HID kits

[Poprock]

The bulb shown in the picture of that kit is not bi-xenon. You will have only one beam. Bi-xenon bulbs have a solenoid on the back end that moves the bulb in and out for hi/low. If you get a kit, make sure it is bi-xenon.

[SFerinTEXAS]

Good info, Thanks

[Eveready1100]

Here's some pics of where the bits go.

The full sized ballast fits neatly between the frame tubes with the tilt switch. The wiring from here reaches headlight perfectly. Note the absent RLU unit which had to be bypassed for the light to operate correctly. Easy fix.



Main harness connector with relay hides under here hidden by fuel tank. Main power feed wire and earth cable reach battery easily.



The leftovers will come in handy one day.



The hole that I drilled in the back of the headlight bucket was big enough to fit the whole rear of the bulb through. Ends up that only the wiring actually sticks out of the shell, though it still needs to be there as the wiring comes straight out of the back of the bulb housing and I would be reluctant to try to put a very tight bend in it to try and fit it all in the shell.
Hopes this helps .

[bchaffin]

Thanks for the pictures that is very helpful.

[Pat Kelly]

The bulb shown in the picture of that kit is not bi-xenon. You will have only one beam. Bi-xenon bulbs have a solenoid on the back end that moves the bulb in and out for hi/low. If you get a kit, make sure it is bi-xenon.

In my case, I seldom (I actually can't think of anytime other than testing) use my highbeam. Here in California there's so much traffic I never have the opportunity to use Hi for more than a minute. The HID light is so bright that would Hi really be necessary?
Would the non-bi-Xenon light eliminate the need for drilling a hole in the bucket?
Hmmm....

[Eveready1100]

Pat, by the looks of that photo of the bulb in the kit, it may well fit in the bucket without drilling, but you may have mounting problems where the bulb sits in the light itself. Looks like that is a kit for a twin headlight bike (Ninja?) that only runs one light for low beam, then both lights for high. More potential problems getting the wiring connectors to suit your harness, too, as they would be set up differently there too.

[Eveready1100]

One more thing......

Ever since doing my HID conversion, it'd been bothering me a bit that I now only had one light source at the front of my bike, and seeing that my daily commute to work consists of about 55klms of back country highway, with no streetlights, but plenty of wildlife, then about 8 klms of city riding, the thought of being left in the dark out in the middle of woop-woop didn't really appeal to me at all.
Had the seat & tank off the other day to take pics of the ballast etc. and had an idea. I hunted around for the active feed wire for the relay for my driving lights which were fed off the park light circuit. Disconnected it from there then found a switched power wire that was in the main circuit. Hooked that up and tested it just to be sure everything worked before closing up the patient.
Now I feel a whole lot better about tackling this trip at night because, even if I have a catastrophic failure in the light circuit, I can still turn on my driving lights with a flick of the bar mounted toggle switch.

Just thought I'd put this up in case anyone else was a bit concerned about ditching the factory backup system (RLU) to fit a HID kit.

[MindWebs]

yes actually....

i was a bit un-nerved to be at a complete loss of light for my comuting..

the thought i had was these: Dual High Power LED Light Kit.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dual-...Q5fAccessories

low power consumption and hopefully enought light to make it worth the purchase price.

i'll hopefully pickup a set this winter to try.

[b.walker5]

Having the RLU is nice, but in reality we're a bit spoilt arent we?? I'm not aware of many other bikes out there having the same feature. I'm sure there are but I'm just not aware of any, my 1300 certainly doesnt have it. So, with that in mind, how much of an issue is not having one?? Not much in my view, and i certainly wouldnt go to the trouble, or expense of adding a second light source 'just in case'. Not saying you shouldnt if thats what you want to do, but IMO I think it's completely unnessecary, but in Eveready's case, if the second light source already exists, i.e. driving lights, then being able to use it as a backup is a good idea.

[Eveready1100]

I suppose I may have erred on the side of overkill in my instance, but the fact remains that if you are out at night and the headlight bulb blows (or whatever) if you've got a normal headlight like BWalker's XJR, you can roll into the nearest gas station and buy a newie and put it in on the spot and continue your ride. Try getting a HID bulb to suit your system out in the sticks! Doesn't happen.

BTW There's no gas stations on my route to work till the last 5 klms out of 60 so I really need some sort of backup in my case.

[clcorbin]

I'm not nearly as worried about a HID failing after it has burned in for a few dozen hours or so. No filament, solid state ballast, etc. A spare fuse isn't a bad idea.

[MindWebs]

perhaps, i'm not the most trusting of electronics then.

i've been know to let the smoke out of a thing or two....

i like the idea of a dual purpose backup,
as a back-up but also as directable light if you decide to carve some twisties at night. it is nise to be able to tweek the driving lights to the side to add perriferal vision lighting.

that's my thinking..

Keep'er between the ditches.

Webs

[natemoen]

Yup that's kinda how I want to set it up. Couple of driving lights that I can aim out some to widen my light path.

[Eveready1100]

The night "coffee run" was the main reason I fitted the driving lights in the first place. I've got them set to fill the dark spot above the area lit by the headlight when you're cranked over in the twisties. In a straight line, they look like I'm set to do some possum hunting, though they are the spread beam pattern, not pencil beams.

[b.walker5]

I suppose I may have erred on the side of overkill in my instance, but the fact remains that if you are out at night and the headlight bulb blows (or whatever) if you've got a normal headlight like BWalker's XJR, you can roll into the nearest gas station and buy a newie and put it in on the spot and continue your ride. Try getting a HID bulb to suit your system out in the sticks! Doesn't happen.

BTW There's no gas stations on my route to work till the last 5 klms out of 60 so I really need some sort of backup in my case.

Good point, hadnt thought of that. But even at that I'd probably just add a replacement lamp to the tool kit I already carry, complete with spare fuses, tape, a couple of short lengths of wire, some spade, and screw connectors and, of course, tools.

But hey, thats just my way of doing things. I'm certainly not bagging your choices, as they're good ones, just saying that wouldnt I go to the extra expense or trouble. (I'm a cheapskate, and if you cant fix it with #8 wire and some tape, or a hammer, then it cant be fixed )

As for the possum hunting, hey now were talking It's one of my favourite past times, but I usually do it with a 12g not my bike.