| Author | Message | ||
     Loud_and_low |
New to the Ulyverse, but not to Buell. I want to replace my stock '06 Uly lights with a set of HID lights. I found this on feebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2010-Buell-Ulysses-XB12X-H ID-Xenon-SLIM-Motorcycle-Kit-/110553714939?_trksid =p5197.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC.NPJS%26itu%3DI%25 2BUA%26otn%3D12%26pmod%3D290617635962%252B11055371 5079%252B230682328066%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid %3D3760774511765006451 Opinions on these? Any other opinions on what I should get? Also, Although my bike has a basically new set of rubber on it( Pirelli Strada) I want to get something more off road oriented. What are you guys running for gravel roads and light trail usage? Thanks in advance. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Lots of us are running the DDM kit. Probably about the same price as that ebay kit. I run the 35w HID in the low beam, and left the high beam be (normal bulb). HID for the high beam doesn't work well, it takes a few seconds for the ignitor to strike and for it to come up to brightness. Fine if you are just starting the bike, not so good if you are flipping between low beam and high beam. For gravel and trail, the Pirelli Scorpion Trails are a nice choice. The scorpion syncs were the old choice, but that carcass is so ridiculously thin that I'be be freaking running them on gravel or dirt. A few people swear by the Dunlop 616's (I think thats what they are called, they were stock for a few years on the Uly). Most people hate them though. The best tire for trails is a true knobby mounted on a KDX-200. Which would be cheaper then beating up the Uly going too far offroad anyway. Nothing like a 220 pound bike for trail work. The Uly makes a great "I fear no curb, pothole, or gravel road" street bike. It would make a pretty awful trail bike. And so does a KLR-650, and even an XR650. Even a KLR-250 (which is as dirt oriented as a street legal bike gets). All are simply too heavy, a point you will ponder staring up at the GE logo on the MRI machine as they verify your torn ACL. (DAMHIK). A dirt bike that weighs more than 220 pounds or so is ruined. | ||
| Thejosh |
I got Pirelli Scorpion Syncs on mine and do not like them, gonna go to either Scorpion trails, or the Dunlop 616, not sure yet. Josh | ||
| Rwcfrank |
DDM here too, no problem in over 2 years. | ||
| Djohnk |
I bought a kit very similar to that on Ebay -- I don't remember what temperature I purchased, but they were 35Watt like that kit. I used one for high beam and one for low beam, took less than 1 hour to install. I ended up putting this switch in series on the low beam circuit: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?produc tId=3125354 I really like the way the manual switch works, it's lit up red when the low beam is off and lit up green when it's on. It also gives me the added flexibility to either have both headlights off, both on, or one or the other on. I typically start the bike with both high beam and low beam off. Then turn them both on before I head down the road. HID's don't like blinking on and off (like the Buell does when you first start it) That's why I put the switch. Some people put a fancy delay timer in there to avoid the same problem. | ||
| Rwven |
I put a SPDT relay in line with my low beam HID and mounted a momentary contact pushbutton to fire the relay. The HID is connected to the Normally Closed contact on the relay so that when I push the button the lights turn off. I hold the button down when I engage the starter. | ||
| Invisible_monster |
I have the DDMs in both high and low beam on my Uly XT. They work great. Does take a bit for them to warm up though, so 'flash to pass' doesn't work as well as a standard bulb would. My favorite tire for dirt/gravel roads is still the Dunlop 616. Have the Scorpion Trails on now, they are ok, but the 616 is better on gravel. Scorpion Trails are better on pavement than the 616s, so it's a compromise. I've never tried the Distanzias, but a lot of guys swear by those for dirt riding. | ||
| Ronmold |
I've had my HIDs for 3 years now and have not had a problem with the startup blinking on and off. Maybe the new ones don't have the issue. | ||
| Loud_and_low |
Thanks for all of the replies. I do have a offroad bike for actual trail, trial and offroading, and a dedicated pavement bike. I do want the ULY to be capable of handling the inevitable gravel road to unexplored trail situation. Road handling is not as important, but it will see road use to get to the mountain gravel roads. So, I have my eye on either of these two sets: http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/en/co ntinental/motorcycle/themes/motorcycletires/enduro /escape/escape_en.html http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/en/co ntinental/motorcycle/themes/motorcycletires/enduro /trailattack/trail_attack_en.html I have had great performance from Conti on my cars and bicycles, so I am looking to give them a try on my cycles too. Your Opinions, or experiences are very welcome. As far as the HID, can someone send me a link, tot he exact kit being used? I'll go with a kit that is being used with good reliabilty and performance over a cheapo found on ebay. On a related note, during my brief, and initial trek off road with it, it seems that the gearing is a little off for good offroad slow speed control. IS it me? Does anyone else complain of this? I'd consider gearing it down somewhat, as top speed is not a concern at all. Is it even possible to gear it to have a slower wheel speed in first gear while keeping rpm's up? Again, thanks for the replies. I love badweb. | ||
