HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlight upgrade

[Squiggles]

To get the most out of HID's you need a housing setup for them. Standard halogen housings are not

[CookMySock]

I have an after market twin headlight system, steel bodies, metal reflectors. I use the lights as , one dip, one high. thus keeping the wattage pull to 55/65w per lamp,which is the max for my charging system.

My Q? Would running one of these HD lamps increase the wattage pull on my alternator? or reduce it.

Depends what you do ;

Lets assume they are H4 units - your best bet is the 6,000k magnetically-dipped single HID lamp. But this uses only one headlamp unit, and draws 35 watts.

If you install two H4 magnetically-dipped HID units you will get about 70watts of current draw continuously. ie, quite a lot. If I was in your situation, I would do two HID units (one for each lamp) and I would put an auxilliary switch somewhere to activate the second unit as-required (SCARY FOOKIN BRIGHT!) The headlamps operate dip/full with the conventional dip switch.

You have other options - you could install a 6,000k unit in one headlamp and an 8,000k lamp in the other headlamp unit. This is just for the bling factor - you can swap between headlight colours.

To get the most out of HID's you need a housing setup for them. Standard halogen housings are not

Nup, they are so damn bright, it hardly matters. At least three times the light of a quartz-halogen.

Steve

[Squiggles]

Nup, they are so damn bright, it hardly matters. At least three times the light of a quartz-halogen.

Steve

And im sure they'll be brighter, and better focused, with the correct reflectors and lenses. "Hardly matters", pah, when you've done it you'll be able to make such claims with some accuracy...

[xgnr]

I'm in Meadowbank so if you want to check out the HID's by comparing to mine then let me know.

(You would be associating with a law breaker tho')

[The Stranger:Me]

(You would be associating with a law breaker tho')

I expected you would miss points 2 and 3.

2) When dispensing advice, it is good form to give complete and accurate information. Apparently you either were ignorant of the law or intentionally withheld that information. You appear to be the ignorant type so I'll run with that excuse, however either way it was a glaring omission.

3) Asside from being against the law to do so, I do seriously question the logic of antagonising an already dazed and confused enemy.

[Gremlin]

I've run an HID setup on a previous bike, and yes, while cool and powerful, it was illegal (already pointed out).

New bike has a good headlight surround, and running a Hella +90% bulb (fully legal) which has the same draw as a normal bulb I would say its still offers exceptional performance. Good visibility of the road ahead for a couple of hundred metres, and reflectors in the distance are visible for probably well over 500m. Very difficult to outride the high beam.

I think it will be quite satisfactory for the GC later this year

[LBD]

I've run an HID setup on a previous bike, and yes, while cool and powerful, it was illegal (already pointed out).

New bike has a good headlight surround, and running a Hella +90% bulb (fully legal) which has the same draw as a normal bulb I would say its still offers exceptional performance. Good visibility of the road ahead for a couple of hundred metres, and reflectors in the distance are visible for probably well over 500m. Very difficult to outride the high beam.

I think it will be quite satisfactory for the GC later this year

Me too, happy with mine and ride nights on country roads quite often...

[xgnr]

I expected you would miss points 2 and 3.

2) When dispensing advice, it is good form to give complete and accurate information. Apparently you either were ignorant of the law or intentionally withheld that information. You appear to be the ignorant type so I'll run with that excuse, however either way it was a glaring omission.

3) Asside from being against the law to do so, I do seriously question the logic of antagonising an already dazed and confused enemy.

2.) Read the original post before getting your tits in a tangle.

3. Its good sport what can one say...

TBH i wonder about the "illegality" as the headlight is actually "modified" with the sleeve to handle the dipping of the HID bulb. Is this is the the intention of ensuring some modification is done to avoid problems like this?

If so bad just ban them as a restricted import

[BMWST?]

fwiw i beleive the "focal point" of the HID bulb is much longer than the original Halo bulb so there is exra light being scattered around which has the potential to dazzleand distract other drivers.Its fine if the roads are always straight and flat,but they are not so there will be situations where an oncoming drivers is momentarily looking straigh at a full intensity HID....instant loss of night vision.The proper HID setups in cars have headlight washers for the headlight and a self adjusting system and they are constantly adjusting to keep them dipped(well the BMW car ones do).

[The Stranger:Me]

2.) Read the original post before getting your tits in a tangle.

Hmm, I just re-read the original post and nowhere did I note you informing people that it was illegal. Did I miss something in your original post?

The legality of a modification you are advocating is not in my view a minor oversight. Indeed in many cases you may be held legally and/or financially responsible for your advice.

It does no harm to inform people before they spend thier money on this mod and perhaps have it knocked back at warrant time - or worse are held responsible for an accident. It helps them make an informed decision.
Should they then decide to do it - so beit, they do so knowing it may cost them money down the track, just as with speeding etc.

It also does not hurt to offer an acceptable and legal alternative, as I did.
Except it seems that hard arse bikers from the bad lands, like you and DB, apparently would rather everyone show contempt for the law - unless of course DB needs the laws changed, in which case he moans and wails until they are - but that's another story.

[vifferman]

New bike has a good headlight surround, and running a Hella +90% bulb (fully legal) which has the same draw as a normal bulb I would say its still offers exceptional performance.

Mr Gremlin, Sir - what is a +90% bulb?
Not one of those stupid, annoying and overpriced blue-tinted ones?

[imdying]

No, they're a legitimate bulb... generally the manufacturers (Philips, Narva, Hella) also make a blue tinge wank wank bulb as well. Basically it's up to 90% more lumen output for the same wattage in. To achieve that it's a change in filament, internal gas, or just by using a thinner (thus more delicate, shorter life) filament, or a combination of all of them. They do work well, but they're not cheap, and don't last as long.

[xgnr]

Hmm, I just re-read the original post and nowhere did I note you informing people that it was illegal. Did I miss something in your original post?

The legality of a modification you are advocating is not in my view a minor oversight. Indeed in many cases you may be held legally and/or financially responsible for your advice.

It does no harm to inform people before they spend thier money on this mod and perhaps have it knocked back at warrant time - or worse are held responsible for an accident. It helps them make an informed decision.
Should they then decide to do it - so beit, they do so knowing it may cost them money down the track, just as with speeding etc.

It also does not hurt to offer an acceptable and legal alternative, as I did.
Except it seems that hard arse bikers from the bad lands, like you and DB, apparently would rather everyone show contempt for the law - unless of course DB needs the laws changed, in which case he moans and wails until they are - but that's another story.

ahhhh the joys of miscommunication.

you are serious... now I am going to get sued FFS.

I havn't "advocated" anything just providing some input into the wonderful KB world....

Chill out... life goes on.

Bored... off to fit an illegal muffler

[Gremlin]

Mr Gremlin, Sir - what is a +90% bulb?
Not one of those stupid, annoying and overpriced blue-tinted ones?

No, they're a legitimate bulb... generally the manufacturers (Philips, Narva, Hella) also make a blue tinge wank wank bulb as well. Basically it's up to 90% more lumen output for the same wattage in. To achieve that it's a change in filament, internal gas, or just by using a thinner (thus more delicate, shorter life) filament, or a combination of all of them. They do work well, but they're not cheap, and don't last as long.

Pretty much as imdying has said Mr Vifferman.

I've used the +50% for quite a while, life has been quite suitable, but I have only had the +90% for a couple of months.

I ride a lot at night, on gravel too, so I'm happy to pay more for the bulbs, and a little more frequently, as the extra range/warning given by them is fantastic.