Replacement headlight bulbs that don't suck?

[rider123]

I think it's pretty well known that the low beam at least on the GEN2 Bandit(2001-2005) sucks. I've cleaned out the black dust from the housing which has helped considerably but the OEM bulb might as well be a candle. Is there any drop in replacements that are better that don't cost too much money? I've seen some great ones online but they want $100, for that kind of money I hope it comes with a naked girl to go on the back of the bike with a searchlight! I'm looking for a drop in replacement for the 9006 low beam. The high beam seems totally fine at least double the brightness of the low beam.

Anyone out there get a Canadian Tire or Pep boys special that works better? Preferably just white if possible. I'm willing to spend a bit.

Can I put a high beam 9005 into the low beam socket to get some extra vision or will the bike not take it.

[rider123]

I've been doing some research on these new fangled HIR 9012 bulbs that are kicking around. Believe it or not John Deere sells them! They are only for the low beam and you have to trim the socket a bit but they work. Might be worth a shot they give %75 to %110 more light with the same power consumption

Part number: AH211917

http://jdparts.com

Heres a link how to trim the tabs on the 9011 and 9012 HIR bulbs to fit in the standard bandit 9005/6 socket:

http://shnu.us/HIR%20Trimming%20A.htm

I may give them a try as they are only $32.50 CAD at the john deere dealer for a pair. Sure beats $100 for one slightly whiter 9006 bulb.

Another link about trimming:

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?t=330299

[PaulVS]

Why not just go with the HID kit from DDM Tuning?  It rocks!  (And is about the price of a "good bulb" that won't compare in light output.)

http://www.ddmtuning.com/Product-Categories/Motorcycle-HID-Kits-Lighting

[pmackie]

Hey 123

Did you look at this thread? It's a sticky in FAQ section of SACS Bandits:

http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?topic=2982.0

[PaulVS]

no no no....

I've had the Toshiba HIR bulb, Silverstar, OEM, AND the DDM HID kit..... the HID kit blows the doors off EVERYTHING.

[rider123]

Wow thats a great thread but I was hoping I wouldn't have to rewire the wiring harness if possible. If Toshiba sold these HIR bulbs at Canadian Tire they would make a million. I guess there must be some sort of "gentleman's agreement" with the bulb manufacturers. I doubt GE would want a bulb they invented blow away there own headlamp bulb because they were dumb enough to sell the patent to Toshiba. I think the John Deere people have caught on though they want $32.50 Canadian for a pair instead of the $9.99 they used to be. Still fairly cheap though for %70 more lumenens. Has anybody given these bulbs a try? It's too bad it's winter as I would have to drive to the country to order these bulbs. Seem that farming in Downtown Toronto is not as prevalent as it used to be :-). Maybe Canadian Tire can order John Deere parts?

I'm skeptical about all these other bulb manufacturers claiming that their 55w halogen bulb is "brighter" then others when they pull the same wattage. It might be coloured differently, ie more "whiter" but you don't get something for nothing. The HIR bulb uses the Infrared energy given off by the bulb and direct it back on to the filament, I guess sort of a semi- closed loop system which adds more energy to the filament which is the only way to get more light. Either it has to pull more power so the filament has more energy or the energy has to be redirected to the filament. I guess theoretically if you reduce the size of the filiment you could get more energy focused but the bulb would last like 2 days before dying.

[rider123]

Those HID systems look very interesting, are they hard to install? I imagine you just hook it up from the front of the fairing back to the existing headlamp plug. The funny thing is my High beam is perfect, in fact I would say it's almost too bright if I accidentally left it on for oncoming traffic. Its just the low beam literally looks yellow and crap and I've cleaned the dust out of it.

[PaulVS]

Here's some pics of the lo-beam DDM HID kit installed on my '03 B12.....

Ballast mounted on fairing frame-stay-thingy...


Another angle of the ballast.  It's held on with double-sided tape and a long heavy-duty cable tie.  It doesn't budge.


And the light output.... hard to tell from this pic, but it lights like a prison yard after a jailbreak...


