 

What do you call cheap?
I have tried the cheap cree led bulbs and they are poor. I spent 75 quid on a plug and play system to make the headlight work really well as I didn't want to add lights and cables onto my bike and also have a led on my helmet!

 

Go with the halogen ba20d bulb upgrade and then leave the headlight alone. The lens is plastic so you won't get any better light from it especially as the reflector is no better than silver paint on plastic. If you try and upgrade the power it will all just melt and you'll get shite inside the lamp housing that will either blow the bulb or just stop the lens and reflector doing their job.

HID is just not worth the cost when you can fit cheap LED lamps that produce silly amounts of light for the power they use and heat they produce. IMHO HID has been bypassed by LED now.

As with any light, its effectiveness is a combination of lens and reflector quality. Go for the larger lenses and check if the lens is a spot or flood pattern. It doesn't matter if the manufacturer promises 10 zillion lumens if the lens is scabby plastic and the size of a postage stamp. You might as well use a candle in a jamjar.

Yes, the Vision X lamps are excellent and very well made. I have used a pair, 1 flood 1 spot, for about 5 years now. Unfortunatley they have not come down in price in line with LEDs in general but you get what you pay for.

 

Just need a bulb - mine is kaput. Just a bulb... no cree.... A bulb.... can I still get the ba20d from Halfords?

 

That's the little fella cheers Shagpile

 

Shagpile?

My middle name is Axminster.

 

these are good:

MOTORBIKE & SCOOTER 12V 35/35W BA20D H1 HALOGEN UPGRADE BULB | eBay

 

Looks identical to the Halfords one to me.

 

With this thing it's daylight in front of you. Battery lasts about 1.5hrs so get 1 extra. Head or handle bar mount without much trouble.

9800Lm 7x CREE XM-L2 T6 LED Front Bicycle Bike Headlamp Head Lamp Flashlight | eBay