| Author | Message | ||
     Got_jack |
what's up guys I'm thinking of putting in a hid kit what would be the easiest brand out there..... | ||
| Dennista15 |
I used one of these on the low of my Bolt. Easy install and great quality. I used a silverstar for the high. http://www.kbcarstuff.com/Motorcycle_Xenon_HID_Con version_Kits_s/34.htm | ||
| Ccryder |
I just bought 2 of these with the slim ballast http://www.xenonrider.com/flyersale/h8_xenon_hid_k its.shtml Very pleased with everything from the product to the people. Neil S. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
HIDs are the cat's ass.  | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
These are brand new twin hi-beam stock housings with 6000K H3's by the way. I popped the hi-beam igniter at 480 miles. I replaced it and added a relay to the light system and have had no further problems. This is a S to R conversion, so I had room to put the igniters inside the fairing above the headlights (where the ECM is located on a R model). | ||
| Midknyte |
I popped the hi-beam igniter at 480 miles... Could you expand on this please? Thanks. | ||
| Spooky_pooky |
Wow, those are sweet. I've been toying with the idea of installing HIDs. Any issues with the ballast? | ||
| Spatten1 |
What's wrong with the stock Firebolt headlights? | ||
| Zoedogg1 |
Firebolt head lights come in Dim and Dimmer..I put in Slyvania Silvers in both and changed low beam lens to another high beam. Problem solved. | ||
| Firebolt32 |
I put in Slyvania Silvers in both and changed low beam lens to another high beam. You were able to do this with no mods Zoe? | ||
| Midknyte |
I put in Slyvania Silvers in both and changed low beam lens to another high beam. Nope - he changed out the low beam housing. Silverstar bulbs however are a direct swap. They run just as hot though (they're still halogen) and will eventually burn up a low beam housing (just as the stock halogen bulbs do). Dunno how the high beam housings hold up to constant running... | ||
| Ccryder |
This swap also is not a fix unless you don't mind blinding the oncoming traffic! If you had a set of reflectors that were in good shape, then an HID swap would probably help. It would help in light output and should help in keeping the reflectors intact. Neil S. | ||
| Retrittion |
Well, I have an '07 R with no significant dimming (yet) but I do run my brights 24/7 because I like having two headlights on and because I have noticed that nobody can tell you are running brights on with the R -- the brights are only a bit brighter than most of the lows on the other bikes that I ride with. So, until I make a conversion (and I will) I run both and that helps. I have been thinking that maybe some venting on these lights would help the lenses last longer by lessening the heat which seems to be at the heart of the dimming due to scorched reflective coatings -- but maybe I am missing something (I usually do). Cheers and ride safe! | ||
| Spacecapsule1 |
Zoedog, how'd that head lamp change benefit you? What's the difference between the lenses? (Message edited by spacecapsule1 on April 28, 2008) | ||
| Nautique4life |
i just took out the low beam metal 'eyebrow'. now i have 2 high beams. But only a matter of time before the reflective coating fails. I dont know if BMC has come up with a suitable fix for this ongoing issue. Regardless, +1 on Dim and Dimmer I REALLY want to install HID lights. I have a R and I am in the process of edumacting myself oh places to hide the slim ballast, by reading on this glorious website. | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
"I popped the hi-beam igniter at 480 miles..." Hey Bradley, I'm surprised it didn't happen to the lo-beam actually. I suspect what happened was a low voltage issue due to cranking with the lights on (wired to ignition). The HID igniters don't like low voltage and apparently I forgot to flip the hibeam switch off when I cranked the bike that time. Plus, I bought incredibly cheap HID components. One igniter was rock solid, the other turned out weak. I replaced with a little more quality hardware... So, I rigged a switch to turn both lights off completely and ran power to them through a relay off the ignition, straight from the battery. Now the lights aren't on when I'm cranking and they get at least 12.5+ volts all the time. Problem solved; perhaps overkill, but solved nonetheless. And I would also tell you guys that the double hi-beam idea wasn't such a good idea after all with HID lights. They're way too bright without the low-beam spoons installed and pisses people off at night (and even during the day too sometimes for that matter). Now that I know what I know, I would have probably gone with two low-beam lights with HID kits if I could do it all over again (since I like to run both lights 100% of the time). Twin low-beams with HIDs would still be way brighter than any other halogen bulb setups out there and wouldn't blind those around you so much. I'm wondering how long it'll be before I get the law's attention with this setup and am forced to do something about it. | ||
| Midknyte |