I just went with the lo-beam since I didn't want to have to try and mount 2 ballasts, and combined with a normal hi-beam halogen, it's more than enough light on dark country roads.  But adding a hi-beam HID isn't that difficult either if you wanted to go that route.  It's a simple plug-n-play kit, no extra wiring or anything needed.

Also, I went with the recommended 35w HID, color 5000k (pure white)  Some people think they need the 55w kit, but it's not necessary and I think the 35w is better for less heat and less "wiring stress"

[rider123]

Look good! I was wondering if I might be able to mount the ballast in there or even on the fairing itself. Can you get replacement bulbs? I was thinking the same thing just mounting the low beam as the high is not bad at all.

Any problem with rain? I'm imagining the Ballast is sealed.

[PaulVS]

Look good! I was wondering if I might be able to mount the ballast in there or even on the fairing itself. Can you get replacement bulbs? I was thinking the same thing just mounting the low beam as the high is not bad at all.

Any problem with rain? I'm imagining the Ballast is sealed.

There's plenty of mounting options, some guys have disassembled the fairing and found "out of the way" spots for the ballast... but yeah... the ballast is made for motorcycles, is supposed to be waterproof, and the bulbs can be had for < $10 anywhere on Ebay or the 'net.  I've had mine installed for over a year now with not a single problem.  (I wash the bike regularly too, so the ballast has gotten plenty wet)

[rider123]

Cool. How about trimming the excess connectors? I'm assuming it at least has a sheet with some sort of instructions. I'd probably do what you did and just mount it on the stock of the fairing holder or whatever it's called. If you need to take a fairing piece off it's easier. I imagine for both headlights you would just mount another ballast on the other side of the fairing stock or whatever its called. Even just 2 35w is still better than the high beam thats in there.

[PaulVS]

Cool. How about trimming the excess connectors? I'm assuming it at least has a sheet with some sort of instructions. I'd probably do what you did and just mount it on the stock of the fairing holder or whatever it's called. If you need to take a fairing piece off it's easier. I imagine for both headlights you would just mount another ballast on the other side of the fairing stock or whatever its called. Even just 2 35w is still better than the high beam thats in there.

I just cut off the extra connectors, which voids the lifetime warranty, but really isn't necessary for anything -- and DDM told me is okay to do.  Personally I'd just spring for the low beam first and see if it's enough for you.

[rider123]

Actually I got a .pdf download from them and those extra connectors being cut off don't void the warranty because I'm assuming only the ballast is covered not the bulb which I've seen for only $10 out there. IF you cut the connectors from the Ballast that connect to the bulb it says you void the warranty. So you may be covered still Paul.

Heres the link to the instructions for you that need them. It tells you specifically what you can and cannot cut. Don't cut the wrong wires or your warraty is pooched!

https://www.ddmtuning.com/support/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=viewdownload&downloaditemid=2&nav=0,1


I'm assuming you ordered the 9006 bulb correct?

Bummer!! The shipping is more than the actual kit! Still worth it though. I can't understand why I can ship some mainjets to Australia for $1.50 through the mail yet these guys charge $35 to ship to Canada? Does the ballast weigh 10 pounds or something? Do they charter a jet to fly to Toronto??? Do they drive the kit up personally to Toronto themselves? Maybe I'll call and just tell them to go snail mail as long as it gets here by spring I don't care if they use a donkey cart.

[Octane]

I'm looking at upgrading also. I was considering the HID type but read somewhere that these bulbs are more suited to the focused type headlamp rather than the reflective type like I have on my K6. Was looking at the Philips bulbs. They claim an additional 35m of light at 55watts. How? Buggered if I know. One thing with the HID lights, they don't like being switched off and back on quickly as in when you start your bike. When cranking the headlight power is cut and when you release the start button it closes the circuit again. This reduces the life of the unit.

[PaulVS]

Those are two non-issues in my book.  The overwhelming improvement in the light output and focus make any regular bulb obsolete, IMHO.