by 44UL » Mon Mar 13, 2023 3:37 pm
To each their own, but I always question when people feel like they have to switch to 12v.
The brightness of your lights depends on a nice, well cared for reflector (in a non-sealed beam), proper candlepower bulbs, and properly functioning charging system with good grounds.
I have found 6v LED bulbs for my knucklehead/bigtwin flatheads. Haven't looked for K or Sporty headlamps.
Yes, 6V bulbs are getting harder to find on the road, but there is this thing called the internet where you can order a small amount of them to have on hand.
Same with batteries, with the lack of shops stocking anything related to vintage bikes, it's such a great idea to have a spare because they always go out at a bad time!
The alternator you might be mentioning isn't a great fix either, not in the long run. If i remember right, they backload the cam chest gears and make things wear funny. I have a few friends that have had broken timer gears on big twins using them.
You can run a later 12V 65A generator I believe or get a gen/reg combo from Cycle Electric or even have you original rebuilt to 12V.
Anyway, I know everyone has opinions...so there's mine haha. I will back them up and say that I have many original 1940's Harleys that I ride regularly with original wiring, 6v systems, etc and have been great for many years. I ride a 47 Servicar almost daily year round.
The only deviation I enjoy is getting rid of the battery all together and going to magnetos, I love them.
62 KR, 54 KHRM, ‘61 XLR, ‘68 XLR, original paint ‘59 CH, several 60 and 61 CH’s, two original ‘47 Servicars, 44 UL, 48 UL, 48 WL race bike(40 rwhp) 51 WR, original 68 XLCH, 65 Topper, Japanese Rikuo. Always interested in buying KR, KHRM, and XLR parts