Author Topic: Going with HID headlight! (Read 7357 times)

speedracer741 · « **on:** March 28, 2007, 09:18:46 PM »

I have had HID headlights in my BMW car for about a year now. I also swapped out the headlight assemblies with projector style. Now that I am used to them it's rally hard to be satisfied with regular halogen in a bike, especially since there is only one. I do quite a bit of night riding outside of the city so a powerful lighting system is important to me. The kit in my car was over $500.00 however they have gotten a lot cheaper in the last few years (since the last HID posts on this site) so I have decided to bite the bullet and go for it on the bike! Since I have several bikes I have purchased automotive kits which will give me enough for 2 which also lowers the cost per bike. I also got the H4 conversion headlights. Another benefit I'm hoping to experience is the reduced power requirement of 35 watts which should really help with charging system duties. Since the law requires us to run lights all day this should really help. The HID kit I purchased is the Bi-xenon type which will do both low and high beams. The first bike I will be installing this on is my '77 KZ1000, the closest one to bieng road ready. Unfortunately all of my Honda projects are a little ambitious and won't be ready for this summer

Here are a couple links to the items I purchased for this little experiment.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=009&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=190095186248&rd=1,1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140100164048&rd=1,1

pddpimp · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2007, 09:25:43 PM »

Thanks for the info, it looks like a great deal. I think I will have to try that conversion later this year. Let us know how it all work\fits for you on the Kawi.

cb350twin · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2007, 11:45:31 PM »

What color/ temp did u go with? I have 4300k in my car and love them. Be sure to take pics after the install!

speedracer741 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2007, 12:09:17 AM »

Quote from: cb350twin on March 28, 2007, 11:45:31 PM

What color/ temp did u go with? I have 4300k in my car and love them. Be sure to take pics after the install!

I ordered the 6000K which I also have in my car. That is about as blue as I want to go. I will definitely post some pics, hope the stuff shows up soon. I am anticipating some clearence problems in the cramped confines of the headlight bucket as these bi-xenon bulbs hang out quite a bit. The bucket is an aftermarket reproduction so I don't mind having to do some surgery on it if needed.

speedracer741 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2007, 10:25:17 PM »

So while I am waiting for the stuff to show up and for the bike to be ready for it, here is the 6000K in my car. Hard to believe they draw so much less current than the halogens! The camera didn't like how bright these are. The actual light source is coming from a projector lense that is about half the diameter of the headlight. The low beams have the same halo rings as the high beams but even thicker.

Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2007, 11:08:20 PM »

Is it necessary to replace the lense also in addition to the bulb & ballast?

speedracer741 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2007, 11:15:56 PM »

Quote from: RxmanGriff on March 31, 2007, 11:08:20 PM

Is it necessary to replace the lense also in addition to the bulb & ballast?

They should work with just about any lense configuration so if you already have an H4 conversion it should be plug n' play. I personally like the dispertion pattern of projector lenses and they are better about controlling the amount of light on the road since they mimic the dispertion parameters set by the shielding in the bulb itself. Some conventional lenses might cause a problem with oncoming drivers though I'm not 100% on that one.

Jim F · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2007, 08:13:17 AM »

I hope you checkout the guys feed back
docent sound like to many people are too happy with the seller

let me know how this works as I have a GS750 and a 75K Honda that would

love to switch over to this

hope it all works out

Jim

turboguzzi · « **Reply #8 on:** April 01, 2007, 01:02:24 PM »

hei speed
And I thought you were more into aluminum carving....
Have a friend that import these units to italy and we played a bit with them, not on my bike but on my subaru legacy which has also a single bulb. Just for your knowledge, there are also non telescoping HID units that can supply high/low by having two arcs inside. these are somewhat shorter and might be a better fit in a bike headlamp which isnt so deep.
Would ask first about the lamp length from adaptor ring to tip and check if it fits.

my two cents
starting the engine in a week, lets see how it goes....
TG

speedracer741 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2007, 08:25:52 PM »

Quote from: turboguzzi on April 01, 2007, 01:02:24 PM

hei speed
And I thought you were more into aluminum carving....
Have a friend that import these units to italy and we played a bit with them, not on my bike but on my subaru legacy which has also a single bulb. Just for your knowledge, there are also non telescoping HID units that can supply high/low by having two arcs inside. these are somewhat shorter and might be a better fit in a bike headlamp which isnt so deep.
Would ask first about the lamp length from adaptor ring to tip and check if it fits.

