Are upgraded (LED/HID) lights worth it?

[DougH]

Hmm well I guess that's not so bad. I'm starting to like the integrated turn signals the xb offers though to clean up the look of the bike. Just not sure how I would plug up the rear turn signal holes if I remove them.

 

[s0dhi]

+1 on XBLights + brake strobe

Video cannot do any justice to the brightness.

 

[heagachongoose]

If you do any night riding, upgrading the forward lights are definitely worth it, just make sure you don't get things too hot up there. Not sure what setup you have on the bike but the firebolt housings have plenty of trouble with the chroming with the stock lighting.

 

[DougH]

I have an 07 so I think the projectors are okay. I plan on going with DDM tuning HIDs for the front end

 

[Tork]

Been rocking the DDM 35W/6000K kit on both hi/low for over 8 years now without issue. I do recommend a HID delay kit like the wolstentech TDR (Wolstentech HID TDR Time Delay) to reduce the strain on the electrical system and eliminate the double-fire when starting the bike. I use the negative-switching (TDR, not the TDR-P) version for switching the negative/ground to both hi/low ballasts, and potted the delay unit with epoxy to waterproof it. The 20 amp rating on the TDR is sufficient to handle the inrush current when the ballasts initially fire. I have my delay set to about 40 seconds which is more than plenty. The 35W HID bulbs seem to run cool enough to not affect the reflective coating in the headlight buckets on my '04 Bolt, although I do have upgraded buckets with a much more resilient coating. Everything (both slim ballasts + TDR relay) fit snugly behind the front fairing.

 

[DougH]

Torn have you done anything with your flash to pass switch? I think I'll go with the ddm ultra HIDs for both low and high. I've heard you can use the flash to pass as a garage door opener. Not sure what else you can mod it to do.

 

[Tork]

No, I haven't done any other mods involving the flash to pass switch, although I have considered doing something for opening/closing the garage door from my bike. I don't like the idea of using the flash to pass switch to trigger anything else since I have HIDs on both hi/low. If the HIDs have a finite life to them, I don't like firing the hi side unnecessarily. For now, I'm planning on gutting an inexpensive garage door remote and relocating the open/close button somewhere. Maybe the blank switch plate just above the horn button. I've got some ideas, but haven't put it on paper yet.

 

[DougH]

Alright. Well I ordered HIDs for low and hi. Goodbye flash to pass. Not like I used it anyway.Haha