The headlight on my 1980 XL500 says "Stanley 6-1720"
It appears to be a sealed beam.
It works, but I'd like to get better lighting without the complexity of rewiring the bike from 6v. to 12 v. I would not know how even to do that.

Is there a source for a better/brighter 6v. light? I read smoewhere that the headlight runs on its own 6v. ac circuit. Is that so? Someone elsewhere suggested an "automotive H4 running 60watts" as a substitute. What's up with that?

I'd kind of hope for a halogen.

Your advice would be appreciated.

Plodder:
I realize this thread is quite old but here I go anyway...... :blah:

I have a 1982 Honda XL250R and the headlight just burned out.
One dealer says that they are now out of production so I am SOL...???
Not sure yet ... but anyway ....

I have mine out and laying on the table and I think the "6" in the part number means 6" diameter, not 6 volts. Printed on the back surface of mine it says:

12V 35/36.5W

The 1981 and earlier bikes were 6V battery I believe..... but MIGHT have STILL had a 12V headlamp and 6V for the rest of the electrics?

The alternator has 2 coils in it one for charging the battery & supplying the general needs of the bike, and a second coil for running the headlight, so if we go with a much higher wattage bulb there is a chance we could burn out the alternator ... I do not know what the risk is there but I can see that it could happen....

Did you ever find a solution?

Thanks,
jim

I'm pretty sure that your bike is 12 volt.

Silicone in an automotive headlight. You have to get it aimed right since it's glued in. I have done this on four bikes and it works great. The small round size is 5 3/4 in diameter so it will fit. The best thing is you can get a halogen which gives twice as much light for the same watts.

A 4000 lamp is 60 watt high beam and 37 watt low. A 5006 lamp is 35 watts on both filaments. Be sure that you get a halogen version.

Another up side is that they are less than $10.

Thanks cleonard!

the halogen 5006 sounds like the ticket ... more light and less money than even a used OEM unit if I could find one ....

I'm off to the auto parts store!

Jim

Honda went 12v in '82. The '82 XL500 and the FT500's (ascot) were 12v systems, and the charging system will bolt right in to your older XL500. Other than that, you may have to change the rectifier/regulator, put in a 12v battery and 12v lights.