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Iron Butt
Posts: 691
Manchester, CT | Fellow Riders I know there are posts in the archives regarding Vision headlight bulb replacement bulb recommedations. Its been some time and technology being what it is and ever evolving I am hoping to get recommendations for the headlight bulb. Both the hi and low beam went out on my 2013 with only 5K on the bike. If I had to wager, I only have 500 miles of riding with the headlight on. As always, any and all input is greatly appreciated! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 74
shakopee , Mn | The head lights are always on. Use high beam sparingly.
Had the same problem as I used to run high beams most of the time. Now run low beams 99.9% of the time.
Its been 4 years and 28,000 miles since replaced headlight bulbs
Edited by vicguy 2013-07-19 11:25 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 691
Manchester, CT | I never ran with the headlight on during the days. Since the OEM went bad after minimum use I don't want to go back to the OEM I am looking for a better and brighter replacement. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | The low beam is always on by default. If you start the bike and the low beam ISN'T on, there's a problem. As far as better and brighter replacements, you might try HIDs for the low beams. Personally, I'd stay away from them for high beams as HIDs aren't meant to cycle on and off (like you would have with high beams...turn them on, see a car, turn them off, car's gone, turn them on again, etc). |
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Tourer
Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort) | I had both stock bulbs go out on my '09 and replaced them with PIAA NightTech bulbs that were the best I could find and I've had good luck with PIAA in the past. While the lighting was much improved I had one burn out after a year/12,000 and started looking for alternatives that would keep me from having to pull the headlight module out every year. I went with HID, and so far I'm very happy. The Hi/Low bulbs burn constantly and have a mechanical movement that shifts the beam. Cost was not much more than a pair of high end H4 bulbs, around $75 shipped and a few hours sorting it out. I went with the 55W 5000K kit and it blew me away the first night I took the bike out. I don't use my HID cyclops driving light any more-it looks dim next to the main lights and you can't tell any difference on or off at night so it's just a back up now. Hopefully these will keep me out of the bulb changing business for quite a while.
http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-35W-55W-Dual-Motorcycle-HID-K...
http://www.amazon.com/PIAA-10704-Night-Tech-Upgrade/dp/B00544ZD86
Edited by ByteN2it 2013-07-20 8:09 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| When mine burned out I went to auto store and asked for the longest lasting buld. That was two years ago and they were cheap. Still working.
The brighter you get the shorter the lift |
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area | Brighter bulbs, shorter lifespan.
Our high beams only last about 1/4 of the time that the low-beams do.
Use a higher wattage bulb and expect some damage to the plastic in the headlight. (Burnt socket, brittle plastic, discolored/foggy plastic)
Not counting the round center true HID if you have it, our Victory's come with reflector lens, not projection lens required by HID's.
So unless you want to throw scattered light at oncoming traffic, stick with the OEM bulbs.
Aftermarket HID's are illegal, but you'll most likely never get busted for using them here in the states.
Read about it here;
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conve... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | Since the cyclops light was meant for an HID, an HID would work perfectly well there. As for the main lights, some aftermarket HIDs have a metal shield, others are just a bulb. If the aftermarket HID has the little metal shield, it shouldn't throw light all over the place. Not all HID lenses are projectors. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | I run a Headlight Modulator which exclusively uses the high beam only. That is to say that ever since I've ridden my bike; the high beam has been in constant use, going 0n 14,000 miles now. The Modulator cycles the high beam filament to from 100% to 30% 240 times per minute (roughly 4 times a second). It is of the thought that this modulation actually extends the filament life.
