Modern Vespa

Ok, my head is spinning on the issue of only one headlight on at a time on my 400! There are so many threads on here I'm not sure which one applies the best solution.

My husband is the techie one - I'm not techie enough to even point him in the right direction.

Issue: I want to be better seen during the day. I do NOT plan to routinely ride near dusk or at night but there are times I might get caught out.

I'd like both headlights on. I'd like them brighter. Or is it better to somehow add a bright center light?

Help!

I personally would add a set of driving lights and leave the headlights alone. the only other option I would do is a headlight modulator.

There are several posts that show/explain how to have both headlights on at one time also if you go to this link it will bring up a spreadsheet with links to appropriate posts for mods and other things for the MP3

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AufreP3SGWtVdC11LWc0dUh2eC1sYlNkVXZVeE4zN3c&hl=en#gid=1

Hope this helps

When you push down on the "passing" setting on the light switch, it temporarily illuminates both lights (high and low) and then returns to the low beam (one headlight) position. You can very easily open that switch and remove the spring and then when you press the passing setting, it stays and both lights remain on. If you want a single low or a single high, you can still select those settings. I did this mod and have been very happy running both lights during my (almost exclusive) daylight riding. You can save the spring in case you want to reinstall it.

Leave the spring in place. Just use a pair of forceps (or needle nose pliers) and relieve tension by lifting the vertical section of the spring off the plastic stop.

iff your husband is handy go for other mirrors H4 then you got dual high and lowbeam

4 lights in a 400 unit or Duo high and low beam (solved)

Awesome. Thank you so much!!

I did this, and it works great. You still have the ability to switch it back to one low beam light for night driving if necessary. I have not had one person flash their lights at me during the day when I am running both lights on. And, I have passed many police vehicles.
I love it! And, it is reversible if need be.

Rick (my husband) went over the options in the spreadsheet last night (he passes on his thanks, by the way!) and the spring removal/modification is probably what he's going to do first. Then probably replace the running lights with brighter LEDs.

Wise choice.

Can you do this from underneath without having to dismantle anything?

Thanks

This is for the 500. The plastic switch shroud needs to be opened up. 2-allen bolts on top & 1-below, 2.5mm allen hex key required. Pop the switch out of the shroud and you will see the spring on the side of the switch. Leave the spring in place. Just use a pair of forceps (or needle nose pliers) and relieve tension by lifting the vertical section of the spring off the plastic stop. Doing this all from memory it is to wet, cold, & dark outside at the moment.

I did this modification today, and Wow, it works great. And it took minutes. That was it.

Mel

I got the one end of the spring off the plastic top but it still feels slightly springy for me. Maybe my spring is wound a little more tightly? But no big deal. I removed the spring completely but just taped it to the side of the switch in case I want to put it back the way it was, I won't have to remember where I keep the spring.

On another note, this option seems to be the simplest to do, as compared to the rewiring option. Why would people want to do the rewiring option over this one? There must be some good reason...

I agree with OAD...
I have gone through many modifications of the stock lights from one to two on all the time, high beam/low beam etc.
Best to leave the stock lights alone.

Add some of those LED's that are sold on Twisted Throttle...
I have friends that use them, and they are like a Light House going down the highway.

Keith,
Marietta, GA

So are we talking about replacing the existing headlight bulbs with brighter LED bulbs? Or are we talking about leaving the stock lights alone as in adding additional headlight fixtures onto the bike somehow?

Can you give me some hint on what to search for on Twisted Throttle? Thanks!

Sorry for the late reply...
As I stated earlier, or other threads I have done the Dual H4's (Both High / Low Beam are on), and had huge issues with power on the MP3/250, where I had to upgrade the Battery to the EarthX ETX-36C which gives you a lot of extra. I am back to running stock now... The EarthX Battery comes in handy to run Heated Gear.

I mentioned the Twisted Throttle Website, and see the picture for the LED's they sell. I would mount them probably using the two bolts holding the ABS to the bottom of the Radiator with some sort of Bracket where they would be upside down, pointing forward. It would be easy to wire them into existing wiring. I have friends using this on Honda's, and other Bikes, and they are very Bright.
They have some M8 Adapters that makes it easy to mount on other bikes, but I have not had the time to look at this yet.

Take a look at the other thread ".... Driving Lights" that kilovictor posted.

Keith

OK thanks for your reply, Keith. I did see the other thread by Kilovictor. It looks real good. But man! I didn't realize that those lights are that expensive.

At any rate, I already went ahead and did the headlight modulator option with the Kisan PathBlazer on my high beam light (in addition to removing the spring). I don't do much night time riding, so the headlight modulator during the day seems to serve my purpose well. I think I paid $75 for my Kisan PathBlazer on eBay.

Yea, I like the Modulator...
I have on my Vespa GTS, the Signal Dynamics one...
I also have the Signal Dynamics for Dual H1's, but never installed.
One of these days or it will wind up on ebay.

The spring remove looks interesting...
I have a spare switch, I may do that one, and then swap it and try it on the 500 sometime. I do a lot of riding in the Dark, I will leave Atlanta around 4 am, and ride up to the mountains and get their by daylight. Love the transition from dark to day light. But I like looking like a "Light House" on the Highway and the back roads.

Keith

Kilo got his off of amazon for a lot less money. I think he told me something like $35 each or for both.

I like the stuff from twisted throttle but boy the prices are sometimes way too much. I would never pay that for led driving lights myself.

OK, that's much more inline with what I'd expect. In fact, $35 for each is good, but $35 for both would be great!