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Midknyte
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 12:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

hmmmm, these look like the right connectors. temptation. temptaion.

http://www.kbcarstuff.com/XenonDepot_HID_Replaceme nt_Connectors_p/xd-con.htm
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Zoedogg1
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 01:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

HOLYKBCARS system is 200 smackers for each light...We must have some serious ballers(rich folk) here. I'll stick with the less expensive jobbies...as long as they work right?
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Hammer71
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 08:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

How about getting a smaller ballast? Then it would fit behind the fairing and you could sell the bigger one. Slim ballast will run about 40 bucks or so.
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Midknyte
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 11:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I haven't seen a slim ballast yet for $40. The slim/small ones I've seen are $100-$300.

Link?
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Ccryder
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 11:41 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Look here: http://www.xenonrider.com/

I have a two light kit with the h8, 6000k and, slim ballasts on order. S/B delivered next week.

Neil S.
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Midknyte
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 12:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Upwards of $100, but it it fits, it's a wash compared to futzting around with extra wiring and the cost there of that. Thanks.

I've asked them for the dimensions of their ballast and I'll cut a piece of wood to size & test for fitting in the fairing.

Thanks
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Cityxslicker
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 01:55 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Ugh, 40 bucks from Wally World and a sixer of ale for the install.

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Midknyte
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 03:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

This is my replacement R headlight housing + the HID. My only issue is hiding the ballast. Freaking brilliant light with the stock housing.







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Midknyte
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 03:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

FYI, just heard back - the dimensions of the super slim balast from http://www.xenonrider.com/ is 3 1/4" x 2 1/2" x 1/2".

There is a separate igniter tho that measures 7/8" x 1 1/4" x 2 1/2".

Now to cut a block of wood and do a test fit...
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Hammer71
Posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 - 04:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/world-smallest-repl acement-HID-ballast-super-slim-HID_W0QQcmdZViewIte mQQ_trksidZp1742Q2em153Q2el1262QQcategoryZ36476QQi hZ011QQitemZ320162196059QQtcZphoto


Link to slim ballast. Had it mounted on my 9 and after crash it now resides on Mikexlr's firebolt. Plenty of room for it to fit behind fairing or in between the fairing stay and headlights .
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Believer
Posted on Saturday, March 15, 2008 - 06:25 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Did anybody ever think of getting or installing front lights with angel eyes like those-they are also in HID version.

http://www.xtralights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIE WPROD&ProdID=462
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Believer
Posted on Saturday, March 15, 2008 - 09:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Lamps that i give you a link one post up





And here i made some photoshop pictures, how should bike look with angel eyes lamp and lenses.








So what do you think? It looks quite good and they say that HID are brighter with lenses in front. Only the price is toooooooooooo heigh!
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Strmvt
Posted on Saturday, March 15, 2008 - 11:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

looks slick Believer don't think they'd fit my 12R though w/o some customization
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Midknyte
Posted on Sunday, March 16, 2008 - 12:39 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Good News! The super slim ballast will indeed fit, and comfortably.

CCryder, Hammer, Thanks!



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Bombardier
Posted on Sunday, March 16, 2008 - 04:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Here is my Bolt with HID on both high and low beam




Makes the background look dark dont it!

(Message edited by Bombardier on March 16, 2008)
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Strmvt
Posted on Sunday, March 16, 2008 - 06:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

drool can't wait till mine get here
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Ferris_von_bueller
Posted on Sunday, March 16, 2008 - 10:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I thought making everything in China was going to result in inexpensive merchandise for the American consumer.
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Eengler2
Posted on Sunday, March 16, 2008 - 12:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Bombardier
Isn't it a concern to have HID on high beam? I thought it took time to light?

Can you comment on your experience.

I am debating whether I want to buy a kit for one or two bulbs. Thanks!