Edited by willtill 2013-07-21 6:17 AM
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area |
Monkeyman - 2013-07-20 11:13 PM Since the cyclops light was meant for an HID, an HID would work perfectly well there. As for the main lights, some aftermarket HIDs have a metal shield, others are just a bulb. If the aftermarket HID has the little metal shield, it shouldn't throw light all over the place. Not all HID lenses are projectors. As an electrician who worked with HID lighting for over 10 years (rebuilding HID ballasts and installing HID lights up to 1000W), I'd advise people to read this article. http://store.candlepower.com/trabhidki.html Pay close attention to the part about the dangers of failed water seal. I've seen HID lighting fixtures blow up and or catch fire and you should consider that danger when you attempt a retrofit. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | I believe you if you say there are issues with a failed water seal and a fire but that could happen with the OEM HID, too. |
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area | MonkeyMan,
High Intensity Discharge (H.I.D.) lights require 15,000-20,000 volts to start the bulb functioning.
Add a little water and you might get the shock of your life.
From an "honest" company that makes these kits;
FAQ-Are these XENON HID light systems street legal?
Every country and jurisdiction has its own rules and regulations governing the use of automotive lighting. XENON H.I.D. lighting systems that are supplied with the vehicles from the factory are DOT / E approved. The same OEM manufacturers that supply all the major car companies of the world also make our kits. NO XENON H.I.D. lighting system available from any source is DOT / E approved if installed outside of the factory. These kits are not street legal for use on public roads as they are. As a result, we officially endorse the kit for exhibition and off-road use and will only sell the kit to be used for these purposes. We are not responsible for customers who violate the terms of sale in which they will assume all responsibilities for any unauthorized or unintended use other than exhibition or off-road use.
http://www.coolbulbs.com/HID_faq.asp
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | Again, not doubting you but what makes an good aftermarket HID (for the cyclops light) different from the factory unit? Assuming the connections are all watertight, I'd think both would be about equal (except for the price). Since the Vision cyclops light housing is made for an HID bulb (same housing for either), the "beam" would be ok, too.
"NO XENON H.I.D. lighting system available from any source is DOT / E approved if installed outside of the factory."
I can't see how it would be illegal (not that anyone would get convicted) to install the OEM Victory HID after the bike leaves the factory. It's the exact same setup Spirit Lake uses, down to the wiring. |
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Tourer
Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort) | My pipes are "for off road use only" too. I read the posted article, understand your reservations,and fully understand the implications and I'm perfectly comfortable with the modifications I've done. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| Yeah, Pete installed my PIAA headlights for me. Bloody knuckles and all. First one lasted 3 moths. Second one died the first day on our trip to Idaho. Just the low beams in both cases. I got over 35,000 on the OEM. Bike goes to Kyle Thursday and asking what he recommends.
FYI, the headlights don't come on till the starter button is hit. So you could switch your bike on and check your lights and think they are both burned out. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| Just a little trick, if you want to light the low beams up without starting the bike turn the ignition on and just flick the starter button. Seems like there was another way to do it but I don't remember anymore :-(
Marc
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area |
Monkeyman - 2013-07-21 6:42 PM What makes a good aftermarket HID (for the cyclops light) different from the factory unit? Since the Vision cyclops light housing is made for an HID bulb (same housing for either) Are you sure that the "cyclops" light still has a projector lens and not a reflector lens in them now since they did away with the HID? I've got a 2011 which has the HID "cyclops" light, but I honestly haven't checked out the newer Visions that don't have HID. I guess I should do a side by side comparison the next time I visit my dealership. (I haven't figured out why Victory dropped the HID headlight from the Vision? I think it was a dumb move.) What's important, in fact critical in setting up HID lighting is the focus of light through the lens. It's not like other bulbs. ("Google it" to find out just how different they are) In many European countries, even factory HID's have to have self leveling and self cleaning capabilities for them to be legal. A simple bug splattered on the outside lens of a HID lamp can cause blinding glare to oncoming traffic. While