Ok to hold flash-to-pass?

[ohiorider_imp]

With a standard H4, holding FTP adds 60 or 65 watts to the lighting circuit or 4.2 amps at 14.3 volts. I would not expect a stator loading issue unless you are also using a lot of heated gear/auxiliary lighting. Note: the stator is not a high output unit, compared to some EFI bikes.

Possible issue is shortened H4 life and over heating the connector to the H4. Might want to inspect connector for any signs of melting. I know of a few H-D riders running 100 watt H4s who melted the connector just on low beam.

BTW, I do the same on my truck on some areas of the 8 mile dirt road/Jeep trail to my ranch. Usually less than 1 minute at a time.

Going back a couple of years (actually to 1988,) I replaced the K75S' 55/60 H4 headlight bulb with a 55/100, as I recall. I ran this setup for a few months with no issues. The alternator on this bike was rated at 460w.

I'd just ridden out to Greensburg, PA, to have a chat with Gary and Craig, the owners of Heritage BMW. As I prepared to head for home, smoke came pouring from under the small fairing. We wheeled it into their shop, and found that the bulb socket had broken into multiple pieces due to the heat of the high beam. Luckily, the wiring harness was unharmed, and replacing the socket (and ditching the high output bulb) cured the problem.

Bob