Okay, I am very tired of my headlights not being bright enough to light up even the darkest back road let alone me see with oncoming traffic. What can I do? I'd like some options other then just better sealed beam headlights. Projector headlights aren't for me, I would love to find some led headlights like what you see on the newer jk's. I myself can't find anything but euro chrome looking projectors..if anyone has or knows what I can do for led headlights that would be top priority and I'd appreciate the hell out of it. Second would be something unsealed for 55w hids. But any and all help is great. Thanks y'all

 

Truck Lite LED headlights. These things have the same output (if not better) than a set of nicely done projector HIDs.

Here's my thread on them...

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/ju...lights-158645/

These things are bright as hell, believe me. Not only that but they are DOT legal as well and installation shouldn't take more than 10 minutes.

The only downfall is the price but believe me when I say that once you see them in person you'll know it was worth the money spent!

 

Thanks a lot buddy. And btw I love your bike, I had a superhawk and an sv650 that was track prepped. Would love to have an rsv though.

 

I love the SV650! Those bikes are fun as hell for the track, no question about that!

The RSV is an amazing bike. Sold my Ducati 998 for it and don't regret it at all. If you ever get a chance to own an RSV I highly recommend it!

 

A lot of XJ's find that if they just change the headlight harness (upgrade like Putco or homemade harness) that their stock headlights are much brighter. Also, you can think about running the lights on relays so that the power isn't going through the headlight switch.

OK, I just saw that you have a '97, so, you might already have relays, I don't know. If so, you can just ignore that part.

 

The Putco harness will certainly give you a great upgrade for around 30 bucks. My stock sealed beams are twice as bright after putting the harness in. I've heard that Silverstars are even brighter yet, but I don't have those.

 

Unless you live in the middle of no where a h4 swap with the harness will be more then enough.If you really want hids do some reading about them,Not all kits are the same some are total crap or blind people.

 

Thanks for all the help everyone, Ill look into the harness idea. I'd like to do the truck light led but that'll take a lot of saving lol. I've still gotta trace some wiring gremlins down to. My jeep was on a coal mine and it has some really cheap afro engineering if what I'm looking at is as bad as I think it is.

 

SV650 is a sick bike. Had a brand new one that I was on when guy took me out & my arm w/ it. Wheelie riding machines!!

 

Damn that's crazy! I've got a buddy who lost a leg (below the knee) while riding his CBR. Some woman wasn't paying attention, pulled out in front of him, and he couldn't stop in time. It was all over the news and everything.

Crazy thing is he got a fake leg (a real nifty carbon fiber one) and he still rides to this day!

 

Back on topic, another vote for the Truck-Lites. Simply awesome, I can see everything on pitch dark mountain roads with them. Ended up taking my Silverstar driving lights off when I got them because they were useless

 

Originally Posted by xjsnake https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/headlights-151196/index2/ - post2069179https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/headlights-151196/index2/ - post2069179
Upgraded headlights the legal (ish) way...

1) Get a new headlight harness.

You can make your own http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoHeadlightLoom.htm

Or you can buy one: http://www.eautoworks.com/Putco-H4--...s-PRD7540.aspx

The eautoworks harnesses used to be quite cheap until everyone on this forum started recommending them and the price was raised accordingly.

You can pick them up for $29.99 here http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/csd/full.aspx?Page=48 part number 36-3580. It says it fits a chevy blazer but it's the same as the eautoworks harness and I'm running the LMC harness in my XJ.

There are other more expensive options for pre-made harnesses but I'm not super familiar with those.

2) Upgrade to H4 housings

There are two types of regulations pertaining to headlight housings. There are DOT approved housings which are legal in the US and there are Ecode lights which are European housings and aren't legal in the US although many people use them as they are considered superior housings due to the light pattern.

DOT
Rampage http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_501.htm
IPF http://www.quadratec.com/products/97017_1600.htm
Delta http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_121.htm
Hella http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_02.htm

Ecode
Autopals (look on ebay for Autopal 200mm H4 housing)
Hella http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=744
Cibie http://www.clearcorners.com/products/cibie/

Personally I won't buy housings that have plastic lenses, I much prefer glass but your mileage may vary.

3) Get good bulbs

Some of the above housings come with bulbs included with them. I tend not to recommend bulbs as the choices are extremely vast and everyone has their own preferences as to color and wattage.

4) Aim your headlights properly!

I can't say enough how much improperly aimed headlights annoy me on the road plus you are wasting all that time and effort to upgrade the lighting if you don't aim the light where it does the most good... http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=78017

5) On HID Lights

I do not recommend HID's for use in XJ's... People will show links to cheap HID kits and "Projectors" off of ebay and other sites which will give you a lot of light and will also throw a lot of light in all directions making you very visible to police and possibly blinding other drivers.


Read http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html for a well written description of the problems with HID kits.

When using HID's you need a true projector housing. I'm sure people will chime in and say they run HID's and ebay housings and have had no problems but I'm describing the legal (ish) way.

If you want to go down the road of HID's, take a look at what true projector housings cost http://www.kbcarstuff.com/6054-200mm...-p/xd-6054.htm
http://www.brightheadlights.com/hid-upcoming.htm
or you can buy the projectors and retrofit them into existing housings if you are so inclined: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/hea...9/#post1391556

There are a myriad of options available to consumers with the limiting factor being cost. One can spend under $100 and have significantly upgraded their lighting or they can spend $1000 and upgrade their lighting more. It's all in how much money you want to spend.

For those wanting to do some of these upgrades but not necessarily all I would do them in the following order:
1) Headlight Harness (major improvement even with sealed beams)
2) Housings and Associated Bulbs
3) Hid and Projectors (Cost prohibitive to do correctly)


For installation of the harness and housings see this excellent write up: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/my-h4-upgrade-114440/

Disclaimer: Always check your local and state laws as some places have more stringent lighting laws than others... I am in no way associated with any of the above companies and none of what I say should be taken as the absolute truth or only way to do things. Flame on...

 

Check out the Hella's I have a set of them in mine work 200% better than the stock ones direct replacement.

Fred

 

Fred, did you upgrade the harness?

 

The truck lite LEDs would be awesome but I'm very limited right now. The harness seems like my best bet.
And not to side track again but yes the sv650 is a wheelie machine. Mine was a naked 07 and I loved it. Long story short friend crashed it and I bought a superhawk 996 (rc51 touring bike) and it was the sv650 on steroids clutch wheelies at 120ish.