on my cross country adventures I always make sure to clean my HID headlight every time I stop for gas. When I'm traveling after dark during bug season, especially in the big juicy bug southern states, I notice that I get "flashed" fairly often from oncoming traffic due to bug juice spatter. When I'm going around a sharp corner at night I can see that the light emitted from my HID light (tilts up) could easily momentarily blind an oncoming driver and at the same time doesn't allow me to see around the corner as the light is directed to the pavement. That's where the self leveling part comes into play, like on the high end BMW motorcycles. Another poster mentioned that he had "off road use only" tailpipes and an aftermarket HID lighting system that he was perfectly happy with. Those pipes might irritate your sleeping neighbors, but your aftermarket HID might cause an accident. Depending on where you live you might get away with having both "off street use only" modifications. (I don't think Wyoming would care if you taped a flashlight to your bike and took your exhaust system completely off) I travel all over the country and am aware that some states take DOT laws seriously and will tow your vehicle if found to be out of compliance. My little town has invested in a device that measures the decibel level of pipes and I've heard a lot of discussion about it among my Son's friends. "Summit Racing" is based in my town and they actually issue paperwork with a few of their aftermarket exhaust systems that declare them to be within Ohio's decibel limit. HID's don't really offer you an increased field of depth, but they do offer you a much brighter (3X) White light that provides a much wider view. Now you can see all those darn deer standing on the right hand side of the road. GRRR |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| I'm sure all of you think changing the bulbs is a hard job. Its a peace of cake just wait till you have to change the rear break light switch.
ir under the oil cooler and dam near as much body work has to come off
Love the headlight replacement and do both bulbs |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | bigfoot --- Since Victory offers an "official" HID setup for the cyclops, I would imagine it's set up for the HID. I think it was pretty stupid of Victory to ditch the HID, too, but what can you do? I haven't looked at an '11 and '12 side by side so I'm only guessing but I DO know there isn't a different headlight "bucket" if you order the HID. I think an HID would be fine (both with other drivers and with the police) in the cyclops housing. Maybe they would be ok in the regular positions, maybe not. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 108
Conneaut, OH | Monkeyman - 2013-07-22 8:18 PM
bigfoot --- Since Victory offers an "official" HID setup for the cyclops, I would imagine it's set up for the HID. I think it was pretty stupid of Victory to ditch the HID, too, but what can you do? I haven't looked at an '11 and '12 side by side so I'm only guessing but I DO know there isn't a different headlight "bucket" if you order the HID. I think an HID would be fine (both with other drivers and with the police) in the cyclops housing. Maybe they would be ok in the regular positions, maybe not.
I do believe if you ordered a HID for a 2012+ vision you would receive a new headlight assembly. |
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area | MonkeyMan,
doing a search on a 2013 Vision in the parts catalogue for the HID headlight returns no results.
The 2013 Vision's cyclops light housing has a part #2411197, while the 2011 Vision's cyclops light housing is listed as part #2411430.
The other headlight housing for the two H-4 bulbs is the same for both years.
My guess is that when they went to the Halogen bulb with the cyclops in 2012, they also changed the projector lens inside also to match its particular characteristics.
One other note of interest is that the bulb for the cyclops headlight in model years 2012 and up is a different part # (4011603) than the other two H-4 bulbs (4011524).
They don't refer to the cyclops bulb as a H-4 bulb.
Polaris has used this bulb for many years in its ATV's.
The HID bulb for my bike lists on EBay for $140.
That's just for the bulb.
The last time I checked with my dealer he said Polaris wanted nearly $300 just for the HID bulb.
The bulb that is used in the cyclops today is around $8 on EBay.
The ballast needed for the HID cyclops bulb lists for $169-$220 on EBay.
When Victory dropped the MSRP of the Vision by $2,200 in 2012 VS 2011, it seems a good chunk of that savings was achieved by downgrading the headlights. |
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area | Conn-E-Rott wrote I do believe if you ordered a HID for a 2012+ vision you would receive a new headlight assembly. I believe you are correct, if they still make them. They would have to sell you a replacement for a 2011 or earlier Vision. I would expect to pay in excess of $500 for it.
Edited by bigfoot 2013-07-23 11:31 AM
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Headlight Bulb Replacement Recommedations?