Brighter dual bulb headlights?

GD23RTF2

GD23RTF2

Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2013
Messages
229
Age
55
Location
Wisconsin
My headlight isn't the worst, but WOW are there some sleds out there coming the other way with some SERIOUS headlights. Basically blinding. Kinda wouldn't mind getting in on some of that.
Has anyone popped in higher output headlights in a dual bulb SRX or SXR?? There sure are enough of them out there. 75W, 100W, Xenon boost and so on.
Will the electrical system handle it?

Thanks,
~G.D.
 
Those are most likely HID's and i run them on my vipers. They are awesome. For the 2 strokes you have to have a battery to fire the ballast, but other wise plug and play. I do know the PIAA's will fire a bit more light also and they are a simple swap. You do not want to run any higher bulb watt then what you currently have otherwise risk burning up the stator.

HID kit http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-35W-55W-Dual-Motorcycle-HID-Kit
post 135 http://www.totallyamaha.net/forums/showthread.php?t=86904&page=14&pp=10

PIAA bit pricey but heard good things about them. https://www.denniskirk.com/piaa/h4-...-bulb-xtreme-white-70456.p22387.prd/22387.sku
 
I did put a single bulb HID on my 98xtc 55w but im having trouble with it. It will blink at times. Usually a sign of not enough power. I dont think the old 175w system (single bulb sleds) can handle the extra draw or i have a weak stator. I may try a 35w ballast and see what happens. No problems since i went back to stock bulb. Im thinking the PIAA for the single bulb xtc.
 
super1c said:
Those are most likely HID's and i run them on my vipers. They are awesome. For the 2 strokes you have to have a battery to fire the ballast, but other wise plug and play. I do know the PIAA's will fire a bit more light also and they are a simple swap. You do not want to run any higher bulb watt then what you currently have otherwise risk burning up the stator.

HID kit http://www.ddmtuning.com/Products/DDM-35W-55W-Dual-Motorcycle-HID-Kit
post 135 http://www.totallyamaha.net/forums/showthread.php?t=86904&page=14&pp=10

PIAA bit pricey but heard good things about them. https://www.denniskirk.com/piaa/h4-...-bulb-xtreme-white-70456.p22387.prd/22387.sku
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Was This directed at me, or the other guy?

If me, I don't have a battery, and am not interested in going that route.
I'm just looking for simple swap for a higher output bulb after a stop at the auto parts store if I won't wreck anything, and the system will take it. Only other thing I have hooked up is an electric shield.
Mine is an 01 SX700R dual bulb. Are you saying that this is bad medicine on a 300W system to swap out a higher output bulb other than one of those God-awful expensive PIAAs??

I remember from back at my days at a dealership, swapping out a 75W or 100W bulb for the single headlight bulb system was quite popular, but that was about all a machine could get away with.
 
JDViper said:
I run the PIAA's in my sled. they are the stock wattage, just a highter light output. Makes a huge difference. I bought off of ebay I think. http://www.piaa.com/store/p/34-H4-Night-Tech-Twin-Pack-Halogen-Bulbs.aspx
this is the one. 2 pack was under $40 i think. Just check your stock wattage and toss 'em in.
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LOL, out of stock. Typical for something I'm looking for. :-p

Found them on ebay pretty cheap though. May as well give them a try.
Thanks.
 
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GD23RTF2 said:
Was This directed at me, or the other guy?

If me, I don't have a battery, and am not interested in going that route.
I'm just looking for simple swap for a higher output bulb after a stop at the auto parts store if I won't wreck anything, and the system will take it. Only other thing I have hooked up is an electric shield.
Mine is an 01 SX700R dual bulb. Are you saying that this is bad medicine on a 300W system to swap out a higher output bulb other than one of those God-awful expensive PIAAs??

I remember from back at my days at a dealership, swapping out a 75W or 100W bulb for the single headlight bulb system was quite popular, but that was about all a machine could get away with.
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Was meant for the both of you. PIAA's are your best choice then but stay with the same watt bulb. I would not recommend going higher then what came with your sled but its your stator. It will work for a while but will shorten the life of the stator. HID's are the wave of the future. Its not any work and wiring up a small battery is not that much work. I run them on both my vipers and love the look and visability. Good luck
 
HID are fine for long distance visability. Depending on the socket type both GE & Philips have brighter bulbs at the same wattage. They are a lot brighter which I use on m vehicle. Back to the sleds

Its fine I suppose if your sled came with HID. I have only one bulb running Xenon now. It's fine at night but could be a bit brighter. But as early as last weekend I was on a trail (bush & brush or drop off on the side. Two sled were coming I could not see anything but lights and I initially though it was a truck on the trail (rail bed I think) but then thought it must be a gromer. The first sled had white on white light so bright it would make black look like a light. I had to pull ove and stop and a good think I don't sled fast on trails. They're be a collision for sure into something.

