| Author | Message | ||
     Advoutlander |
What can I do do improve my factory low and high beam lights? What options do i have and what is the most cost effective? | ||
| Uly_man |
I can only state what I know from having a 06 and 10 bike. The 10 bike works better than the 06 bike but hard to see why but does. I think they changed the light system on the later bikes. The "both on" light mod works well but a HID upgrade works VERY well and cheap/easy to do with no down side to it. | ||
| Froggy |
On an 08 and older - Install the 2009/10 headlamp assembly. It looks the same, but it works significantly better than the old design at night. Part number Y0721.6AC, $136 at your favorite Buell dealer, I believe American Sport Bike stocks it too. In addition, dropping an HID in the low beam also substantially improves your ability to see. DDM-tuning makes a kit that drops right in without any rewiring. http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-35W-55W-Sing le-Motorcycle-HID-Kit The single bulb is fine, you won't need a high beam after this, pick 35w, H7, 4500K. The mounting bracket option is new, I don't know what that is. | ||
| Uly_man |
This is what a low beam 6k HID is like on a 10 bike. Or mine anyway. And to be honest it makes my flash BMW car look like rubbish. You will not need a bracket as you can only mount the ballast under the cowl frame.  | ||
| Ratman |
One of the common fixes on some of the Euro bikes is to utilize the actual head light power wire as the trigger wire for a relay. The power to the light then comes directly off the battery. I can say the improvement on my Ducati E900 was incredible. Same principal as many others bypassing numerous high resistance plugs and miles of small wire. | ||
| Jasonb |
I second the DDM HID lights. Lifetime warranty on the ballasts too. I can see reflections off signs in the daytime. | ||
| Tootal |
Here's another option if you want to stick with bulbs. http://store.candlepower.com/osraulhiouh7.html | ||
| Swampy |
One word....HID Difference between night and day | ||
| Timbobuell |
ddm 35 watt 4500k low ddm 55 watt 4500k high let there be light | ||
| Advoutlander |
If i go ddm hids on both on my 2008 lights, will it not be a heavy drain on the electrical system? Is it worth the money to upgrade to the 2010 lights and then do hid? If a bulb in hid lights go out can they me replaced with a standard bulb or are they specific to a hid setup? | ||
| Froggy |
Once warmed up, the 35w HIDs use less power than stock halogen bulbs. They use 35w for the bulb, plus a few more for the ballast.
Inspect your reflectors on the current lamp, if they are fine (no burns, melting, dull spots) then just get the HID kit. The newer headlamp design works better with HIDs than the older type, but I wouldn't bother switching to that if your current headlamp is fine.
The bulbs are unique to the HIDs, but they last significantly longer than halogen bulbs, and even if they did blow it is cheap to replace. | ||
| Uly_man |
Yarp? | ||
| Advoutlander |
Thanks froggy, can someine post a link for the replacement bulbs as i like to carry a spare set. | ||
| Froggy |
I honestly think you are wasting money by having spares, but here you go: http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/HID-Bulb-Replace ments-Pair | ||
| Advoutlander |
Thanks froggy, can someine post a link for the replacement bulbs as i like to carry a spare set. | ||
| Froggy |
I honestly think you are wasting money by having spares, but here you go: http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/HID-Bulb-Replace ments-Pair | ||
| Mark_weiss |
I carry a spare (one of the take outs) H7 bulb. If the HID fails it will not be the easiest roadside replacement. Getting the H7 bulb in is not too difficult and the H7 is much easier to carry under the seat. Besides, in HID systems, the bulb is less likely to fail than the igniter. | ||
| Advoutlander |
Theres 3 different sets on ddm, if I want hi and lo beam hid which one do I need? http://www.ddmtuning.com/Product-Categories/Motorc ycle-HID-Kits-Lighting | ||
| Froggy |
http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-35W-55W-Dual -Motorcycle-HID-Kit I personally wouldn't bother with putting it in the high beam, you won't ever need it after the improvement to the low! | ||
| Advoutlander |
Thanks I thought that was the kit just wanted to make sure. Ordering it now. | ||
| Sharkguy |
I went with the off road osram bulb from candlepower that Tootal posted. It took the light on my 09 to the next level. Very happy with it. | ||
| Dmcutter |
I have LED running lights, the brand escapes me right now, but I directed them down a little ways beyond where the regular light hits. I also have the 2010 headlight assembly with Osram 65 watt bulbs. When the LEDs are on, you can't even see the regular headlight beam on the road, for all intents and purposes. Once I got the LEDs focused down and together, I have not had a single car flash at me. The white light takes a little getting used to, but they are head and shoulders above the stock set up. | ||
| Dtaylor |
The Osrams are intriguing... are there any reports of 65 watt incandescents melting or otherwise damaging reflectors? I tried an HID in my low beam, but went back to the regular H7. The HID's light output was wonderful, but just too scattered and too blue for my liking, even with a 4300K bulb. (Message edited by dtaylor on May 02, 2013) | ||
| Motorbike |
Dtaylor, I have a couple Osram 65W in my 08 XT and have not noticed any problems with the reflector but then again, I haven't looked real closely. They were in all of last riding season. I will take a look when I get home. Might as well just look at my bike. Can't ride, we just got 12-14" of wet heavy snow overnight in Byron, MN and it's supposed to keep snowing all day!  | ||
| Tootal |
Had the Osram's for a couple of years and no reflector problems. With the "both lights on" mod they work really well. | ||
| Advoutlander |
I just noticed the order i placed with ddm states its a dual kit but only gives the option of 35w or 55w dual kits. It doesn't give me the option of 35w low and 55w high. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
No need for 55w high beam. 35 is more than enough for winding mountain roads. Even at that, the 35w high beam reflects off of speed limit signs brightly enough to affect night vision. I find that I now almost never use high beam. | ||
| Motorbike |
Dtaylor, I checked my reflectors last night to see if there was any damage after running the Osram 65W bulbs for 3600 miles. I do not see any damage at all but the reflectors just look very slightly hazy, if I look real close. Maybe that's normal when running any kind of bulb? I have my bike set up to run both bulbs on high beam. I leave them on high all the time during the day so I can be seen and only dim them at night when meeting other vehicles. I rarely ride at night though, too many deer in this area. Thanks. | ||
| Advoutlander |
My ddm hids arrived today from China. I was expectig them to be a us product. Has anyone had any issues with the ddm hid conversion? | ||
| Slowride |
No Issues personally with the DDM, but they were the old analog ballast. I have ran the 4300k in both my Uly's. I currently have a DDM digital ballast kit in the BMW K1200LT in the 6oook range and it is horrid. I purchased the bike this way and the lens just doesn't handle the HID right. I will return it to stock. Later this month when I pick up Wolfridgeriders uly, if he doesn't have HID's on it, I will have no hesitation buying a set of DDM Digital from China. |