my two cents
starting the engine in a week, lets see how it goes....
TG

Yes I do like carving aluminum more than anything else but the coolness factor of these lights was just too hard to pass up

I have heard about the twin arc systems but I was under the impression that they are quite a bit more expensive and require 2 ballasts to operate. There is just enough room forward the coils in the KZ frame for one ballast but I'm sure a second could be mounted with some ingenuity. Since I already bought the kit I guess I will have to just make it work for now. A small extension in the rear of the bucket should be pretty easy since it is made of thin steel with an easy to match black paint. Can't wait to see that engine run!

speedracer741 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 03, 2007, 08:01:55 PM »

HID kit showed up today! I was a little concerned about the sellers feedback but it looks like I lucked out. The kit was set up with it's own wiring harness for cars so I had to do a bit of cutting to make two kits out if it. I tested both ballasts and bulbs including the high/low operation and everything works excellent! The ballasts even come with their own mounting brackets that they snap into. The bulb assembly extends 1-3/4" out the back of the mounting flange and the wires exit out the side meaning I may not have any clearence problems. The H4 lenses have not arrived yet so I can't check it in the bucket. I would suggest not looking directly at these, especially unshielded! One bulb lit up the whole shop!!!!!!!!!!!!

ChevelleSSLS6 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2007, 10:28:52 PM »

this sounds like a great idea; my gf lives 30 miles away, rural driving, of course late night in the dark riding would be involved... I'm yet to operate my cb550f for the first time- and it's my first bike. I'm honestly a bit scared about this lol.

speedracer741 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 17, 2007, 08:53:03 PM »

Finally got the H4 conversion headlights! The first package got lost so he sent another set overnight. The great news is that it all fits in the bucket

I measured all of my CB750 and 550 buckets and they are slightly deeper than this KZ1000 bucket which means this conversion should just drop right in to just about everything. Ballast location might be a little more tricky with my CB projects as the KZ frame has a nice spot for it. I had to build custom brackets for the Dyna coils that put them back farther to make room. The ballast is all rubber mounted just in case but these are resistant to vibration and waterproof as well! Can't wait to get this thing on the road. The other set will be going in my CB550.

eldar · « **Reply #13 on:** April 18, 2007, 06:34:38 AM »

I have to nkow how well these things work. I would love to get them. More light for less amp draw? Gee that sounds win-win to me even though some might complain about some effect on the electrical system or having to mount ballast! So this is a 2 bulb system though, correct?

Bikebuff · « **Reply #14 on:** April 18, 2007, 10:36:53 AM »

I agree with Eldar; I'm VERY interested in this setup as I'd love more light for less of a power draw. Riding by candlelight is not my idea of fun. Keep us posted.

Prost!

speedracer741 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 18, 2007, 05:32:38 PM »

Quote from: eldar, Master of the K8 Thunder! on April 18, 2007, 06:34:38 AM

I have to nkow how well these things work. I would love to get them. More light for less amp draw? Gee that sounds win-win to me even though some might complain about some effect on the electrical system or having to mount ballast! So this is a 2 bulb system though, correct?

It still uses a single bulb but there is a solenoid that moves it to the high beam location. This system is what makes the assembly hang out the back farther than a normal bulb and would have caused clearence problems but luckily it just barely fits. It's hard to see in the pictures but there is a second set of wires coming out the back of the bucket not connected to anything. This is the supply to the high beam solenoid.

koffin · « **Reply #16 on:** April 19, 2007, 09:36:33 PM »

Quote from: speedracer741 on April 18, 2007, 05:32:38 PM

Quote from: eldar, Master of the K8 Thunder! on April 18, 2007, 06:34:38 AM
I have to nkow how well these things work. I would love to get them. More light for less amp draw? Gee that sounds win-win to me even though some might complain about some effect on the electrical system or having to mount ballast! So this is a 2 bulb system though, correct?

