My front headlight burned out yesterday. Yes it was nerve wracking till i got home. Id like to replace it with something stronger(if possible). Is there something out here, if so what?
Thanks
You can install a 80/55 or 100/80 QH globe.
OR, a better solution is to use relays and the stock 60/55 globe (search for info here)
OR, you can install an HID kit.
Note: a number of listers here have found the HIDs to be unreliable.
Arnie
Take a look at Silverstar Ultras. Their price point looks agreeable.
Quote from: FJ1100mjk on April 01, 2013, 08:23:22 PM
Take a look at Silverstar Ultras. Their price point looks agreeable.
That's what I currently have in mine..........Super bright, and price isn't too bad, about $25 for one.
It lasted 2 and a half years before the high beam burned out.(The low beam still works)
PIAA and Osram/Philips offer vibration resistant motorcycle-specific bulbs that would probably offer longer life, but their costs are higher. There's probably others too.
I've put regular Silverstar bulbs on another bike I own that has the relay mod done on it. Those bulbs had about the same life that you state. I've also read somewhere that there's a direct relationship to the life of the bulb for the voltage that it receives, and of course its brightness too.
I've completed the relay mod to my FJ, but have yet to make a decision on the bulb and buy it.
I currently have an hid installed in mine and it's super bright. Was installed by previous owner. I think thy the reason they are
Unreliable is because they need an initial warm Up period before you start the bike( 30-45 seconds ). It is because it draws more power to warm up initially and when you crank at the same time
It makes them work super hard...
Quote from: HARTLESS on April 05, 2013, 10:46:35 AM
I currently have an hid installed in mine and it's super bright. Was installed by previous owner. I think thy the reason they are
Unreliable is because they need an initial warm Up period before you start the bike( 30-45 seconds ). It is because it draws more power to warm up initially and when you crank at the same time
It makes them work super hard...
The HIDs should draw less even at start up then a standard bulb. They are low amp, high volt systems.
The DDM HID units draw around 15-20amps for the first 5-10 seconds during a cold start-up. After that they only pull a few amps. If you buy the DDM HID for the FJ, it comes with a relay kit, which helps them power-up better and i haven't had any reliability issues with any of the DDM HID kits personally and I have them in my car and bike, and have recommended them to a lot of people.
Quote from: candieandy on April 05, 2013, 03:30:55 PM
The DDM HID units draw around 15-20amps for the first 5-10 seconds during a cold start-up. After that they only pull a few amps. If you buy the DDM HID for the FJ, it comes with a relay kit, which helps them power-up better and i haven't had any reliability issues with any of the DDM HID kits personally and I have them in my car and bike, and have recommended them to a lot of people.
Thats what I have. I wasn't meaning it draws more then a halogen, but on warmup it draws more then once warmed up. You just need to let it warm up
And also if you get oils from your hands on there it causes problems. Same as always. Basically what I was saying is people abuse stuff and it causes reliability problems. Then there is fleabay brands....
HID kits suck. IMHO :negative:
Quote from: The General on April 06, 2013, 03:43:50 AM
HID kits suck. IMHO :negative:
+1 on this and I love toys but not convinced on the HID
I had the standard globe in with a relay. Then put in a NARVA 60 / 55watt PLUS 100 globe. HUGE difference and no extra load on the electrics and fits straight in. No mods. No complaints. $27 :good2: :yahoo:
Quote from: The General on April 06, 2013, 03:43:50 AM
HID kits suck. IMHO :negative:
How much did you pay for your kit Doug?
Without the relay mod, it doesn't matter what bulb you put in there, you won't see any real improvement.
HIDs, when installed correctly, will put sunlight out the front of the bike. When I went riding with Mark (FJMonkey), his headlight was extremely bright. So much more brighter than anyone elses.
CraigO
Quote from: ribbert on April 06, 2013, 06:40:38 AM
Quote from: The General on April 06, 2013, 03:43:50 AM
HID kits suck. IMHO :negative:
How much did you pay for your kit Doug?
