98VTRrider

I bought my 98 superhawk about three weeks ago with 16,800 miles. Already put 2000 on it since then... Last night I went for a ride and just a few miles from home i noticed my headlight get nearly twice as bright. A few seconds later it got dim again. I pulled in the clutch and let it idle for a second, then revved it up a few times and the headlight got bright again, for a few seconds then went dim, at one point i switched from low beam to high beam and it did the same thing in high beam...I wasn't going far so I stopped at my destination, when I left it started fine, but the whole ride home the light was dim.

I started searching about Regulator problems, but don't see anything similar to whats happening.

This morning I go out to check the battery voltage, with the bike off the voltage is 12.6v, At around 1,100rpm idle the voltage is 13.2, at 5k voltage is 13.5. That seems ok from what i've been reading

Any ideas what would cause my headlight to switch from bright to dim? Any other suggestions to test/rule out the regulator?

I may go down to local bike salvage and pick up a R6/R1 unit, seems better to install it now than wait for mine to expire..

thanks for any help/info

nothing

definitely sounds like a regulator problem. try this flow chart

http://www.electrosport.com/technica...ng-diagram.pdf

98VTRrider

From that chart it checks out fine. After a ride today the voltages are normal. I'm going to try to do the r6 R/R conversion this weekend just to be safe.

residentg

+1

98VTRrider

Over the weekend I put in another RR, out of a Suzuki TL1000. beast of a unit. The install went great. Now at idle voltage shows around 14v, higher revs it drops around 13.5v. Headlight seems to be brighter, but it's hard to tell because I couldn't compare as we started in daylight. One thing I noticed it seems to have better throttle response, and feels a little stronger in the low end. My old regulator was ready to throw in the towel I think.

I'll try to post pics of my install, some of the cooling fins needed to be trimmed, moved the blinker relay back a little, amazingly it bolted right up, there was another unused hole in the frame that fit perfectly. I would recommend it to anyone, the difference was the TL unit is 7 wires, an extra ground and an extra hot wire, we linked the two hot wires together, and ran the extra ground to the battery.

and before anyone says anything, I have my rear peg extenders in the garage with a fresh coat of paint drying..

nothing

nice, glad you got it all fixed up

ascothawk

I have a 98 and I installed a 7 wire R/R off of an 08 GSXR1000,I pieced out the spare hot and gnd and ran them directly to the battery. I also installed a 5 function voltmeter/clock/temp gauge on the top clamp between the bars. The gauge mounts with velcro and is a simple 3 wire connection.Now I can monitor the voltage while riding, a clock,and outside temp with a black ice warning beeper. You can find the gauge by doing an internet search for 5 function motorcycle voltmeter.(sorry but no brand name on unit and package is long gone) about $25.

98VTRrider

I'm not 100% sure how the R/R works or what the two positive wires do exactly, but I would think hooking the extra positive straight to the battery would cause it to drain, but again, I don't know their function.

The 5 function meter you mention sounds like a good addition, most of all i would like to add a clock, right now I have a McDonalds happy meal shrek clock clipped to my brake reservoir haha