Riding a dirt bike is so much fun, but driving at night or in poorly-lit environments can be dangerous. As such, some riders decide to put lights on a dirt bike to make it safer for them to ride in dark or low-light areas.
Unfortunately, not all dirt bikes have batteries. So, for your convenience, we’ll teach you how to install lights without the need for a battery. It’s a bit tricky, but we’re here to guide you to make the process less stressful.
Keep reading below to learn how to wire lights on dirt bike without battery!
Table of Contents
Steps to Wire Lights on a Dirt Bike Without Battery
Adding lights such as a headlight for dirt bikes or any light is beneficial for riding in dark environments. Doing so will ensure your safety in low-light conditions.
Here are a few tips to consider when adding lights to your dirt bike:
- It’s recommended to use waterproof materials to cover your lights to protect them from the rain.
- Ensure you have the appropriate wire type and length (distance from the power supply and mounting location)
- Also, do not run your wires through sharp edges to avoid damaging your wires.
Step 1: What to Prepare
To get the job done without stress, make sure you have the following items before you start installing your lights.
- LED lights (or your chosen type of light)
- Insulated wires
- Pliers
- Driller
- Spanner
- Rectifier
- Bullet connectors
- Electrical tape
Step 2: Know your dirt bike’s wiring system
Whether you’re planning to install lights on a mini bike or a full-sized dirt bike, you need to familiarize yourself with its wiring system first to know what to expect and what you’ll need.
- A dirt bike with an AC system will need a regulator or rectifier.
- A bike with a DC system will not require one, so you can scratch one item off the tool list.
If you need to install a rectifier, you need to mount it to your dirt bike’s frame by drilling a hole using a ⅜-inch drill bit. Make sure it’s not exposed to dirt or water to avoid damage.
Take a look at a pit bike wiring diagram below for an example of a wiring system.
Step 3: Know what lights to put
As there are many choices, make sure you have decided what kind of light you want to put on your dirt bike.
For instance, you can install LED lights or a rechargeable dirt bike headlight. You can also purchase a dirt bike light kit for your convenience.
Step 4: Decide where to put the lights
Deciding where to put your lights is another important aspect of organizing the process. For example, if you want to wire a light bar, ensure the light is positioned well on your dirt bike for maximum visibility at night.
Afterward, you can proceed to drill holes for your wires.
For this, you need to ensure that you have the appropriate length for your wires by measuring the distance from the light to your power source. Use your cutter to cut any excess so the wires fit well to the connectors.
Step 5: Install the wires
After determining your power source the type of lights, and where to mount them, you can work on the wirings.
Make sure your dirt bike’s engine is turned off before you install your wires.
Also, using a spanner to make it easier to see your wirings, you have to remove the dirt bike’s seat and fuel tank first.
- Start by slicing your insulated wires using the pliers and connecting them to the power source, such as a generator or stator.
- Once done, you can use a soldering iron or electric tape to secure the spliced wires to make them more durable.
- You can then run the wires through the holes you drilled previously to completely install LED lights or any kind of light. Take extra precaution when doing this so that you won’t damage (e.g., abrasions) any pre-existing wirings as well.
- After installing the lights, it’s advisable to secure them. You can use zip ties or wire ties to keep the wires in place while riding. Please also check if the lights are mounted properly to keep your paths well-lit at night.
You can check this tutorial video to learn how to wire lights on a Honda dirt bike without a battery!
Step 6: Test your lights
Now that the lights are installed make sure your seat and fuel tank are back to its appropriate place. Then, it’s time to check if the lights are working correctly!
Try to start your dirt bike or activate your power source to test your lights. If not, make the necessary adjustments.
To do this, you can re-adjust your wirings or try re-routing the wires. You can also make adjustments to the power source as last resort if you still have issues with your lights.
Conclusion
Overall, learning how to wire lights on dirt bike without battery isn’t rocket science. Just prepare the materials above to avoid a stressful experience. Once you have everything, it’s recommended to familiarize yourself with your dirt bike’s wiring system and determine the kinds of lights you want to install and where.
During installation, measure and cut your wires according to their right length. Please also take extra precautions during installation to avoid damage or abrasion to your wires. Lastly, don’t forget to check if your lights are functional.
Now, you no longer have to worry about driving at night!
