HID Conversion on a 12GS (pictorial)

[mqo233]

Jim did you use the power wires for power to the ballast, or did you run the wires and turn a relay on, I am missing that part of the discussion, as well as how did it affect the Can system. Thanks for all your work,

James

[Xeraux]

Originally Posted by mqo233

Jim did you use the power wires for power to the ballast, or did you run the wires and turn a relay on, I am missing that part of the discussion, as well as how did it affect the Can system. Thanks for all your work,

James

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

I used the H7 in both high and low beam, no extra wiring, just plug into the stock light circuit wires that go to the halogen lights, and run your wires back and forth to the remotely installed ballasts.

They work fine, no fault codes, on the stock circuits.

He answered this earlier in the thread.

[Clayton Bigsby]

Jim,

Do you feel the HID conversion would be a decent substitute for additional running lights?

My lighting is stock, and as you know it's borderline unsafe at night.

I would rather convert to HID than hang aftermarket lights from the front of my bike.

Is this a decent idea?

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by Clayton Bigsby

Jim,

Do you feel the HID conversion would be a decent substitute for additional running lights?

My lighting is stock, and as you know it's borderline unsafe at night.

I would rather convert to HID than hang aftermarket lights from the front of my bike.

Is this a decent idea?

I know a couple people who run no additional lighting other than the HIDs. They seem to think it is OK.

When I first got my 12GS I thought the lighting was great comparred to my 1100GS, that is, until I added Motolights and then Hella FF50s. Admittedly I do not run my FF5s very often, so Motolights and stock low beam is usually all I have.

I think the HIDs really make a significant difference, and would probably be fine alone, but each person has a different level of need and a different comfort zone.

Jim

[Xeraux]

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

I think the HIDs really make a significant difference, and would probably be fine alone, but each person has a different level of need and a different comfort zone.

Jim

I agree.

They're probably bright enough on their own, but I like the way my PIAA 1100x lights "fill in" the space beneath the HID low beam.

[pedalmike]

Thanks, JVB. Good post. Re: High beam HID, everything I've read indicates that the useful life of xenon HIDs are shortened by turning them on and off, not by extended run times.

At least where I live, my high beam use is all intermittent, rarely lasting more than 60 seconds or so at a clip. Wouldn't that make HID ill-advised for motorcycle high beam use?

In many cars, they get around this by using bi-xenon reflector setups, where the bulb stays lit, and the reflector moves into low beam or high beam position. Just my .02.

Mike

[NBeener]

Originally Posted by pedalmike

Thanks, JVB. Good post. Re: High beam HID, everything I've read indicates that the useful life of xenon HIDs are shortened by turning them on and off, not by extended run times.

At least where I live, my high beam use is all intermittent, rarely lasting more than 60 seconds or so at a clip. Wouldn't that make HID ill-advised for motorcycle high beam use?

In a burnout situation, couldn't the HID's bulb be replaced, though, just like a standard halogen?

As in ...

http://www.cqlight.ca/index.php?cPat...203a8a869dcfc4


(note: okay, $35, but ....)

[Xeraux]

Originally Posted by NBeener

In a burnout situation, couldn't the HID's bulb be replaced, though, just like a standard halogen?

As in ...

http://www.cqlight.ca/index.php?cPat...203a8a869dcfc4


(note: okay, $35, but ....)

Yep. US$19.99 a pair.

[Duster929]

Ok, I'm joining the club. Just ordered the single light with ultra-slim ballast from CQLights.... !

--- D

[JimVonBaden]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NBeener
In a burnout situation, couldn't the HID's bulb be replaced, though, just like a standard halogen?

As in ...

http://www.cqlight.ca/index.php?cPat...203a8a869dcfc4


(note: okay, $35, but ....)

Originally Posted by Xeraux

Yep. US$19.99 a pair.

Yes, or in a pinch, just put in an H7 bulb and plug it back in as stock.

Jim

[GB]

I've been using my H7 HID kit for years now and I'm not sure how long the bulb lasts, but it seems to be long lasting. I've got well over 70,000 miles (combined on 3 bikes) and it's still going

[Duster929]

Originally Posted by Gadget Boy

I've been using my H7 HID kit for years now and I'm not sure how long the bulb lasts, but it seems to be long lasting. I've got well over 70,000 miles (combined on 3 bikes) and it's still going

Do you use them on high beam for "flash-to-pass" kind of usage?

--- D

[supaparty]

Originally Posted by Xeraux

Yep. US$19.99 a pair.

Don't forget the $35 shipping and handling that VVME charges, so these replacement bulbs are $55 delivered stateside, whereas the cqlighting bulbs are $35 a piece, but they ship free to US and Canada.

[space]

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

Great write-up, JimVB! How does the cutoff on the low beam look? I've been thinking about this upgrade for a while, but I've always been wary about the suitability of the stock reflector to an HID bulb.

See here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=289245

If you still have both 1200s on hand, I'd be very interested to see a comparison of the low beam patterns projected onto a wall or garage door. Thanks!

[Xeraux]

Originally Posted by supaparty

Don't forget the $35 shipping and handling that VVME charges, so these replacement bulbs are $55 delivered stateside, whereas the cqlighting bulbs are $35 a piece, but they ship free to US and Canada.

Oooh... Good point.

Note to self: Bookmark cqlighting.

Check.

Thanks!