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Glitch
Posted on Friday, March 07, 2008 - 08:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks for the caution warning.
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Tx05xb12s
Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 12:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

There's room for 2 igniter/ballasts in the R front end. Not much, but just enough to work...

1


2


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Midknyte
Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 12:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks for them pics!

I had everything apart last night looking for a spot for my ballast. Would have never thought or that...

Your timing is beyond perfect.
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Vortec57
Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 12:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

T, can you put up a pic of your bike as you're sitting on it?
I really like your mounting behind the faring, i just never "saw" the room for them there. Also, how are they mounted?
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Midknyte
Posted on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 - 01:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Looks like velcro to me
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Midknyte
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 01:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Perfect Tx'. Just plain brilliant observation. I likey!



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Big_red_79
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 04:18 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

does anyone have a diagram on the wiring set up for HID to connect it to stock?
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Bombardier
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 09:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

No need for a diagram. The wires are colour coded the same as the originals so its just a plug and play.
The only difference is the size of the female connector which can be replaced and still work on the std bulb for a retrofit.
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Tx05xb12s
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 10:00 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Yes, I used heavy duty velcro to stick the igniters to the inside of the fairing. Man these lights are TOO bright. I've got them pointed as far down as the adjusters will allow (light focused on the ground about 15 ft in front of the bike) and it still lights up the back window of the car in front of me like freakin sunlight. I also love coming up to a stop sign and noting that I'm lighting up the signs five blocks down the street too.

I also love the 6000K light color. It's the most brilliant white light I've ever seen. Very pleased with my cheapo ebay HID kit despite originally posting that it was a ripoff. The instructions were written in very poor English and they were saying to cut a 25mm hole in the back of the light housing. Come to find out, it was plug and play except for a hole I cut in the back of the light boot to accommodate their add-on boot that completely seals the lights from weather.
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Tx05xb12s
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - 10:12 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Jeff I'll be glad to take some more pics and post up hopefully tonight. I'll get a shot of the bike lighting up the street like daylight too.

I just did a S to R conversion and noticed a little vibration when braking on the first ride yesterday. I'm pretty sure I just don't have the head bearing keeper tight enough, so I'll snap some pics while I'm working on getting that adjusted correctly.

I've got a long day at the office between now and then. At least I can check out BWB on breaks. It could be worse, right? (-:
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Midknyte
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 10:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Tx',

How thick is your ballast? I cannot make mine fit this way after all...
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Tx05xb12s
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 10:45 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I think they're probably the same as yours; probably about an inch? You've got a firebolt model, don't you? Maybe your ECM is getting in the way. Mine is under the seat and gave me a little more room than the standard firebolt setup.

My plan B was to use the brackets they came with and mount them vertically into the fairing right in front of the bracket holding the turn indicators. You'd have to drill a couple of holes into your plastic fairing to mount them, but then again this would give the bike a very "technical" look IMO and wouldn't be too bad looking. I don't think heavy duty velcro would work in this location because there's not enough of a flat mounting point to make them stick good enough.

Anyone else have any ideas for the firebolt crowd? I think us "converts" have a little more room to work with.

Sorry about not posting more pics yet. I meant to do it yesterday, but I'm apparently getting old. When I got off work I came home and had dinner, and then promptly fell asleep on the couch until it was time to get up and go to bed. LOL! My batteries are fully charged now though, so I should get the job done tonight. I sure hope it's not going to be a pain in the hiney to get my steering head bearings adjusted properly tonight.
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Midknyte
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 11:07 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'm either going to mount it on my inner airbox (will need extension wiring - see plea for help here - http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/406 2/343489.html?1205418979 )

Or I might fab a mounting clip to hang it on the oil cooler bracket. It doesn't look toooo bad there. Can't make it work with the bracket that came with it though...
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Tx05xb12s
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 01:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Yeah, I would have stuck them in the airbox too, but what is the availability of longer leads? I understand you can't splice those wires. Hope it works out for you.
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Tx05xb12s
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 01:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just saw Jeremy's post about the D2 connector extensions. That just might be the ticket here. Let us know if you get some from them and how they work out for you.
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Zoedogg1
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 03:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Hey Tx05xb12s, where did you pick up your lights? Are they still H3's? Looks good!! Do you have to run a power lead to the new ballasts? If so do you tap into the 12volt fuse box or do you just run a direct line from the battery for power? Or do you just use the original headlight wires? I really need lights BAD, I live in a place that has very few street lights, so its real dark at night. My vis. even with my high beam on is like 25ft at best with serious tunnel lighting.
Sorry for the million questions...Clint
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Midknyte
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 04:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

If you get a plug & play kit, it just plugs directly into where your bulb did
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Midknyte
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 04:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I understand you can't splice those wires.

Why would that be? As long as you did it well and used good wiring...
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Reepicheep
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 04:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Your firebolt has angry eyebrows! : )
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Midknyte
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 05:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Groucho brows
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Midknyte
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 05:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

CCryder :
... I have seen one supplier advertise that 48" HV leads are available but you may have to special order...

Who? Do you recall?
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Zoedogg1
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 05:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

So where were they purchased?..I'd hate to get some online with a ballast the size of a cigar box...
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Midknyte
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 05:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I got mine from xenonlink.com

ballast measures 3" x 3.25" x 1.25"
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Midknyte
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 05:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

After doing some calling around I am told the reason you do not want to extend your line is that the resistence of the longer leads will shorten the life of your ballast.

I'm swicthing gears now to make a holder to hang it off the oil cooler bracket. Wires are just the right length for that.
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Vortec57
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 06:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Yeah TX, I kind of guessed you had a convet. There are some fuse boxes and such on the R up front that I never saw in your pics. I'd love to have tucked them there, but hanging off the brackets isn't so bad. Mine believe it or not don't even vibrate except for when the bike is idling on the stand.
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Midknyte
Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008 - 11:37 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

So, how cheezy would this look?











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Ccryder
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 12:11 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

47 sites later I found this one: http://www.kbcarstuff.com/Motorcycle_Xenon_HID_Con version_Kits_s/34.htm

Neil S.
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Vortec57
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 12:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Midnight, take a look at the beginning of the thread and see how i stuck mine on. Really not very obvious, and less cheezy than in the air scoop!
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Tx05xb12s
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 12:16 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Clint:

I bought a H3 kit off ebay for $68. It plugged right into the light housings. The only thing I did different from stock was buy two hibeam light housings, replaced the headlight fuse (15A) with a 20 amp, cut a 25mm hole in the back of each light boot to insert the boot the kit came with to seal the lights off from weather, and spliced into the original S model headlight wiring because they weren't set up for the H3 lights (remember, I converted a Scg to a R).

They are in fact the brightest lights I've ever seen on ANY vehicle and am very pleased with what I got for such a cheap price.

I know I owe you guys some pics, but I just didn't get to it tonight either. It's almost midnight and I just finished correcting a steering head bearing adjustment issue and solved a problem between my radar detector and my Sportview HUD not communicating with each other. I also hit my plastics with the Novus, and that's about all the energy I have left for today.

Now all I have to do is modify my Stebel Nautilus airhorn and mount it and I'm all set. There wasn't enough room to mount the big honker as one unit, so I split the case from the compressor and intend to run some hose between the two so I can mount the horns on the left side of the fairing bracket and the compressor on the right. I need to go shopping and find a fitting for the horn side and a piece of hose and I should be in business. It's just a bit of a problem finding the time to do it between work and school and family.

I'll try to get some pics of the bike and what the lights look like at night tomorrow.
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Midknyte
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 12:32 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Vort', I think mine is a little bigger than yours. I didn't like the way mine looked there...
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