Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories HID light with OEM beam and bucket

I just bought a nice America '07, and the previous owner put on a HID bulb in the headlight. Rode once at night so far and I hate it! There must be something wrong ...

Sure it is bright, I can spot the beam right in front the wheel and It is very bright, but if I raise it a little higher, all the incoming cars are flashing their highs at me thinking I am way too bright in their face. I guess there is some scattering happening there.

Anyone who installed a HID bulb can chime in and tell me if you like it and how did you get it working properly?

Thanks!

I don't actually have an HID but I know a bit about them from playing with HID scuba diving lights. The pattern from a headlight depends partially on the distance the light source is from the reflector... change that distance and you change the angles the reflector works at, which changes the way the lens works. I'd bet the HID "bulb" has its light source at a different height to the standard H3 bulb.

Point your bike (upright, with someone sitting on it) at a wall and check the height the main "spot" sits at and its shape, then compare it to a friends' standard headlight (or replace your HID with an H3 for the test).

Something else just occurred to me... you're in South East Asia and they get things from all over the world there... you may even find it's not the HID at all, you may have a lens from the wrong part of the world (ie: for driving on the other side of the road). It's worth checking...

Thanks Sandmann,

I will play with the bulb distance to the reflector.

But your premise about the lens might very well be the cause of every oncoming traffic flashing their highs at me. I did look at the serial number, and it seems this bike came from England (from the "j" in the serial) so it might be equipped with a lens projecting to the left, instead of the right (in Taiwan, we drive on the right).

I am guessing that flipping the reflector 180deg might not do it at all.

So, if it is indeed the case, I think I will have to hunt a 7-inch round sealed beam headlamp replacement 6024, right?

Will keep you posted!

Thanks

+1 on the sealed beam!

All of what's been said is either true or posible, but, I have been using an HID bulb from about two years and wouldn't consider returning to the original bulb and would only use the sealed beam option if it were an economic solution or an HID were not available. I had all but given up night riding with the original bulb and would never consider using the low beam - regardless if I'd been flashed at by every oncoming car. My only objection to the HID I have is that the 'whiteness' of the bulb is nearly invisible - particularly when on high beam. The bulb I use is an H4 8500K Xenon - Krypton. I got the bulb I have from New Speedmaster (Brent). It was reasonably priced. I got it in near lightning speed. If you experience problems with HID bulbs. The problem may be the number you use, either by preference or your predomenent riding conditions - Example: The intense blue of the 8500 temp./heat rating may make riding in rain and fog very difficult due to the glare from the blue/white light. You may opt to look for a 4300K. The light will be less intense, but will project less far. What I've read indicates that the optimum, all-around range is 4000 - 5000K range, which compares to daylight.

pipedr,

do you use the HID bulb with the original reflector, or did you change that as well?

I read that dispersion patterns are different when using a regular bulb or an HID.

Did a quick test (during daylight today), I aimed the beam way down and it's true, if I stand at some distance in front of the bike (and a little left) I get the beam reflected at me directly. I can only imagine how bad it is during night.

Unfortunately the bike is back at the shop tonight, so I won't have time to play with it.

I never had HID on any of my vehicles prior to this, so I am a little lost here. Since it is the reflection from the top part of the reflector, I can perhaps play with the orientation and placement of the bulb. I noticed that there is a "V" light shield under the bulb... perhaps I can rotate that shield to the top?

Thanks for the input !

Just the bulb. If there was any difference in pattern - It was an improvement over what was. Anyway, I don't suspect that a true HID lighting system would be optimum without the proper reflective backing. Seems all the prismatic component behind the bulb and typical incondescent relies on the prisms in the lens. So, I have no doubt that using just a bulb is less perfect than having a compatible bucket

I investigated addng HID lights to my daily driver Nissan Altima. There are a ton of kits avaiable at all kind of price ranges. As stated earlier, the temp range does dictate the type of light thrown. What I found was there were big compromises in putting HID bulbs in a housing desingned for a regular bulb. And reliability was all over the map, depending the the kit you bought. So, I passed.
I would assume these compromises would also be present in a bike headlight. Unless you replace the whole unit like the Kuryayn kits for HD's work. Possibly one of the Kury kits for an H-D would work in our bikes? How many headlight sizes can there be?

I have a 6000K HID Kit on my 2004 America and I love it. There was HID on the bike when I bought it from a Brit from Nottingham (how fitting!) Recently the ballast and lamp went out and at the time they blew it drained my battery so had to push start in 2nd and ride home with my fog lamps on. Took it to the dealer and they checked the charging system which was fine so I ordered a replacement kit through www.hidmotorcyclelights.com I got two lamps and ballasts so now have a reserve and the system I put in was much simpler in wiring using the original wiring. I removed a relay they had to the battery and the old ballast had a remote igniter so I took off the old crap and the light is great. It is more blue than the fogs but with the 55w H4 6000k I have two 35w fogs on the side and the different color really stands out at night and day. The previous owner did not use the fogs much as the color did not match but this helps to stand out from the crowd.
Since it was already set up for HID I just exchanged the units so really do not know what the original bucket/lens was. There is a shield over the lamp so the light is indirect as you cannot see the lamp from the lens side.