| Author | Message | ||
     Drkside79 |
I was looking at an LED Taillight from HIGH GEAR HOBBIES anyone ever heard or bought from them? | ||
| Froggy |
Never heard of them, but if I were you I would checkout XBlights.com, they are a board sponsor and their stuff is top notch. | ||
| Boney95 |
Go with XBLights | ||
| Talloyd519 |
I saw those on EBAY and almost bought one but I can't tell if it is plug and play or not and the price is too cheap to be any good IMO. Who knows though, could be good, but I wouldn't spend any money to find out. | ||
| Timoc |
Can't go wrong with XBlights. Worth every penny!  | ||
| Rah7777777 |
those are the clear alternatives lights... junk! (copy and paste from my sponsor section...) The few weeks back a bueller bought himself a new LED tail light from a well known company (Clear Alternatives). ( As I have told many many people these units are not that great. ) anyhow, this Bueller in turn installs the C.A. brand light and is very unhappy with his purchase. He asks XB lights a few technical questions and the next thing you know we have an order from him. I asked him how bad was the C.A. brand as I have yet to see one in person, in reply he tells me to see for myself and that its in the mail. well...... I got it in and checked it out and took a couple real fast pics for you guys and gals to see. Now these pics are of the light glare onto the wall. both with exact same camera settings and right at same distance from wall (just held the light/camera in my hand) if you look closely you can see the ceiling line in both pics. NUMBER 1: the C.A. brand light, brake applied (no lens installed)  NUMBER 2: XB Lights, brake applied (no lens installed)  So its clear there is a difference!!! Some LEDs just don't work as good as others! Also noticed there is no current regulation on the C.A. brand light! so it will only be as bright as your charging system will let it be. And if your voltage regulator starts to take a dump, your brake light will be weak! With XB Lights, we install in all lights, current regulators which will keep constant current to each LED even if your voltage drops by a good amount. Now I don't remember exact numbers, but it should keep same current down to about 8 or 9 volts. every little bit can help right? I don't make it a habit of comparing the other guys, but I know many of y'all install these cheap units and I have a hard time believing they are any safer then the stock bulb. So I would make sure you use a brand with the better 4-prong LED's! Just a little info i'd like to share! Ride safe!!! -Robert | ||
| Detroitxb9sx |
XBLights...Don't even think about buying anything else. Installs in 5 mins...as long as a phillips screwdriver is in your hand. | ||
| Cryptic1911 |
or just build your own and save a few hundred bucks whats what i'm gonna do | ||
| Rah7777777 |
American Sport Bike sells a really nice one as well (Heavy cycles brand I think) Pretty much the only other brand I'd suggest to anyone. Ecliptech has some, but I have not seen them in person. Nothing wrong with building your own. you can go as simple as you want or you can go as complex as you'd like. you can run a string of LEDs with a resistor inline or can go all out and install a voltage regulator with heatsinks and various safety circuitry (as we do at XB lights) but the Clear Alternatives brand just runs LEDs and resistors. but then again they are POOP!!! whatever you do, use GOOD 4 prong LEDs! -Robert www.xblights.com | ||
| Badbueller |
Ya if the xblights were the same price as the CR I would buy them immediately. 225 just hurts the wallet! But I do agree the CR's arent even worth buying. I guess the only option is save up or if you are good at electronics make your on. If someone is let me know. | ||
| Cryptic1911 |
I definately like the ones you make, and I'd have gone with one of those, but I don't want to spend any more on the bike.. spent enough lately as it is. That and I have all the soldering and test equipment, and a bunch of really nice LED's that my dad used to make a taillight on his roadking.. so it wont cost but a bit of time to assemble | ||
| Badbueller |
Cryptic if you get one built be sure to post some pics and some steps on how you did it! | ||
| Zatco81 |
I'd also like a part list and instructions for making my own. I'd like to integrate turn signals into the light as well. | ||
| Odie |
XB LIGHTS!!!! | ||
| Zatco81 |
OK-Rob send me one taillight and send the bill to Odie.  | ||
| Rah7777777 |
I'll send the bill to Odie, he will add 10 - 20% and send it to you.... HAHA! So it's best to leave him out :-) Seriously, just make sure if you build your own, that it will work well and be bright. It is an important part in my book. Need to make sure coffee drinking, nail painting soccer mom sees you! Hell I posted a " how-to" on my first light ever a couple years back. Since then, it has grown and evolved very much!! I went from just a crappy board, LEDs, resistors and TONS of wires. To how I build them now.. A good board, quality LEDs, current regulation, heatsinks, various safety circuitry and down to few wires. From one end of the spectrum to the other :-) -Robert www.xblights.com | ||
| Drkside79 |
Thanks for all the advice. I will save up and buy one of yours at some point. I should have known better than looking for a cheap alternative but there's a baby on the way so there just isn't as much cash as there used to be. Anyway thank you very much for all the advice and i will be contacting you for a tail light sometime in the future!  | ||
