HID Installation on 2014 RT.

[ThreeWheels]

First, I'd like to shout out to Doc-Riverside.
I put out an SOS for help on this install, and Doc stepped up to the plate with a PDF file with some detail pictures as well as a phone number where we could chat. I want to thank him very much for his help. I have shamelessly plagiarized some of his instructions in this post.

Here are some of the details for my installation of the HID kit from KB Carstuff, a site sponsor here.

http://www.xenondepot.com/9005-HID-Kit-Xtreme-HID-p/xt-9005.htm

This kit costs roughly $150 compared to almost $1100 for the parts from BRP. The main difference is, the KB Carstuff kit replaces the halogen headlight bulb with a xenon HID one, along with the electronics to support it. The BRP kit replaces BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES as well as the bulbs and electronics. While replacing the headlight assembly makes for an easier installation, it is also an unnecessary expense.

An important point, the Xenon Depot kit comes with a relay harness to connect the headlights directly to the battery. This is unnecessary. The HID lights use less power than than the standard Halogen bulbs, so you can draw power directly from the headlight circuit, just as the OEM HID lights do. The kit has a power connection in it that mounts inside the headlight cap. You attach this kit connector to the OEM connector that normally attaches to the bulb. The power then flows through the ballast, the transformer and then to the HID bulb.

Here is a photo I received from Doc-Riverside that shows the components lined up to complete the circuit.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=95942&d=1411930850

The first step (as with EVERYTHING dealing with the RT) is to remove panels. I won't go into details, enough has been written and videoed on how to remove panels.
Remove the front fascia to expose the headlights.
Here is a photo of the headlights exposed with the locations I chose to mount the components.
All the components are mounted to the cowl, so that in the event of future upgrades or repairs, i.e. tri-axis bars, the cowl still comes out in one piece.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=95951&d=1411935671


Here is a photo of the components mounted on the left side. There were mounting points for the tie wraps for the transformer.
I secured the ballast in place using a 1" screw.


http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=95945&d=1411930943

You have to drill a 1" hole in the headlight cap to allow the wires to pass through. Here is a photo I stole from Doc-Riverside, and a few of my own that detail the installation.

First is the location of the hole in the cap.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=95946&d=1411930984

Next is a photo of the wires installed into the cap. Notice the grommet that seals the hole.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=95949&d=1411931057

Following is a photo of the HID bulb installed in the housing.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=95941&d=1411930836

It's important to get the polarity right. The HID lights won't work if the polarity is backwards, but nothing will be damaged. Basically, make sure the black wire from the BRP headlight connection matches the black wire from the HID Kit connection. Since the polarity is either plus or minus, you have a 50/50 chance that the polarity is correct. Of course, following the 50/50:90 rule, whenever you have a 50/50 chance that something is correct, you have a 90% chance it's wrong. So on the left side, I needed to reverse the polarity. Below is Doc's instructions on how to do it. You can get out an electrical tester or simply plug the connectors together. If the bulb doesn't light, you probably have the polarity reversed. This won't damage anything. If you think you have the polarity wrong you can simply reverse the connector, mount it and see if the lights go on. This may light up the HID's, but the connectors won't lock together so you'll need to follow the instructions below to change out the polarity of the plug.
Of course, following the ASSUME rule, since the polarity of the left side was reversed, I just went ahead and changed the polarity of the right side before installation. Fortunately, I checked the lights before buttoning everything up because the right side wouldn't light up. Sure enough, it was the polarity. So my RT required the stock polarity reversed on the left side, but not on the right.
One other point of caution. With everything stuffed into the headlight cap, be sure the shutter mechanism works before you button everything up.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=95943&d=1411930867


I took a photo of the lights on after I had the left side (photo right) completed. I'm not sure if the photo does the HID lights justice.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=95944&d=1411930917

Next is a photo of the components mounted on the right side of the Spyder. I had to drill a couple of holes to tie-wrap the transformer to. The ballast is held in place with a 1" screw.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=95947&d=1411931009


I checked everything and ran both lights, making sure that the lights and the bright/dim controls work. Everything was fine, so I buttoned up the Tupperware, and all is good.
All told, this installation took about 2 to 2.5 hours including a call to Doc.