Maybe the they are on high beam aiming high I don't know that HID on sled have that mode but for trails they have to have them aimed much lower. Yeah you want to be see and I want to see you but I also want to see where to got to pass safely. This was not going to happen.

Take note when you put them in and some mother of old single bulb sledder runs straight into you and knocks your lights out, both of them!!! I tell you I am not taking on the tree but I will take out the light. Trees don't loose.
 
tripplec said:
Take note when you put them in and some mother of old single bulb sledder runs straight into you and knocks your lights out, both of them!!! I tell you I am not taking on the tree but I will take out the light. Trees don't loose.
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Not sure what this is supposed to mean?? But i can tell you how it comes across. HID's in hi/low do exactly that. The beam is in front of you on low and up higher on hi. If used and installed correctly they are far better then anything out there and are not blinding to on comming traffic.
 
If what I've been seeing is the HIDs, I certainly agree with you. I've thought it was trucks, or groomers too, What do you wanna bet that they are going to end up being banned some day? Probably great for the rider, terrible for those coming the other way.
I know that at a road crossing with them on the other side, I've been just about blinded, not to mention them coming the other way, or blasting your face off coming around a blind corner.
Thanks for the advice guys, I'll probably go PIAA. Saw some on ebay for $45/free ship in the Night Techs. Better off with them, or the Anti Vibration?
 
super1c said:
Not sure what this is supposed to mean?? But i can tell you how it comes across. HID's in hi/low do exactly that. The beam is in front of you on low and up higher on hi. If used and installed correctly they are far better then anything out there and are not blinding to on coming traffic.
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What it means it that many of us on the trail don't appear to have these exceedingly Ultra bright blinding lights. On a trail with trees and drop offs into serious fall or trees. I would opt to head toward the blinding machine keeping on the trail as best I could be likely hitting the oncoming machine. I was not in a position to see where I should be going and the oncoming sled is my only guide to where it should be. Heading for the bush into a tree is catastrophic as it off a cliff. The lights may have Hi/Lo but if not used in this tight environment in Low the driver is asking for trouble. As an oncomer I cannot see when effectively blinded by the lights.

So that about covers it again and some sled I've seen have two or three lights, unneccesary on a forest/treed winding trail and if if so dimming to low is a must. You can't throw that kind of candle power out there and not have an effect on the oncoming rider. I'd take my chances on a head on collision then with a tree anyday.
 
GD23RTF2 said:
If what I've been seeing is the HIDs, I certainly agree with you. I've thought it was trucks, or groomers too, What do you wanna bet that they are going to end up being banned some day? Probably great for the rider, terrible for those coming the other way.
I know that at a road crossing with them on the other side, I've been just about blinded, not to mention them coming the other way, or blasting your face off coming around a blind corner.
Thanks for the advice guys, I'll probably go PIAA. Saw some on ebay for $45/free ship in the Night Techs. Better off with them, or the Anti Vibration?
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I am glad to here that. We pass only a few feet away at best on many trails at night. Running lakes trails they're probably fantastic but they need to tone down a lot for the real trails with other oncomers. Many times the ability to keep tight to the right side is hard enough due to roots, banking of the trail, and obsticles not seen. I or they don't need to add blinding light to the situation.

Its bad enought when you run into it with your car/truck but have some lines or shoulder to help indicate where you should be and a lot more space and time to deal with it. Things are very tight on the trails as they are passing at times and not being tossed by skies jumping groves of other machines where you don't want to be.

Go for it an get a bright light but putting an HID into a fixture not designed for it is a major mistake on any vehicle the light is not controlled sufficiently and a close proximity the results are very bad.

I am sure everyone does not drive with them on HI, in my opinion there is little need too given their massive candle power. On the Lakes or long open stretches you have time to dim if someone is coming.
 
