Topic: H.I.D. Headlight

[Steve F]

While at the bike show last Sunday, I bought one of those H-4 HID headlight "kits".  When I got home, I noticed that this thing is LOW-BEAM only, and doesn't have that ability to move or turn on a  high beam of any kind.  That kinda bummed me, but I was gonna give it a try anyway.
While searching the internet for HID motorcycle lights, I saw one of them that had the ability to actually move the lamp in-and-out to replicate the HI-LOW, and it uses a solenoid/cam action to accomplish this. Has anyone had any experience with these bulbs?  I'm wondering if I'll even need a high beam after I install the HID, or should I get the HI-LOW bulb?  Who knows, maybe these things are trash to start with?

[uptworedline]

many have ridden without high beams and just low hids. on a bike, though, is a little different. i have experience with the solenoid pulling the sleeve down from the light bulb exposing more bulb for a brighter light. it couldn't hurt to take a cruise with it installed to figure out if it's enough. 6000k are the brightest, so any higher K value is less light

[eldar]

I know that another member did this and used 2 units. One for high and one for low, obviously From what he said, the hid lights pulled less wattage once on and seemed to work good for him. I would think a search would turn up something.

[Steve F]

They did offer a bulb that actually had a halogen bulb mounted just above the HID bulb in the same assembly, and the sales guy said that they were only for people that need to pass inspections, and had to prove they actually had a HIGH beam.  I don't think that it would have done very well in real life situations.
I'll give the bulb that I bought a try and see if there's something that needs to be done.

[78CB750CAFE]

If it is an H4 bulb, it's not a HID. Does it have a ballast/transformer thingee? If not it is just a halogen with a bluish spectrum that simulates HID appearance.

[BIKE]

There are kits out there that use H4 bulb bases with an HID bulb.

This one has a hi/lo setup.  Not sure about it but it is interesting.

Single HID System with Hi/Lo Bulb Type
http://www.ddmtuning.com/ddmhidkits.html

[flybox1]

SteveF
Did your ballast kit come with long leads so it could be mounded under your seat?
If not, where do you plan on mounting the ballast?
I have seen some 'motorcycle' H4 HID comversion kits with longer leads from the ballast.
Please post how it turns out with just the low-beam.
Post pics if you can.  Kicking around the idea of doing this myself.

cheers

[eldar]

how large is the ballast unit? If not too large, you might be able to fit it inside the bucket. maybe clean up the rats nest a little to do it?

[Steve F]

SteveF
Did your ballast kit come with long leads so it could be mounded under your seat?
If not, where do you plan on mounting the ballast?
I have seen some 'motorcycle' H4 HID comversion kits with longer leads from the ballast.
Please post how it turns out with just the low-beam.
Post pics if you can.  Kicking around the idea of doing this myself.

cheers

The leads are fairly short, about 18".  It might be some time before I can actually start messing around with it, but hopefuly within a week or so.

[Steve F]

It's an "H4 based HID bulb" It really is HID!  The ballast is about 2 x 3 x 1/2", diecast, and sealed against weather, all of the plugs are seales with automotive type silicone seals.

[Jamil20]

You're looking for an HID dual filament bulb.

How that would work the ballast, I have no idea. Seems like way more work than it's worth. Perhaps you can just loosen your headlight housing bolts, and tilt it up when you want high beams.

[Steve F]

Here are some pics of the HID system hooked up and being tested. It's blazing bright!  I might not need a high beam

[78CB750CAFE]

How much heat is generated at the lamp? any worries of melting all the stuff in the headlight bucket?
That thing is BRIGHT!

[Steve F]

How much heat is generated at the lamp? any worries of melting all the stuff in the headlight bucket?
That thing is BRIGHT!

I don't know how hot it could get, since I only operated it for about 2 minutes, but afterward, there was absolutely no detectable heat anywhere including the ballast and the lens of the headlight housing. I'm thinking that this thing should be no problem with heat buildup.  Time will tell when I can hook it up with larger jumpers and let it run for 15 minutes or so.
One possible problem with the base of the lamp is it didn't fit the headlight slots very well, and there was too much movement where the focus of the bulb within the housing could be affected.  I could maybe make some sort of adapter that would hold it on center better.  I'll probably extend the leads to/from the ballast and mount it somewhere under the seat.  Another potenial problem would be controlling the light while the engine is cranking with the starter button. These HID lights like to fire up and keep running without interruptions. You know when you push the start button, the headlight goes off and comes back on when released.  maybe a delay timer, or simply a switch.
L8R

[eldar]

IF I am correct, hid lights generate very little heat when compared to a standard halogen or sealed beam. It should not be an issue at all.

[dummkauf]

HID's do generate very little heat and they take far less electricity to run once lit.  The catch on the lower power consumption is that it takes a very large amount of power to ignite the gases, and I've heard on some other online forums(I've been looking into HID's for my bikes) that the added draw on the electrical system can sometimes be enough to cause the bike not to start.  The work around was to install an on/off switch(probably illegal) on the light, and then start the bike, and then turn on the light. 

I have HID's on my car, and the low beams will likely be more than enough to light the road without a high beam.  The other thing I will warn you though, is if that is a true HID and there isn't a projector to shape the light output(gives it that clean cutoff line), then you will more than likely have an illegal setup and also be a royal jack@$$ to everyone else on the road since you will be blinding oncoming traffic.  I'm all for HID's when they are correctly installed, but I've been blinded by a number of pricks who just installed the HID bulbs into a halogen headlamp and hooked up a ballast.

Easiest way to test to see if it's a HID.  Go out, turn the light on, and if it takes 1-2 seconds to fully light up, it's a HID.  The HID's take a little bit to get to full brightness, so they will turn on dimly and then get brighter, and this is very noticeable.

[Steve F]

HID's do generate very little heat and they take far less electricity to run once lit.  The catch on the lower power consumption is that it takes a very large amount of power to ignite the gases, and I've heard on some other online forums(I've been looking into HID's for my bikes) that the added draw on the electrical system can sometimes be enough to cause the bike not to start.  The work around was to install an on/off switch(probably illegal) on the light, and then start the bike, and then turn on the light. 

I have HID's on my car, and the low beams will likely be more than enough to light the road without a high beam.  The other thing I will warn you though, is if that is a true HID and there isn't a projector to shape the light output(gives it that clean cutoff line), then you will more than likely have an illegal setup and also be a royal jack@$$ to everyone else on the road since you will be blinding oncoming traffic.  I'm all for HID's when they are correctly installed, but I've been blinded by a number of pricks who just installed the HID bulbs into a halogen headlamp and hooked up a ballast.

Easiest way to test to see if it's a HID.  Go out, turn the light on, and if it takes 1-2 seconds to fully light up, it's a HID.  The HID's take a little bit to get to full brightness, so they will turn on dimly and then get brighter, and this is very noticeable.

Yeah, it takes about 5 seconds to stabilize once it starts, and it glows really consistant after that.  It has a reflector shield built around the HID bulb to keep the light going in the intended direction.  The beam from the headlight appears to be flat and well defined and doesn't seem to be sending the light upward where it's not needed or wanted. 

[Toxic]

http://www.cqlight.ca/

I have used units from this supplier on my BMW and no problems.