Ahaa...a little nibble at tha bait....as usual you are on the right track Ribbert. You may have noticed My statement says "HID kits"... not HID systems. Genuine ones, engineered as HID headlamps and with legitimate bulbs and ballasts, are quite reliable. "HID
kits" are Chinese garbage. (popcorn)
Quote from: The General on April 06, 2013, 10:00:37 AM
Quote from: ribbert on April 06, 2013, 06:40:38 AM
Quote from: The General on April 06, 2013, 03:43:50 AM
HID kits suck. IMHO :negative:
How much did you pay for your kit Doug?
Ahaa...a little nibble at tha bait....as usual you are on the right track Ribbert. You may have noticed My statement says "HID kits"... not HID systems. Genuine ones, engineered as HID headlamps and with legitimate bulbs and ballasts, are quite reliable. "HID
kits" are Chinese garbage. (popcorn)
Bugga and I asked Julia to pick you up one as a surprise :dash2:
Quote from: FJSpringy on April 06, 2013, 10:06:34 AM
Quote from: The General on April 06, 2013, 10:00:37 AM
Quote from: ribbert on April 06, 2013, 06:40:38 AM
Quote from: The General on April 06, 2013, 03:43:50 AM
HID kits suck. IMHO :negative:
How much did you pay for your kit Doug?
Ahaa...a little nibble at tha bait....as usual you are on the right track Ribbert. You may have noticed My statement says "HID kits"... not HID systems. Genuine ones, engineered as HID headlamps and with legitimate bulbs and ballasts, are quite reliable. "HID
kits" are Chinese garbage. (popcorn)
Bugga and I asked Julia to pick you up one as a surprise :dash2:
No Prob. All donations for the next chook raffle kindly accepted- Ummm... A Harley rider would very probly win it. (The Bar staff won two of the prizes at Bellingen - by sheer coincidence it wasn`t any of the FJ stuff :sarcastic:)
BTW I have yet to find a genuine HID system for the FJ that match it`s optic length & reflector for correct spread. (They don`t exist - Let alone the photon engineering required to get the High Beam /low Beam differentiation spot on) Don`t change the eyes of tha leopard, just make them healthier I reckon.
Note: HID kits (when working) give an illusion of brighter lights, as the immediate area in front of our bikes is indeed brighter. Shame it changes tha focal length of your pupils to compromise the important visuals further ahead. ...and, and and don`t whinge to me about glare for on coming traffic cause I couldn`t care less about them. (unless of course there administrators of justice) (popcorn)
Well, I guess it's true that "opinions" are like ass holes, everyone has one. :-)
I put a cheap-shit Chinese HID kit in one side of my FZ1 headlight and it absolutely fucking ROCKS!
Been on there for at least 6 months and still works great. It doesn't just give the "illusion" of more light, when it's on I can't even see the light from the other side which still has a halogen bulb in it.
It lights up the road nicely and so far no oncoming driver has even flashed his light at me. I get more flashes from the relay powered 80/100 bulb in my FJ.
DavidR.
Quote from: The General on April 06, 2013, 11:36:40 AM
Quote from: FJSpringy on April 06, 2013, 10:06:34 AM
Quote from: The General on April 06, 2013, 10:00:37 AM
Quote from: ribbert on April 06, 2013, 06:40:38 AM
Quote from: The General on April 06, 2013, 03:43:50 AM
HID kits suck. IMHO :negative:
How much did you pay for your kit Doug?
Ahaa...a little nibble at tha bait....as usual you are on the right track Ribbert. You may have noticed My statement says "HID kits"... not HID systems. Genuine ones, engineered as HID headlamps and with legitimate bulbs and ballasts, are quite reliable. "HID
kits" are Chinese garbage. (popcorn)
Bugga and I asked Julia to pick you up one as a surprise :dash2:
No Prob. All donations for the next chook raffle kindly accepted- Ummm... A Harley rider would very probly win it. (The Bar staff won two of the prizes at Bellingen - by sheer coincidence it wasn`t any of the FJ stuff :sarcastic:)
BTW I have yet to find a genuine HID system for the FJ that match it`s optic length & reflector for correct spread. (They don`t exist - Let alone the photon engineering required to get the High Beam /low Beam differentiation spot on) Don`t change the eyes of tha leopard, just make them healthier I reckon.
