| Author | Message | ||
     Deeds |
Anyone interested in being the guinea pig and trying these out? They look way better than any HID kit I've seen. A lot of guys over on ADVrider are using them with good results on various bikes. I'd love to see how they work out on a Uly. http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.com/H7-2400-lume n-LED-Headlight-bulb_p_86.html | ||
| Rayycc1 |
I guess you could run it high beam only and get away with it...I might be into giving it a shot. 2400lu is enough to singe the hair on a deers ass... | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
My only question would be how does it focus with the stock reflector? I have been keeping an eye out for MR16 LEDS. The prices are dropping quite well. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_n_feature_keyw ords_1?rh=n%3A322525011%2Ck%3Amr16+led+bulb%2Cp_n_ feature_keywords_five_browse-bin%3A7801670011&keyw ords=mr16+led+bulb&ie=UTF8&qid=1401792083&rnid=780 1668011 They still haven't tapered off yet but I figure that when the 10W spots get to $20 or so, I will see if I can MacGuiver some housings for my bike. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'm starting to see LED bulbs on local Harleys, and I gotta say it's almost as bad as straight pipes. With a proper projector, I really look forward to being able to afford LED bulbs. With the stock projectors, what I have seen so far, they are this awful point source of light that feels like it digs a smoldering trench across the back of my eyeballs when these people ride by. Maybe those advrider guy bulbs aren't so bad, as the emitter point sideways. But its still not a projector assembly, and the advrider pictures posted generally showed a ruined cut-off line compared to stock. Somebody needs to engineer a complete unit with projector and cooling (perhaps passive sealed liquid cooling). | ||
| Rayycc1 |
Reepicheep....do you have the ADVMonster lights? Because I do....and they're Awesome. Turn night into day. Best mod i have done to date. These bulbs are on backorder but my names in the pile | ||
| Reepicheep |
I've looked at them, but like I said, I don't think the problem is solved with that current setup. I think it needs some kind of projector, perhaps a self leveling one, to really work right. So it can be blisteringly bright 3 feet of altitude and below out to 200 yards, but not painful for other drivers. I have a hid in the low beam today, so I'm not in a rush to solve the problem anyway. Its the lower brightness HID, but it is already probably rude to other drivers in terms of having a poor cutoff. There are pictures of a Husky in one of the Advrider threads that shows how the throw gets screwed up when going to the LED. Before it had a nice sharp cutoff, afterwards it was a big smudge right at eyeball level for oncoming traffic. | ||
| Reepicheep |
(Though I probably would consider an LED for the high beam, where I just want light and would not use it when there is oncoming traffic, when my current normal high beam bulb blows). | ||
| Court |
I desperately need better lighting on my Ulysses. It's unsafe to ride at night, I have the PIAA floods but they are pretty much worthless. Has anyone got a recommendation for a set of auxiliary LED units to replace the PIAA with? I'd like to use the same bracket and switch, if possible. Some of the LED offerings, at this point, seem not quite ready for prime time. I'm wide open to suggestions. | ||
| Deeds |
The clearwater lights look really nice. They mount to the fork shrouds on the Uly. They are very expensive, though. Last I checked, around $400 expensive. | ||
| Rayycc1 |
ADVMONSTER lights are great...get the model 30s and the wireless dimmer ...all told it was only $150 | ||
| Griffmeister |
Hmmm, on the LED bulb, what about the part where it says "This Bulb is not DOT approved and is for off road use only "? | ||
| Rayycc1 |
the EBR ecms say that too. Does that stop anyone from using them? | ||
| Reepicheep |
The HID's aren't DOT approved either. They are all technically illegal. Some are illegal because they just didn't do the paperwork, most are illegal because they are rude and blind other drivers, some are downright dangerous. (Don't get me wrong, I run a HID in the low beam. I have it aimed as low as possible, but still think it is probably a little into the "rude" category with it's soft cut off and "light up the back of the drivers head in front of me" spillover.) My Saab has self leveling projector HID's, and those are a nice case study in how this should be done. | ||
| Uly_man |
