More Ducati Headlight Question's

I am in the process of ugrading the lighting on my 97 916 to be more visable. On the 97 model only the high beam is on when the bright switch is turned on, is there a way to change this to have both high and low on at the same time?

Has anyone used PIAA bulbs as replacements for the original?

It's possible to open up the switch and jumper it so that both lights are on when you turn on the high beams.

Problem with the early bikes (pre-99) is that the electrical system sucks. Not enough amps. You might want to contact janet at HID-online.com about an HID system. It has an initial power requirement until the arc is sparked, but after that, it takes very little power to keep it going - and HID's are bright.

Yeap.. HID is the way to go (35W draw as opposed to 55W and nice and bright too).

I had to make the same mod. I just moved the white wire from one post to the other and that solved it.. no jumped needed (but it would accomplish the same thing I would think.

Sorry.. that's one thing I did not take pictures of when I did it.

The question of whether you can run both headlights together, add auxiliary lighting, or use heated clothing on a Ducati comes up regularly. When you add additional electrical loads to a motorcycle several factors are involved.

First is the electrical output capacity of the alternator. The 1995–1998 superbike models were designed with a 350 watt 2-phase electrical system. The 1998 ST2 is unique, it was Ducati's one and only 450 watt 2-phase system. For the 1999 model year 1999, Ducati partially redesigned the charging system going from the 350 watt 2-phase design to a 520 watt 3-phase alternator.

Here's how the alternator power output is intended to be used: low beam (55 W), high beam (55 W), sidelight (5 W), tail lights plus brake lights (21 W), turn signal lights (10 W), number plate light (5 W), instrument cluster bulb (2 W), warning light bulb (1.2 W), fuel pump (clean filter)) (60 W), horn (60 W). cooling fan (60 W), electronic ignition (48 W), computer (24 W.)

If only the high beam or the low beam headlight is on at one time, the total of the above loads is 350 W. This is called the system design basis used to size the alternator. However, this is different from the normal operating conditions.

For example, a common operating condition for an early model would be low beam on (55 W), high beam off (0 W), sidelight off (0 W), tail lights plus brake lights on (21 W), turn signal lights off (0 W), number plate light on (5 W), instrument cluster bulb on (2 W), warning light bulb off (0 W), fuel pump on (60 W), horn off (0 W). cooling fan off (60 W), electronic ignition on (48 W), computer on (24 W.)

The total of the above loads for this operating condition is 275 W. This leaves 75 watts (350-275) available to run auxiliary equipment and to charge the battery. However, if you add electrical loads you can see how under different circumstances you can (sometimes only briefly) have an electrical load demand that exceeds the alternator design capacity. Under these circumstances your electrical current through the wires from the alternator to the voltage regulator is maxed out at 29 amps (for a 350 W system), the regulator is operating at maximum capacity, and your battery is discharging.

Great information! Thank you.

Any chance that I can pop a 1998 ST2 alternator onto my 97 748 and get more power? I assume that it would use the same VR - or maybe change to an ST2 one?

Thanks for all of the information, very helpful. I'm going to look into the HID. The stock low beam is weak at best.

Brian

Some great info in here, and I don't see the use in starting a new thread on the issue - but I'm looking for a simple bulb replacement rather than jumping to HID. Does anyone have suggestions on a very good bulb for both high and low beam that will just swap the old out?
I have a 1995 916.
Thank you.
Tarik

sylvania silverstars are probably the best bulb for the money if you're just looking to replace the bulbs.

Thanks Mikey, I'll check in to them. Are these the so-called Xenon lights?
-T

Interesting, I have modded my 916 to give both high and low when on high and it's been fine, however; I do not ride that much at night and when I do the full beam is only on part of the time, I suppose that continued use of full beam might discharge the battery but rarely would all the electrics be on at the same time (here in the UK I doubt the cooling fan would ever come on at night! ) so 7 years on it's still going strong.

As an aside the owners manual for my 916 actually says it has a 520W alternator! but it only has the single phase system which I assume is 350W.

Some questions;

Is it possible to fit the ST2 450W alternator to a 916?
Is it possible to fit the 996 520W alternator to a 916?
HID lights are good, I have them on my car, but how good are the aftermarket kits? has anybody fitted the HID kit to a Ducati? if so how much better is it? and if it's worthwhile which is the best kit to get?

Here's my HID conversion:
http://ducatisportingclub.com/...64409

Here's a minimum list of parts you'd need to convert a single phase 350W to a 3-phase 520W system

- 1998 900 2V or 99~01 M750 alternator cover
- both parts of the alternator itself
- all the accessories to the left of the crankshaft (including the above)
- crankshaft from 1998 or newer 904cc engine with 3 phase charging system
- longer clutch push rod
- new clutch slave cylinder

tarik,

xenon is one of the gasses originally used in hid lights and has become a marketing gimick used to fool people into thinking they're getting an hid "like" bulb to replace their standard fillament bulb. companies may in fact use xenon gas in fillament bulbs because it helps the bulb run cooler but it doesn't change the color or light output.

the only way to get true "xenon" lights is to convert your system to an "hid" system. so don't worry about "xenon" or "hid" look alike bulbs, it's only a marketing ploy. if you're not converting to true hid, just stick with a name brand bulb like sylvania and you'll be fine.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Shazaam! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
- crankshaft from 1998 or newer 904cc engine with 3 phase charging system
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well if it needs a new crankshaft, that's killed that idea, all the rest I could manage, what about the ST2 alternator, does that need a new crankshaft?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chiromikey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sylvania silverstars are probably the best bulb for the money if you're just looking to replace the bulbs.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ive got the Silverstars on my bike and I must say they are WONDERFUL! Great bright white light output (not the dingey yellow from stock). I get flashed by oncomming cars who think I have brights on when I dont...