HID head lights

[gordonv]

I know people have talked about replacing their lights with HID. I thought they all used a transformer to power them. So when I was looking here for an inexpensive car USB charger, I saw these,

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/blackeagleeyes-h4-35w-6000k-3600-lumen-white-light-hid-headlamps-dc-12v-pair-101733

and was surprised to see that they do not have a trans. and they just plugged directly into your 3 pin head light connector (one in the pic only has 2 pins, rather than the other with 3). The lights are the same car 3 tab type, should be able to break 2 off, and plug into the Valk IS.

They also have these Zenon HID,

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ecar-xenon-super-vision-hid-vehicle-white-light-headlamp-set-h7-6000k-57048

and these ones have the transformer. How would they mount in the stock head light lense?

What really is the differance, the lumens output?

Do I really care which one, if both have more lumens than a regular ligth output?

[Robert]

The first ones are a combination hid and halogens, more than likely a high low deal but they still need the transformer.All hid require a transformer and if you look there is more than one connector. As for how they work the guys that bought them like them personally I would pass.

[R J MILES]

After one trip at night on Hwy. 65 in southern Iowa and coming across deer in the road or on the side, 5 different times, I went with HIDs on my 99 IS. Transformer powered. HID, high and low beam. Easy install. Very bright! Great improvement! Goggle-up VVME.    Fuzzy    VRCC 5403

[gordonv]

I found this one too just now, a single one for a MC.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/h6-35w-6000k-3600lumen-white-xenon-hid-headlamp-for-motorcycle-dc-9-16v-102020?r=99999999

This one has the tabs to mount it into the head light. So now it all makes sense. They are interchangable to the right one. Hard wire the transformer into the 3 prong of the main wire harness, hook the rest up, and swap the bulbs.

I just wonder if they are too cheap? These items are direct from Hong Kong most of the time.

[Ricky-D]

You have to investigate very carefully to determine, what you are looking at, is what it appears to be and is what you want.

An HID outfit without a ballast I feel is not reality since high voltages are needed to illuminate the HID bulb. So I think a ballast will always be needed to produce the power.  The power on one ballast was a 3.6 amps requirement.

Some kits don't indicate but are clearly HID on the low beams only and there is a standard incandescent bulb for high beams. So when it's high beam "on" you're not any better than a standard bulb.

I've never driven at night with HID illumination, so I cannot comment upon the lighting but as a comparison to point out a possible (unlikable effect) an LED flashlight I have is very bright but it sure doesn't seem to have much color distinction in that colors don't appear to be very well defined, almost like it is more so just black and white illumination. All light is not equal.

***

[wild6]

See this: http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html
about legal issues using hid retrofit kits.

Seems that unless you purchase an entire headlamp assembly that complies with FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) No. 108, it is illegal on this continent to retrofit with HID.

[Ricky-D]

Thanks for posting that link, it's is a good article and should be read by anyone contemplating the HID exchange.

***

[blackvalk]

I have an HID light on my VTX and my Valkyrie purchased from Custom Dynamics. They run about $150.00 each, but they are HID high and low beams. The cheaper ones are not both HID as someone mentioned.

They are worth the money. I hid my transformer under the gas tank and ran the wires to the light bucket. Make sure you ask for the whitest color spectrum. Some get very blue which I do not have.

www.customdynamics.com/hid_headlight_kits.htm

[MarkT]

Though HID lights are sexy and fit the feel-good factor of a good chromatherapy mod, they aren't cost-effective if you are just looking for more light.  A lot easier and cheaper to add two relays and a higher-power plug, then get a 130/90 bulb from compacc.com.  I did this mod a dozen years ago and I have more light from just the headlight than any HID setup, for about $25 in parts and a couple hours to install.  Then there's the aircraft landing light spots I also have, which help to melt the retinas of any bimbo thinking of crossing my path, and saying later "I never saw him, he came outta nowhere."  Seriously, the fish taco who almost killed me on my Ducati said that after she turned in front of me, when I had my stock high beam on, back in WI in 1970.  Never again.

[fordmano]

Here is what I used and I LOVE the extra visibility, I know I should be but I am not worried about the legality issues.

These DO have the HIGH & LOW beams, although they are goofy in that they actually mechanically move the bulbs in and out to adjust the focus point.

I mounted the ballists/transformers under the top side of the I/S fairing.

This picture above is the faring sitting upside down on my dinning room table during the install.

This is the comparison of the light of a PIAA bult Ultra white on the right side of this picture and the new HID bulb on the left, keep in mind the colors are not very accurate for some reason my digital camera picked the lights up as more blue and pink than the actual light color. The PIAA is VERY white and the HID closer to white but does have a slight blue/green tint when looked at the bulb but the light out front on the road way is very white.