| Andymnelson |
lol CA=Cheap Alternative. :-p And cheap they are. My XB came with a CA light, and it sucks. I check my mirrors before braking because I know people can't see it, and use hand turn signals whenever anyone is near. Don't waste your money. I will be re-doing a ton of stuff on the XB this winter, and will be (FINALLY!) buying an xblights setup. I've had some email conversations with Robert, and he's a great guy to boot! | ||
| Fahren |
I agree fully. So many of us are in the same boat: cash is tight, we are all being careful. But like Andy ^^^, I have been in touch with Robert, and will be ordering one of his lights as soon as I can squeeze out the cash to do so. It's too late to worry about money when you are squished by a careless cager. | ||
| Buelltastic |
I have a clear smoke lens with the led from high gear hobbies. I am content with it. I thought the price was reasonable and in my opinion is brighter than stock. I have never had another other than stock, but for the money I thought it was worthwhile. It is plug and play. Simply a smoke lens and a red led 1157 bulb. Just my 2 cents. | ||
| 03worc9r |
I recently got one of xblights tail lights. Let me begin with saying that pictures do not do this light justice. You have to see one in person if you can. The quality is amazing. It is a perfect stock fit which I love. The wires are all labeled and it is completely plug and play. It took me about 10 min to install. I Thought the light seemed expensive at first but when you see the quality it is worth it. These lights are super bright from all angles, not just looking directly from behind the bike. If you were to buy a euro tail to eliminate your rear signals it will easily cost you a couple hundred. Not to mention I ride with a couple friends with these tails on the bikes and I can never see there brake or signals lights come on.   | ||
| Rah7777777 |
Thanks for all the kind words guys!! I really do appreciate it! I know they are not cheap, but with the time that goes into each light, it's not too bad. You have to remember, I do not have a big fancy machine knocking these out for me, no big assembly lines. Just me in my little work room. Currently each light Is hand made, and running the circuitry for 60 LEDs is 20 separate circuits that all have to be isolated. Add the circuitry on the secondary regulation board and that little housing gets PACKED! Part of the reason it takes me so long to build and ship. I'm backed up about 20 light orders right now, which is why the average time from payment to shipping is about 7 weeks right now. Mix in the Full time job ( and it's overtime ) plus the wifes " Honey-do" list and XB Lights and it can get pretty hectic. Hell, 100% honesty, I bet I haven't rode my bike more then 20 miles in the past MONTH!! That makes me feel like a bad bike owner! Stay safe! -Robert | ||
| Glitch |
Robert, there's no need to explain yourself. The nice smell of a cheap price, doesn't outlast taste of excellent quality. | ||
| 07xb12ss |
im about to order my 3rd, yes 3rd light (2nd one for my CR) - it will be the most bad out light setup you have ever seen - once i get it i will be selling my current one, which is an awesome only 1 of 2 (so far) with this set up | ||
| Odie |
Robert- remember a discussion we had a while back about time management and how hectic it can get?!?!?! Welcome to the club!!!  | ||
| Rah7777777 |
No joke Odie!!!! I understand exactly what you meant now :-) Still don't know how you do it all though! Your plate is stacked higher then mine! | ||
| Drkside79 |
Ok one last question While I'm waiting to get an XB Light does any one Know the Part # for my current tail light sorry i have to ask but the ever useless Buell owners manual only gives me the # for electrical grease. By the way my bike is a XB9SX 2008.  | ||
| Sifo |
I built my own. It was a great experience and am glad I did.   Having done this myself, I have great respect for what is being offered by XB-Lights. Sounds like he has some great safety features that I have no idea how to build in. Are they a bit pricey? Not after you've built your own and work out the real cost including your time. You have to remember, I do not have a big fancy machine knocking these out for me, no big assembly lines. Just me in my little work room. Currently each light Is hand made, and running the circuitry for 60 LEDs is 20 separate circuits that all have to be isolated. I think you are working in what they call a sweat shop!  That is a lot of work that goes into each light! What is needed is a source of clear lenses with out the lens pattern. Let the led lights stand out! | ||
| H2owerker |
I'm completely w/ Sifo on this one. Building my own was a great (and at times frustrating) experience. I would not consider doing it for $$$. After all the hours I spent researching, and testing. I've got a decent light...but I don't think it's as nice as the XBlights taillight.    And yes I need to polish the lens some more. Removing the diffusers from inside the lens was extremely time consuming. | ||
| Rah7777777 |
I do like the looks of your clear lens. Shows good details! | ||
| Rah7777777 |
I do like the looks of your clear lens. Shows good details! |
