High intensity discharge lights (HID)

[Pancakes]

The reasoning for this is simple though, the different light requires a different reflector and lens, ...........................

Not different reflector and lens but the point of light in a HID bulb will not be in the same place as the filiment in a conventional bulb so the lights will need adjusting. Most of them are very good now and aren't far out. Some shit ones are way out and affect the light pattern.

.............................From what most people have found, with the duel HID HI/Low you will lose the ability to flash the car in front with the pass button, as the HID takes a few seconds to power up (who uses that anyway)

I haven't seen any dual contact HID's for H4. Some use a servo mounted backing plate to tilt the who bulb up and down. Not a great fix in the units I have seen as it locates the light source in the wrong place causing the issue above and the light isn't cut off correctly as it would be in an H4 with the metal plate between the filiments. The better system for H4 equipped bikes (I know yours isn't but the question is there) is the ones that have a very small metal plate (half a cylinder that is around the bulb) that rotates from the top to the bottom of the bulb as you switch hi/low beams. The actual bulb stays on all the time so no delay. I have never seen a kit in the flesh that has no delay on startup. They need thousands of volts to create the initial spark and that takes some time to charge up in the capacitor on a 12v bike.

It might pay to put in a switch to turn on the HID when the bike is running as the ballast draws a very large current when powering up.

I would always make a new loom. Your pulling the bike apart enough to mount everything nicely and spending hundreds on the kit. Another $20 and 30 mins will be well spent. These things want at least 12v all the time, not 8 -9 or whatever your bike gives, bike wiring is not a priority from what I have seen!

Apparently the low beam is so good, you will never use hi - apparently.


Pm Zapf, he has them and has done quite a bit of night riding.

The cut off is still the same so yes and no. It would mean that you need to adjust your lights for sure once you fit the HID cos your whole setup is low and your using the high to compensate for a shitty low beam. A trip to a dark long road to setup will be on your list eh!


Good on ya, these lights will make the world of difference. I think the colour difference makes people look twice too and makes you stick out from the cars.

[huck farley]

Pinfold... of motorcycle communication fame, is selling HID conversion kits for Lucas H4 fittings for $160 on his website and also on Trademe

They're also available on eBay, though you need to be careful that you get one with HID both high and low beam.

If Pinfold's HID's are anything like his rider to pillion head sets. I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.

Anything cheaper than say $500nzd in the HID range. Is likely to be made in China, Taiwan, I was told to keep well away from the Asian HID's. They will not last. E-bay HID's are all Asian, made in China. And I have also been advised to put them in the don't touch with a bargepole categorie, by riders that have fallen into the trap. I'm afraid regardless of the cost. I put quality before quantity

[Ocean1]

i have the same problem with the buell.. the lights suck... a match blown out 3 days ago, is still brighter than what i have.

the cost is a factor for me, but i think that will be the way to go when i have the $$$
new head lights (standard) are $55us.. each and i need 2 of them now... so that is the way i am going till i have the dosh!

Yeah, they ain't great. Are you aware of a good kit that works with the standard XB12R units?

[classic zed]

I use an H4 type HID in my Z1300, Its fantastic, perfect at night and I can be seen very easily during the day too.

I wouldnt use anything else

[HungusMaximist]

You HID punks should certainly come out for a ride with us one day, I'd be very interested in seeing them in action.

The best I can get for my shocking lens comparement is the phillips crystal vision which is unforunately unavaliable from the shops unless you order them. Yea, it's one of those white halogen globes and they are a much better build than Narva +50 or arctic crap.

Let Zapf/Felix know, he'll able to recommend some stuff.

[huck farley]

Yeah, they ain't great. Are you aware of a good kit that works with the standard XB12R units?

Go onto eBay and look a member up called rayp48 he sells a great lamp for all sorts of bikes. The guys on the Tiger forum swear by his lamps as an alternative to the default rubbish. His prices are very reasonable also. He is a very obliging bloke to deal with. Check it out. If you want to make an affordable improvement.

[Pancakes]

You HID punks should certainly come out for a ride with us one day, I'd be very interested in seeing them in action.

