Headlights

[Black_peter]

Adding a single headlight is really a piece of cake.

The screw size and spacing is pretty standard. So almost any headlight shell will work. (I used a CB750 shell because it was dirt cheap)





Universal brackets like these can be found in almost any motorcycle shop:


These are GS brackets. They will look nice if you get the right fork size.


So you need to do some cross referencing and find a GS model that has the same diameter forks as a Katana. The forks slide through the loops and you want the rubber bits to stay put too.


Once you have the mounting sorted the plug from your pre 98 Katana will plug right in.
It should look like this:

[teddy]

simple and to the point, very nice BP

now, i'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you could do nearly the same with a post 98 kat, using the gs brackets as well. iirc, they are all 41mm forks, and if you got an H4 conversion lense kit for an older bike, you could still use the factory harness, and bulb...sans one bulb of course

[Black_peter]

now, i'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you could do nearly the same with a post 98 kat,

Forks are the same, yes. The SV 650 unit is nice because it is the HD lens. I wasn't sure about the plug arrangement on the 98+ so I kept my gob shut.
Thanks for the input Teddy.

Here is an SV 650 unit. Good lord they is expensive!

[paintmann111]

Excellent. Thank you very much, this helps a lot.

[StevieB]

Careful- those "universal" brackets won't fit most modern sport bikes (ones I have for my bobber project fit the GS500 and CB650 forks, but not the Bandit 1200 forks.)

[Black_peter]

Careful- those "universal" brackets won't fit most modern sport bikes (ones I have for my bobber project fit the GS500 and CB650 forks, but not the Bandit 1200 forks.)

Good tip.
I noticed that some of them do list the fork size range they fit. Some accomplish this by using different rubber inserts. I really don't suggest using them as they are pretty cheap..

[DRUNK_UNCLE]

On 98+ Kat's, even though there is two headlight plugs, I only used one. The headlight I bought only had one plug even though it is dual headlights. It is the european style with one light is the low and one is the high bean and parking light. I just wrapped plastic around the other plug and everything works fine.

[il_ragazzo]

is there a chart for forks sizes on the katanas ....my clymers doesn't say....

[Black_peter]

The Katana is 41 mm

Google search plug in.
Text: fork diameter
Result: .2 seconds

[il_ragazzo]

thanks BP

[catfish]

thanks BP!

also, the GS500 headlight plugs right in to the pre-98 Kat harness, and works well with 41mm brackets

[il_ragazzo]

does it matter if the bucket is rusty on the inside? will it effect the reflection of light or what?

[Black_peter]

does it matter if the bucket is rusty on the inside? will it effect the reflection of light or what?

No but I would do something with the rust so it doesn't rust through..
I hide a lot of the wires inside the headlight shell.

[il_ragazzo]

cool, thanks again BP!

[newfie]

I used a bolt on, but the light part screwed up. The light was plastic and melted.

I used a bolt on, but the light part screwed up.