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Dallasb
Posted on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - 09:40 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I just bought an 06 XB9 before the winter and am looking at doing a few mods to it. I think the first thing that I would like to do is change out the tail light to a led style with integrated turn signals. I know that xblights.com sells them but I don't have the $250 to spend on it right now. Does anyone have or know where I can find a how-to on building my own?
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Miami78
Posted on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - 10:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'm sure there are some how to's around, but just wanted to say that the xblights are worth the price. Great quality and great lights!
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Andymnelson
Posted on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - 10:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I PM'd you my thoughts and an option...but consider this another plug for XBLights- TOTALLY worth the $$$!
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Dallasb
Posted on Tuesday, January 19, 2010 - 09:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thnx Andy. I'll get back to you as soon as I can clear it with the boss. I'm actually in an applied electronics at my university which is the main reason I was looking for a DIY setup. I figure might as well use it as my final project and get a sweet looking light out of it.
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Brother_in_buells
Posted on Thursday, January 21, 2010 - 11:54 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Twinmotorcycles sells an clear led taillight for xb and 1125 models,
Maybe there is a way to turn that one into a taillight with integrated turn signal!?


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1324
Posted on Thursday, January 21, 2010 - 10:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Why make your own when you can buy the 2010 tail light for ~$50 or so. It's DOT approved and much better than the stock pre-2010 lights. Supposedly the running light isn't as bright as the XBLights, but the brake light is good. I have one, and for the money, I'm very pleased. I would have spent more than $50 in materials to make my own.
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Dallasb
Posted on Friday, January 22, 2010 - 07:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Does anyone have the part number for the new '10 led tail light? Also can it be ordered online and shipped to my house since the nearest Buell dealer is around 80 miles from where I live?
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1324
Posted on Friday, January 22, 2010 - 07:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Y0401.7AC

Yes, there are dealers who will ship to your house.
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Dallasb
Posted on Friday, January 22, 2010 - 08:05 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Ok thank you to everyone for your help.
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Captcaz
Posted on Friday, January 22, 2010 - 10:30 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just a heads up ... if you're thinking about modifying it so you have integrated turn signals - it's not so easy. I opened mine up to see if it was possible, and had an electronics tech take a look ... it's a sandwiched circuit board with lots of stuff, so you can't just cut the leads to the side LEDs and solder in new amber/yellow ones ... unless you're a MIT Electrical Engineer (which I'm not).

Besides that, it looks good and is plenty bright ... FWIW.
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Ghostrider
Posted on Friday, January 22, 2010 - 10:54 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Does it require a clear lens on the '10 taillight? I'm assuming if it's clear the LED's are red, right? I'd love to convert my '03 9R to LED, but I like my red lens. Would the red lens affect the intensity of the red LED's?
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Andymnelson
Posted on Friday, January 22, 2010 - 11:14 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The 2010 light is no where near as bright as an XBLights light. I've seen them both side by side. I think the 2010 light is brighter than an '09 and earlier light....as long as you are right behind it, but not even in the same ballpark as the XBLights light.

Yes, you need to stick with the clear lens- the 2010 light is not bright enough to maintain intensity with a red lens. The XBLight on the other hand.... : )
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Xenox
Posted on Saturday, January 30, 2010 - 08:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thought I'd share my past DIY , not DOT approved ,people stop waaaay back, every time to avoid these.... way too bright for street use ... http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/327 77/496758.html?1255442075
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Xb12srider
Posted on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 - 12:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Would the 2010 tail light and signal lights fit right into the stock spot on a 2004 lightning xb12s?
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1324
Posted on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 - 12:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Yes.
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Rotor
Posted on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 - 12:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i read somewhere that the 2010 oem light comes with two versions. one with integrated license light and another without. i only found this part number:

TAIL LIGHT, LED W/O LICENSE PLATE LIGHT Y0401.7AC $57.00

this is without, probably for a 1125CR

i search the right part number with the license plate light, to fit my old XB9R

can someone help ?
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1324
Posted on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 - 02:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I don't know of a 2010 LED assy w/ the tag light...but one may exist.

You can order the part number you listed above and then order the tag light separately. You'll need to get a couple screws to attach the tag light to the tail lamp, but it works well. Total cost is about $15 for the tag light. I don't have the P/N, but your dealer can get it for you. Have them pull the number from the Firebolt.
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Briz31
Posted on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 - 10:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I got a LED tail light on Ebay from the UK.. for an XB9s..
Cost under $90 Australian delivered.
YES they also have the indicator integrated versions..

