| Author | Message | ||
     Firebolteric_ma |
I just bought the HELLA 90mm units. Installing them right now. I gave up on waiting for BMC to rectify this flaw. They seem to have swept this under the rug. I have herd of no recalls, Not that i was REALLY expecting one..kinda like the 03 belt problems... Hey why fix it if we just keep buying them anyways right! I Should have them installed by the weekend. Then I will be able to see at night....YIPPY!!! | ||
| Saintly |
Barker is right. The assemblies are the same except for one piece on the inside. Just open up the assembly and remove the metal 'T.' It's held in place with a screw. Actually, that is not true. The inside of the high beam housing is shaped differently than the low beam. It is narrower in addition to not having the "spoon" which causes the beam to have more depth and less width. I gave up on waiting for BMC to rectify this flaw. They seem to have swept this under the rug. I have heard of no recalls, Not that i was REALLY expecting one..kinda like the 03 belt problems... I agree, they disarmed that bomb! I've been refused replacement assemblies on my 07' because as the dealer stated: "we called Buell and they claim that it is a normal condition and no action is to be taken" Yet the housings continue to deteriorate and my night time visibility continues to diminish. I'll keep bringing it in and complaining though, at least I'll have documented complaints on file, that way when this one ignites I'll have some recourse. | ||
| Ridrx |
Firebolteric_ma, The Hella's are VERY nice...be sure to post pics when it's done.  IF I were going to go that route I'd like to use the 50mm kit...also VERY cool. Shame you gotta spend hundreds(if you can find DOT approved replacements which the 50mm are...high AND low beam) on REPLACING CRAPPY OE JUNK on a NEW bike. I guess, since Buell remains silent on the issue, we're stuck with buying more inferior OE crap or diggin' deep in our own pocket. Remind me to tell you about the time Buell was considering putting roadworthy lights on the Firebolt... (Message edited by RidrX on May 16, 2007) | ||
| Ducxl |
OH MAN! This is NOT good if accurate. And Court stated Buell is responsive and will rectify this problem.Saintly and Ridrx have just made frightening statements that i only hope aren't true. BUT WE'RE ALL STILL WAITING! It is NOT normal to singe and bake the reflector PERIOD! | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
Shame you gotta spend hundreds(if you can find DOT approved replacements which the 50mm are...high AND low beam) on REPLACING CRAPPY OE JUNK on a NEW bike. They ARE DOT aproved..low/high. I got them for about 55.00 a pop, and considering Buell Rapes us 40.00 for the Junk ones it seemed like the thing to get...here is a link..I did not get the lights here but i did get the connectors from them. I got the lights at the speed shop my buddy owns, he hed trouble finding the connectors due to them changing there part#'s and he told me that there (PIAA) customer service SUX's.... http://www.rallylights.com/hella/90mm_modules.asp I agree, they disarmed that bomb! I've been refused replacement assemblies on my 07' because as the dealer stated: "we called Buell and they claim that it is a normal condition and no action is to be taken" Yet the housings continue to deteriorate and my night time visibility continues to diminish. I'll keep bringing it in and complaining though, at least I'll have documented complaints on file, that way when this one ignites I'll have some recourse. Shame the company we love so much, AND DEFEND more often than not, does not consider your safety a priority.... But HEY...They DID come out with new colors instead for the new year. And Court stated Buell is responsive and will rectify this problem. I would personally like it if BMC would "walk the walk" instead of "talking the talk". which is all I see of them on this and a few other problems...My bike is a 2004...It IS 2007!!!! You be the judge if you think they will "rectify" the situation....3years later...nothing! (Message edited by firebolteric_ma on May 16, 2007) (Message edited by firebolteric_ma on May 16, 2007) | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Riders Warehouse now has the HID kit in either 5000K or 8300K. It's specifically designed for motorcycle application. The price is still around $180. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
My total cost has been $140.00 for everything... New high/low lamps..55.00 each 2 HID Connectors... 15.00 + 5.00 s&h 2 tubes liquid metal....10.00 ME Being Able To See At Night....PRICELESS!!! | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
Riders Warehouse now has the HID kit in either 5000K or 8300K. It's specifically designed for motorcycle application. The price is still around $180. The problem I found with them are they ONLY give you the lights and not the Glass Assemblies, which IMO are just as important as the lights themselves.... | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Glass assemblies? | ||
