Aftermarket LEDs or HIDs????

[Bshatro]

Rocking a 2010 XB9SX, headlights suck and need something better.. MUCH better. I'm reading online that I should go with LEDs (https://www.xenonpro.com/led-vs-xenon-hid-headlights-which-are-better) but I'm concerned about fitment bc of the heatsink

what's recommended? i want some seriously bright white light

 

[34nineteen]

Rocking a 2010 XB9SX, headlights suck and need something better.. MUCH better. I'm reading online that I should go with LEDs (https://www.xenonpro.com/led-vs-xenon-hid-headlights-which-are-better) but I'm concerned about fitment bc of the heatsink

what's recommended? i want some seriously bright white light

NJloco likes this light. If you put a brighter light in the stock housing you risk melting the lens.

https://www.amazon.com/KUQIQI-headl...t=&hvlocphy=9030089&hvtargid=pla-907155609313


This guy also sells other Buell parts, so this probably works well also:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/233930440275?hash=item3677573e53:g:968AAOSwTQxgTmSs

 

[RidetheLightning]

I would always try some new cheap 55w bulbs first. Halogen bulbs dim before going out, and these bikes are old. Call me crazy but I kinda like the old school looking amber light on these, and it's not too weak for me with newer bulbs.

 

[AC_Schnitzel]

+1 for the amazon link above. it's a plug/play option w/ LEDs. looks/works great!

 

[34nineteen]

I would always try some new cheap 55w bulbs first. Halogen bulbs dim before going out, and these bikes are old. Call me crazy but I kinda like the old school looking amber light on these, and it's not too weak for me with newer bulbs.

I never take the claims too seriously when someone complains about the lights being too dim. Seriously, who bought one of these NEW and then got home and realized they couldnt see at night?

And then, did they just park the bike and wait for technology to get better? Or decide not to ride at night?

Compared to lights in 2021, the stock ones do leave a lot to be desired, but I dont think night has become darker over the past 10-20 years either.

 

[Cooter]

Global darkening is REAL, bro!

 

[Outlaw]

It also causes cancer. Both only happen in California.

 

[34nineteen]

It only causes cancer to those in California that actually work. So, Cooter should be safe. :black_eyed:

 

[Cooter]

Hey! I "work".

 

[34nineteen]

In Australia now?

 

[CC83]

I will be starting a project once I get other things checked out on my bike. But I will probably be retrofitting some leds into the housings. My only concern will be if they are too bright since they are technically brights. I have these in my truck as brights now. Included is a mock up of what they will look like. I just need to find a nice used headlight assembly and go to work to see if I can take the headlights apart. Ive retrofitted my headlights in my last 2 vehicles and they have worked great. But Ive stuck with HIDS since I dont trust leds in headlights just yet. But putting HIDS on a bike is alot of extra wires and ballasts that you dont have alot of room to add. Figuring I dont ride at night much im gonna see if i can add a kill switch to the headlights so I wont be running them on all the time. If I cant use a small kill switch I could probably tint them so they are not as bright. They have a nice DRL option on these also that would work great for day riding. I have the idea in my head just need to see if it will work.

 

[Cooter]

Your path has been travelled many times before. Might be easier to just pick any number of the multitude of options already finished.

It isn't the bulb (LED or HID) that makes a bright or low beam, it is the housing. The same bulb in either housing will still make a bright or a low beam. Even dual filament, regular bulbs. The reason cars and trucks with aftermarket LED's are TERRIBLE is because the OE housing isn't meant for those universal bulbs. Using a complete assembly is able to solve this, as long as the assembly is made well. Overseas stuff is hit and miss like it always is....


https://www.ebay.com/itm/234005350575?hash=item367bce48af:g:zecAAOSwowxdfjhy
https://www.ebay.com/itm/233930440275?hash=item3677573e53:g:968AAOSwTQxgTmSs
https://www.ebay.com/itm/362845191253?epid=6038870265&hash=item547b423c55:g:f0MAAOSwPGBd72GI

Or if you insist:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124735458523?hash=item1d0ad00cdb:g:v4AAAOSw9YVgp9-N

 

[CC83]

Your path has been travelled many times before. Might be easier to just pick any number of the multitude of options already finished.

It isn't the bulb (LED or HID) that makes a bright or low beam, it is the housing. The same bulb in either housing will still make a bright or a low beam. Even dual filament, regular bulbs. The reason cars and trucks with aftermarket LED's are TERRIBLE is because the OE housing isn't meant for those universal bulbs. Using a complete assembly is able to solve this, as long as the assembly is made well. Overseas stuff is hit and miss like it always is....


https://www.ebay.com/itm/234005350575?hash=item367bce48af:g:zecAAOSwowxdfjhy
https://www.ebay.com/itm/233930440275?hash=item3677573e53:g:968AAOSwTQxgTmSs
https://www.ebay.com/itm/362845191253?epid=6038870265&hash=item547b423c55:g:f0MAAOSwPGBd72GI

Or if you insist:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124735458523?hash=item1d0ad00cdb:g:v4AAAOSw9YVgp9-N

Ya, and ive looked at all those so far. Not bad choices. I have no problem doing the work and figuring out wiring and all. I enjoy ****e like that. Im still doing research. PO put higher quality halogens in and I took it out the other night and it wasnt bad I could see the road no problem. I think also im just so used to having so much light in front of me it threw me off alittle bit. And yes the headlights are designed to put the most amount of light on the road ahead of you with a certain bulb, thats how they are designed. Thats why you cant slap HIDS in your normal housings and call it a day, it scatters the light instead of concentrating it on the road. You must have a projector with HIDS to blanket the road in front of you and really aim it at the ground. LEDS im still not sold on for headlights. And you have to stay in the 4300-6000k range even 6000k is alittle too high, the higher you go the less light is emitted which renders your headlights useless. The attached photo are the lights I built for my tundra. 5500K bulbs with 5000K LED fog lights. All made by Morimoto. Blankets the road ahead of me does not blind oncoming traffic. Crisp cut off line from the projectors. Sorry I have a small obsession with lights.

 

[34nineteen]

I will be starting a project once I get other things checked out on my bike. But I will probably be retrofitting some leds into the housings. My only concern will be if they are too bright since they are technically brights. I have these in my truck as brights now. Included is a mock up of what they will look like. I just need to find a nice used headlight assembly and go to work to see if I can take the headlights apart. Ive retrofitted my headlights in my last 2 vehicles and they have worked great. But Ive stuck with HIDS since I dont trust leds in headlights just yet. But putting HIDS on a bike is alot of extra wires and ballasts that you dont have alot of room to add. Figuring I dont ride at night much im gonna see if i can add a kill switch to the headlights so I wont be running them on all the time. If I cant use a small kill switch I could probably tint them so they are not as bright. They have a nice DRL option on these also that would work great for day riding. I have the idea in my head just need to see if it will work. View attachment 15459

and there is always this, as the lenses sit very close to the bulbs.