Do a search for "LED tail light BUELL" worldwide search..

They have the CLEAR or SMOKED lense covers.

Cheers
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Froggy
Posted on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 - 11:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)


quote:

i read somewhere that the 2010 oem light comes with two versions. one with integrated license light and another without




Nope. Only one version, its two pieces, the plate light is separate.
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Rah7777777
Posted on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 10:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

The majority of LED tail lights out there are Clear Alternatives brand ( such as the 1 pictured above and the most of the results for searching "LED tail light Buell" )

those are a joke!! I can understand not wanting to pay 200+ for a light. But I'd stay clear of the Clear Alternatives lights. Quality and brightness are both lacking very much!!!

For the price the 2010 isn't a bad deal.
Not as bright as XB Lights, but still ahead of Clear Alternatives!!

I would suggest
-XB Lights
-American Sport Bike "heavy cycles"
for the very bright lights

and the 2010 for a good budget light.

I've never seen the American Sport Bike "heavy cycles" light in person, but I have never heard bad things about them, ever! And always heard they are very bright.

Of course, I have personally built every XB Lights unit out there, so I stand behind them strongly when I say they are bright. But each unit takes a good bit of time to build, which is part of the cost factor. To add I use high-end LEDs ( not the cheapos you see a few posts above ).
But I understand all too well on not wanting to pay 200+ for a light.

The 2010 light is a good deal I think.
Of course it's lower on the brightness scale, but better then the more expensive "Crappy Alternatives" light out there.

Good luck!
-Robert
www.xblights.com
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Boney95
Posted on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 11:09 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'd pay the $200+ again for my XBlight. If you want the best for your bike, you have to buy the best.
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Dallasb
Posted on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 07:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'm in the process of building my own. Already bought the led's and perf board. Anyone want a DIY with pictures? It will take me a couple of weeks since I have other projects going on at the same time.
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Rah7777777
Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 10:24 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Just use good LEDs. Try to find Lumileds superflux. They have 4 prongs and are square.

Stay away from the dome LEDs with just the 2 prongs.
They just aren't as bright and normally the light output is concentrated too hard on a direct angle.

Before I started XB Lights, I built my own with just LEDs and resistors. It worked for a while, but after digging into the internals more I decided to redo all the internals before I started selling them.

If you so a search under my username you might be able to find the how-to I posted. And use a good quality proto board, the cheap ones warp overtime.

Now, everything is current regulated with heatsinks and safety circuitry is applied to keep out voltage / transient spikes.
Regulating the current with a good regulator ( not a diode) keeps the light from flickering, ensures the LEDs last longer and as well ensures the light output is just as bright if your charging system is having a bad day.

I honestly can say, I started researching and redesigning everything after a long good talk with Al at American Sport Bike. He really encouraged me to re-think the simple LEDs, resistors and wire idea and build a safer longer lasting light. So thanks Al! Your the man!
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Fahren
Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 10:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

No, Robert, you are the man. I'm still saving up for one of yours. It's not just cool and nice for the bike. It's also so much safer to be SEEN!
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Dallasb
Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 11:55 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks Robert for the info. I'm not trying to take away your business or anything but as you can imagine money is tight these days for a college student. Also I have to do a project with LED's for my electronics class so I figured why not make a grade and get a nice light out of it. I had previously considered lights from here http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index .cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2Frd_specs .htm. What do you think?
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Drkside79
Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 12:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Rah7777777 PM SENT
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Rah7777777
Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 02:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks for the kind words guys!!

I'm with you man! Do your project and make a cool light at the same time! Sounds a ton better then a boiling science fair volcano You'll never use again, haha!

I personally do not like any of the 2 prong LEDs like in the link. But it's specs aren't too bad.
I actually have some I would sell you.
They are not the exact same ones I use, but damn close.
Email me if your interested.

Thanks guys!
-Robert
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Dallasb
Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010 - 03:15 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

PM sent
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B00stzx3
Posted on Friday, February 19, 2010 - 03:41 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Heres pic of mine.... in the pic it looks clear but its really Smoked/dark grey.



I can take some better pics latter if you want.

the Leds are EXTREMELY bright, as are the integrated turn signals. Dunno what brand it is, got it through the shop. it was around $100 IIRC. Cleans up the tail NOICE.
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