Headlight options?

[4DoorSi]

Ok, I'm sure most of you are thinking, "search first, noob"

Well, I did, and I didn't find what I was looking for.

I took my first night ride last night.  First of all, my headlights didn't work at all.  Figured out I had a blown fuse.  That's not my real issue.

My headlights are really dim!  I could barely see the road in front of me.  I have a dual headlight setup, but I'm not sure if it's a Ducati option or some aftermarket.  I like the look of the dual headlight, but I NEED it to be brighter.

I saw the thread about going HID, and I"m considering that.  It would be expensive though with two lights.  I saw where people have swapped out for better bulbs, but I'm hesitant on that as I've melted harnesses (sp?) before.  I also saw a thread where somebody got some aftermarket lights and fitted them in.  I'm also considering this route.

I would really love to get some projector HID's.  Has anybody done some sort of retrofit of aftermarket projectors or projectors from some other car/bike?  I'm thinking some dual headlights from a Buell Firebolt would look good.

In Summary:
Can I brighten up my existing lights without costing an arm and a leg?
Can I swap them for something else?
If so, what?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Perhaps we can turn this into an all-inclusive headlight options thread and get it stickied

[4DoorSi]

Guess I should have said this before.....

I have a 99 750

[CDawg]

I have a dual headlight setup, but I'm not sure if it's a Ducati option or some aftermarket.  I like the look of the dual headlight, but I NEED it to be brighter.

In Summary:
Can I brighten up my existing lights without costing an arm and a leg?
Can I swap them for something else?
If so, what?

Pretty sure if you have dual's they are aftermarket, not OEM
W/out a pic, there no way to know what make the duals' are what what you can do to them.  If you've melted the wiring harness once, I would be more concerned as to why it melted.  Too hot? too much draw, etc...PIAA offers lots of different types if you want to build your own.

[4DoorSi]

I mean I've melted harnesses on cars before, never on a bike.

Here's a picture

[OverCaffeinated]

They look like they would give of good light. Start with the obvious. You headlight should be a 55w bulb and a 15amp fuse, at least that is what's on my 06 s2r. This is a speculation, some one correct me if I'm wrong, but make sure the correct watt bulb is installed, if its a 65w bulb it may be dim in a 55w circuit. I'm using car stereos as an example. If you have a 600w sub woofer and a 50w amp, it can push the speaker and it will sound like crapo.

As far as upgrades, I would try some Sylvania silverstars before an hid retrofit. There less expensive, less work involved, no extra wiring, and they give off pretty good light. Only draw back I noticed when I had them on my car is that they burnt out very quick. Hid on ricers are easier cuz you have more places to mount and hide the ballast and extra wires. Unless you can find a complete replacement that have everything built in, plug n play, that would be cool.

[CDawg]

Hid on ricers are easier cuz you have more places to mount and hide the ballast and extra wires. Unless you can find a complete replacement that have everything built in, plug n play, that would be cool.

PIAA just cam out with an integrated unit but it is only 30W each.

[Howie]

Hard to tell over the internet, but if the light is really dim I would suspect something is wrong.  Make sure you are getting proper voltage to the headlight and you have a good ground.  Also make sure the connector itself is good. 

[4DoorSi]

Well I dug into it a bit yesterday.  The bulbs are both H4's.  They were some crappy "colored" bulbs.  I replaced them with silverstar ultra's and what a difference!

They headlight also have some tiny bulb in them.  I'm not sure what size.

I was thinking getting rid of one of the H4's since the harness is a little melted and putting a colored "mood" bulb in the smaller bulb hole.  That way one will be a headlight and the other will just glow green or something.

[CDawg]

They headlight also have some tiny bulb in them.  I'm not sure what size.

My guess it that is your "Park" light.  Try turning your key to "P" and see if they stay on.

[punta]

Ok, I'm sure most of you are thinking, "search first, noob"

Well, I did, and I didn't find what I was looking for.

I took my first night ride last night.  First of all, my headlights didn't work at all.  Figured out I had a blown fuse.  That's not my real issue.

My headlights are really dim!  I could barely see the road in front of me.  I have a dual headlight setup, but I'm not sure if it's a Ducati option or some aftermarket.  I like the look of the dual headlight, but I NEED it to be brighter.

I saw the thread about going HID, and I"m considering that.  It would be expensive though with two lights.  I saw where people have swapped out for better bulbs, but I'm hesitant on that as I've melted harnesses (sp?) before.  I also saw a thread where somebody got some aftermarket lights and fitted them in.  I'm also considering this route.

I would really love to get some projector HID's.  Has anybody done some sort of retrofit of aftermarket projectors or projectors from some other car/bike?  I'm thinking some dual headlights from a Buell Firebolt would look good.

In Summary:
Can I brighten up my existing lights without costing an arm and a leg?
Can I swap them for something else?
If so, what?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Perhaps we can turn this into an all-inclusive headlight options thread and get it stickied

your probably not in the hunt any more but i installed a HID kit from this site on my 08 S4Rs testastretta
http://www.xtralights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=10&smc=1213974185880
its an awesome kit tiny electronic ballast and ignition gear masive output, outperforms any non HID i ever seen.
will plug into your factory harness
punta