I thought about venting the housing as well and talked it over with an engineering friend. You have to have at least two vent holes, in order to create a flow thru. Just an exhaust vent will not work. It was so much easier and better to get a new housing and change to HID because even if venting helped, you won't have as much light output as an HID that inherently runs [considerably] cooler. There is also the issue of moisture with venting. It's unlikely that water would get the bulb in behind the fairing and all, but the bulb would shatter if it did... | ||
| Midknyte |
Plus, I bought incredibly cheap HID components.  You too? Yeah, I got what I could afford for now. I read that a digital ballast ($$$) would work better in our situation as well. An upgrade is somewhere in my future. Or maybe not depending on how well it lasts. So - there's a question I wanted to ask someone anyway. When one goes, how do you know which is bad - the bulb or the ballast? | ||
| Firebolt32 |
Here's one Nautique...http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/249273.html I can't find the other one....but someone posted pics of taping the slim ballast to the back side of a 9r front fairing. I'll try to keep digging for ya. (Message edited by Firebolt32 on April 28, 2008) | ||
| Tx05xb12s |
How did I know if it was the bulb or the ballast that went bad? 1st I used a test light to make sure I had power to the ballast. Then I plugged the non-working light's bulb into the working light's ballast and it fired up. So, I knew I was getting power into the ballast, but not out of the ballast and I knew the bulb was good. Here ya go:  | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
What's wrong with the stock Firebolt headlights? Troll!!! Get him!!!  | ||
| Reepicheep |
I think I posted a schematic a while back for a device that will delay the lights coming on for about 90 seconds (cold start) or 60 seconds (hot start) after you turn on the key. So 999 out of 1000 times, the engine is running before the HIDS kick on. With an older battery, my HIDS sometimes dropped out then back on when I was cranking the bike over. | ||
| Firebolt32 |
Ok...so what would be best here. Buy another high beam set up or take the eyebrow out of the low beam to basically create two high beams. | ||
| Midknyte |
...Buy another high beam set up or take the eyebrow out... don't think you'll really need to do either. just wait till you see how much light that HID puts out - it's brilliant.  | ||
| Nautique4life |
Firebolt 32 and Midknyte, thanks for the tips. I had just asked Midknyte about running HIDS in both beams...funny coincidence. Well, with my Silverstar bulbs now, I basically have 2 highbeams.(removed the eyebrow) and I rarely get flashed from other cars. So, you guys are suggesting that one HID is more than sufficient and if 2 HIDS were to be used that I should have 2 low beam lens? While on subject about this, is that (the eyelid) the only difference in hi/low beam? What is the purpose of the textured surface on the high beam lens? The only thing I can think of is that is breaks the light up or prevents it from forming a focal point? | ||
| Firebolt32 |
So, you guys are suggesting that one HID is more than sufficient and if 2 HIDS were to be used that I should have 2 low beam lens? That was my question as well. I know there are many ways to do this. I was wanting a cost effective solution. My bank account is hitting an all time low. | ||
| Midknyte |
The high and low beam housings have differently shaped reflector bowls. I have a [new] low beam housing with the spoon still intact and an HID bulb. The other is the high beam housing with a Silverstar bulb. "I" don't think anything else is necessary. | ||
| Midknyte |
New low beam housing w/ tax - $59 Slim ballast - $39.98 + $15.99 shipping Bulbs - $22.98 + $21.99 shipping That's about $160 including a new housing that you will probably need. The seemingly low price is spread over the shipping cost, but is still pretty darn good. Dunno if he offers combined shipping, but he does send quick. | ||
| Damnut |
I have the HID kit in both lights. I still have the spoon in the low side but I'm going to cut it a little so that the light projects further down the road in my lane but not on the sides. See where the light line is uneven on the garage door in Midknyte's picture. Well I'm going to take a Dremmel to that spot so that the light shines further down the street but doesn't blind the cars in the oncoming lane. | ||
| Nautique4life |
I wont need a new housing, as I just got them replaced ~a month ago. I was reading in the threads about the on going issue and was contributing to that thread when I had something to input. Anyway, somebody had said they called HD customer service and he was told be them they knew nothing about the problem. Well long story short, I decided to go that route and see what I was going to be told. Well after a polite conversation with the lady, I'm calling my local HD to schedule a appt. to have them replaced FOC!! Yes, I did shit myself. But true story. My bikes not under warranty, and I didnt even buy it from HD. After giving the CS rep a few minutes to call my local HD and inform them what was going on, I had my appt. SO, I have a new housing, but come on, the HIDS are badass and I want them. ALSO, so it wasnt a short story I just felt like sharing that story again cause after reading about the angles to obtain new headlights, a phone call was all it took for me. Anyhow, sorry for gloating, but I will gladly spend the 60 odd bucks (plus the ridiculous shipping) for a HID. or HIDS!!  (Message edited by nautique4life on April 29, 2008) |