| Bike_pilot |
Your links indicate the tires aren't available in Buell sizes. You need a 120/70/17 front and a 180/55/17 rear (for a proper fit). The gearing is way tall on the XB12s. You can fit an XB9 primary sprocket and chain for an 11% reduction. American Sport Bike sells a kit, its $200-220 depending on year. There are also different size pulleys available from Baker and others, but then things get a bit complicated with belt geometry, length and stuff (but I'd guess that you could go down a tooth or two in the front without problems if you use the springy tensioner from trojan). | ||
| Froggy |
That is really only an issue on old or low quality units. The blinking in general will shorten the life of any bulb, including stock and any HID. Given that a replacement HID bulb is dirt cheap anyway, I don't feel it is worth the hassle Loud_and_low, don't buy and HID kit on eBay. Get them directly from DDMtuning.com http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-35W-55W-Sing le-Motorcycle-HID-Kit (If you want to do one bulb) http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-35W-55W-Dual -Motorcycle-HID-Kit (If you want to do both) Pick 35w, 4500k, H7, no need for a harness or error eliminator if asked. | ||
| Buewulf |
Both those Continentals are great tires, but as Bike Pilot pointed out, they are not available in Uly sizes. You can force a 160 onto the rear, but not sure I would try to spoon a 150. The 17 inch front limits the tire choices severely. I have only had the D616 on the Uly: which does well with gravel and isn't too bad with loose dirt so long as it isn't too deep and sandy / silty. I get about 5K out of the rear. I'd probably get more if Houston were not so flat and straight. You do not want the Scorpion Syncs for gravel. Had two pair on my last bike, and lost three of the four to gravel punctures. It's just too thin. Avon Distanzia on that same bike were great but only lasted about 4K miles. | ||
| Loud_and_low |
Would you also recommend the dual kit for my xb sx? | ||
| Loud_and_low |
Looks like the 616's are the better choice for me then. Good eyes on the sizes, I didn't ever consider that they wouldn't make my size...duh.. | ||
| Loud_and_low |
Ok, I bought the DDM kit, thanks Froggy! | ||
| Wbrisett |
Here is my recommendation on the HID (and what I did BTW)... Leave the stock high beam bulb. Replace the low beam, but instead of hooking it up to the low beam wire, break out the city light (used in Europe, not used in the US), and use that wire. That will give you power at all times and in my opinion better than trying to mess with the low beam/high beam rocker on the handlebars. When you switch on the high beam, you get both the low beam and high beam at the same time. On my bike I wired in a toggle switch so I can turn off the HID when I start the bike. Once the bike is operating, I flip the toggle and turn the headlight on. As for tires, I was sort of happy with the Syncs, but they aren't a dirt tire. The 616 seems like a better option there, but you either love them or hate them. I'm currently running the Scorpion Trails which are very similar to the Syncs. I just put the bike back together and haven't run it in the dirt yet since putting the tires on and putting in the new primary. So, I can't really comment on how they work in the dirt. Wayne | ||
| Bike_pilot |
One note on the trails, I think they are thicker/heavier than the Syncs. I know the Scorps on the MTS1200 I rode seemed quite thick/durable. Not sure they'd grip well off road, but they seemed a fairly tough tire, I don't think gravel punctures would be a bit issue on them. Note, I don't know of the oem ducati scorp trials are the same as the standard ones. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
The Trails are much thicker than the Syncs, and the OEM Ducati ones are exactly the same as the ones you can buy from MotorcyceSuperstore or whereever (if you're sticking with the 190 rear, which fits fine on the Uly). I've nearly finished off my third set of them now... and have mixed feelings. On pavement I love them. Solo they lasted me 12k miles, 2up and fully loaded touring that number dropped to 8k, still respectable (heavy touring eats tires). Grip is fantastic on wet or dry pavement. But dual-sport tire... they are not. They do as good as any road tire can. Dry hard packed dirt, they are a blast! If it gets deep or damp in the least, you've got nothing. I believe I'm going to switch to Pilot Road 3's next. I've always run Pirelli's, and I've been praising the Trails since they were first released... but the reality is, if they're no better off road than the Pilot Roads, and they're no cheaper than the Pilor Roads, then there's no reason not to get the longer lasting Pilot Roads. Sorry, irrelevant to what you're looking for... How many miles do you put on in a year? If not a lot, the Avon Distanza and Pirelli MT60r will fit (correct size fronts, and 160 width rears). They both will be better than the Trails or D616s off pavement, but the wear is drastically reduced. | ||
| Buellmeister57 |
Hey Froggy, What kind of light does the 4500k put out? Is it bright white or blue tinted? | ||
| Froggy |
4500 is the same white that is used by luxury cars. | ||
| Buellmeister57 |
Sounds exactly what I was looking for. THANKS for the info. |
