2013 RTS - headlight confusion

[dangme55]

Hi everyone -

I am a newbie - bought a Circuit Yellow 2013 RTS-SE about two weeks ago. (previous bike Victory Vision Tour) I want to thank everyone who posted encouragement to new riders about the handling and getting used to it in the handling forums. I was 'terrified' :shocked: as well and I flew F-4 Phantoms in combat so not easily scared. Once I got it in my head that this thing rides like a fighter flies it is much better. I now do not think about moving the bars at higher speeds - just pressure on the bars. The steering is sooooo quick it is too easy to get into a PIO (pilot induced oscillation) - best to leave the 'ham fists' at home :duh: - enuff on that

My real technical question is what are the correct bulbs in both the headlights and fog lights? I am planning to upgrade to HID for both and I need to make sure the bulb base is correct when I order it. I have looked at the BRP manuals and service manual and all they reference is a 55 W for the headlight and 35 W for the fog lamps. Not much help.

Looking through forum posts most people say the headlamps are H7's on years prior to 2013 but nothing on 2013 models. When I go to motorcycle parts sites and use their 'tree' they say they are H9's.
But H9's are 65W not 55 like the H7.

I called my dealer and they said they are HB3's which are not even close to a H7/9 bulb. That just added to my confusion. They did open a fog lamp upgrade kit and those are H4's. So pretty sure that is correct.

Can anyone tell me with some degree of certainty what the headlamps are? I suppose I could disassemble and remove to find out but frankly I am both too lazy and having way too much fun riding right now to pull it apart to look.

Thanks in advance!

Jim

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Welcome. I am glad you have joined us. Congrats on the Spyder.

I wish I could provide council as to your request, but, alas, I am unskilled in that area.

 

[NancysToy]

The dealer is correct. For the 2010-2013 RT the headlamps are 65W HB3 or 9005 bulbs. The other models differ from this.

 

[Bob Denman]

And :welcome: :2thumbs:

 

[dangme55]

thanks for the warm welcome and thanks for the info

Thanks all appreciate the welcome.
Scotty thanks for the definitive answer.
The BRP owners manual is pretty good for the owner stuff and i bought the master service manual on pdf from a guy on ebay - green manuals or some such a company a bargain at about $30 bucks.

The manuals are really good with great pix but @#%$#$ how hard is it to put the lamp #'s in the book? Shame on you BRP!

I really like this machine :spyder2:

Thanks again all!

Jim

 

[dangme55]

More Headlight Trivia Questions from the NooB

This is posed to everyone - hope Scotty chimes in.

In my previous post on this thread I asked about the headlamps in the 2013 RTS. Even though riding at night is an 'unnatural act' as all the grip disappears from the road ( same thing happens in flying darkness destroys the 'lift' in the air) occasionally I ride at night. Since the days are getting shorter I would like as much light as possible. New bulbs are a very inexpensive upgrade.

After all my research I found that 9011 HIR bulbs have about 50% more lumens than a standard hb3/9005. From all the scare tactics about glare and light scatter from HID's without an HID compatible reflector I decided that would not be a good option. Laying a grand out for the BRP HID retro which contains new reflectors was not something I want to do right now. Looks like a simple mod to make a 9011 fit in an hb3 hole so I am leaning that way.

Then I stumbled across some more 'research' in regard to HID's. (More research is likened to Confucian saying: 'Man who has watch knows what time it is. Man who has two watches is never sure.')

Hang on there is a question in here somewhere.

What I found out is that the difference between a low beam and a high beam bulb is that the low beam has a shield or hat to keep some of the light from scattering and a high beam does not. Therefore the 9005 high beam on a reflector (Spyder) would be essentially like an HID bulb.

So here is the question(s): The Spyder uses the high beam bulb and a mechanical shutter to mask the 9005/HB3 beam to 'low' beam correct?

If so - then then HID bulb would be affected in the same way? That is not spewing glare all over like an HID in a standard low beam reflector when the shutter is down (up)?

Has anyone patterned their HID conversion (non BRP) to see if the shutter does indeed give a proper 'cut off' pattern.

Sorry but I am an incurable tinkering dweeb in things mechanical.

Thanks in advance!

Jim

Toy Collection:
2013 RTS-SE5 Circuit Yellow :spyder2:
2008 Corvette Convertible Crystal Red/Cashmere Z-51
1999 Fleetwood Discovery 36-T RV
The kids are gone, the kids are gone! :yes:

 

[Oldmanzues]

Welcome, first of all.
Have no idea on the bulb thing.
Thank you for your service. Where you fly the F-4? (if you want to tell).
As a sometime crew debriefer in the USAF, I heard situation you call PIO, referred as a Oh S*** moment.
Ride safe and have fun.
Oldmanzues

 

[Lamonster]

First off I LOL on this quote:

(More research is likened to Confucian saying: 'Man who has watch knows what time it is. Man who has two watches is never sure.')

I can so relate to this. :roflblack:

Here's one video that might help. This is on a RS but pretty much the same.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Xenon-Depot HID Kits V OEM - Switched ALL our lights to HID, U can see why

 

[nhoj]

Try the OSRAM Nightbreaker Plus Halogen HB3 Bulbs first

Site sponsor Xenon-Depot has them..
http://www.kbcarstuff.com/9005-HB3-OSRAM-Nightbreaker-Plus-Halogen-Bulbs-p/9005nbphcb.htm