| Author | Message | ||
     Holleywood |
I posted a msg on BuellXB about Headlight info. My lights suck and I want to improve my ability to see. Who knows? My driving skills might improve too... I thought I'd post here too because I can't imagine people owning Buells wouldn't be on both forums. The issue is: my headlights are done. The reflective material failed. I've tried home remedies but no luck so far. The plasic parts up front that hold the lenses have cracked and melted. I need replacements. I've researched and found the parts numbers are Y0400.02A8 lowbeam and Y0435.02A8 highbeam. There was a service bulletin that updated these parts to Y0400.5AA and Y0435.5AA. My questions are what is "updated" about the part? The .02A8 costs half of the .5AA and I have found dealers nearby still stocking the old part. Does this mean the part has been on the shelf since 2008 collecting dust? What causes the reflective surface to degrade? Is this due to heat or just time? I have to replace the housings period. I may change to an HID bulb set up to reduce heat... Any thoughts on the subject would be appreciated. Thanks. Dave | ||
| Froggy |
The newer part (5AA) has an updated design, it wont degrade like the old one will. My understanding is light output is better too, well worth paying extra for vs the older part. | ||
| Greg_e |
You might also search here for hella headlights and see if it is something you want to deal with. The 90mm low and high beam units are about $60 each and should offer a marked improvement. Or go all out and put in the bihalogen that I put in and get twice the light for both low beam and high beam. | ||
| M1combat |
I applied high temp reflective metal tape to the inside of my old lights and they work great. It was a bit tedious to get the tape cut and applied correctly. | ||
| Aldaytona |
I was going to apply the chrome metallic tape as well, but I cleaned out all the old, degraded chrome until it was down to the black plastic. I scuffed up the plastic with 600 sand paper and sprayed "plasti-kote" silver 19101 (chrome) paint, double light coat, and they were just like new. They worked just as well as they did when I bought it. The chrome tape was my next step. I know that works well. I did get them replaced under the Buell "recall" with the updated units although they aren't really a whole lot better than my "repaired" lights. | ||
| Holleywood |
Thanks for the ideas. I tried the paint. I used the chrome plasticote. Then I put aluminum foil in the cones. I pressed it out and polished. That worked a little better. Since the plastic retainers up front are cracked and melted I think have no choice but to replace the housings. How bad would it suck rolling down the road and have a lens pop out? I found the recall for XB-R lights were for the 2003-06 models. The 07 and newer came with the updated lights. I am cheap but I want a good quality product. I guess you'd call it the best "value." Anyhow, I was mostly curious about the original housings vs. the updated ones. The updated version has a dimpling or rings molded on the outter surfaces. The updated versions don't have the "reflective material fade." The old part numbers are still at some shops on the shelves...WTF? These parts are priced at 55-60.00. The updated housings cost 100 per side. I found another part number that is a complete assembly with both the high and the low beam and the bracket that mounts the set for 150.00 new through HD. Hmm? 200.00 for the individual parts or 150.00 for the whole set up. I thought if the fade was due to heat I could get the older housings save the dough and invest in HID bulbs. If the housings were updated in 2007 I might just find some used ones on ebay. | ||
| Dtaylor |
The Simpson Detours might tempt you: http://www.simpson-detour.co.uk/shoplist.aspx?sear ch=buell After all is said and done, the better part of US$300 | ||
| Greg_e |
If you are going to delete the fairing, might as well wire up some Hella lights, they would be easy to mount without the plastic getting in the way. And you would only be out about $125. | ||
| Odjoe |
Simpson Detours does any have a review on these | ||
| Lornce |
Just fitted HID's to my Uly and the light output is pretty spectacular. Only down side is the "cold bulb lag" until the high beam warms up. Need to figure out how to wire it so the low beam stays on 100% of the time so I'm not riding blind until the high beam bulb warms up. | ||
| Froggy |
Lornce - http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/599673.html?1273616895 | ||
| Lornce |
Froggy, Thanks. That's good intel!  | ||
| Jfkersh |
If price is no issue, hella makes some good 90mm lamps that you can make fit into a fireblot. My bike when i got had burnt out allow reflectors. if it were possible to have the polished or even better chroming with nickle if they can be done? For Hella's I had to take the brackets that hold the lights in-place, use a dremel and sand out the holders to fit the larger lights. These have to be reversed, left to right ect and flip them around. Use longer bolts to clamp them onto the body of the headlights. These lights are also H7, so you can also upgrade with HID, also add a delay relay, these can be found by Google. it enables a variable time delay after the ignition switch is turned on. Upgrade the wiring to larger diameter wire, this will also give a boost. Good luck, in Australia there are little options except do it yourself. |
