how do I change the 6v electrics to 12v on my SP400?                                                                                                                                                                              

It can be done, but it's a big job. Not only do you need to change the obvious,bulbs etc. You also need to change the charging system and starter motor. If fitted and of corse the battery, the coil and anything else that operates on 6v at the moment.

It used to be quite easy on old British bikes, but i suspect there may be problems with an SP400, even though they are getting pretty long in the tooth themselves now.
Might be an idea to try the Suzuki OC or maybe on the modern classic bike forums.                                                                                                                                                                             

Thanks chaps, have seen conversion kits for the job advertised but very expensive. Will need to look into this a bit more before deciding I think.

                                                                                                                                                                             

Why do you want to change it to 12v ?                                                                                                                                                                             

Improved night time lights Jp, 6v lights have the lighting capability of a damp swan vestas. I would like other road users to see me on my way home from work.                                                                                                                                                                             

Not for nothing was Joseph Lucas known as the Prince of Darkness in the days of 6-volt British bikes                                                                                                                                                                             

Lol @ wills                                                                                                                                                                             

  Wills is quite right 66   All hail Jo Lucas, "Prince of Darkness"   It was meant to be a clarion call for "electric" bike lights   But "dying glowworm" would be more accurate   I've had some scary moments courtesy of Mr Lucas   When I finally got an MZ I couldn't believe how good the lights were   And they were only 6 volt   Japanese electrics were a revelation when they 1st appeared   And the majority were only 6 volt   They were far superior to most British electrics   The majority of bikes were fitted with Lucas equipment   Smaller bikes had Wipac or Miller   Most only worked intermittently   Maybe the 6 volt system on your SP can be revived   If not then maybe your generator is putting out more than 6 volts (most do)   Then you can just change the regulator rectifier/coil/starter & other ancillaries   But they must have been OK when they were new     So there is always hope that the lights will be serviceable with some TLC & good lamps                                                                                                                                                                                 

cant test the lights at the moment as I havent sourced any yet, there are plenty to be had and they aren't too prohibitive price wise, I just had this nagging doubt in the back of my mind that 6v wouldn't give enough illumination, the roads around by me aren't quite as pitch black as round by mz's but they are good fast roads and I dont want to be meeting some dice dangling boy racer coming in the other direction on my side of the road because the prat hasn't seen my lights coming towards him.

66 Do you really think that having lights will make any difference to being seen by a boy racer going round a bend on the wrong side of the road as he pretends he can drive.                                                                                                                                                                              

This is true JP, but it would be nice to see where I am going as well, after all, when I am sailing through the air as a result of my encounter with said boy racer, looking for a nice soft place to land is an advantage.

                                                                                                                                                                             

That's true I would get one of those head lights thing on a big rubber band that go round your head so you can use it as landing lights lol. cont really see it being that hard to change it over all you need do is find a donor bike that runs on 12 with same size charging unit and just fit that. I think on the old brit bikes to change from 6v to 12v you just twisted 2 of the 3 wires together and change coils bulbs and other bits and bob's and that was it could be still as simple if your lucky.

Quite possibly the DR 400 will fit, that was the next model I believe, might be worth looking in to.

                                                                                                                                                                             

I spose you have checked its got 6v bulbs

I know it sounds stupid but it's very common to find 12v bulbs in 6 or 24v systems as 12v bulbs are easer to source.                                                                                                                                                                              

Havent got any lights on it at all yet Stuie, was looking into the possibility of switching before sourcing original lights, availability of 12v certainly would be easier to get bulbs for. If it is an easy fix then I will go for a 12v system, I am assuming that I can adapt something off a DR model, it looks as if parts can be got hold of easy enough.

Personaly id see what the stock electrics are like.

Mind you id imagine its just all the bulbs regulator, battery, and maybe coil (cdi?) . Would have thought the starter would handle 12v but then i guess its a part number cross referancing exercise see what else you sparks are fitted to.

It's kick start only, and that thought had occurred to me as welll, change the coil, stator, cdi and reg/rec. If its aneasy and inexpensive exercise then I will go down that route instead of the old 6v system.                                                                                                                                                                             

Hey Doublesix. I found this guy because I wanted to change the 6v electrics on my 3HW to 12v. He recommended trying LED bulbs that should fit immediately. He is really informative, maybe give him a try?
http://www.aoservices.co.uk/index.htm                                                                                                                                                                             

Thanks mattywill look him up and see what can be done.