"Anyone interested in being the guinea pig and trying these out?". NO or most others either. First thing you MUST know is what type the light chip is. The best ones are CREE and Epistar type. None of which come cheap. Automotive LED systems of any worth cost lots of money and will for sometime to come. Even good aftermarket normal spots do not come cheap either if you want then to last any time. I know all this as I have tried. If you want a better light on your Uly fit a modern slimline 35w, 6000k, or less, HID in the low beam. Use the lamp type with the metal base and ceramic mount as they are the best. Mine works great, the beam pattern is sharp/ defined and get no problems from other road users. Cheap and easy to fit. You can also go back to normal lamps easy if needed. If you need more light use a good quality set of spots NOT fog/ floods which may be $200 odd. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Just remember, the more you unload your charging system the harder the regulator/rectifier has to work and that means heat. | ||
| Court |
I'd like something that, at least, emulates legal. My intent is to not ride in the dark AND to not be rude. I get concerned with "cheap" solutions. There may be some that work, my experience is that they often have hidden surprises. I'd like to keep it within $1,000 but I'd like it to be done right. I've got lights all over the damn thing and it's marginal at best. | ||
| Reepicheep |
The DDM Tuning 35 watt kit is probably your best choice at this point Court. Not high quality, but better than a bulb, and much better light. It throws good light and isn't too far above the stock setup. Not a premium product for sure, but it's priced about the same as a normal bulb (!) and has proven to be very reliable in practice. http://www.ddmtuning.com/Product-Categories/Motorc ycle-HID-Kits-Lighting I would leave the high beam a "normal" bulb and wired in the same way. That way you are a flip of a switch away from a complete stock setup and circuit. As you have noticed, the Uly high beam isn't much different than the Uly low beam. I can set you up with a delay circuit that will only turn on the HID after the motor is started, to prevent the light "restriking" when you thumb the starter. Just let me know if you need it. I needed one for my origional high zoot $200 HID I put on the XB9, but did not need anything for the $25 DDM kit I put on the Uly. I'm sure DDM changes suppliers from time to time though, so YMMV. I'm stalking a projector assembly that could be used with LED's. I can get more than enough light for $15 worth of LED emitters, that part is easy. It's the projector part that is hard. I stalked ebay projector flashlights, visited Mendelsons in Dayton (several acres of electronics surplus, some from Wright Patt AFB), I even scavanged some lenses from an old rear projection big screen TV. No luck yet. My next thought (which I haven't had time to try) is laminating up some stacks of lexan as a fresnel lens to try and turn that into a projector with a sharp cutoff. It's on my list, along with fixing a mac power supply, and fixing an old tuber caliper with stripped threads  . | ||
| Uly_man |
Court. I would be amazed if you did not find a HID low beam MUCH better than what you have now. It is even better than a PIAA Xtreame lamp and, tried them, costs less as well. It is not about the amount of light but the quality. | ||
| Uly_man |
http://www.ddmtuning.com/Product-Categories/Motorc ycle-HID-Kits-Lighting. This very common system is the same as I use but mine uses the metal base/ ceramic lamp mount which is better quality. Hard to find though and a few bucks more. Amazing and dam all money as well. I used a low beam set on my 06 bike and have had a full set on my 10 bike for over two years now. I have even put a set on my 1988 BMWs low beam projector lamps. While I used to think they were good they now seem like "night and day". (Message edited by uly_man on June 04, 2014) | ||
| Court |
>>>It's on my list, along with fixing a mac power supply, and fixing an old tuber caliper with stripped thread Ouch . . . hahaha. At least I know you and I are in concert that those things are, and remain, at the bottom of the triage list. Few are as gifted as you in terms of "in house sub-contract talent". I own . . if I could find in all the piles . . . one of those DDM kits. I am committed, by the end of July, to have the Buell "junk" (much of it still treasures to me) sorted, cleared and dealt with by the end of July. Hopefully, I'll find the DDM kit. | ||
| Tootal |
Court, I've been using these for a long time. 700 more lumens than oem H7. 65 watt but no problems with the reflector or heat. It's not HID but definitely better than stock and the light pattern is the same. http://store.candlepower.com/osraulhiouh7.html | ||
| D_adams |
Color temperature 5600K Sure, 2400 lumens is bright, but that's too much blue color for me. Anything over 5k is too much. Look for one in the 4500k range instead, you'll get better visibility out of it. | ||
| Tq_freak |
Court, I have been using the DDM kit on 3 different bikes with great results. Even put a set in my wifes Jeep and they have never given me an issue and greatly improved night driving. On the Issue of your Buell "junk" I am more them willing to take some of it off your hands rather then chucking it in a dumpster as you stated in a different thread. |
