I should also mention there are two different brand bulbs in the pictures above.... The left is dimmer and is the bulb that came with the lights from hella. The right is brighter and I believe is a silverstar, as the one from Hella was broken during shipment. Both are H9, of course.
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Progress on hella headlights
- Thread starter snrusnak
- Start date
Help Support Buellxb Forum:
I haven't been on the forum in a really long time, and I haven't ridden my bike hardly at all in the past year, but I finally have the headlights 100% complete. I ended up burning up the ground again at the headlight connector, even with just one light on (I unplugged the second as a temporary thing since I didn't have time to work on it). I figured I'd share how I did the final wiring in case anyone else is looking to do a headlight upgrade (the factory lighting circuit sucks).
I just rewired it yesterday and used the orange with white stripe wire that is for european (i think) models with indicator lights to power my high beam switch. This activates the shudders which are only about 1 amp total for both lights. The wire is always hot with ignition on so works great, and I used the stock ground.
I then used the two stock blue wires (18 ga I think), that come off the headlight fuse, one wire feeding each headlight. I would have liked to use a thicker gauge but didn't want to run new wiring if I didn't have to. I then ran a 14 or 16 ga (can't remember now) ground from both headlights to the ground screw under the steering neck on the frame.
I let the bike run for about 15 minutes with the high beams on and none of the wiring was hot. I also eliminated the factory headlight plug (white connector), I don't think the terminals can handle that amp draw. Even my stock setup melted the ground pin in there. I'm heading up to the Ozarks next week to do some riding, I just changed the oil, aired up the tires, and got the headlights done and added some new led turn signals out front, I'll snap some pictures to share what it looks like all completed.
I just rewired it yesterday and used the orange with white stripe wire that is for european (i think) models with indicator lights to power my high beam switch. This activates the shudders which are only about 1 amp total for both lights. The wire is always hot with ignition on so works great, and I used the stock ground.
I then used the two stock blue wires (18 ga I think), that come off the headlight fuse, one wire feeding each headlight. I would have liked to use a thicker gauge but didn't want to run new wiring if I didn't have to. I then ran a 14 or 16 ga (can't remember now) ground from both headlights to the ground screw under the steering neck on the frame.
I let the bike run for about 15 minutes with the high beams on and none of the wiring was hot. I also eliminated the factory headlight plug (white connector), I don't think the terminals can handle that amp draw. Even my stock setup melted the ground pin in there. I'm heading up to the Ozarks next week to do some riding, I just changed the oil, aired up the tires, and got the headlights done and added some new led turn signals out front, I'll snap some pictures to share what it looks like all completed.
rchuff
Well-known member
Was wondering what happened to you. Good to hear your still with us and got the lights done. :up:
I'm still around, just changed careers a couple years ago and have been really busy since. All for the better though. I just rode the bike for an hour or so, first time in a year practically. Feels so weird to ride two wheels lol. I always enjoy riding the buell.
For some reason I thought the forum was gone. Maybe someone told me that and I just never checked.
For some reason I thought the forum was gone. Maybe someone told me that and I just never checked.
rchuff
Well-known member
We are still here.Good to hear from you again and hear you still have your Buell. Hope your career change worked out well? When you hopped on the bike and started to ride did you feel that smile come back over your face again?
Yep a very good change. I had a great opportunity so took it and it moved me out to Mississippi (gulf coast) mid 2014. That's pretty much the last time I rode. We bought a few acres and between the new job, my house, property, and a 1200sf shop, I just didn't have time to ride. I went to the dragon in 2015 and rode a bit, and went to AR to ride in the Ozarks once a year since then (my in laws live there and my FIL loves to ride). The house, yard, and shop have slowed down a bit, so I'm hoping I can do a little more riding now. I may, though, leave my bike with my father in law in the Ozarks, if I'm not going to ride it here. No sense letting it rot in my shop, at least he'll ride it. I think that'll be a spontaneous decision while I'm up there, see if he wants it.
And yes, big smile everytime I ride that bike. I took off from a stop yesterday and when I shifted into second it pulled the wheel off the ground. How can you not smile at that???
And yes, big smile everytime I ride that bike. I took off from a stop yesterday and when I shifted into second it pulled the wheel off the ground. How can you not smile at that???
