| Author | Message | ||
     Donl |
Anybody now if this kit will work on a XB12ss? I've just purchased an 07 and pick it up next week. I live in Japan where people drive all over the roads and I want to make myself as conspicuous as possible, along with being able to seen the road better. H3 4300k XenonDepot HID Conversion Kit (XD-4k-H3)  | ||
| Woolf |
There are plenty of kits that will offer you the bulbs and the ballast, but until you change the optics, it is going to suck. You will be blinding everyone else on the road, and probably not seeing as well as you did before. I don't know that much about the lightnings light housings, but I know that they are designed for a halogen and not an HID. | ||
| Cmm213 |
I did some searching for you, I remembered this thread. This should help you out greatly.http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/327 77/233088.html?1160661441 | ||
| Donl |
Yea I knew about the Aerostitch HID. There's been a lot of talk on here about HID and I did a lot of searching, but I was thinking it might be better to go with a dual system. If I buy a system in Japan I will be paying twice as much as everyone else. That's one reason I thought about going with a dual system. I could buy the system from the U.S. and half as much and get twice the power as a system here. Can you be a little more specific on changing the optics. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I did a single HID motorcycle kit like that. If the car wire leads are as long as their motorcycle kit leads, it will be tight but it can be done. You may have to cut some relief holes in your inner (not outer) airbox to make room for the ballasts and the relays, and you may have to relocate your horn from under the flyscreen as well (smaller different horn still under flyscreen, or move the horn under the airbox. It will take quite a bit of time to do all the wire routing and mounting. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Check this thread out for good information as well as the one referenced above... http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/show .cgi?tpc=3842&post=671699#POST671699 | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
I am planning on upgrading my lights also. I am NOT considering the bulb replacements offered by the ebay chinese companies. These solutions do not address the poor stock lenses or the cheap reflectors. I am looking for a complete replacement system including housings. I am looking at PIAA or Hella for a complete system. My problem is no one actually stocks them so I can get a look at them before I plunk down my cash. When I find it I will post my results. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Donl, The optics are the main problem. The optics problem can at least be partially corrected by the HID kit. Aside from completely replacing the entire reflector assembly, HID kits are be best and easiest way to improve the lighting problem. They put out less heat with lower wattage draw than any other solution. I'm sure I'll be hailed as irresponsible, but I really don't care if a motorist or two feels my lights are a little bright. I prefer better daytime visibility and nighttime vision. So far I haven't gotten even so much as a second glance from LEOs. I do my best to keep the lights aimed as low as possible and still be useful. The stock reflector produces a nice cut-off with the HID kit. In my estimation, I'd rather apologize to other drivers for having lights a little too bright than to have them apologize to my family at my funeral for not seeing me. I feel that's a fair trade off. Others may feel different. To each his own.  | ||
| Samiam |
The big thing you'll have to worry about with the 12SS is where you're going to put the ballasts, you don't have the room I had under my Firebolt fairing. Corporatemonkey has a single HID system installed on his low beam on his lightning. He put the ballast under his airbox cover. You may want to look into that, or if you have enough wiring route it under the seat. Sam | ||
| Diablobrian |
ummm doesn't the SS use h-7 bulbs? I know the Firebolt uses h-3s | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Brian's right. I didn't even look at the kit. You'll need the H7 for sure. | ||
| Donl |
Ft bstd, I feel the same way, if they're too bright, I can just point them downward a little. I'm really concerned about being seen here. I plan to do what ever it takes to make my presence known, including getting a slightly louder muffler, brighter LED tail-light and random flashing blinkers. Samian, If I purchase the car kit instead of the motorcycle kit, wouldn't the wires be shorter? | ||
| Donl |
Are the high beams and low beams using the same Capsules (lights) or would I loose the high beams with a dual kit? I have to what a week to get it tagged over here, can't wait to pick it up. I negotiated with the dealer and he threw in a seat, bags and cheese-grater eliminator. I think it came out to almost $1000 extra. I want to use the money that I saved to change the lighting all around. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The high beam and low beam are the same, H7. The motorcycle kit is still short if you plan to remotely mount the ballast in the rear near the battery. You should be able to mount the ballast and igniter both in the front faring. Under the airbox is another option. If you don't mind altering the harness (not a big deal), you can remotely mount the ballast under the seat near the battery. | ||
| Paochow |
