Author |
Message |
Ejiii
| Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 04:51 pm: |
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I have looked at a lot of different HID lighting options and have settled on the Touratech HID lamp for my 2008 Uly. Has anyone here installed one of these? I'm looking for a super clean mounting method that looks like factory...yes, I'm one of those! Anyway, thanks for your input. E. J. |
Maximum
| Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 05:22 pm: |
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Which one? Gotta link? Ft_bstrd is trying to pressure me into HID, so I thought that I would begin to check out my options. |
Ejiii
| Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 05:35 pm: |
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Here is the link to the universal TT HID kit: http://www.touratech-usa.com/shop/search.lasso?Sea rchTerm=040-1515&=Search The lamp is all the same for all of their kits just the mounting hardware is different. |
Cityxslicker
| Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 05:52 pm: |
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for that kind of cash I would look into Treadmarks death ray set up. I have ridden in front of a set of those Baja's and they light up a big patch of road. Ulyssesguy and Treadmarks are going to shame me into those Baja Designs probably this year. |
Treadmarks
| Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 05:59 pm: |
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See the Light Brother! |
Ejiii
| Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 06:02 pm: |
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The TT light is pricey but it can easily be moved to another bike at any time and it is bright. The Baja Designs set up is very nice though! |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 06:33 pm: |
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Pressure you into the HIDs. Puhleeze! This set has the ballast as a separate unit requiring you to find a mounting location for both of them. I don't know how large they are, but that could be an issue. This set is spendy. I found another set one time that was about $300 per unit and had everything contained in the housing. Let me see if I can find the link. As far as installation, I would suggest you look at mounting them in the location where the turn indicators are currently and relocating those elsewhere. Someone had a pretty slick install on blinkers integrated with the mirrors. You're gonna want to swap those out anyway. You could always order regular lights and do a conversion to an HID kit. This would allow you a better selection and options. HID kits come in multiple bulb options. |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 11:02 pm: |
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Here's one self contained kit: http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Hellfire-HID-S ystem-p-18916.html Here's another: http://www.trailtech.net/product7151.html And another: http://www.trailtech.net/4412-DX-V.html Another: http://www.trailtech.net/4412-DX.html Another: http://trailtech.net/single_hid_scmr16.html The Touratech kit is pretty good, but not very compact. There are other kits that would be much easier to install. |
Daulyfreek
| Posted on Thursday, February 14, 2008 - 11:05 pm: |
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Lights piss me off 'cause they're so expensive. Having whined, if you do the reg.lights and HID is it any cheaper. have any links? |
Ejiii
| Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 - 01:17 am: |
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From what many have said in the past the H/L conversions like the Aerostich unit produce the wrong pattern for an HID lamp. As far as relocating the turn signals, etc. I want to keep everything as close to stock as possible. If I think about it long enough I will come up with a super sano way to mount the light and leave everything else where it belongs. |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 - 01:43 am: |
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I have TWO of the HID conversions. The light pattern is exactly like the original H7 halogen. It's just brighter. I paid $187 for one and $160 for the other. |
Reepicheep
| Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 - 08:05 am: |
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+1 for the fat one. I have yet another brand HID conversion in my stock 9sx enclosure, and the pattern thrown is as good or better then the halogen bulb it replaced. I aimed it so that at 25 feet, there is a fairly clean line that will just fall under the rear window of your average sedan. The "really bright" to "very little" transition is maybe 9 inches tall at 25 feet or so. So when a car is 25 feet in front of me, I am just about peeling the paint off their license paint the light is so bright, but I am not lighting up the back of their head at all. I ride all the time, day and night, and have had maybe 3 people blink their brights at me at night over the last year with the HID. At least one of those was when the oncoming car only saw me while I was accelerating hard which means they probably were getting a face full of light, no matter what bulb I would be running. |
Maximum
| Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 - 09:01 am: |
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Ft_bstrd: I must have missed the pictures of your new yellow HID and the installation of the ballasts under the airbox cover. I mean...I'm sure that you posted a report here somewhere, right? |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 - 10:26 am: |
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Actually, no I didn't do a write up. I can take a picture if you'd like. |
Ronmold
| Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 - 10:45 am: |
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Saw these on the KLR forum http://stores.ebay.com/hidwholesale88 $80 bucks for the pair? The guy that installed them said they work great. Either they're cheap crap or everyone else has been way over charging for them. You pick your bulb type H7, etc. and your color - 4300k for white. The article: http://www.klr650.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3755 8 Hmm... |
Galloper
| Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 - 11:51 am: |
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quote:I can take a picture if you'd like.
Yes, please |
Ejiii
| Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 - 08:04 pm: |
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Just FYI for those who just want a better Halogen bulb and call it a day, I installed the Xenon+ bulbs from: http://www.rallylights.com/hella/H7.asp The pair of bulbs were $35 delivered. They are brighter than the stock halogens, nothing like an HID set up but better than stock and way cheaper than most other suppliers I have seen out there. |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Friday, February 15, 2008 - 09:00 pm: |
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I discovered the benefit of buying an HID kit from a reputable firm today. I went out to take advantage of the 60* weather today. When I looked at my new super yellow HID kit, I noticed the capsule didn't look right. Somehow, I tweaked the capsule getting everything put back together an snapped the base. I called Texon. Spoke to a live person. They pulled up my order, determined that it was still in warranty (one year), and agreed to ship me a new capsule as soon as they received my defective part. Very cool. That was always my fear in buying low cost HID kits. If something goes wrong, there is no one to make it right. You are just stuck with a defective kit. I would definitely recommend them again! |
Mikef5000
| Posted on Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 10:20 am: |
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Damn you all, get me thinking about this... http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/336983.html?1203174306 Like I didn't have enough stuff to spend my money on already. |
Ejiii
| Posted on Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 11:46 am: |
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Adding cool aftermarket parts is no different than replacing a worn tire, changing oil or paying for a bunch of speeding tickets. It's all just a motor vehicle operating expense...at least that's what I tell my wife! |
Reepicheep
| Posted on Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 11:51 am: |
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They are becoming a commodity item. There is nothing about them that requires anything magic, so if enough places start manufacturing them, there is no reason they *shouldnt* be $75 for a pair. Its just a matter of time... (but that time may not be here yet, so those may be junk, I have no idea)... |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 06:23 pm: |
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The main issue is in having quality components. The ballast, igniter, and capsule must all work well or the system breaks. Hella and Phillips both make good ballast and igniter components. Others CAN be as good, but they are not all equal. Like most things, you get what you pay for. |
Ft_bstrd
| Posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 - 08:10 pm: |
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I haven't forgotten. |