HID installation. Help

[cool_J]

Hi, is there anyone in Wellington has done HID installation for Ninja 250R 09? Or has done on your bike? I wana do it, but i know nothing about electrical thingy so dont dare to do it yet, neither adjust it to suit the law. If someone would like to help me, please give me a message. Thanks

[Gremlin]

It depends on the kit and bulb type your bike has, but it should be pretty plug 'n play (with extra wires, ballast etc).

Its illegal to fit HID kits into normal headlight units...

[CookMySock]

Its illegal to fit HID kits into normal headlight units...

I keep hearing people say that, but my bike keeps getting a WOF no worries. Repeating things more and more loudly does not a fact make.

It is the LOW BEAM that must pass certain tests - proper cutoff height and shape etc. They largely do not care about the highbeam unit, as long as it works, so I upgraded my hyosungs highbeam. Upgrade the lowbeam if you like, and maybe you will be fine, but if the pattern or cutoff is badly out they will fail you on a WOF, and fair enough too. It's not an expensive thing to buy or try, and plenty of people have illegal exhausts, so just do it IMO.

If you already have really good headlights and you put a HID bulb in there, you will not be able to ride around with your headlights on fullbeam during the day, coz people will throw things at you. It's nasty fucking bright.

Basically, you have to make sure you have the correct bulb type for the headlamp fitting. Take the existing bulb into any automotive shop (Repco?) and ask them to identify the bulb for you. It will likely be a H1 or H3, then by a H1 or H3 or whatever kit.

Wiring up the HID lamp to the Inverter is a no-brainer - comes with plugs that only fit one way.

Connecting the bikes' 12V wiring to the Inverter will involve cutting wires and crimping connectors on, and you should probably get your auto-electrician to do this properly - even a cheap crimp tool does a shit job, and its only a ten minute job for a pro to do it.. Make it abundantly clear to said professional that if he connects the inverter back-to-front he will fuck it, and he can buy you a new one if he does that.

The only hard part is mounting the Inverter somewhere. Doublesided foam mounting tape and cable ties are your friend here, but the mounting surface must be flat and clean.

Have fun. Take your time, and welcome to HID's.

Steve

[Gremlin]

Sure, if the WOF guys don't notice or twig what exactly has been done, it will pass (like mine did). Its like anything, its all fine until someone with the power to turn your day bad, notices. By law, it is illegal to modify a normal headlight unit and put HID in (can't remember the exact wording)

I would not recommend putting the high beam on HID instead of the low beam, if you will do a lot of night riding. HID lights take a few seconds to reach full brightness, and if you flick the high beam on, low goes off, and you'll be in darkness for a couple of seconds, before the high beam comes on strong enough to be able to use.

For it to actually come to full strength, its probably at least 5 seconds, either way, its dangerous not to have light for a couple of seconds, since the normal use of high beam involves turning it on and off, as and when there are oncoming cars.

[CookMySock]

I would not recommend putting the high beam on HID instead of the low beam, if you will do a lot of night riding. HID lights take a few seconds to reach full brightness, and if you flick the high beam on, low goes off, and you'll be in darkness for a couple of seconds, before the high beam comes on strong enough to be able to use.

For it to actually come to full strength, its probably at least 5 seconds, either way, its dangerous not to have light for a couple of seconds, since the normal use of high beam involves turning it on and off, as and when there are oncoming cars.

This is true. If the HIDs are completely cold you should preheat them with the pass button before committing with the "fullbeam" switch, or you get a sudden pool of blackness. IF you are on straight road and you are aware this is going to happen, its quite fun doing it and watching the lights move through the full colour spectrum from black to gold to chrome, to turquoise, to blue, the ultra-crystalline white.. I never get tired of watching it do that.

If you have shit lights like the hyo does, generally you can convert to HID and leave them on fullbeam and no one complains. At night they have to be dipped.

If you can get away with a HID lowbeam conversion then do it. Plenty of people get away with a borderline-legal noisy exhaust conversion, and this is widely celebrated, so why not a massively bright headlight when it increases your chances of being seen?

HIDs FTW IMO.

Steve

[Katman]

It is clearly stated in the WOF manual that fitting HID bulbs to the standard headlight housing is illegal.

[3umph]

Can I ask a really dumb thing.... but what is a HID light???

[Katman]

Can I ask a really dumb thing.... but what is a HID light???

High Intensity Discharge.

[3umph]

Cheers.... found some info on them.... and a few youtube vids

[Katman]

Plenty of people get away with a borderline-legal noisy exhaust conversion, and this is widely celebrated, so why not a massively bright headlight when it increases your chances of being seen?

Maybe because I've never heard of anyone driving off the road after being blinded by a borderline-legal noisy exhaust.

[Disco Dan]

Can I ask a really dumb thing.... but what is a HID light???

Have you ever been actually 'blinded' from behind by a cars lights - so bright and white that you cannot actually make out your own lights, nor can you see much because the car behind has HID lights.

Farking dangerous things.

Although must admit, my car is pretty low to the ground (my bottom is literally 3" from the road).

The sealed beam headlights on my mini are rubbish - prob the same equivalent or less to the hyo lights. Hence why I have fitted 100w of extra driving lights to the front.

There is no real need for HID - more a fancy rich boys toy.

[Tank]

There is no real need for HID - more a fancy rich boys toy.

A full HID system / enclosure IS expensive - BUT just changing a bulb is the poor mans HID option.

[Disco Dan]

First photo is of HID lights in a fiesta (i think)

Other two are an illegally modified mini with HID's.




Max wattage of new bulbs without upgrading anything is limited to 55w - not always the bulb !

[Tank]

Have you ever been actually 'blinded' from behind by a cars lights - so bright and white that you cannot actually make out your own lights, nor can you see much because the car behind has HID lights.

Farking dangerous things.

Some road users just dont give a fuck about bikers.

Here is someone who advocates using HIDS on full beam all the time:

For dipped beam ? Yes, this is the legal/WOF issue, and partly the reason why I didn't mod my dip beam. The other reason was I never use the dip beam.

There IS one safety issue with HIDs on fullbeam everywhere, and that is I am unable to flash anyone. Not sure if I like this. I have to dip before I can flash. However, flashing with pre-heated HIDs is fucking awesome! They go off real baaaad, and fire a really harrrrd and short "BLINK" off everything, lightning strike stylez. You can actually see everyone look around like "WTF was that?" Funny thing is, they all look in different directions..

: The safe passage of my arse is vastly more important to me than some complaining motorist who regularly "doesn't see me." They see me now, thats for sure

[Disco Dan]

Thankfully most people are not as self centered !

To original poster:

Upgrade your bulb, experiment with a few different types.

Avoid HID lighting - VERY hot will no doubt melt something if you bugger it up, not to mention the DANGER to other road users.