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Buell Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » BB&D Archives » Archive through August 22, 2011 » HIDs and projector conversions « Previous Next »

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Argentcorvid
Posted on Friday, July 22, 2011 - 12:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'm thinking about putting HID headlights in, and doing a search, I haven't found much information on going all the way with retrofitting projector lenses into the headlight assembly (on our bikes anyway).

Is this because the 'drop in' kits like the DDM Tuning one are "good enough" with our reflectors?
Projector assemblies too expensive?
Not enough room behind the headlight assembly?
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Rwcfrank
Posted on Friday, July 22, 2011 - 02:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

DDM here, more than 2 years, big improvement with no issues thus far. Low beam only and if I remember correctly 4300K 35w
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Rwven
Posted on Friday, July 22, 2011 - 02:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Don't go over 5000K color temperature. I put 6000K in mine and IMO they are slightly too "blue". 4300-5000K is best.

I installed the 35W VVME kit. High and Low Beams with the low always on. High takes a bit to hit full brightness when cold but once warmed up it lights off quickly on restart.
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Toona
Posted on Friday, July 22, 2011 - 11:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

DDM = excellence!
I installed the 35w 5000k, low beam only. Still haven't needed the high beam : )

The only mod I did was cutting the dust boot on the back of the housing for the wiring to sneak thru. I did not cut the factory harness should I ever need to switch back to the stock bulb along the road.
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Paul56
Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2011 - 12:19 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I've been searching for a projector setup also, as the reflector on my 06 is flaking away. Have been considering the Hella 90mm bi-halogen light and maybe retrofitting an HID kit to it, but I see from Hella's installation instructions the housings are different so that might not work well.
Also not sure if the solenoid activated low/high beam feature would stand up to the vibes on a bike.
I ran across some pics of somebody installing these on an XB9, but no post-install report.
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Hangetsu
Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2011 - 01:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'm currently running DMM's in both high and low beams and I am very satisfied, but if I'm ever faced with having to replace the entire headlight housing, this is a way I would consider going.

https://www.bajadesigns.com/NET/C-163/FUEGO+4+INCH +LIGHTS

An old Badwebber (Skinstains I believe) had a twin Fuego setup and it was pretty sweet.
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Argentcorvid
Posted on Friday, August 12, 2011 - 06:05 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Well, after a lengthy email conversation with Matt from The Retrofit Resource, it seems as though the light housing just isn't deep enough to put any of the currently available projectors in there without doing some cutting. I might still try to do this with a spare housing, but it will be more work than dropping a projector, bulbs and ballasts in there.
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Andymnelson
Posted on Friday, August 12, 2011 - 08:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I just took my DDM kit out yesterday. Ridiculous light spill- our housings (reflectors/lenses) are not designed to, and can not control the light of an HID bulb. Contrary to common opinion, more light is NOT necessarily better...especially if it is not controlled.

If you do get one, don't go too cool on temp, and don't get 55 watt.
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Towpro
Posted on Friday, August 12, 2011 - 08:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Go with the VVME 35w digital ballast setup.
(one kit has 2 complete bulbs setup's in it).

Now the Buell switches between high beam and low beam bulbs (one is always off). Because HID take a second to come up to brightness, when you switch from high to low (or low to high) you will have an "instant" of darkness (seems like a long time first time you try it).

So look up mods to keep the low beam on all the time.

I used a Radioshack 276-1661 diode as a jumper between the High beam and Low beam wires. you have to install it the correct direction, if it's wrong the high beam will always stay on.

Others use relays or changing parking wires etc.

I ran a test with a meter that has a memory. During startup the VVME 35w bulb power draw spiked at less then 60w (5A) then ran around 35w - 40w. I never blew a headlight fuse with my diode method.

I run the same bulb in the low beam of my BMW which has that canbus stuff and never had a problem with it.

Edit: When following your friends in the day time, leave the high beam off or they will complain about you leaving sun spots in there eyes everytime they look in the mirror. : )

(Message edited by towpro on August 12, 2011)
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