Eric
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Hammer71
Posted on Sunday, March 16, 2008 - 01:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Once an HID warms up it's not an issue with the on,off , on again cycle of the high beam. Or so I'm told.
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Midknyte
Posted on Sunday, March 16, 2008 - 07:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Even during startup - it looked like it put out more light than a halogen...

I think the issue is with shortening bulb (or ballast?) life.

I do know that my halogen bright light looks pitifull compared to the xenon low.
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Damnut
Posted on Sunday, March 16, 2008 - 08:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

OK so I see that most of you guys went with the 6000K bulbs.

I wanted to know what the difference between a H3 and other types of bulbs and found this.

H3 (55 W @ 12.0 V, 1450 lm ?15%),H7 (55 W @ 12.0 V, 1500 lm ?10% @ 13.2 V), H8 (35 W @ 12.0 V, 800 lm ?15% @ 13.2 V), H9 (65 W @ 12.0 V, 2100 lm ?10% @ 13.2 V), and H11 (55 W @ 12.0 V, 1350 lm ?10% @ 13.2 V).

Now not know much about bulbs, why would you put a H7, H8 or higher bulb in a Firebolt that, I believe, has a H3 bulb stock?

I am wondering what the pros/cons are for choosing something other than a H3.


I'm going to pull the trigger on a HID system and want to make sure I get what's best for me.


Thanks!!
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Damnut
Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 11:41 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Anyone???
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Midknyte
Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 01:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Well, for me, I just replaced my headlight housing because the halogen bulb was baking the chrome plating off and I didn't want to have to do it again. HID is supposed to burn cooler.

An added bonus, for me, is that HID is so wonderfully bright and white (go w/ 6000k). I won't be going back to any form of halogen.

Damnut - your profile says you have an 04 Firebolt. I'd pull that headlight housing out pronto and check it If it ain't shiny, give a polite call to Buell CS and they will probably replace it (I'm getting re-imbersed for mine). Then I'd go follow one of those links & buy a super slim ballast and go HID. The difference is amazing.

In case you don't know, in addition to removing the mirrors and the turn signals, you need to remove the lower/front two allen bolts of the windscreen to get the fairing off.

I've been documenting my progress here, ad nauseum (someone might surely benefit?)
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/3594.html?1205766850
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Ccryder
Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 01:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Damut:
A major difference is how it plugs into the headlight and how the connectors plug in. Yes some are different wattages but the main difference is how they plug in. XBr uses an H3. That is the style bulb you need.

Later
Neil
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Izyrobledo
Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 02:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Go to www.bestdubs.com you can buy a kit of 2 HID H3 6000k ultra slim ballast for $120.
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Damnut
Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 04:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

thanks for the info guys, I'll be ordering some HID's tonight.

midknyte..... thanks for the instructions, I've had my front end apart more times than I can count.: ) I am also one of the original folks who sent their headlights into Buell for evaluation. As sad as it sounds I'm on my third lowbeam, one I paid for and one was replaced by Buell.

if the reflective coating is discolored again I'm going to use that oven tape on the inside of the housing. If it works inside an oven it should be good inside of the housing. It can't be any worse than the crappy coating already there.
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Hammer71
Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 04:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Jim I have an extra housing that is good. Dont buy a new one, ya can have mine. Also bring the kit with ya and I'll have it installed in about 5-10 min at the Badness.
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Ducxl
Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 05:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Hummmmmm,i'm watching this thread with a keen interest.

Are you guys claiming this is a solution to my "R" low beam burning the reflector?

Is it your assertion that Xenon/HID bulbs burn cooler/cool enough to NOT burn the reflectors?
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Hammer71
Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 07:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Greg, That is what I was thinking when I put the bulb in mine. I ordered a new housing and put the HID and new housing on. After my crash the kit went to Mkexlr and the housing was checked (no blisters,cracks or any heat distortion whatsoever) had the thing on there for about 6 months and many miles. I'm no expert but I think it may be a solution, hell it worked for me and being able to see at night was well worth it.
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Damnut
Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 08:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Cool thanks Hammer.... see ya in a ~10 days!!
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