| Author | Message | ||
     Chanster |
I have a new-to-me XB9S and I would like brighter headlights. Is changing the bulbs out to a more powerful halogen the way to go? I know that HIDs are the ultimate, but I don't want to go through the wiring trouble. Will a brighter halogen melt the housings? Any help would be appreciated. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I had awful luck with both stock and high power halogens. The high power ones (if they don't melt enclosures, which they might) have a really short life, and cost a lot. I put a DDM 35 watt HID in my Uly with no special wiring and it works great. Very easy install. It may be trickier on the 9S, because you have so little space under the flyscreen, but I think it can be done. Wire it into the old low beam, stick with the 35 watt (not the 55 watt) motorcycle kit, and just wire it right into the low beam. Leave the high beam halogen. I don't think the 35 watt kit needs any kind of delay relay or anything... been a few weeks now and mine has had no issues when I start the bike. When it turns off, it pops right back on. This wasn't true of the older $200 kits, they really did need the delay relay. Also go to the auto parts store and get a Fiam Highway Blaster horn. Its as big (and maybe even slightly bigger) than your stock horn, but it works with stuff packed up against it (unlike the stock horn that needs to ring like a bell). Switch to the FIAM, then pack all the HID stuff up under your flyscreen. It will be tight, but you can probably do it. Stay clear of the control cables when you are packing stuff in there, they need to float a little. In the long run, HID will be cheaper anyway, given how cheap they are getting these days. Those expensive halogens will keep burning out. | ||
| Chanster |
so the 35w still throws substantially more light than stock? and will work with the stock wiring harness? that would make life easier... i have stebels on my other bikes and love them. going to look around and see if i can find a place to mount one on the 9. thanks! | ||
| Terrys1980 |
Yes the 35w HIDs throw much more light than the stock halogens and yes you can run them on the stock wiring harness. I have the stebel on my '07 9R. I seperated the horn from the compressor and modified the compressor mounting point to fit under the seat. Here is a link to my install. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/327 77/574756.html?1277335973 (Message edited by terrys1980 on September 19, 2010) | ||
| Reepicheep |
You are going to have a heck of a time getting much more than the required HID stuff under the flyscreen of a 9sx. Not much to work with in there... So I would start with the HID. As Terry said, the 35W HID throws much more light then even the stock high beam. The DDM kit comes set up such that it plugs right into the stock headlight harness, I don't think I even had to cut a single wire. |
