HID lights?

[cheese]

I've just got back from China and I found some HID light kits over there for about $100 NZD per light. Anyone keen? they were 35w ones (which is very very bright) May require some moding to get into your bike, but would be worth it!

[CookMySock]

I've just got back from China and I found some HID light kits over there for about $100 NZD per light. Anyone keen? they were 35w ones (which is very very bright) May require some moding to get into your bike, but would be worth it!

You can get them here on trademe for less than that. I paid $150 for a SET which did two bikes high-beam.

HIDs are great fun to use, look devastating in use, and stick out like dogs balls, but can be problematic, with large amounts of radio frequency interference from them destroying everything is sight. Nasty. Casualties include destroyed hotgrips controllers (4) and a digital dash that locks up.


Steve

[cheese]

bloody hell that is cheap! Never mind them, mods delete!

[breakaway]

You can get them here on trademe for less than that. I paid $150 for a SET which did two bikes high-beam.

HIDs are great fun to use, look devastating in use, and stick out like dogs balls, but can be problematic, with large amounts of radio frequency interference from them destroying everything is sight. Nasty. Casualties include destroyed hotgrips controllers (4) and a digital dash that locks up.


Steve

How do you stop this interference?

[Cajun]

could be releated to the bike they are being put on.

[imdying]

How do you stop this interference?

Don't buy cheap shite.

[Blackbird]

Don't buy cheap shite.

Yep, I've seen these problems with cheap ones mentioned on the UK Blackbird website. You pays yer money and takes yer choice. I've attached the blurb from from Jaws Motorcycles website in the UK.

[cs363]

Be aware too that HID bulbs are illegal if fitted to non-HID housings (lamps)

[cs363]

In fact here is the actual blurb from LTSA:

High intensity discharge (HID) conversion kits
HID conversion kits (an HID bulb with a high voltage power unit or ‘ballast’ which fits into the original headlamp unit in place of the original bulb with no change to the headlamp lens, reflector or housing) are illegal on any vehicle being used on New Zealand roads.

However, a complete halogen headlamp unit can be replaced with a complete HID headlamp unit provided that the replacement headlamp unit complies with approved standards. If in doubt, get advice from a vehicle lighting retailer you trust.

Tinting
It is illegal to apply any kind of tint film, tint paint or opaque sticker to any lamp which has a function other than decoration (eg non-cosmetic).

[BOGAR]

I have been trying to find out WHY they are illegal. It seems that here and overseas they have been illegal for a while and the closest things seems to be the reflector as you can replace the whole unit including reflector and it is ok (as stated in above / last thread). I realise that a different bulb in the light housing may put the focus out or is it because they scatter more light rather than direct it as a low beam would ??
But does anyone know apart from the person who made the law change?

[CookMySock]

You don't even HAVE to have a fullbeam light. The lowbeam must be WOFable. Thats it.

The bottom line is, if it gets a WOF and it looks kosher, then nothing else matters. Mr Fuzz is not going to go out of his way to track you down and process you coz you have a fonky headlamp.

My lowbeam is factory standard, my highbeam is modified HID. No one cares except me - it looks awesome and NO ONE pulls out in front me coz it is scary bright.

I don't know the answer to your question, but I would like to suggest that if you want to do the mod, then you don't want to know either. Just do it and have fun.

If it won't get a WOF, then put an incandescent bulb back in to get the WOF and then swap the HID back.

I see you are near to me. Shoot over and look at our mods if you like.

Steve

[Blackbird]

Because of the shape of the Blackbird headlight, it's low beam which gets the benefit of HID treatment. I've also seen debates on other websites about the advisability of putting an HID on high beam because of allegedly shortening the life by more frequently switching it on and off. I use the term allegedly because I've never seen a definitive statement on this.

[CookMySock]

[....] about the advisability of putting an HID on high beam because of allegedly shortening the life by more frequently switching it on and off.

I put mine on highbeam and never put it on low unless I'm following a cop or something. Yep, fullbeam HID everywhere - stands out like dogs balls a kilometer away. edit: I'll dip it if someone flashes me, but that happens prolly once a month.

Steve

[Tank]

I put mine on highbeam and never put it on low unless I'm following a cop or something. Yep, fullbeam HID everywhere - stands out like dogs balls a kilometer away. edit: I'll dip it if someone flashes me, but that happens prolly once a month.

Steve

Way to annoy other motorist, bikers and the like.

Personally I think that the HID upgrade is a good idea if the bike dosnt have good lighting to start, but NEVER high beam other road users - its an arse thing to do.

[Gremlin]

Because of the shape of the Blackbird headlight, it's low beam which gets the benefit of HID treatment. I've also seen debates on other websites about the advisability of putting an HID on high beam because of allegedly shortening the life by more frequently switching it on and off.

The other issue is that they take time to come up to full power... I have my HID on the low beam... the Philips +50 on high beam adds this tiny little yellow spot on the top right of the beam

Yep, fullbeam HID everywhere - stands out like dogs balls a kilometer away. edit: I'll dip it if someone flashes me, but that happens prolly once a month.

You're forgetting about the angle of the light... you're much more likely to blind oncoming vehicles... more possible to miss you if they can't see anything aye?