Note: HID kits (when working) give an illusion of brighter lights, as the immediate area in front of our bikes is indeed brighter. Shame it changes tha focal length of your pupils to compromise the important visuals further ahead. ...and, and and don`t whinge to me about glare for on coming traffic cause I couldn`t care less about them. (unless of course there administrators of justice) (popcorn)
:bye2: by the time of the next FJ rally I don't think Julia will be able to even get an invite to a cook raffle.
I will stick to using standard style up-rated same draw globes.
Quote from: SlowOldGuy on April 06, 2013, 02:24:54 PM
I put a cheap-shit Chinese HID kit in one side of my FZ1 headlight and it absolutely fucking ROCKS!
DavidR.
David, which cheap-shit Chinese kit did you use?
Thanks in advance! :good:
Quote from: SlowOldGuy on April 06, 2013, 02:24:54 PM
Well, I guess it's true that "opinions" are like ass holes, everyone has one. :-)
I put a cheap-shit Chinese HID kit in one side of my FZ1 headlight and it absolutely fucking ROCKS!
Been on there for at least 6 months and still works great. It doesn't just give the "illusion" of more light, when it's on I can't even see the light from the other side which still has a halogen bulb in it.
It lights up the road nicely and so far no oncoming driver has even flashed his light at me. I get more flashes from the relay powered 80/100 bulb in my FJ.
DavidR.
Nice to know it works on the FZ1...and very happy you have a back up Halogen next to it....One of mine lasted 12 months...luckily it stopped during the day time... I liked it too...but I`m illusional...
I gather you`re happy with your relay powered 80/100 bulb on your FJ?
My understanding is not many of the HID kits were too high above adjustment and some people like the extra foreground brightness, especially at low speed on country roads.
It will be interesting to know if the halogen light you replaced on the FZ1 has a longitudinal arc that runs front to back or uses a transverse filament. Globe position and design after the swap is also critical as is Lens and reflector engineering designed to maximise light spread to suit the Bike. The FJR lense seems to work well with the HID kit and appears to be reliable on Baldy`s water cooled relatively smoother machine - that also has another unit working beside it.. (Damm maybe I shoulda tried the HID kit after the Engine Mount fix...Naa...too dangerous to test the third kit IMHO)
It appears the exercise has lots of almost impossible variables to get it right, (besides the demonstrated reliability of chinese manufacture) and yes when I borrow somebody`s glasses cause I left mine on the Bar - despite a different focal length, they do get the job done - sometimes better..or is it only the bigger writing that tricks me into thinking they`re better?... but long term, there`s nothing like my engineered glasses...especially when I`m half full - or half empty. (popcorn)
Randy,
I have no idea which cheap-shit Chinese kit it is. The previous owner of the FZ gave it to me, the box return address is Hong Kong. I do know that the easiest bulbs to install are the ones that separate from their base. This allows the use of the factory retainer clip and the rubber boot. I bought a kit from Cycle Gear (SpeedSteel?) and it is a one piece design the doesn't allow use of the rubber boot.
I have changed the bulb from a 4500K to a 6000K. It throws a LOT of light down the road. I kind of like running an HID and halogen because the difference in light output from the two bulbs helps attract attention. I think it makes me more visible.
I just spent the afternoon rewiring the headlight on the '85 FJ. Stupid low beam relay was intermittent. Wanted to install an HID, but just had the Cycle Gear unit on hand. Took the opportunity to add new relays and relay base connectors instead of a bunch of individual wires. Much cleaner installation and easier to change relays in the future with the base connectors. Looks like I'll be continuing with the 80/100 bulb for the forseeable future.
DavidR.