It still uses a single bulb but there is a solenoid that moves it to the high beam location. This system is what makes the assembly hang out the back farther than a normal bulb and would have caused clearence problems but luckily it just barely fits. It's hard to see in the pictures but there is a second set of wires coming out the back of the bucket not connected to anything. This is the supply to the high beam solenoid.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe hi/low are bi-xenon setups. This is the way to go, IMHO.

speedracer741 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 19, 2007, 10:17:02 PM »

Yes you are correct. The kit I purchased was advertised as the bi-xenon system and uses the H4-3 bulb assembly. So far I am very happy with it's operation. Now if the remaining parts for the bike would show up in the mail I can see it in action out on the road. Hope too many cars don't flash their high beams at me

koffin · « **Reply #18 on:** April 19, 2007, 10:26:52 PM »

Quote from: speedracer741 on April 19, 2007, 10:17:02 PM

Yes you are correct. The kit I purchased was advertised as the bi-xenon system and uses the H4-3 bulb assembly. So far I am very happy with it's operation. Now if the remaining parts for the bike would show up in the mail I can see it in action out on the road. Hope too many cars don't flash their high beams at me

Being that I picked up my cycle without a headlight, I'm going this route. With halogens, I normally ride with my brights on, all the time.
If I'm flashed, then I go to lows. With bi-xenon, I won't have to run highs all the time. Are you using a stock lens?

speedracer741 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 19, 2007, 10:50:07 PM »

Yeah same here with the halogens. If I keep the headlight adjusted properly I shouldn't have any problems with blinding oncoming traffic on the low beam setting. I am using an H4 conversion headlight with the internal projector lense and a clear glass outer lense. At the beginning of this thread are a couple of links to the items I purchased. The H4 headlights are the 7" kit for cars and they have the silly "city lights" in them as well. I hooked it up and it actually looks pretty cool but I'm not sure exactly when I would ever use it as I don't hang out in parking lots as much as I used to

koffin · « **Reply #20 on:** April 19, 2007, 10:55:10 PM »

Quote from: speedracer741 on April 19, 2007, 10:50:07 PM

Yeah same here with the halogens. If I keep the headlight adjusted properly I shouldn't have any problems with blinding oncoming traffic on the low beam setting. I am using an H4 conversion headlight with the internal projector lense and a clear glass outer lense. At the beginning of this thread are a couple of links to the items I purchased. The H4 headlights are the 7" kit for cars and they have the silly "city lights" in them as well. I hooked it up and it actually looks pretty cool but I'm not sure exactly when I would ever use it as I don't hang out in parking lots as much as I used to

Headlights are mandatory here in MN, even during the day. The city light would be a great alternative to running lows during the day.
Sorry, I caught what bulbs you're running, just missed the housing/lens setup.

speedracer741 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 19, 2007, 11:06:07 PM »

One thing I should mention about these H4 lenses, on the back of 7" lights are 3 raised portions that fit into recesses in the mounting ring to make sure they are oriented correctly. Some lights have these in different locations, this set bieng one of them. It only takes slight modifications to fix this but I figured I would bring it up in case anyone was going to purchase this kit. Also the projector lense was slightly off center. All I did was stick my finger in the back and push on one of the posts to make it right. Other than that they are well made and much better than the plastic lense ones at my local auto parts store made by Pilot. Plus they look really cool!

eldar · « **Reply #22 on:** April 20, 2007, 11:55:33 AM »

Mn made headlights mandatory? I live in Fargo and never heard of that. I work in moorhead so I cross the border ever day practically.

koffin · « **Reply #23 on:** April 20, 2007, 03:56:58 PM »

Quote from: eldar, Master of the K8 Thunder! on April 20, 2007, 11:55:33 AM

Mn made headlights mandatory? I live in Fargo and never heard of that. I work in moorhead so I cross the border ever day practically.

Made? I have never known it any other way. I took a motorcycle safety class when I was ~17, 14 years ago and remember it from that class.
No helmet law, but must have a headlight. Just a few years back they mandated eye protection for all riders. It used to be if you had a windshield that covered your eyes, you were ok.

tinyrobot · « **Reply #24 on:** February 15, 2008, 12:48:49 PM »

bump for updates.

I could have swore I recently read some HID topics but my search only showed 2 and this one is more involved than the other.

News:

Author Topic: Going with HID headlight! (Read 7357 times)

eldar

koffin

koffin

koffin

eldar

koffin