Contenu
Converting an off-road motorcycle for street duty requires some extensive electrical work to add on the necessary lighting equipment, with the headlight taking the highest priority. However, many of the dirt bikes that can be converted dont provide the necessary amenities to make headlight installation a plug-and-play affair, requiring its owner to locate the motorcycles ignition power wire on their own. Once located, a handlebar-mounted control switch diverts power to either the headlights high or low-beam. This project requires basic wiring skills and an extensive knowledge of your motorcycles chassis and electrical system to complete.
Step 1
Remove the motorcycles fuel tank, seat and any bodywork required to access the motorcycles frame and electrical system.
Step 2
Separate the headlight control switchs upper and lower housings, using a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the pair of bolts from the bottom of the switch housing. Place both halves of the headlight control switch housing over the handlebar and tighten both bolts with a Phillips screwdriver. Route the headlight control switchs wiring loom through the front for and to the motorcycles frame.
Step 3
Locate the ignition wire on the ignition switchs wiring loom with a multimeter set to read the DC (direct current) voltage scale. Press the multimeters red positive probe onto the ignition switchs wires, pushing into the wires rubber insulation. Place the black negative probe onto the motorcycles frame to provide a ground connection. Turn the ignition switch to the On position. Test each wire until a voltage reading is indicated by the multimeter. The ignition wire will only provide a voltage reading with the ignition switch set to the On position.
Step 4
Cut a length of yellow electrical wire with wire cutters to serve as the headlights power wire. The wire must be long enough to connect the headlight control switchs positive wire to the motorcycles ignition wire. Splice one end of the wire onto the ignition wire with a T-tap connector.
Step 5
Route the power wire to the headlight control switch. Connect the power wire to the switchs positive wire with a butt connector. Crimp both ends of the butt connector with a wire crimping tool to secure the wires in place.
Step 6
Cut a pair of red electrical wires with wire cutters–one wire for low-beam, the other for high-beam--to extend from the headlight control switch to the headlights bulb socket. Join the extended wires to the switchs high and low-beam wires using butt connectors. Route the extended wires to the headlight socket. Join the extended high and low-beam wires to the sockets high and low-beam wires with butt connectors.
Step 7
Cut a length of black electrical wire with wire cutters. This wire will serve as the headlights ground wire. Cut the wire long enough to reach the batterys negative terminal. Connect the headlight sockets ground wire to the extended ground wire with a butt connector. Strip off a quarter-inch of insulation from the remaining end with a wire stripping tool. Crimp a terminal connector onto the exposed wire using a crimping tool. Connect the terminal to the batterys negative terminal with a Phillips screwdriver.
Step 8
Turn the ignition switch on and cycle between high- and low-beam to ensure the headlight operates properly. Check all wiring and ground connections if the headlight does not illuminate.
Secure the headlights wiring to the frame with nylon cable ties. Reassemble the motorcycles bodywork, seat and fuel tank.
Tip
- Obtain a factory service manual for detailed wiring diagrams that will help you locate the motorcycles ignition wire without the need for a multimeter.
Warning
- Do not attempt this task unless you are comfortable working with and modifying your motorcycles electrical system. Instead, have the work performed by a qualified motorcycle technician.
Items you will need
- Headlight control switch
- Phillips screwdriver
- Mulltimeter
- Yellow electrical wire
- Wire cutters
- T-tap electrical connector
- Red electrical wire
- Butt connectors
- Wire crimping tool
- Black electrical wire
- Wire stripper
- Terminal connector
- Nylon cable ties
