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Buell Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » BB&D Archives » Archive through July 25, 2008 » Anyone change the H7 lighting to HID « Previous Next »

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Varhammer
Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 12:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Has anyone here changed the stock lighting from the H7 bulbs to a HID setup?
I've seen others but never anything with the Buells.
If you have done anything like that please share that information with a new owner.
Also interested in the euro circuit lighting, any way to reconnect it and just have a cool lighting setup.
Thanks
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Tipsymcstagger
Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 11:06 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have HID's on both the low and high beam. Each is installed with a relay and powered directly from an auxiliary Centech fuse block. The low beam relay is switched via the "Euro" light circuit and the high beam relay is switched via the stock high beam circuit. Both low and high beams are "on" when the high beam is selected. The Euro light circuit is not interrupted when the starter is engaged (as the low beam circuit is) though it does have a very brief drop in voltage.

I bought a set of two HID's through eBay for $100. They are the digital ballasts that are made in China.

They throw out A LOT of light and I'm very happy with them. And I do mean A LOT of light. I recently rode with them at night for the first time. I was on a twisty, dark, rural road and kept blinding myself with both the low and high beams on as the lights reflected off the road signs! No blinding issues with just the low beam.

Also, I traded bikes with a buddy a few weeks ago. We were riding during the day. My buddy was riding behind me on my bike. I could not believe how visible the low beam was when he was at least half a mile (if not farther) behind me. In fact, I had been riding with both the low and high beams "on" earlier in the day and one of the guys who was in front of me asked me to turn the high beam off. He said it was bothersome to him in his mirror. And this was at 1pm on an extremely bright summer day and he was several bikes ahead of me!

But I am having an intermittent "ignition" issue that I'm learning to live with with. Essentially, the low beam occasionally does not ignite when I turn the key "on." Turn the key off and then back on and the light ignites just fine. Have the same issue with the high beam. The only time it's really an issue is when I'm refueling during the day. If I don't get off the bike to look at the headlight, I can't be sure its on when I restart the bike.

Tipsy
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Ratbuell
Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 11:30 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Tipsy - ballasts and HIDs, digital or not, like to fully cool before re-igniting. If you pit-stop your fuel fillups, leave the key on and just kill the motor, your battery should handle it with no problem. If you take the more "relaxed" approach to fillups - wander away from the pumps, smoke one, go to the boys' room, grab a soda - maybe turning off is the best plan of action : )
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Tipsymcstagger
Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 11:51 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Ratbuell, I've turned the key after being away from the bike for two plus weeks (I travel for a living) and have had this issue...more than once. Just a nanosecond of a flicker, but no ignition. Turn the key off, back on again and voila! Light ignites.

When the ballast does not ignite, it is silent. When it does ignite, there is an obvious audible "hum" for several seconds (about ten or so) until the light comes up to temperature, and then it is silent.

Tipsy
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Desmo900
Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 09:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Im running a HID conversion kit from
www.cqlight.ca
Plug & Play install and has worked great for 13,000 miles. Cant beat the price, $89 for a single bulb kit.
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Ry329
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 12:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

And just how do you leave the key on & remove the gas cap ?
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Maximum
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 12:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Well, my HID conversion is detailed in this thread:

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/357493.html#POST1133226
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Tipsymcstagger
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 01:09 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Maximum...do your ballasts hum for several seconds after they ignite

Tipsy
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Maximum
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 09:04 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Yes, a little until the lights get to full brightness.
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Rah7777777
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 10:44 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I know this is the Uly board, but here are a couple shots from my XB9S.
(same headlight!)


STOCK HIGH BEAM




HID LOW BEAM





I did only the low beam and LOVE it!
no need for the high beam EVER!
got the kit for $100 and all seems to be working top notch. I have the digital slim ballast and was concerned about the starting the bike part (lights on and off and back on) so i emailed the company and this is what he said;

"As for the ignition, the ballasts are built pretty sturdy so you don’t have to worry about it damaging the ballast. The only thing I would recommend doing is to let the bulbs fully ignite (wait about 5-7 seconds) after you turn on the key on, before you turn the engine on. This way the bulbs will not need to ignite twice and it’ll leave a bit more power for your bike’s electrical system to start the bike."

and lucky us it takes about 8 seconds before the fuel pump is ready to go.

just my 2 cents....
-robert
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Johnboy777
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 01:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hey Rah7777777

Which kit? Link?

Thanks
John
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Travisd
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 10:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thats a great mod. Fill us in on what was used in this upgrade.

Why wouldn't they make this a factory setup?
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 11:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Yep:

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/327 77/233088.html

I'm currently running a hyper yellow 3200K kit on the low beam and a 8300K kit on the high beam.

I leave both on all the time unless I am cruising behind someone. Then I toggle the high beam off and leave the yellow on only.

I find the smell of burnt hair and flesh distracting.
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Rah7777777
Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2008 - 11:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I bought the 8K temp setting. nice hint of blue, but not overpowering like some i have seen on the road

http://www.xenonrider.com/sale.shtml

make sure you go through this link and it will save you like $20.

Till him Robert Hall from XB Lights sent you. Not sure if I'll get anything back but I got my fingers crossed for a free T-shirt

(Message edited by rah7777777 on July 17, 2008)
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Dano_12s
Posted on Friday, July 18, 2008 - 06:26 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Why wuoldn't this be factory?
H.I.D.lighting requires an auto.leveling system when factory installed to adjust for loads[adds big $$$ to system]Thats why replacement units on autos are $1K+up for 1 side.Great lights though,rode w/Maximum over HC.no mistaking he was behind you!
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