My headlight SUCKS!!!!
#11
1) You are going to double the current draw through the wiring, this could have very bad effects on your bike.
2) You could melt the reflector, wiring insulation, or the wiring loom, the harley housing was NOT designed to vent twice as much heat as a stock bulb. A 30 second google search turns up a thread on XLforum that has multiple people posting that hotter bulbs DID melt their wiring loom and caused expensive repairs.
2) You could melt the reflector, wiring insulation, or the wiring loom, the harley housing was NOT designed to vent twice as much heat as a stock bulb. A 30 second google search turns up a thread on XLforum that has multiple people posting that hotter bulbs DID melt their wiring loom and caused expensive repairs.
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#12
#13
OP: Spend 15-20 minutes aiming the stock headlight. That may very well be all you need.
The headlight on my '07 1200R was downright dangerous when I got the bike. Spent the time to aim it properly and after that it positively lit up the night. Aim is very important and most people neglect it.
The headlight on my '07 1200R was downright dangerous when I got the bike. Spent the time to aim it properly and after that it positively lit up the night. Aim is very important and most people neglect it.
#14
UPDATE: I took about a half hour to properly aim the headlight and its a HUGE improvement. Low beam cuts off where it should, and the high beam is *incredible* now (it was useless, worse than the low beam before).
I may still peruse an upgrade at some point, but aiming it properly took it from horrible to pretty darn good for a halogen.
I'm also spoiled by having projector HIDs on my car, they are amazing.
I may still peruse an upgrade at some point, but aiming it properly took it from horrible to pretty darn good for a halogen.
I'm also spoiled by having projector HIDs on my car, they are amazing.
#15
o.k.- HID in a halogen reflector is a bad idea but what about a higher output halogen that still draws 60/55w but has a higher output? Will those also cause heat/melting issues?
#16
Watts = heat. Period. It doesn't matter what you do with the wattage, you can spin a wheel, power a lightbulb, power a computer, or run a box fan....watts = heat always.
So, as long as the bulb is rated for the same wattage, you don't have to worry about heat/current draw issues.
Not all bulbs were made equal, some 55/60 bulbs are WAY better than others.
I would recommend something from PIAA, I've personally had a horrible experience with Sylvania Silverstars, they tend to last less than a year on bikes due to the vibrations which they are not designed to handle.
#18
Install a true HID and you'll never go back to a bulb.
I have one of these on my '09 Iron and it's awesome. It requires a little work to get it on, and to hide the wires. I had to remove the stock bulb guard that's inside the housing, that brass looking thing. If your capable of more then just plug and play mods then this is what you need.
http://www.v-leds.com/v-hids-35w-sli...e-white-w.html
Look around online and you'll find a discount code.
I have one of these on my '09 Iron and it's awesome. It requires a little work to get it on, and to hide the wires. I had to remove the stock bulb guard that's inside the housing, that brass looking thing. If your capable of more then just plug and play mods then this is what you need.
http://www.v-leds.com/v-hids-35w-sli...e-white-w.html
Look around online and you'll find a discount code.
DDMTUNING.COM has by far the best prices around from what I found. You'll be fine with a single 55w low but you have to match your bulb type. You won't even need the dual filament hi/low bulb, trust me, you'll never use it.
Now, the hard part - where to hide that ballast. I was looking around on my girl's sporty and you might be able to stick it under the headlamp eyebrow/visor, or where the coil is (if you move the coil/ignition like many of us do), or maybe extend the wires back to under the saddle. It will be worth it.
#19
Thanks for the tips!! I am happy now, here is a couple tips on the cheap.
http://goo.gl/kCC3M
http://goo.gl/kCC3M
Last edited by gfburke; 09-06-2011 at 11:16 PM.