Do you have to do anything special to the very high voltage wires when you lengthen them or will good ol' solder or crimping work? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I assume that as long as the connections are strong, insulated, and the wire is of the correct gauge that everything should be fine. If I'm wrong, please someone chime in! | ||
| Littlefield |
I think trying to splice the high voltage lead with the normal solder and tape methods would be a mistake. It would be a leaker. There is probably some way to do it properly, you'd have to talk to somebody that does that kind of thing. | ||
| Ericz |
I have HID lighting on my 05 XB12scg. I bought a kit from visionbulbs.com for the H7 bulbs. I was able to fit both ballasts behind the wind screen by only removing my horn and rearranging the wires. Both headlamps utilize the HID lights and work wonderfully!! The optics in the stock lamps work great with the HID conversion!! The video I posted a while ago of my bike shows the HID lights in action at dusk. I can repost it if you can not find it. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The wires that you would splice between the igniter and the ballast are not high voltage. The thick wire between the igniter and the capsule, I believe, is the high voltage wire. It looks like a spark plug wire. | ||
| Donl |
Thanks for all the info. I'll definitely go with a dual setup and try to install them under the front fairing. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
If I remember correctly xenondepot has a kit with longer length wiring harness. I know the motorcycle kits (like mine) already came with a longer harness, but if you email them they might be able to source and even longer cable. As for lengthening the existing harness, I would avoid it purely because of the high voltage. | ||
| Paochow |
I emailed them yesterday with that exact question... I was wondering if you will be offering the Philips Slim Gen 4 Ballasts with your motorcycle kits anytime in the future? I was interested in adding one of your H7 kits to my bike, but would have an easier time hiding the slimmer ballast along with the longer 6ft motorcycle wiring. This was their response.. Hello Sir, We do not recommend using this ballast for motorcycle applications. The motorcycle application ballast that we use is specifically designed for motorcycle applications. It is specifically designed for the added vibrations from a motorcycle and it will offer higher levels of water resistance. Steve ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Customer Relations Department Email: info@xenondepot.com Tel: 1.905.660.0124 Looks like I'm better off going with the bike kit. I have it narrowed down to their kit and the cheapo one from cqlights.ca. I'm pretty sure the xenon depot is better quality but I could do the low and high beam with the Cq kit for the same price. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Well I guess I could see that. My ballast is like a brick (build quality). I can't remember if Samiam had the newer ballasts. Either-way, all ballasts are designed for automotive use, they all have to be able to survive under a hot hood, so I figure the bike can't be that much worse. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Thanks for posting that followup. Makes me feel better spending the $200 and getting the "brick ballast"  | ||
| Reepicheep |
And just as an update, about 100 miles now riding at night and I have only had one car "blink" me, and that was when I was accelerating hard towards them (which would have put the light in their face). | ||
| Samiam |
Corporatemonkey is right, I do have the newer ballasts, fit under my 'Bolt's fairing. That in itself should be enough waterproofing, but if it is not, I'm sure the gasket style plugs that go into the ballasts are sufficient enough to prevent water from leaking in. All of the plugs south of the ballasts had gaskets on them as well. This is pretty much the exact kit I have (same ballasts) Sam | ||
| Donl |
Samiam, Do you have any problems with your lights being too bright for oncoming traffic? | ||
| Swordsman |
"I live in Japan where people drive all over the roads and I want to make myself as conspicuous as possible..." Just attach a stuffed Godzilla to your helmet. You'll own the whole road when they scatter, guaranteed.  ~SM | ||
| Cmm213 |
Did you say aaaaaa GODZIRRA??? | ||
| Samiam |
Donl, I have not had any problems yet riding solo, the HID lights have a VERY distinct cutoff and I was even able to leave the reflector aimed where the stock bulb was aimed. The only time I have had people flash their brights at me is when I ride with the high beam on in the daytime(which is when I'll just laugh) or if I'm riding two up when it's darker. I suppose I could add another click of preload to the rear shock, but I've been lazy and let them just deal with it. Plus it's not too bad. Sam | ||
| Xl1200r |
Those "slim ballasts" say they're designed to offer greater heat and water resistance. Behind a fairing, they should be find...I would think anyways. $404 for the Dual kit with the slim ballasts is a great price considering it's all Phillips gear. | ||
| Samiam |
XL1200r, My thoughts exactly. Keep in mind that the ballasts aren't that slim all over. The plug that the wires go into sticks out almost an inch from the back of the ballast. This came as a little dissapointment to me but I made do and both fit fine under my Firebolt's fairing after relocating my horn. Sam | ||
| Xl1200r |
Sam, where did you move the horn to? |
