| Author | Message | ||
     Marc |
I posted this on advrider as well and wanted to share with my Badweb friends. The Cyclops H7 LED is a great headlight buld upgrade for the XB12. Details and photos linked below. -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Very Happy with Cyclops H7 LED install I completed this past weekend. Here are the mods I completed: 1). Replaced old Headlight Assembly which had melted reflector on high beam side with New OEM Headlight Assembly from AmericanSportBike.com 2). Replaced 65 Watt Halogen bulbs with Cyclops H7 LED 3). Completed Buell XB12 headlight Mod which has both Low and Hi Beam on when High beam is selected per these instructions: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buel...tml?1273616 895 I road late at night on dark country roads after install and see a major improvement in lighting which has definitely increased safety and increased night time riding confidence. I highly recommend the Cyclops H7 LED upgrade as it had the most impact in the lighting improvement. Here are photos of my XB12 Headlight Assembly LED bulb upgrade on photobucket which is free for your public view. You will need to be comfortable with cutting up your rubber headlight boots and moving your connectors up into your flyscreen area. http://s105.photobucket.com/user/mar...%20XB12?sor t=4 Here is where to purchase the Cyclops H7 LED bulbs. Use dicount code "ADV" for Adventure Rider to get a 10% discount. http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.com/H7-2400-lume n-LED-Headlight-bulb_p_86.html Cost = $100 for Cyclops Bulbs plus $136 for new OEM Headlight Assembly (if yours is burnt also...otherwise just clean your existing assembly), plus personal time invested in upgrade @ about 3 hours. Happy and Safe nighttime riding!!! Marc | ||
| Shagg1970 |
When I click on your photo bucket link all I get is an error? | ||
| Froggy |
It is worth noting that the new headlamp assembly has a better reflector design than the one that came on 03-08 bikes, that alone significantly improves performance at night. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Oooh..there's the high beam upgrade I've needed for my 1125CR. With the HID low beam I can't even SEE the high beam...ordering today, especially since its deer season! | ||
| Vman858 |
Sure would like to see those pic's. How much better is it than the HID. Just installed this in mine and am pleased with it but always looking for more. Vince | ||
| Jesse_lackman |
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2513 9523&postcount=1383 http://s105.photobucket.com/user/marcalanhickman/s lideshow/Cyclops%20H7%20LED%20Headlight%20Install% 20on%20a%20Buell%20XB12?sort=4 | ||
| Marc |
Here is a revised public consumption photobucket link which will allow you to see my headlight assembly photos for Cyclops H7 LED install. Click on the slideshow icon and I've got some notes at the top of each photo. Sorry about the prior one which did not work. http://s105.photobucket.com/user/marcalanhickman/l ibrary/Cyclops%20H7%20LED%20Headlight%20Install%20 on%20a%20Buell%20XB12 Froggy and others, Thanks for your posts on improved Headlamp Assembly for 2008-2010. I do agree that SOME of the lighting improvement was due to upgrading from 2006 burnt headlamp assembly to new 2008-2010 headlamp assembly. I have two XB12X's and see a huge improvement with the Cyclops LEDs. My second XB12X ( 2009 Buell #2 which I will call the baseline) has a good condition 2008-2010 headlight assembly which still has 65W Halogen bulbs and it is no where near as bright as the new Cyclops H7 LEDs I installed on 2006 Buell # 1). I am so happy with the Cyclops Hy LED lighting upgrade, I am going to order one more pair of Cyclops H7 LED bulbs and upgrade Buell # 2 as well this winter. I can see farther/better with the Cyclops LEDs and I know that the traffic around me can also see me better. No one has flashed me and I did set up low beam height her the service manual @ 36 inches high @ 25 feet distance. This lighting upgrade is a much safer solution for XB12 lighting than the stock bulb setup we got from the factory. HID Comparison to Cyclops H7 LED --> I have no idea if Cyclops H7 LED is better than an HID upgrade, but suspect similar results from both via friends and other posts I have seen. If you have already upgraded to HID I would say you made a good choice and should keep them in as LEDs likely won't be any better than HID. For $100 I was able to upgrade both bulbs to Cyclops H7 LED and they were fairly plug and play minus cutting up the rubber protective boots. Happy riding, Marc | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'm liking the idea of leaving my HID low beam alone (until it dies) but changing my filament high beam to this LED setup. Wonder how long the fan will last. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Marc, Settle down now before you explode. Honestly, it does look like a nice setup. Thanks for the info. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I ordered two. I'll get before/after pics on my 1125CR, but the front end is off the Uly right now (see the "chasing a bad wire" thread) and I'm not going to put it all back together just for a "before" photo. Sorry folks  | ||