I hear ya tripple.....I would guess it has more to do with a disrespectful sledder coming at you not giving a chit leaving their HIGH beam on. I have had a few run ins while in the groomer.........Crazy how fast they go to low beam when I shine the spot light right in their face. How much common sense does it take to switch to low beam when your pulling off the side of a trail for the groomer the slide by?
 
tripplec said:
What it means it that many of us on the trail don't appear to have these exceedingly Ultra bright blinding lights. On a trail with trees and drop offs into serious fall or trees. I would opt to head toward the blinding machine keeping on the trail as best I could be likely hitting the oncoming machine. I was not in a position to see where I should be going and the oncoming sled is my only guide to where it should be. Heading for the bush into a tree is catastrophic as it off a cliff. The lights may have Hi/Lo but if not used in this tight environment in Low the driver is asking for trouble. As an oncomer I cannot see when effectively blinded by the lights.

So that about covers it again and some sled I've seen have two or three lights, unneccesary on a forest/treed winding trail and if if so dimming to low is a must. You can't throw that kind of candle power out there and not have an effect on the oncoming rider. I'd take my chances on a head on collision then with a tree anyday.
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I guess we will agree to disagree. A head on crash is never an option. If the conditions due to the other sledder are that bad just stop on side of trail and let them pass. I guarantee they will see you!!!!!!! :hide: Let the bashing begin!! I love my HID's and use them with respect and correctly. I have ridden my daughters sled heading toward the HID sleds to check just this thing and once again if used right they are fine. I will never change them and they are only gaining in popularity. Im not here to promote or defend HID's i simply gave him an option. He he dosent like them then dont use them. But i will! PIAA's can get the same kelvin scale as HID's so no real difference. Sorry for the post hyjack, i dont get riled to often but when someone says they would rather run into a sled then just pull over i have a problem with that. :jack: On to the topic at hand. What your running is what the sled was designed for. You can either get brighter and offend people or stay stock. Your choice.
 
Super1c, I dont think he was intending on bashing guys running HIDs, I took it more of a "if you run them respect on coming traffic and dim them when oncoming traffic is present" I have more than a few sleds come around a corner way to fast or even coming at me on a straight away that leave high beams on (or were some UBER bright low beam) We all need to be able to see in front of us. Blinding the guy coming at me really wont do either of us any good if I am the only one that can see him crashing into me.
 
super1c said:
I guess we will agree to disagree. A head on crash is never an option. If the conditions due to the other sledder are that bad just stop on side of trail and let them pass. I guarantee they will see you!!!!!!! :hide: Let the bashing begin!! I love my HID's and use them with respect and correctly. I have ridden my daughters sled heading toward the HID sleds to check just this thing and once again if used right they are fine. I will never change them and they are only gaining in popularity. Im not here to promote or defend HID's i simply gave him an option. He he dosent like them then dont use them. But i will! PIAA's can get the same kelvin scale as HID's so no real difference. Sorry for the post hyjack, i dont get riled to often but when someone says they would rather run into a sled then just pull over i have a problem with that. :jack: On to the topic at hand. What your running is what the sled was designed for. You can either get brighter and offend people or stay stock. Your choice.
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Well the fact being that both me and my son are usually sledding together and trained and do the same thing together.

Given advanced spotting of on commers we always pull to the side either fully stopped or at a bear crawl the squirl wouldn't get run over stopping in front of us. We pull away and contine on after all oncomers have passed. Likewise those coming up our rear are given free passing (we pull to the side and wave them by) we are not very fast sledders on the trails but enjoy a shot of speed on long straight stretches now and then but back to civil speeds 40-60km/hr max on the trails with turns in them.

Its those who appear out of knowhere going like a bad out of H...l that scare us coming into a turn. Night riding much the same and cannot avoid these misused HID's or whatever they are. You don't need 3 HID's to travel bush trails weaving left right etc. I just know from past experience catching even a small 4-6" maple tree at even 10km/hr will make really big impact on any sled and not much faster to make you become super sledder (super man flying through the air) and if you hit that same tree with your helmet on you're likely a goner either way the tree remains unscathed. I have learned in the school of hard knocks over decades of sledding, trees, rocks, rock faces, deep dropout and ice cover declines are to be avoided at all cost. The results are never good unless you ride with horseshoes and real luck. I have been a number of times. I have told my son and we don't venture to experience them and avoid them. We ride to ride and not to fly but get back to ride another day. Thats anothe reason we don't have the latest sleds I like the big old touring designs with its comforts.

Sorry it some earlier post are coming off the wrong way. Thats my fault but too bright it still too bright for many trails in Ontario.
 
GE Platinum Nighthawks are really bright up to 90% same wattage. I use them on my Jeep and my Son on his Explorer. We both see the difference. I depends on whether the socket type is supported since they don't make them in many types. I know Philips also has a type that is slightly brighter but I forget the name they used. The light is white and not blue.
 
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