| Author | Message | ||
     Samiam |
Riderx, After looking at those two kits, I kinda wish I had gone that route, but for now (and probably for good considering the money spent on my mod) I'll be happy with my H3 HID conversion for the stock enclosures. The only thing I'm hoping is that since I've been using the lower wattage HID bulbs since day one (literally) my stock reflectors will be fine. Only time will tell... That being said, I too would love to see how the 50mm lenses would fit... Sam | ||
| Isham |
How whats the diameter of the stockers? There has to be a product out that that fits just right. | ||
| Gowindward |
Here is the source for these poor quality lights. There are dimensions in their catalog. See below. www.ecie.it/eng/default.asp http://www.ecie.it/_upload/file/cont_b17Iyl_02-01_ Gruppi_Ottici_luglio2005.pdf Pages 18 & 19 http://www.ecie.it/_upload/file/cont_c2Wj04_02-02_ Gruppi_Ottici_luglio2005.pdf page 7 | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
 http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/hella/50mmmodule.ph p  ....Did you guys see the price on them things!!!!! For the housing,bulb,ballast,and adjusters 384.00 for the high beam set up.....EACH 450.00 for the low beam set up.......EACH  That price would make me run away from them....WOW I will look around for pricing to see if i can find a better deal somplace else, I just looked quick on the net. Another problem would be the Ballast's, They are fairly big and they would be hard to hide them AND make it look stockish. They are very nice lights though, Very stockish looking and would work if you can hide them ballasts which isn't impossible. The price is just killing me. Maybe I just found the most expensive person on the net or that is the price.... For that much ca$h you could do the kit I did and buy all new plastics and brackets and have some cash left over for other mods.... | ||
| Rd3501 |
2003 XB9R Lights sucks ass... | ||
| Ducxl |
Hey "RD3501".If you know you've got a bad headlight assembly(You have disassembled/inspected?),please take a few minutes and get a complaint on file with the U.S. government.Thank you,and here's a link: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ | ||
| Garp |
The lights on these bikes suck when they roll off the showroom floor, and were clearly designed for style and as a minimal attempt to meet DOT standards. Function was clearly not a priority. The fact that the performance degrades so badly just compounds the problem. These headlights were a BAD design choice on Buell's part and they need to be fixed. visibility is key to surviving on the streets today and Buell's seeming inaction is risking lives. | ||
| Ridrx |
Firebolt, That's what I'm talkin' about...but, you can get the low beam in Halogen for like $100+$350 for HID hi beam. I figure I'll go w/ the Halogen low (for the matching housing) and do a Halogen/HID conv. and still have HID both sides for a few bucks less. I have seen the Halogen low for $80 and HID Hi for $365, but I forget where...maybe if a bunch of guys buy at once we could find somewhere to to cut a little bit of a deal on the price? | ||
| Ducxl |
maybe if a bunch of guys buy at once we could find somewhere to to cut a little bit of a deal on the price? I've got a better idea.How about if Buell Motorcycle Company buys' them in bulk and distributes them to replace the defective parts in the field??? Ridrx have you filed a complaint with the "NHTSA" yet? | ||
| Ridrx |
Ducxl, I've said since the beginning that the Hella 50mm conversion would be a fast, simple solution(no cutting required,already DOT legal)...and would likely be cheaper for BMC as well(According to Court there are only 10 of us with this problem)...but, what do I know? Yes I have filed w/NHTSA but, I don't see Buell having a solution any time in the near future even if pushed by "THE MAN"...they have ignored this  for sooooo long! Besides, with rumors of the XB getting dropped(in it's current form anyway)for '08 why would they rush? I've seen(when it's light out!) and heard enough to know that if I want this solved...I'm gonna have to do it myself! Which is a bummer because, like yourself, I prefer MY XB stock  Maybe if we get a signed petition going and submit it to BMC w/the 50mm suggested as the preferred solution? Perhaps some of you guys w/video capability would make a demo to SHOW Buell what we're dealing with. I still love my 12R but this has been a very disheartening experience... | ||
| Fdl3 |
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| Midknyte |
I've seen (when it's light out!) and heard enough to know that if I | ||
| Ridrx |
Midknyte, Glad you had something relevant to add! I would like to be able to ride my NEW F*$%#~G $10,000.00 BIKE after dark if I want to...so NO I can't wait, I shouldn't have to after I paid 10grand for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO , since you have all the insight ...how long before Buell even admits there is a problem...and THEN starts researching(yrs)... and then producing replacements(more yrs)...hell I'll have this one paid for moved on to a newer model before Buell has a solution for me. | ||
| Midknyte |
by the way, I applaud any and all who might beat BMC to the punch and share a solution. I just don't get the bellyaching. It helps, to a point, but let's stay on focus... | ||
| Ridrx |
So if you paid $10,000.00 for a NEW bike and the lights were USELESS, you'd say nothing? | ||
| Midknyte |
SO , since you have all the insight I have next to zero insight on this. I just look forward to someone placing their energies into a communal fix instead of just and only bitching. | ||
| Kyrocket |
On and off the subject. Has anyone seen the new issue of Fuell? In the first few pages there's a new Ully with, dare I say, additional aftermarket lights. I think it's a Q & A about what lights they are. Check it out. | ||
| Ducxl |
I applaud any and all who might beat BMC to the punch and share a solution. Just look at the solutions provided in these threads.And they're DOT/TUV certified too! If we can do it BMC sure as heck could! All they do is source parts to assemble anyway.I don't think they "make" anything.They merely assemble parts into bikes.Just dial 1-800-HELLA.Heck,in the age of quality controls such as Kaizen,5s,QS-9000/ISO-9002,and TS-14949,all BMC needs to do is call their vendor and state the massive failure in the field and demand replacements immediately or China or Poland will get future contracts.Economics101 | ||
