Headlight upgrades

Folks,
Has anyone done any upgrades to the headlights?
Any thoughts regarding these?
Hyper White Xenon Gas HID (Low/High Beam) Headlight Bulbs
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200527956443&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Is it worthwhile or waste of money?
Cheers
Andy

I did a HID upgrade to my 650F and while they worked, it was brilliant. Think ILS for aircraft as you're riding along. Unfortunately the HID failed me at night, during very heavy rain. Probably wiring or the ballast. Still considering upgrading the 1250fa to HIDs, but it's not legal to fit them after-market. Seeing as I do a bit of night riding, I'm willing to run the risk.

I’ve considered an upgrade each time I ride at night.
The Bandit lights even when adjusted are fairly poor but the headlight globes look like a pain to remove.
Was I looking at it wrong?

The bulbs are very easy to remove and replace on a GSF. I have replaced the originals with some 80% brighter bulbs (but not hotter). These were 80 dollars and change both low and high from yellow to a brighter white light. They are better but, still not very good. I have decided to bite the bullet and buy a set of clearwater leds and mount them in a way so they can be off the bike most of the time. They are very small, (and dear as poison) however I still think they look out of place. I do a lot of night riding , always have.


http://www.clearwaterlights.com/products_pp.html

My brother-in-law was talking about LED lights just the other night, they are fitting these to bikes, they sound like good quality and aren't near as expensive as the others, around $175.

http://visionxaustralia.com.au/SolsticeLights.html

You need to shop around the usual channels you might be able to get them cheaper.

http://www.motorradgarage.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=996

i have put in hi and low vaguely blue globes - not the very blue ones though. they're a lot better and whiter than the originals - got them at repco but i think supacheap has got them too

Re-Cycled wrote:My brother-in-law was talking about LED lights just the other night, they are fitting these to bikes, they sound like good quality and aren't near as expensive as the others, around $175.

http://visionxaustralia.com.au/SolsticeLights.html

You need to shop around the usual channels you might be able to get them cheaper.

http://www.motorradgarage.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=996

Now I know where all those UFO reports come from!

these could be a distraction to an oncoming driver ...

"wtf is that ????
I know .. I'll take my eye off the road to look at it more closely ...
oh oh !!"

I guess these could be dimmed for oncoming .. and probably should be.
but would be good to light a road on a dark night ..

I just prefer to off the road well before nightfall

There here....

Now in 75w
http://www.ebay.com/itm/75W-12V-HID-XENON-CONVERSION-KIT-H7-4300K-6000K-8000K-Head-light-Front-Lamp-/270984331766?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f17ecc1f6

Next is to find out which bulb to suit my naked 2011 bandit....
http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/guyacn/product-detailGWEnhQmlxxfD/China-HID-Xenon-Bulb-H4-1-H4-2-H4-3-H4-4-.html

I think mine is a H4 & understand that for hi/lo I need the H4-4. I'd go the 6000k colour temp. Perhaps buy a twin pk to suit car & share with other biker rider. Then there is the weather proofing IP rating.



First there was 35w then 55w. The other issue would be whether the alternator would keep up as the headlight is on always. I spose if the oem bulb is 55w the current draw would be the same as the xenon 55w.

Maybe there's another forum member considering same

Just put 55W 6000K HIDs in my 1250SA. The 55W are so bright my wife can't look at the headlight, although the beam spread is good and doesn't dazzle oncoming drivers. The general consensus is only low beam is required, but if you have an N model it's one bulb in any event.

I tried both high and low in the 55W bulbs, but high beam is too bright and I think a hazard to oncoming drivers. I have gone back to the stock bulb for high.

6000K is a bluish white light, and 4300K is closer to the stock colour and in theory would give you better night time visibility as our eyes operate better in that range. You may find less controversy being closer to the OEM colour as well. I find for me the 6000K matches my LED park lights on either side of the headlight. Bulbs are so cheap I have a 5000K set on order to try.

Whichever way you go, I recommend running the lights through a relay if you are going to draw more current than the stock wiring is designed for. If you draw too much you will cause problems with switchgear. 75W will also create more heat, which may pose issues for the reflector. The relay I powered off my park light circuit as it doesn't dim when the starter button is pressed, so the ballasts aren't powering off and on when starting.

HIDs are well worth doing.

Check out the thread at https://nswbandits.forumotion.net/t2681-hid-lights (pg 2 has my step by step)

kewwig wrote:
I tried both high and low in the 55W bulbs, but high beam is too bright and I think a hazard to oncoming drivers. I have gone back to the stock bulb for high.

I'm thinking of doing the same but not because its too bright, it takes too long to warm up to be of any use.
I'll keep the HID for low beam though

A number of us have done HID upgrades. There are quite a few "how-to" articles in this forum.

I used 35watt 6000K in both hi and lo beam and adjusted the beam angle down a bit so as not to draw too much attention from other road users.

I have wired the HID's using relays to provide full battery voltage at the HID.

Personally, I regard the 35watt HID as more than adequate and a huge step from the original lighting.

If I was to buy more HID bulbs I would choose 4300K instead of 6000K to get rid of the blue tinge.

madmax wrote:

kewwig wrote:
I tried both high and low in the 55W bulbs, but high beam is too bright and I think a hazard to oncoming drivers. I have gone back to the stock bulb for high.

I'm thinking of doing the same but not because its too bright, it takes too long to warm up to be of any use.
I'll keep the HID for low beam though

You wouldn't (shouldn't) have Hi Beam on with on coming traffic so this issue of it being a hazard should not be a problem.

I have wired in an additional pair of LED spot lights as well as the HID Hi Beam, this and the fact that Low Beam still stays on when Hi is selected means at no time are there no lights, even with the warm up time of the HIDs. Because these spot lights are on the front forks, it means the light shines where the bike is steered - remember mine is a sidecar rig so I have to turn the forkes to go round corners. I slao have a clear headlight cover on order to change over at night, this dark one doesn't let much light through, even the high power HIDs.

hey barry_mcki, what brand have you got, and do you know if they come in a spread beam?

+1 for the high beam thing,you shouldn`t drive with high beam on with approching traffic, i`ve got 3 hella hid spot lights on my car because i do alot of distance night driving,theres no way i`m taking them off cause there too bright,they`ve saved my arse alot of times. same with my bike,i put a hella ballast on for my high beam when i do the same trip,they come within 2-3seconds can`t beat german technoledgy, i hate chinese crap!!!

Sorry MT, I haven't too much info on them as they were brought in on special assignment by a friend who was looking at options for his Land Rover business, he had them in arrays up to 240watts (about 60cm long). Unfortunately he is no longer in this import business so can't get any more. These units were 50watt units, the beam spreed is pretty good, but also has a fair throw.

Not too good at night photo's so can't show what they are like other than to say they suit my purpose. They are somewhat simular to these on eBay.

barry_mcki wrote:Sorry MT, I haven't too much info on them as they were brought in on special assignment by a friend who was looking at options for his Land Rover business, he had them in arrays up to 240watts (about 60cm long). Unfortunately he is no longer in this import business so can't get any more. These units were 50watt units, the beam spreed is pretty good, but also has a fair throw.

Not too good at night photo's so can't show what they are like other than to say they suit my purpose. They are somewhat simular to these on eBay.

cheers for that