| Midknyte |
http://www.rallylights.com/hella/90mm_modules.asp Did you have to cut/enlarge the fairing holes to mount these? | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
Yes I did it with a dremmel tool, Needs very little sanded out. It is flush with the top/bottom of the indented area of the holes...does that make sence? glass assemblies? yea the actual glass you see on the outside of the bike..... here is a link to the ones you speak of: http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/HID-Headlight- Conversion-Kit-p-18322.html they DO NOT include the glass Housings, only the HID lighting that is installed in the stock housings....kinda defeats the purpose as the stockers deteriorate over time.... the HID's I got have the bulbs and the Housing included, but you need to do some small fabrication to the stock bracket... here is a link to how I will be doing it with some minor changes to make it look factory installed: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/327 77/41556.html | ||
| Doz |
Whatever you do, do not try to clean the inside mirrored finish! I just took half of it off with a paper towel! Most of it is gone from the back section nearest the bulb. | ||
| Ridrx |
Ducxl, It is in fact frightening, but also fact that BMC has yet to even officially acknowledge this problem and I've read posts on this forum dating back to 2004 reporting this problem...3 years not long enough to know an answer ain't coming? Firebolt, Didn't mean to imply the 90mm wasn't, only that the 50mm was also. Hadn't looked at the 90mm but the price is pretty good. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
 .....I've read posts on this forum dating back to 2004 reporting this problem...3 years not long enough to know an answer ain't coming? I gotta admit...I waited the 3 years before "figuring it out".  Damnut got his lenses "warrantied" through buell quite few months ago,(had to give them the old for"analizing".... ) so I "Thought" something would be getting done on this, so I waited a bit before buying these HID's..... Silly me for waiting...I have herd nothing on the matter, AND I gotta ask why??? AND why nothing updated on the newer models If they know this is such a safety problem????  It seems to me it would be An EASY fix,(I can do it with simple tools) ESPECIALLY being such a nigh time hazard and sooooo many people complain about this also}!?!?!?! | ||
| Ridrx |
Nah...it's all in our heads.  I guess deep down I was hoping against hope that Buell would do the right thing myself, but it has become painfully obvious that it is one of those situations where there really isn't any recourse for us...Buell simply ignores it  and we have to fend for ourselves. I understand it is possible to get a "bad batch" or whatever the problem truly is, I can accept a certain amount of time to deal with an issue like that...BUT, when BMC simply refuses to even acknowledge it is a legitimate problem, it's like...well, like giving me the finger  AND calling me a liar all at the same time. At this point in the game I think Buell should pony up to retrofit all R's w/Hella 50mm (very close to original design from an aesthetic standpoint)AND THEY WORK!! From what's been said about the cost of R&D ( I think Court said $200,000) etc. I bet they would come out just as well financially (you can buy a LOT of lights for 200G) since the Hella's are ALREADY DOT legal and lots of bikes have gone to the great curves in the sky, not to mention those who have already done the conversion...probably wouldn't cost as much as one might think. I bet they could even get a bulk discount. ...you need HOW MANY? (Message edited by RidrX on May 16, 2007) | ||
| Ridrx |
Does anyone else hear CRICKETS? | ||
| Fdl3 |
Firebolteric_ma: I, too, am interested in any tips/pics you provide regarding the Hella 90mm installation. All: The REAL questions that need to be answered for BMC... 1. Had you known before-hand about the Firebolt headlights, would you have purchased the bike? 2. Would this issue prevent you from buying another Firebolt? 3. Does this issue discourage you from recommending the Firebolt to others? | ||
| Ridrx |
1. Yep...USED...then I woulda had enough left to buy the Hella 50mm HID(I think the smaller lights are more aesthetically pleasing than the 90mm IMHO, adds to the pissed off look... and they are BRIGHT)...sliders...Drumma'...etc. 2.I wouln't buy another XB until I saw what's coming for '08...if the new wonder bike doesn't appeal to me for whatever reason I'd buy another USED 'Bolt. LOVE the bike, it just needs QUALITY lighting to match what I feel is otherwise a great bike. 3. I brag on how much fun my bike is to my friends just as much as I bitch about the crappy lights on here. How'd I do? | ||
