2013 V-Rod Muscle New Headlight

4476 Views 15 Replies 6 Participants Last post by flybigjet, Sep 16, 2018

Alias

Discussion Starter · Aug 31, 2018

Hey everyone, thank you for all of your support and the warm welcome I got last time I posted!

The engine modifications are complete so far and you can check out my other post to see what all was done, it includes some pictures as well.

There is an issue that became apparent to me as I was leaving a friends house the other night. For the first time ever I rode my bike at night and lets just say it wasn't the best experience...

The light that the stock headlight produces is entirely unfit for this motorcycle, you get the feeling that you are going faster than the light can shine and that at any moment there is going to be a deer or something that will jump out in front of you and you cant do anything to prepare for it, not a good feeling, engine guard or not.

Does anyone have any good advice as to what I can do to the headlight? I'm open to either simply replacing the bulb, or if need be replacing the entire shell and installing some other beast headlight. One brand I kept hearing about was Daymaker , it sounds like a winner but I haven't had time to look into it in detail since school has started back.

Anyway, any advice would be appreciated!

Ride safe everyone!

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

flybigjet

· #2 · Aug 31, 2018

This is a good read and explains a lot of options if you can get past some internal fighting-- it has a few links to look at as well: https://www.1130cc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=411362&highlight=FBJ+Mod

Another good read if you're going to do HID it this one-- it explains how to do the FBJ Mod to keep both low and high beam lights on. https://www.1130cc.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3617786&postcount=419

I've had experience with halogen swaps (Hoen), HID kits (SoCalMotoGear) and Eagle Lights LED's (Eagle Light Gen-III and Altered State Design's custom housing). PM me if you'd like further details and my thoughts on things.

R.

Alias

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 31, 2018

Ill take a look at those links and do some more research, so far it looks like the aliexpress headlights are the same as all the other LED replacements but much cheaper. This is very lucrative but I don't want to skimp out on this bike and wanna make sure anything I put on is going to be good quality.

I'll take you up on that offer and will probably have some questions haha but i'll hold off until I do some reading.

Thank you for the fast response

flybigjet

· #4 · Aug 31, 2018

Big picture:

Upgraded bulbs: Slightly brighter/whiter. Same wattage so not a huge upgrade. Good bulbs burn out quicker.

HID: VERY bright. But, can be blinding if bucket not adjusted properly. Need to find room for ballasts (airbox is usually the answer to that). Need to do "RJ Mod" (jumps wires) or "FBJ Mod" (just swapping a wire in a connector) to keep low beam on when the high beam is on-- otherwise, when you switch beams, you're riding in the dark for a loooong few seconds.

LED: Bulb replacement can suffer from same blinding/cutoff issue as HID. Most bulbs have cooling fins on the back-- these fins can be an issue behind bucket due to space between them and the frame.

Bucket replacement: You can replace the entire bucket, or you can put a (for example) 5 3/4" light in with an Altered State Design mount. Depends on the look you want. Most replacements I've seen have plastic lenses instead of glass.

Not sure if the lights on AliExpress etc. are the same as Eagle, Hog, etc. Having the Eagle Gen-III in my hands, they sure look identical to the Chinese ones. I went with the "real deal" simply for a) warranty, b) known quantity and c) (possibly) better quality. Maybe there's a difference, maybe there isn't-- but I've heard some good and not so good about the "direct from China" stuff and I didn't want to take a chance blowing fuses.

That should give you a few ideas on where to start with your research.

R.

See less See more

Alias

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 1, 2018

I like the look of the Eagle Halo Daymaker from Altered design, if I went ahead and got that one what all would I need to do to the headlight? It says it fits in the original cowl, so im guessing the mount isn't that black plastic looking piece on top of it in the pictures?

flybigjet

· #6 · Sep 1, 2018

Alias said:
I like the look of the Eagle Halo Daymaker from Altered design, if I went ahead and got that one what all would I need to do to the headlight? It says it fits in the original cowl, so im guessing the mount isn't that black plastic looking piece on top of it in the pictures?

If you look at the links below, you'll see how the Altered State housing fits-- I'm using the VRSCDX cowl, so mine looks very similar mounting-wise.

