| Author | Message | ||
     Buell_bert |
The stock headlight is 60/55 watts. I have a Litech HID 150/130 Plazma Xenon bulb. Is the wattage in excess and will it hurt anything. Anyone used these with any positives or bad problems. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Is this real HID, or is this an HID look alike bulb? If you are running a 150w halogen bulb you are going to melt something... You might as well hang a chicken off your headlight to roast. | ||
| Buell_bert |
I guess I could do a DC Amp draw on both lamps and get back to you. Also the difference on brightness. I live on some curvey roads and the bike tends to overdrive the headlight on dim. Not me, the bike. I just wondered on the rest of you. And if you have tried other bulbs and what kind. Thanks | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
I am not saying the amperage is the issue (it could be...) I am saying HEAT is an issue. Just look at all the issues the xbr's are having with their lamps. That is why I went to HID shortly after I got my bike. All the power with minimal heat/power draw. | ||
| S_palmer |
The easiest way to tell if you have true HID is to look for a ballast, it will be a small box about 2 or 3 in across and will be connected to your bulb by a heavy wire. Most HID bulbs will draw about 35 watts and put out about three times the light of a standard bulb with less heat than standard. A conventional replacement bulb putting out 150 watts is guaranteed to cause problems from the heat. If that is what you have I would remove it. Best Steve | ||
| Buell_bert |
After checking on it, the bulb draws 100/90 watts and it produces 150/130 comparable light output. And the Xenon gas does reduce the heat but slightly higher than the stock bulb. Wish me luck I'm going to try it and compare it to the stock bulb at night. After all some way cool stuff has come out of the aftermarket industry. (And then not) | ||
| Ccryder |
It might be in a little excess of what the wires going to the headlight can handle. If it was a true HID system, it would be no trouble since the HID system draws less amps than stock and produce 3 times the light. Neil S. | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
That is untrue ccryder. The start or strike current for most HID systems is 10-15 amps. Which tapers off to 2-4 amps over about a minute. The wires might be ok but what about the switch contacts. I am also doing my homework for add HID to my bike. The add a bulb and ballast solution seems good and reasonable on the surface, there are some significant issues with doing it. I am looking at replacing the entire headlight assembly with something from hella, piaa, baja design or KC. Still in process. I am planning on running a fused line from the battery to be controled by a relay wired to the headlight switch on the handle bar and a ground wire back to the battery. I have already completed the low beam on with high beam conversion. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Lost, why would you go to so much trouble with replacing your lights? Is it geek factor? If so cool, but if it is just more light, I don't know if there is a solid $ to performance improvement (at least on the xbs) I have HID low beam on my cityx, I have not found the need for anything more. Any reputable kit will include relays to draw power directly from the battery, using the stock wiring as a trigger. You have probably seen my post in the KV about it. | ||
| Ccryder |
You are correct about the starting current. The real concern for the wiring is the current they see over an extended period of time, like high wattage bulbs. I ran HIDs on my S3T and X1 A.K.A. X3. Now I have them on my ST1300. I'm also looking at replacing my XB12r headlights with some of the 90mm Hellas. Take a look here: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/283637.html?1182823441 for a good example. On my ST1300 I installed a Blue Sea fuse box and ran lines to the front end where I had a relay controlling a terminal strip supplying power to the HIDs and such. One thing everyone may want to take in to account is that HID electronics do not like to be run with less than 12v or so and they do not like to be switched on and off quickly, like when you are starting your MC. This can greatly lessen the life of the ballasts. Neil S. ps: this is what I like about Badweb we can discuss these issues and all learn from each other's experiences, keep up the great work! | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