| Vman858 |
OK. I'll keep the HID. Two things I don't care for with the HID are upon start up it comes on with key then goes out when started button is pushed, then back on. I have a voltmeter on mine and its always below 12.3 after start-up. Don't think thats good for the HID or the load on battery at same time as starter. I have a delay timer I plan to install to delay the start up of HID but thats more connections and money. The other is the rumor/fact that the HID will damage the headlight assembly. I have the 2007 and have read that I have the improved assembly but looking at Froggy's post I may not. Thanks for the pictures. Vince | ||
| Spuh |
Glad to see somebody try these in a Uly. What I'd like to see are pix of the beam patterns before and after, or in this case #1 vs #2 Ulys. With two Ulys, you're perfectly set up for this assignment. Just hope you have a garage door to point them at. (Ha ha). | ||
| Froggy |
It is not, it will shorten the life of both the battery and the HID. The HID doesn't like turning off and on, but in general they are cheap enough and last long enough that it doesn't matter. Extra strain on the battery will make it harder to start. Personally I recommend making a toggle switch to the ground on the headlamp assembly, that way you can easily toggle the headlamps off before you turn the key on, and then flip the lights on after you get started. Stealth mode is a nice bonus for times when you don't want to be seen 
They don't, or at least any more than halogen bulbs do. My 08 XT has 43k miles on it, some of the reflector is gone, it has the original bulbs. Heat from the bulb seems to slowly take them out, my understanding is HIDs run cooler, so in theory the reflectors should last longer.
Unless it was already replaced, you don't. 2009 and 10 models came with the newer version of the headlamp, everything else older didn't. | ||
| Uly_man |
The Uly has a "modern" head light reflector design and seems to last no better than many other modern bikes. The "always on" dipped headlight burns away the reflective coating, on the plastic base, over time due to being on all the time. Having a light on is good as it helps people see you better in daylight and works real good. These are called "daylight running lights" and I will not ride without one. My MZ is old and you have to switch the low beam on if you want this. However it had burnt most of the reflector coating away and was near useless as a headlight. In this case I fitted a good/ new headlight and a 55w Halogen sub-light, as a DLR, off the parking light. | ||
| Gamdh |
Marc Thanks for the info! Quick question... just out of curiosity, how did you get the little wire clip snapped in with the fan in the way?? | ||
| Vman858 |
Thanks Froggy and ULY_Man for the info. I would like to see the beam of new vs old headlight assembly...is it worth the expense? I have a pair of LED's I plan on mounting some to left and right of fender. I can't seem to adjust my hi beam to shine down the road while keeping low beam up close. Any tips are welcome! | ||
| Ratbuell |
I put one in the high beam of my 1125CR earlier. HID low beam, and this LED high beam...it's not bad. The reflector design in the CR is still crap, but at least with the LED bulb I can see a change when I turn on the high beam switch! | ||
| Dean |
Any knowledge how an occasional voltage spike may affect the LED modules? Dean 615 545 1111 texts ok Dean@learntoride.org | ||
| Reepicheep |
While I don't have any insight into this specific design, I can say that in general, the voltage range needed to properly drive a bright LED is *very* narrow, and absolutely fixed by the physics of the LED. It is unlikely that this narrow band happens to line up with the 13.8 "happy normal" of a charging system, and even less likely that the LED would work acceptably during the normal 12.7 to 14.2 range of operation most motorcycle headlights will see. So I'm guessing this design has a built in regulator, and it therefor should be pretty much harmless for it to see reasonable spikes. Good question though, it would be good to hear the answer from the supplier. | ||
| Dean |