Again I'd like to say a great big Thank You to Doc-Riverside for all his help.

[zuni]

Which kit did you use? Did you only do the headlights? Any plans to do the fog lights? I also have a 2014 RTS and am considering the change. Did you go with the 4300K or something else? How close is the color to the fender lights? Thanks in advance.

CJJAX

[ThreeWheels]

I got the 9005 Xtreme ballast kit at 4300 degrees.
The color is close to the fender lights. The fog lights are a different color.
I hadn't considered doing the fog lights, but after seeing the headlights and fog lights on together, I might consider it.

[Phil]

Nicely done and documented ThreeWheels. I've done the same mod on our 2010 and posted almost the same info back in about 2012 :)

And... I've done the exact same on our 2014 with the same kit and color as yours.

[bruiser]

Just some info.Talking to different service techs there have been a few reports of these kits affecting the electronics. Specifically shifting on the SE6. That's why it's recommended to connect to the battery. The reported issues were not shifting from first up. Shifting up/down by itself. Disconnecting the HIDs and the shifting worked correctly. Reconnecting directly to the battery with the supplied harness eliminated the problem. None of them could explain why this happened other than a difference in current draw. :dontknow:

Oh yeah, the reason I got for changing the housings in the BRP kit was because the bulbs have a different base. :dontknow:

[bluestratos]

I installed my ballasts and relays behind the headlight, there is a lot of wasted room in their and they are completely out of site. I had no electronic issues on either my 2011 or my 2014. I try to install everything to make it easy to remove modules with the least amount of disconnects to make future maintenance easy. Just FYI

[ABQSpyder]

ThreeWheels

His install is the way to go.
That's how I did my.

[ThreeWheels]

Bollix all of this.
Go with LED lights.
Much easier installation.

[L_r_g]

Now here's a necrothread!

HID's obselete, LOL, there's a good one!

LED's *may*, depending on the specific kit you use, be *slightly* easier to install. If you consider drilling a hole in the rear housings to be too big of a job for you to take on, they LED's have the edge here, some fit inside the stock housing (although some don't).

If you like quality lighting, then go with HID's, they beat LED's hands down in terms of light quality, intensity, and beam. The only category LED's have an advantage in is lifespan.

You'll be glad you went to the trouble to drill the holes each night you enjoy your HID's.

Thanks for your contribution, ThreeWheels.

[larryd]

Now here's a necrothread!

HID's obselete, LOL, there's a good one!

LED's *may*, depending on the specific kit you use, be *slightly* easier to install. If you consider drilling a hole in the rear housings to be too big of a job for you to take on, they LED's have the edge here, some fit inside the stock housing (although some don't).

If you like quality lighting, then go with HID's, they beat LED's hands down in terms of light quality, intensity, and beam. The only category LED's have an advantage in is lifespan.

You'll be glad you went to the trouble to drill the holes each night you enjoy your HID's.

Thanks for your contribution, ThreeWheels.


AMEN, I've had both...And yes, HID are a little more involved to install...But well worth the QUALITY & BEAM pattern when installed...I've had both my fog & headlights (thanks to Doc Riverside) for 2 years and not a single problem...And yes, you can see further down the road...larryd

[wingit3611]

Had HID on my Victory Vision and by far the best life's I've had on any vehicle I have ever owned. Thanks for the input. I want the best. See the deer.

[Devious56]

I did a lot of research before making the change, and thanks for Doc Riverside, I've had his set up for over two years now and have had no problems. I could not believe the amount of light that is thrown out in front of my RT, no noise problems, A BIG thank you to Doc for all of his help.

[wingit3611]

Couple people on here installed the 4300K bulbs. Did you have a special reason for that? I did this on another bike and used the 5000K. They look a little britter in the charts that they show, little whiter. 5500 looks even better but not ever vender has them. Looking for some other to share there thought with me.