I'd recommend getting the mount only from Keith at Altered State, and then getting the Gen-III Halo direct from Eagle Lights (or AliExpress if you want to go that way). Keith only has the Gen-II Halo, which is a bit dimmer (although the halo is wider). Note that his mount will fit the Gen-III perfectly as the dimensions are identical to the Gen-III NON halo (Keith hadn't had a Gen-III Halo to test out yet in his housing, but it's a non-event).

Here's a link to what the Gen-III Halo looks like. It's not a good picture as it's a lot brighter in person: https://www.1130cc.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4724099&postcount=812

And if you go here and look at posts 781-785 you'll see the Gen-III NON-Halo mounted on an F with an aluminum Altered State housing. WITH the DX visor AND with Budman's riser: https://www.1130cc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169902&page=53

I'm getting the housing powder coated satin black and am also swapping the Gen-III NON Halo with a Gen-III Halo.

Here are a few other links of interest.....

https://www.1130cc.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4722889&highlight=keith#post4722889

https://www.alteredstatedesign.net/daymaker

https://www.eaglelites.com/collecti...-5-3-4-led-headlight-with-white-led-halo-ring

https://www.eaglelites.com/collecti...-5-3-4-led-headlight-with-white-led-halo-ring

See less See more

Alias

Discussion Starter · #7 · Sep 6, 2018

Sorry for the delay between posts school is picking up..
Im going to take your advice and get the mount from Altered state and the Gen 3 Halo from eagle. Not gonna lie this is the first time I've ever messed with wiring but it's not like im working with the city's power grid, a few wires shouldn't be too difficult, any advice besides keeping the bike off obviously, maybe disconnect some out of the way wire to avoid a nasty shock?

Pr0jekt

· #8 · Sep 6, 2018

I went with a Hoglights LED light, fully plug and play, took 10 minutes to put in and was good to go.

flybigjet

· #9 · Sep 6, 2018

If you talk to Keith at Altered State, tell him you'd like to get the H-D conversion harness with the mount-- that will be all you need to make everything completely plug and play. It converts the single H4 plug so it works on your bike (which is wired for H9/H11).

I'm picking up my mount tomorrow (today? Thursday) from the powdercoaters-- I'll post some pics of the satin black and the Gen-III Daymaker to give you an idea of the look on an F with a Budman riser and DX visor.

R.

flybigjet

· #10 · Sep 6, 2018

Another option to consider. No personal knowledge.....

https://www.1130cc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=437207#post4724917

flybigjet

· #11 · Sep 7, 2018

Powdercoater called it a day early today, so no pics.

I'll try again tomorrow.

adri

· #12 · Sep 7, 2018

Alias said:
The light that the stock headlight produces is entirely unfit for this motorcycle, you get the feeling that you are going faster than the light can shine

Truer words were never spoken!

That's why I installed a knockoff daymaker on mine:

inspiribomb

· #13 · Sep 7, 2018

Another vote for Keith @ AlteredStateDesign. I have the Gen 2 Eagle with halo in his mount finished in polished aluminum. Huge improvement and the looks compliment the bike nicely.

flybigjet

· #14 · Sep 8, 2018

Just a quick pic for you to get an idea from my very dirty bike. Headlight is un-aimed, and the bike is more or less apart as I was running out of daylight. F, Gen-III Halo (wired into Aux circuit), DX visor, and powder coated Altered State Design headlight bracket.

I'll post more on my "The Modifications Begin" thread later.

R.

See less See more

killerVRod

· #15 · Sep 15, 2018

Thanks guys! Let me know how you like the gen3 halo. Haven't got one yet. Need to upgrade my existing gen 2 I think

-Keith

flybigjet

· #16 · Sep 16, 2018

killerVRod said:
Thanks guys! Let me know how you like the gen3 halo. Haven't got one yet. Need to upgrade my existing gen 2 I think

-Keith

The Gen-III Halo is OUTSTANDING-- much better look (imho) than the Gen-III w/o Halo.

I'm on the road all week. I'll post up pics when I get back.

R.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.