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2008 Sprint ST 1050 Headlights - upgrade

4K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  fredsprint 
#1 ·
Let me first say that hands-down, this is the best bike I have ever owned. I love almost everything about it (with the exception of the headlights and brakes), which are both fairly common complaints. I will eventually upgrade the brakes, once it comes time to replace them. My 'winter project' this year is upgrading the headlights. After scouring all the various forums and threads regarding what others have done, I decided to give some of them a try. So, I removed my headlight assembly and opened it up. I first replaced the projector assemblies, replaced the stock bulbs with HID's, and painted the silver plastic shroud inside the headlight assembly black (got all of these ideas from others on this forum.....thank you).

Now, being of an 'older generation' you will soon understand my dilemma. I have 3 sons, only my youngest has his motorcycle license and rides, and he is 18 (Kawasaki Ninja). This new generation of riders are into lights. I am talking LED strips, color changing, flashing neon, etc. I have always thought this stuff was a bit too flashy for my taste, but he convinced me to look into putting some 'Angel Eye Halos' around the DIP (Low Beam) projectors. I have to admit that at first I was as skeptical as most of you probably would be, but after we put them on, I am impressed with how cool they look. Then, he convinced me to put an LED strip above them to form an 'angry eyebrow' look (those of you with a Sprint ST know that the plastic insert inside the headlight assembly already has that look). Again, I was impressed with the way it looks.

After all this rambling, here is where I am stuck with what to do next. I am looking for functional advice (not legal, moral or ethical), as I realize what I am wanting to do is probably not legal in most locales, and the argument could also be made that it is not safe. I get it. I do.

Here, in order, is my preference of how I would like to wire the LED's. I am not an electrician, which is obvious because of why I am coming here for advice/input:

1. Ideally, I would love to find an exact fit replacement handlebar light switch. Rather than the current 2-position switch (DIP/Main), it would be a 3-position switch (LED/DIP/Main), where in Position 1 only the LED running lights would be on. Position 2 would be LED and DIP's. Position 3 would be LED, DIP's and Main.

2. My next preference, if the above is not possible, is to find a decent looking aftermarket single switch. I would then wire the old existing switch to control the LED's and DIP's, and then move the Main lights to the new single switch. This would accomplish the same thing I am trying to do above in #1, but it wouldn't look as 'clean'.

3. Lastly, which is probably the easiest, is to simply cut the DIP wiring at the headlight assembly and hook-up the LED's to come on when the existing switch is set to DIP. Then, splice the DIP and Main together so that when the existing switch is turned to Main, both DIPs and Main come on (would the existing fuse and relay handle both DIPs and Main being wired together?). What I really want is for just the LED's to be on without any of the existing headlights.

I am open to suggestions and input on whether this can be done functionally (legal/moral/ethical concerns aside).
 
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#2 · (Edited)
On the left handlebar switch there's a blanked-off slot. If you could find a suitable switch to insert there it could be used as a headlight On/Off switch. You could wire the LEDs to remain On while the headlights are off.

I believe UK versions of some earlier Sprints (pre-2001 ?) had an On/Off switch for the headlight. I don't know how one of those handlebar switch units would look on a 2008 but should function OK. Probably not easy to find though.

You might also be able to wire the headlamp flash switch to act as an On/Off switch either for High Beam or Headlights. Press once to turn high beam on, press again to return to low beam. That would need a little bit of thought to make it work but I'm sure DEcosse could come up with a top solution. Calling Mr DEcosse - required in lighting section.

Alternatively, you could just add an On/Off switch on the left handlebar. That's probably the easiest solution provided you can find one that doesn't look like a cheap and nasty afterthought.
 
#3 ·
Here is the comparison between Sprint GT cube and European Sprint ST 2002 one.
You can still use that and adapt the connectors.
The 02 ST one comes from here.

In 2002 and in Europe the ability to switch off the low beam was authorized while driving w/o them was forbidden.
On now a days bikes we lost this ability to be sure nobody ride w/o low beam.


Fred
 

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#4 ·
Thanks for the information Fredsprint! I had no idea there were different configurations of the controls out there, but sure glad you did. I was always kind of curious as to why that little opening and cover existed on mine...now I know. I wonder if I would just be able to 'swap out' the top portion of the control cover without having to get into all the wiring?
 
#12 · (Edited)
I believe 49 is the high-beam pass switch, 48 is the hi/lo beam switch, 47 is the light off/parking/on switch, 46 is turn signal, 44 and 45 are clutch interlock switch and horn (not sure which is which)

edit: removed attached pdf, it was out of my '05-07 sprint st service manual, not pertinent to the schematic above.
 
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