- This topic has 8 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 10 months ago by Elias.
To HID or Not To HID
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June 4, 2009 at 4:37 am #2947EliasParticipant
Anybody ever done an HID conversion? If a bike is traveling towards me (at night) in the opposite flow of traffic, and they have HID’s, I notice them 100% better as compared to halogens. Especially when they have them aimed a little high, because as they travel down the road they bounce and it makes the light look like it’s flashing as your eyes go in and out of the top of the beam. With the halogen’s I am spent guessing whether it’s a bike, or if it’s a car with one headlight out (until I’m right next to them). It seems like HID’s make things a lot more safe all around, especially since you can see so much more with them.
Does anybody even know what bikes come with HID’s standard? I couldn’t find any…
June 4, 2009 at 1:21 pm #19283Clay DowlingParticipantIf you do the conversion, keep in mind that the reflector behind the bulb (the silvery bits inside the light housing) are matched to the type of bulb in most cases. I’ve read that just changing out one bulb type for another can be dangerous because of the glare that it can cause.
I don’t know anything for certain though. I’d just stick with the kind of bulb that the housing was made for, and buy a whole new housing to get the different kind of bulb.
June 4, 2009 at 6:41 pm #19300EliasParticipantYep, I would definitely get some projector housings if I went HID, so that I could cut off the beam at a certain height. Otherwise, instead of getting the ‘flickering’ effect, I would just be blinding everyone!
June 4, 2009 at 11:51 pm #19318MunchParticipantI wonder where your justification for trying it is…. don’t get me wrong…if you need the stronger light…get it… if you want it for personal style…go for it…if you feel it will get you more notice by oncoming traffic…get it.
But:“they have HID’s, I notice them 100% better as compared to halogens. Especially when they have them aimed a little high, because as they travel down the road they bounce and it makes the light look like it’s flashing as your eyes go in and out of the top of the beam. With the halogen’s I am spent guessing whether it’s a bike, or if it’s a car with one headlight out”
Why worry about it being a car or a bike? Either way you are noticing them and need to give them equal berth to safely get past or to let them pass by.
Things you need to make sure of though is to make sure the system can handle the load changes and such. Most too often upgrades are purchased without regard to what it effects. Being that you are on forums like here at BBM it suggests you have the forethought of research.June 5, 2009 at 3:32 am #19325EliasParticipantAh Munch, I can always rely on you for constructive criticism, and I appreciate that. My point (about what you quoted) is that HID’s give you better visibility to other vehicles. IDK about you, but my rear view mirrors don’t usually grab my attention peripherally. Sure, I look at them every once in awhile to maintain my situational awareness, but HID’s have a much higher contrast against what you are used to seeing at night (or day) in your rear views. When I see HID’s bouncing around in a mirror or in front of me, they ‘pull’ my eyes over to see what it is, because it’s obviously not an every-other-vehicle halogen lamp. This gives me confidence that HID’s attract the attention of everybody, and I want that (for safety, not personal attention).
As for the modifications needed, you are right, I have done my research. I am fully informed about all the mods that HID’s would require to operate safely and efficiently. I just wanted to know if anyone else at BBM felt the modification was worth the gain in attention, or if anyone else noticed HID’s on the road like I do. If nobody notices them, no point. I’m curious for safety purposes.
June 5, 2009 at 5:05 am #19331zeppelinfromledParticipantI do notice HIDs when I come across them, but I’m not sure if it’s because they’re more visible or because they’re more unusual. I’m drawing a distinction here between “notice” and “see.” I see everyone’s headlights. I think that my attention is drawn to HIDs because I think “oh hey, that’s a neat headlight,” not because it’s more visible. But maybe it is more visible – I don’t know.
I think we’ll have some trouble getting a good sample here at BBM, because I suspect that we are all pretty attentive drivers. So we’re unlikely to miss a car with their headlights on, no matter what kind of headlight it is. What we need are some inattentive drivers to find out if they’re more likely to notice the HIDs.
I say, as long as it’s not painful or annoying to other drivers, the brighter the better. I haven’t ridden my 650r at night yet, but I’ll let you know what its headlights are like once I do (I seem to remember you saying that you’re getting one).
June 5, 2009 at 10:18 am #19333MunchParticipantHID’s for the most part can grab your attention better for the purposes you stated. The “flashing” look can grab your attention, mostly for the in attentive drivers due to the fact that for the most part “flashing” =LEO which is usually kicking in their paranoia. Usually it’s followed by a quick tap of the brakes and a check of their speed. For me personally I ride with my high beams on during day light hours. I have come acrossed alot of bikes at night with HID’s and on a country back road, if the rider has his light mis aimed it can be a blinding situation. Especially if you just got through going about 30 mins with no other lights around but your own.
I say go for it, it seems like it will add a touch more to your own comfort which is what it really is all about for safety sake. Be sure to make sure you get the beam professionally aimed.June 5, 2009 at 6:35 pm #19361EliasParticipantYes, I plan on getting one within the next few months. Although HID’s do produce a brighter and longer beam than traditional halogens, I feel I am pushing this mod for the purpose that you mentioned above:
“I think that my attention is drawn to HIDs because I think “oh hey, that’s a neat headlight””
I want to be seeeen, and people notice ‘neat’ things on the road
June 5, 2009 at 6:39 pm #19362EliasParticipantYeah, I agree. I would probably aim it myself, but I know the technique’s because I have done it before. I’ll probably look into it further after I get the bike, and determine how much it will cost.
I am totally going to be riding with my high beams during the day, hell, I don’t even plan to ride at night for a while…might as well get SOME use out of my headlights!
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