| Fdl3 |
Just dial 1-800-HELLA. Haha, totally off-topic, but this reminded me of the cry by some for Buell to dial 1-800-BREMBO!  Back on topic, I am keenly interested in knowing how to mount the Hella 90mm units to the stock mount. If someone were to make even a simple mounting plate, I'd be interested!  | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
 ...Just PM me (Message edited by Firebolteric_ma on May 30, 2007) | ||
| Ducxl |
cry by some for Buell to dial 1-800-BREMBO! ha-ha! 1-800-BREMBO was an exact quote from Erik himself.It was written into one of his speeches. I just wish he'd use that advice and just fix this Fucling problem already.  | ||
| Ridrx |
"...all BMC needs to do is call their vendor and state the massive failure in the field and demand replacements immediately..." Which raises the question...Why does BUELL want to inspect these lights if manufacturing isn't even under their control? So now we must wait for BMC to decide whether or not to even report this to the vendor before any true progress is started, because after BMC pisses away our time/their money "researching"(I use that word LOOSELY, if BMC didn't make them how will THEY know WHAT is wrong?) the cause of all this... the vendor will have to research the same data all over again for themselves( if BMC won't listen to us,why would the vendor listen to BMC?), which moves a solution considerably further down the road. ...this just keeps gettin' better.  | ||
| Onthebumper |
You guys are too funny. Do you really think BMC is going to announce that they are looking into the problem. I mean come on. You've got maybe 30 poeple here crying about the problem when there are 50,000+ bikes out there. Don't get me wrong it sounds like there is a problem here but as Court says it is going to take time to research it. BMC is not going to announce that they are "looking into it" because this says to consumers that there is a major problem when in reality they do not know this yet. I understand everyone being upset here but BMC did replace a few of the units out there and asked for the defective units back, IMHO to research the problem. For BMC to come right out and say there is a problem without doing any research would cost them ton's of money again when they do not know that there is a valid problem here. That's just not good business sense especially for a company as small as Buell. | ||
| Wantxbr |
Has anyone tried using direct current with a relay to the the head lights? bypass the wire loom. Maybe get a little brighter this way? Worked on my 68 cougar...lol | ||
| Bertman |
The problem is not a current issue but of a poor quality reflector Wantxbr. Even with the stock 55w bulbs the people who have had problems and actually tore down their headlights have seen how the chrome coating just degrades. I wonder what percentage of people think their lights are fine or have not thought about improving them. Mine had not got to the point where I considered them dangerous ( that the factory ought to fix ) but I new it could be better so I replaced them myself. If Hella or somebody made a 75mm light that would be about perfect, but I like the way the 90mm units fit and function. Good job on getting your conversion done there Eric, I may still see how much my machinist friend would charge for making a run of the adapter plates. | ||
| Wantxbr |
Thanks wasnt aware of that. I'll start looking further into the Arcives and read up, so I quit looking like an a$$ | ||
| Wantxbr |
I'm still doing the Hella 90mm kit even if they correct the reflector problem. I like the way it looks. | ||
| Diablobrian |
The stock lights are and have always been rather dim on the firebolts. The reflectors do deteriorate. I've seen it on several bikes via their brown-ish low beams. My low beam was graciously replaced by the factory for a different issue (completely un- related to the reflector and in no way their responsibility) so my headlights are currently the best they can be or I may have chimed in before now. IIRC my reflector was starting to show the first signs of the degradation: little black spots scattered randomly around and at the time my bike had just over 2k miles. So the factory seriously delayed any problems with me through a simple act of kindness. Hopefully there will be a permanent oem replacement by the time mine start to degrade again. I'm all for performance upgrades, but headlights shouldn't need it. | ||
| Ridrx |
You've got maybe 30 poeple here crying about the problem when there are 50,000+ bikes out there I'm betting the VAST majority of the remaining 49,970 have not yet disassembled their lights. I'd bet my last wooden nickel that if one were to look at the housing of every 'Bolt with more than 5k on it, you'd find at least HALF if not all with fried reflectors. Besides, even IF it WAS just 30 of us, do we not deserve the same quality bike as the rest of you who "have NO problem with MY lights"? Most believe their lights are fine because it is a gradual process. If most people see light on the road in front of them their happy, they ASSume the lights are working properly, this does not mean the lights are "fine". It does mean oncoming cages can't see you as not only is the light very dim, THERE'S ONLY 1, which I'd be OK with IF it WORKED. BMC is not going to announce that they are "looking into it" because this says to consumers that there is a major problem when in reality they do not know this yet. ...and then.. BMC did replace a few of the units out there and asked for the defective units back, How could they possibly not know...they're holding the burnt reflectors in their damn hands. Besides, Buell doesn't MAKE the part so how are they gonna "research"? Isn't that the MANUFACTURER'S responsibility? }That's just not good business sense especially for a company as small as Buell. Let's not forget HD owns something like 98%...THEY AIN'T SMALL! I doubt a run of defective lights will put Buell out of business. | ||
| Mr_gto |
I think what some people here are forgetting is the replacement reflectors that buell so graciously handed out to a few CUSTOMERS should be given to all firebolt owners with a claim, NOT just until they get enough for their research. They should keep giving the reflectors to the CUSTOMERS as long as the problem is not fixed. My .02. Its their rep on the line. I have heard how great BMC is, so lets see it. |