The best I can get for my shocking lens comparement is the phillips crystal vision which is unforunately unavaliable from the shops unless you order them. Yea, it's one of those white halogen globes and they are a much better build than Narva +50 or arctic crap.

Let Zapf/Felix know, he'll able to recommend some stuff.

Try PartsMaster too. Not as well know as Repco or Supercheap but better than either of them/both of them together! and have good shit at reasonable prices.

What bulbs are you after?

[Disco Dan]

Just had my own "high intensity discharge" ...it felt good.

[Pancakes]

Just had my own "high intensity discharge" ...it felt good.

+1, that really does add to your reputation!

[The Pastor]

they are super expenive tho aye?

[Pancakes]

It's not a "they" it's a "him". and I've heard Dan can give you a happy ending for under $5!! Bargain if your into that.


Yeah at hundreds of dollars per bulb they aren't cheap but what if you have a $15,000 bike and you can't properly use the power at night (or anytime your not at work in winter with the short daylight hours) $300 to $500 bucks (for single or double ones) is not much to pay to make the rest of your power and cornering useable eh?

[HungusMaximist]

Try PartsMaster too. Not as well know as Repco or Supercheap but better than either of them/both of them together! and have good shit at reasonable prices.

What bulbs are you after?

I've been to partsmaster the one in Grey Lynn, but as soon as I walked in I felt totally lost, as it looked like it was fully committed in selling stuff for cars aye.

Maybe I was in a rush but would you mind explaining what's so great about it?

[Pancakes]

It isn't just a car supermarket run by part-timers and one hot but dopey chick. They service lots of small mechanics etc so know what parts are interchangeable and stock good stuff not cheapo fathers day special stuff a-la Supercheap. Good prices too, I haven't picked any items and seen what they cost compared to Repco but I'd say the knowledge of the staff, the quality parts and not cheap but reasonable cost will keep me going back.

Reminds me of what places used to look like too not all spotless and shiny. The Grey Lynn one and Henderson are the ones I've been to.

edit, yeah they are for cars but bulbs are all the same, odd hose bends etc. All good. Haven't done any serious bike work.

[huck farley]

Got the HID lamps fitted in today, a 10 year old boy could fit them they are so simple to fit. Well I was like a kid on Christmas eve waiting for Santa. But I wasn't waiting for Santa I was waiting for it to get dark, so I could try out my new lights.

It Finally got dark so I took the bike up the Para Paras. Man what a difference it's absolutely mind blowing the amount of light coming out of tiny wee lamps has to be seen to be believed. I was barreling up the Paras as if I was riding in the daylight.

I adjusted my high beam down before I left home, because I didn't want to piss anybody of. It can stay where it is I stuck a couple of stock trucks head on no flashes, and even a car, so I'm not pissing anyone of at the moment.

My bike the Tiger 1050 is hard wired so as the low beam comes on at start up. When I put the high beam on. It's just like the rally drivers lights. Only they have half a dozen HID's. They certainly attract the bugs though.

The main beam fired straight up, no delay whatsoever firing up to full power, (well if there was I certainly couldn't tell the difference) As far as the heat factor went, I had the low beam on for 1 hour and estimate the full beam would have been on about half of that.

I'm pleased to report no melted wiring, no melted plastic, not even a smell of plastics cooking. Early days yet though, but me thinks if it was going to cook everything plastic, it would have done it by now.

You know it's a great saying is, you pay for what you get. As far as I'm concerned it's the best $550 I have ever spent on an aftermarket bit of kit.

Start saving up to get some fellas. They are truly out of this world!! It is as if someone has switched the daylight on again, riding at night. I will give the tin tops a look at the low beam tomorrow.
thanks for all your feedback.
H.F.

[huck farley]

Yeah, they ain't great. Are you aware of a good kit that works with the standard XB12R units?

You will have to determine, what bulbs you have in your bike, then go to the OSRAM Website and do a search. I did a lot of reading about lamps before I shelled out big dollars for my HID lamps.

Out of nearly all of the suppliers. I found that Osram has the best range of lamps to fit motorcycles.
Good luck in finding a set to suit your bike.