I suppose there is an element of geek in it. But if I am gonna do a job I am gonna do it to the best of my ability. The problem with just sticking bulbs in the existing fixtures is they are not correctly focused and my experience with xenon lighting on the jobs leads me to believe they maybe even hotter than halogen. A bit of guess or presumption on my part. I was going to put a timed relay on the low to give me 30 seconds or so before it would strike. The hella's are an excellent choice for the XBR I have seen first hand a number of installs and they all turned out well. And riding behind one in the dark was incredible, I saw the light was an understatement. The other great thing is the hella is a headlight and not a driving, fog or cornering light... I have and XBS and do not have a place to hide the mounting system without creating a custom housing of some sort. I don't know. I saw the baja design install and liked that. The only thing that worrys me about that is the ballast is integrated into the housing. I did not have the opportunity to see how hot they got after a long ride. They seemed warm when I touch them but I was not sure how long they were on. Fun to talk about and get it all figured out. It sucks can't fall to sleep for some reason. (Message edited by Lost_in_Ohio on July 22, 2007) | ||
| Ccryder |
I don't have any first hand data on it but, I have read and been told that the HID capsule runs a little cooler than a conventional bulb. Neil S. | ||
| Jlnance |
I looked at lights for my Uly a few months ago, as I found the stock lights painful to use at night. I quickly ruled out HID lights as they seem to run about $600. While I'm sure they are good lights, that just seems ridiculously expensive. I eventually selected PIAA 1100x lights which were less then $200, including the wiring, fuse, relay, and switch. I have been extreamly pleased with these lights.  They of course make a huge difference at night, but the most telling thing is that when I switch them on during the day, people will comment on how bright they are. These lights may not be suitable for you, as you do not necessarily have a place to mount them. I have seen different aftermarket lights that replace the headlights on an S. I wish I could find a link. If you look, I suspect you can find excellent lights that don't cost a fortune. | ||
| Ccryder |
1100X's are your friend. The last 4 bikes I have had all ran 1100x. For the price and performance in a small package they are hard to beat. But I'm still looking at replacing my OEM lights with 90mm Hella's. Neil S. | ||
| Fullpower |
I run an HID setup in the low beam housing of the XB Lightning and it works real well at night. pulls a steady 3.2 amps, short start up spike around 10 amps or so, no worse than the inrush current of a 55 watt H7 incandescent bulb. I have around 14,000 miles on my HID and have no problems. When riding with a group in the dark EVERYONE wants to stay behind me. the combination of HID low beam, PIAA Xtreme white high beam, and one each Amber and super white PIAA H3 auxilliaries burn a HUGE hole in the dark. The lone HID low beam puts out just a bit more light than the combined (three )55 watt PIAA bulbs. Together they make night riding a lot of fun. | ||
| Brandontrek |
i am running a 6000K DDM HID on my low bean on a firebolt...it is the best thing since sliced bread...but i need a new bulb for the high beam...still stock yellowish | ||
| Reepicheep |
The HID's run quite a bit cooler then the stock filament bulbs... I measured it, though didn't keep the figures. You can get a good motorcycle setup for $200 or so. Expensive, but it's a lifetime bulb and it *really* works well, and it draws less power (leaving more margin for those heated grips  ). The beam pattern on my 9sx is also quite good, even with the "retrofit a HID capsule where a bulb is supposed to go" setup. Don't know if the cheaper HIDs work as well, the one I got advertises that they are very careful in alignment to make sure retrofits work fairly well. I would probably do it again. For the time and money, I probably could have bought a couple of new headlight enclosures and just replaced the 9sx headlights all together (with some moderate fabrication work) with some HID or traditional filament setups. The HID install was a bit tricky on a 9s (not much wasted space there), but fabrication of a new headlight assembly would have no doubt brought all it's own headaches. The light rocks though. I've only been "blinked at" by oncoming traffic maybe 4 times this year, so they can't be *that* obnoxious, and they give extremely good lighting and a much better safety margin. People seem a lot less likely to pull out in front of me since the change as well, the brightness and color of the bulbs are easy to notice. | ||
| Sath |
Does anyone know if you can change an H7 55w for an H7 80w and not have a problem? Ordered some on ebay and they came in 80w. Just wondering Thanks | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Sath, I wouldn't put them in. As mentioned many times before heat is an issue with the factory setup (55w), let alone anything more powerful. | ||
| Reepicheep |
The wiring would probably handle it, the enclosures probably won't. | ||
