GL1000 headlight options

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DSA
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GL1000 headlight options

#1

Post by DSA »

Hi,

I'm looking to restore the '76 GL1000 that I bought with a Vetter Fairing back to stock. It has the headlight bucket still attached, but everything else about the headlight is still missing.
Just to broaden my search - did Honda use this same headlight assy on any other motorcycles? Will any GL1000 headlight assembly work? I think the 77-79 might have a different one, but am not sure.
Thanks in advance!
1976 GL1000 Sulfur Yellow (bought it dead and got it running. Making it perfect will be my eternal project.)
2000 VFR
2003 Blackbird (sold)
1993 CBR1000F (sold)
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: GL1000 headlight options

#2

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Thankfully, the bucket is really the only part that changed. '75-'77 had chrome, while '78/'79 had black. The headlight is a standard 7 inch light (plus all the trim ring stuff). Every Goldwing up to the non-Standard GL1200s used it, along with any of the CB line that had 7 inch headlights. Pretty easy to find.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
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1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
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gltriker
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Re: GL1000 headlight options

#3

Post by gltriker »

Scroll down to the bottom of this page . There you will see SIMILAR TOPICS
As you open each of however many Topics you see there, typically 5, the list of Similar Topics will usually continue to evolve as you read through the remainder of the Similar Topics.
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Re: GL1000 headlight options

#4

Post by pidjones »

The headlamp socket itself is available at most any auto parts store. With rubber cover and even in a 90 degree version.
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: GL1000 headlight options

#5

Post by Lucien Harpress »

(Just because I remembered it)

As far as sealed beam vs. bulb + reflector, I couldn't tell you what model GL used what. I'm decently sure the early GL1000s (or at least the ones I've owned) run sealed beam units if you're looking for 'period correct" headlights, but once you get the trim rings, you can run pretty much any 7 inch lens you like (up to and including the fancy LED outfits).
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
redglbx
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Re: GL1000 headlight options

#6

Post by redglbx »

I know the 75-77’s ran sealed beams for sure and I believe the 78 &79’s do as well but not 100% sure. The oe sealed beams were nothing short of just terrible ! Easily outdriven. So as a recommendation I would add a set of relays to provide full battery voltage to the headlight for more brightness at a minimum, particularly if you plan to ride the bike.

I myself have added a 7” lense & reflector to my 76 with a good halogen bulb that really lights things up along with the relays. The initial reasoning for me to add the relays was to remove the load on the start button as the headlight puts a pretty high load on the starter button and is the main reason for it failing.

On my 76 when I initially went with the 7” reflector/lense it had a 80/140 watt halogen bulb which really lit things up, but I started to fail starter buttons every few years, when I actually looked at the wiring for the start button I realized that pretty much everything electric on the bike goes through that buttons contacts, the headlight being the highest load. So I added Relays to carry the load and use the button signals to turn the relays on/off.

So if you’re stuck on your bike being oe add the relays at a minimum, but keep in mind that the oe headlight was terrible at its best. Much improved with the relays but still not good. My .02.
Red 1976 oe owner
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
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1977 CB750 K7
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1980 GL1100
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Re: GL1000 headlight options

#7

Post by MikeNTexas »

This is the closest replacement headlight assembly I have found for the 75-77 wings

https://4into1.com/7-halogen-headlight-assembly-chrome/
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Re: GL1000 headlight options

#8

Post by DSA »

Thanks for the replies. Just discovered 4into1 as well, and since it is local to me, will go take a look.
1976 GL1000 Sulfur Yellow (bought it dead and got it running. Making it perfect will be my eternal project.)
2000 VFR
2003 Blackbird (sold)
1993 CBR1000F (sold)
1998 Valkyrie (sold)
2002 Concours (sold)
1989 EX500 (sold)
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: GL1000 headlight options

#9

Post by Lucien Harpress »

4 into 1 is a solid company. I've got a couple things from them before and have yet to be disappointed. Not to mention they are an absolute godsend for my CB750.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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Re: GL1000 headlight options

#10

Post by gregforesi »

I went the same way as redglbx. Offroad H4's can throw a lot of light - and suck a lot of current. So relays are good for an 80 or 100 watt low beam.
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redglbx
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Re: GL1000 headlight options

#11

Post by redglbx »

Imho, the oe factory sealed beam is woefully inadequate, a proper headlight should light up the distance that it takes to stop at 60-65mph, the oe light is barely good enough to light up the distance in front of you at 30-45mph. Terrible headlight !

As Greg said above a set of relays is the answer, they will improve the brightness of the oe headlight to barely adequate but the big advantage is that they take a huge load off the starter button contacts, which really aren’t properly sized to handle the oe load. The button will fail over time.
Red 1976 oe owner
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
1981 CBX
1977 CB750 K7
2014 FJR OE owner, sold
1980 GL1100
1984 GL1200 naked
1969 CL350, in the que
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Re: GL1000 headlight options

#12

Post by Sidecar Bob »

Many Hondas of similar vintage used the same headlight ring on several different versions of the bucket.

Are you restoring it to original factory spec or are you open to upgrading some things to more modern designs that work better? If you are open to upgrading you might want to consider replacing the whole thing with one of the many LED headlights that are now available at quite reasonable prices.

I wouldn't recommend using a halogen bulb of higher power than the 55/60 that Honda recommended for models that came with halogen headlights. The extra heat inside the headlight bucket won't do the insulation on all of those 4 and a half decade old wires in there any good.
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Re: GL1000 headlight options

#13

Post by redglbx »

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Red 1976 oe owner
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
1981 CBX
1977 CB750 K7
2014 FJR OE owner, sold
1980 GL1100
1984 GL1200 naked
1969 CL350, in the que
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