CNN SUCKS DONKEY
Well-Known Member
97 Vmax 24k ; Ive looked for a 1st gen Vmax specific headlamp hid conversion mod for a while and truthfully I did find only one for 50$. I had some misc parts laying round from my 04 Vtx 1300c as it turns out the oem lamp type are exactly the same h4 9003. So I wondered if a old hid kit i had laying around would fit the Vmax; turns out it will with some minor modding on the plastic fingers on the hid lamp there just thick enough to where the yamaha lamp retainer ring wont latch on them like it would the thin metal halogen lamp. Compare plastic hid vs oem halogen lamp fingers in picture. So with the old hid lamp and metal file in the other I got to shaving some plastic down in hopes of getting them thin enough the metal retainer ring would secure it. After patiently filing 90% on the top part (lamp side) and 10% bottom side on all 3 fingers i managed to get it to fit corectly. On paper it seems like alot of work but its not its shaving plastic eeeasy. Afterward installed and conected it worked just fine. This prototype had a cycling ballast otherwise i would have left it installed. So my next move was to order me a new h4 9003 single lamp hid conversion kit via Ebay theres alot to choose from all types all budgets Mine was less than 20$ shipped. Note /in picture, not all hid lamps are the same length as i found out. Measure the depth of the lamp opening to the lens for added piece of mind and order the shorter lamp to keep from making lamp/ lens contact. Since this was my second time trimming to fit i used a dremmel to speed up. Thats up to you. The metal file is a sure shot just takes a little longer. Again the filing down is the hardest part of the mod afterwards its install just like you have been your halogen lamp - slip your factory rubber boot on, i removed the small rubber boot on the hid lamp since its redundant. Using a tiewrap to hold the boot in place since it wont fit exactly as before but thats fine less you plan on riding thru extreme water. Ive had mine on my Vtx a year with no issue. Pass the ballast wires thru the back of the lamp housing make all conections and making sure you mount the ballast out of any moving parts or cables tie wrap the ballast in a safe inboard location. See picture....All together im in it for less than 20$ i had the tiewraps laying around. REGARDING HID LIGHTING TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR COPS:::::: By default the low beam switch on the vmax will operate the hid lamp and the hi beam the halogen lamp. So when in traffic keep the halogen lamp on as not to blind oncoming traffic and use the hid lighting when safe. In the picture you can see both a halogen and a hid lamp in tandem, switchable with the hi low beam switch on the bike. What cant be seen in the pictures is the crazy amount of brilliant light and the long distance it reaches, after having used halogen, led and hid hands down the hid units give you the most amount of helpful light on any dark road by far. Hope this helps somebody despite my sloppy writing lol. Buzz me with any questions ill be glad to help.
