updates to my XS650. lots of pics!! she needs a name now.

jerseykat1 · Full Member Joined: May 03, 2009 Posts: 79

made a few changes, added a 5.75" x 9" chrome headlight that i installed 3000k yellow HID lights in (ballast and all is stuffed in the housing), lowered the front end (which made my stock kickstand useless), added a home made kickstand because of the lowered stance (undecided on what to do with the kickstand as it is all about function at this time), added custom one off air filters that i made using parts from home depot, some foam and metallic copper rustoleum, added some small detail to the stock wheels that i painted, redid the fuel lines (yes still no petcocks but that will change soon). Still a work in progress.

this is the alternator cover that i fabricated out of aluminum diamond plate, and a cheezy looking stainless steel skull cutout that i purchased from strauss discount auto. Later removed that skull and sanded the diamond plate after i realized it looked cheap and cheezy.

Just random pics of my bike below.

It's actually very yellow, just hard to capture with the camera, very bright as well i can see the light from the HID lights on the ground in daylight.

BeanerBiker · Full Member Joined: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 103

Looks good...let me know how your headlight works out. I have the exact same one and Im having vibration issues.

jerseykat1 · Full Member Joined: May 03, 2009 Posts: 79

mount the headlight with a very stiff bracket, no rubber and your vibration will be minimal. works good for me.

xsleo

A 650 with vibration issues, who would've thunk it. Shocked

kingwj

surprised the alternator can keep up with the HID. Got a web link for the light?

xsleo

From what I have been reading the HID's only draw 35 watts. The stock low beam is 40 watts. No problem.
Some HID's are only low beam, some use the HID for low and a 60 watt halogen for the high beam, others use the HID with a motor to move the bulb around to get both high and low beams.
The price is pretty low for the just low beam, more for the low and high beam, even more for the motorized ones.

jerseykat1 · Full Member Joined: May 03, 2009 Posts: 79

i used to sell HID lights for a living, the high and low beam kits are trash and problematic, i am running a single beam kit (f*** the high beam) low beam only. The only time an HID kit will draw more power than a standard 55watt halogen bulb is on the initial start up, but after about 5 seconds it only uses about 35 watts of power, so yes the alternator can keep up with it. In fact you are doing the charging system a favor by converting, just don't bother with a hi and lo set up you are just asking for problems. keep it simple (this coming from a guy that has sold over 50k HID kits for cars and bikes if not more).

xsleo

I think I'll stick with the headlight I have. With the LED conversions I have done on the other lights, it more than makes up for the extra wattage of the headlight.

hahny13 · New Member Joined: Aug 16, 2009 Posts: 2

what type of shocks are you using on the back< is this stock frame set up or have you done any chopping?

What Happened to 650rider.com?

Yamaha xs650