| Lord_deathscyte |
thanks for all the insight. I think for now I am just going to go with the silverstar bulbs. Then this winter upgrade to HID headlight conversion kit. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
On the XBR I think the 50mm hella's would be to small in the hole, BUT if I had an XBS I would go with the 50mm or even some smaller ones. I think Smokescreen has a nice set-up on his XBS. Some auto zone 30.00 HID units and they are sweet lookin! I will snap a few pictures of the installation...no problem there, but I am almost done. Will be a few days before I finish as I lost one of the Adjusters and just had to order a set. They ship out in the a.m. | ||
| Fdl3 |
My problem with the idea of installing HID conversion kits on the Firebolt is having to use the same housings that are/will deteriorate. Granted, HID lighting will be vastly brighter than stock, but if the reflective backing in the original housing is degraded, the HID light output will also be degraded. Right? | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
The hella units include new housings also.. There are other kits out that do not include the housings....You can check them out with the links above..... | ||
| Rd3501 |
Well I am one of the owners of a firebolt and got a letter from Buell saying that they would replace for free if I sent in my old headlights...(I have a 2003 XB9R)...Well went I tried to get them to honor this...I got a BIG no thanks we have enough to test and don't want to honor our letter to you now..if you want to replace them now you have to pay for them yourself, even though we said we would replace them for free the first time...So I just tried to talk to them, Customers Service, again today and see what is going on with the headlights and got the run around......Bullshit is all I have to say.. I will truly say that without a doubt I would never have bought a XB model if I would have known about the bad headlights.. I am so tired of not seeing at night.... I am curious has anyone tried to open up the headlights on the XB9S or the XB12S to see if they also have the same problem with the reflective coating degrading??????? | ||
| Ridrx |
Firebolt, Yea they are a bit smaller than the OE opening, but the 90mm just looks a smidge too big to me...haven't seen'em in person though, maybe pics of your install will enlighten me a bit. Fdl3, That is my opinion also. Hella also makes the 50mm in a Halogen version for about $60.00 but it's only avail. in the LOW beam, the high beam is HID only($385.00 for ONE lamp)...I thought all the on/off of the high beam made it a poor candidate for HID(ballast life?)anyhow? | ||
| Damnut |
I don't know what you guys are bitchin about??? I can see just fine at night!!!!! | ||
| Ridrx |
It won't be so funny in a few months when they start to dim...again...think Buell is gonna spring for the next ones? Maybe you could show them your letter of good faith?  I never got one, I guess when so many people actually WANTED those replacements...they decided they had all THEY needed. | ||
| Saintly |
RD3501, Would it be possible for you to scan your letter from buell and post it here for others to copy. I'd suggest concealing any personal info such as address etc. that you wouldn't want on the internet. That might help others to gain some leverage in the battle to get Buell to own up to the problem and maybe honor their warranty. | ||
| Dustybueller |
K so when I first started readin this thread, I didnt really think about it that much. I just figured "oh whats a few head lights. They are easy to install" but now...Really how bad do they get? I mean Rd3501 said hes tired of not seeing at night, are the lights honestly THAT bad? Dont get me wrong Im still getting one thats for sure, I just want to make sure I know what Im getting myself into. (Message edited by DustyBueller on May 17, 2007) | ||
| Damnut |
It's called a joke................... didn't mean to strike a nerve | ||
| Damnut |
Dear Jim AKA Damnut OK I added the Damnut part Thank you for your recent e-mail concerning the headlamp reflector on your Buell Firebolt. Buell Customer / Technical Service Department in Milwaukee, WI would like to recover some examples of the headlamp reflectors for the Firebolt with issues of the reflective coating degrading. Buell would provide replacement of OEM headlamp reflector through an authorized Buell dealer and request the original headlamp reflector returned to Buell Motorcycles 3900 West Juneau Ave, Milwaukee WI 53208 Attn: Jon Selensky , Customer Service Department. Please feel free to call Buell Customer Service Department at 414-343-4056 Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.- 4:30p.m Central Standard Time. Thank you for supporting Buell Motorcycles. Best Regards Jon Selensky Buell Motorcycles Harley-Davidson Motor Company Customer Service Department 414-343-4056 |