| Marks3tbillet |
What about Al's American Sportbike H7s? Description says they light like 100 Watts, but use the power of 55 watts. This is similar to the bulb I bought from American Sportbike for my S3T. It lighted like 110 watts but used the power of the stock bulb, 55 watts. The best part was that the beam of light got much wider even with the stock reflector. I'm wondering if I'll get the same effect on the Uly. Mark | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Mark, everything I have read says the S3T had a metal reflector that could handle the heat. The XB line (especially the R) has a plastic reflector that is really sensitive to heat. I have read reports of people using those "silverstar" bulbs, and having problems. And as for beam pattern, you actually want a narrower (ie longer) beam. If you have a wide beam, you will run into glare issues for oncoming drivers. If you really need a wide patter, do what Fullpower has done and add aux. lights. With those you can turn them off. | ||
| Sath |
Thanks Corporatemonkey. What a handle. Hope your Buell takes you away from the zoo! Sath | ||
| Needlegunner |
Where can I get a decent HID setup for my 08 firebolt? Any suggestions? | ||
| Reepicheep |
I got mine elsewhere (non sponsor) and paid a premium ($200 for a MC specific kit with one bulb). Since then, others mentioned buying a set from a big online auction site (also not a sponsor) for $200, and that included two lights. I was happy with the quality of mine, great kit, work perfectly, but now that you can get 2x the bulbs for 1/2 the price, the math has probably changed. | ||
| Aesquire |
Buell_bert, On the Cyclone, the headlamp housing is a sturdy BMW model. It should take the heat fine. The Xb's have real issues with heat, though. The rectangular housing on the S3's is also decent for heat. I'm running a Luminetics 2500k ( yellow) 135/130w bulb in my ( S3 ) housing & heat seems ok. I ride in serious deer country, and may run 1/2 hour at a time in high beam mode on deserted ( by humans ) back roads. The Yellow light is easy on the eyes, makes the bike distinctive in traffic, and works. I am planning on aux lights this winter. | ||
| Loucksgl |
Can't take it anymore. Swerved to miss what I thought was a dog and it turned out to be a mailbox someone knocked over on edge of the road. Damn lighting on the Uly is horrible, and dangerous. I'm screwing in a pair of H7 110W extreme Whites on the 08 Uly. Went to the PIAA web site and clicked on Ulyesses and they say two H7's 55W. I ordered them. If it melts the bike so be it. Not redesigning anything. Its nuts what has to be done to make these things right. Ranting a bit here. But if it melts the "plastic" reflector (man, plastic!), I'll sell it. Keep your eyes open for it cause its a 08 Uly, blue, all the luggage, tank bag, CBaily shield 14", all the services and I always put new tires on my bikes before I sell em. Runs fine at airplane altitudes or below 50 degrees. Minor rough run at 80 degrees. Didn't plan to write all that but between the lights, surge and, and, Hey, I gotta see where I'm going at night. Any bike in this day and age should take a 55 w PIAA white bulb. | ||
| Buell_bert |
I never did try them for to long because of the heat issue but I do live in a big deer state and out in the country. But right now I am in to a Buell to hard tail project and it's getting cold up here in the (nort country) I still have them also. I really don't think they will produce that much additional heat. The project is still in FLUX. | ||
| Phreedom |
Can anyone tell me how to change a lightbulb?? NO Jokes I don't have owners manual, low beam burned out. I have an 06 ulysses | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Phreedom, you can log into buell.com and get access to an online version of the owners manual. As for just changing the bulb. You need to loosen the headlight in 3 places, the bottom tab, and the left/right side. The whole headlight assembly will drop down, and you get easy access to the bulbs in the back. It should honestly take you 3 minutes of work. | ||
| Bombardier |
Just put a HID into the high beam headlight on my 07 Firebolt. Seriously excellent lighting!!! I mounted the electronic enclosure under the existing wiring in the front fairing so it cannot be seen from the front. No current issues on startup as only the low beam comes on and the bike is always moving when the high beam comes on. The only trouble is that it makes the standard low beam look really crap now!!! I bought a car setup on ebay as I figured if it worked well I would put it on both lights and if it was only good for high beam I would have spares. | ||
| Dfbutler |
I've been running PIAA in a S3 headlamp for over a year with no problems and a huge difference in light: http://www.shopatron.com/product/product_id=PIA704 76/353.0 |