I had a lil spiking right after I replaced the sprocket/ rotor when I re geared my bike recently. I like the lower gearing... Dean | ||
| Ratbuell |
The LED I got has a round "thing" inline with the power leads...I presume a VR. I do know, because my CR has a built-in voltmeter, that the lamp has been dead-consistent all the way from 12.7v to 14.4v (gotta love that Loki "charging" system!!). | ||
| Marc |
Fellow XB12 riders, Checking back in after a crazy week at work. I ordered a 2nd set of Cyclops H7 LEDs and installed them in my 2009 Buell #2 on Monday. 2006 XB12 Buell # 1 is in Illinois and 2009 XB12 Buell # 2 is in California so I could not show a side by side compare of Halogen vs LED w/out riding for a few thousand miles.  I remain VERY HAPPY with my LED headlight upgrade and still recommend it. I took Buell # 2 with new Cyclops H7 LEDs installed on my favorite ride last night after dark (Poway, CA to Julian, CA on HWY 67 and 78 and the light improvement with LEDs was VERY IMPRESSIVE. I was able to ride faster and safer with the improved lighting from the LEDs. I saw reflectors on the tops of utility poles 20 feet up that I had never seen before. The yellow center stripes and center lane reflectors were much brighter and visible much farther away than before with standard Halogens. I thought I was in the movie TRON with the great reflections I was seeing from street signs and road markers around me. It really showed me how poor and unsafe the stock halogens perform at night. I still highly recommend completing the following upgrade if you are still using standard Halogen bulbs (55W or 65W) on your XB12. 1). Replaced 55W or 65W Halogen bulbs with Cyclops H7 LED bulbs 2). Complete Buell XB12 headlight Mod which has both Low and Hi Beam on when High beam is selected per these instructions: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buel...tml?1273616 895 Attached are a few photos of these mods in the 2009 Buell #2 Ulysses. LED Base installs into the stock clips...you will need to cut up the rubber boots as I share with you in the photobucket post prior.  Iphone photo can't do it justice..huge improvement over stock Halogens at night.  Holy Crap....looks like lightbulbs are powered by a flux capacitor. And now my Uly has three cooling fans!  Ride safe and now ride safer in the dark after you upgrade from your stock Halogen bulbs to LEDs! Marc | ||
| Reepicheep |
For R&D on my heated grip controller, I built some with an LCD, and added code to sample for transient voltages 100 to 10,000 times a second. I track these, and show the highest, lowest, and current voltages within 10 minute windows. I see that exact same voltage range on my Uly. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Oh, my Uly can dip sometimes too. My CR? Tends to LIVE below 13.2. Not the strongest setup, hence my enthusiasm for a 20w headlight solution! Now a Uly question. My bike is an 06, my manual is an '06. It states "low beam is on (I forget which) side of the motorcycle". I swapped in a later headlight housing, and I can SWEAR the hi/low sides are backwards. Did they ever change? Or is my HID in crooked, skewing my beam pattern? | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Since ULYs utilize a shunt charging system I'm of the opinion that the long term life of the regulator/rectifier is better served by higher wattage devices using up most of the available power supplied. LED lights are fine but now you need to hook up more gadgets to burn off the excess you've created. Maybe a large screen TV. | ||
| Slowride |
Ratbuell, As you look head on at the Uly. The Low beam is on the left. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I know my 06 book calls out one side. My question was, did they change sides when they went to the late-style (improved) light? I put the new light in, but did not change low/hi from one side to the other (did it with the book in hand, so it's correct for my 06 book), and I could swear the beams are backwards. | ||
| Froggy |
Low beam is the one on the throttle side, even on newer lamps. UK bikes had the low beam on clutch side, and last time I ordered a headlamp assholes at Empire Harley got me the British version and refused to let me return it, claiming I gave them the wrong part number, when they can't type it in right. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Thanks Froggy. Have you tried the e-code light? I run an E-code conversion lamp in my S2 (and in a couple of my cars)...MUCH better beam spread. If you aren't interested in using it, let me know...I could probably trade you a few bucks for it | ||
| Froggy |
That was what I was trying to get. This was before the 09 models and their better headlights came out |
