HID's a little bit illegal as retrofits in the UK!!

[The General]

I`ve got 2 bikes with HID and am not happy with the reliability. Often come home of a daytime to discover there not working, so I don`t trust`em of a night at all. (Spread tends to be a bit wide but lighting is generally brilliant -when working) I can sometimes get the light to work temporarily by switching ignition off, then when I turn it back on some seconds later, provided I switch the ignition on with a quick action, it works again. Under "Troubleshooting", one company described intermittencey as a result of voltage drop which I suspect most older bikes have - hence the improvement with the relay Mod. But suspect I also have the cheapies as mentioned here. -

Now you can have HID Xenon technology on your bike
All our motorycle HID kits (including this "standard" kit) utilize digital, AC slimline ballasts. It is important to understand the different between DC (Direct Current) and AC (Alternating Current) when it comes to H.I.D. ballasts. The purpose of the ballast is to take the 12volts DC from your battery, and step it up to 23,000 volts to initially "fire" the bulb. Once the bulb is going, the voltage is regulated around 80volts, but here is the difference...

...DC ballasts output the current like your bike battery - in one direction only. They are cheaper to manufacturer (than AC ballasts) and they don't last as long (usually they die in less than a year, and you're unlikely to find a genuine manufactur's warranty for 12 months or more. We have seen some manufacturers in China only offering 30 days warranty on their cheap crap!! Don't forget eBay sellers only need the product to work for 2 months, after which time you cannot leave (or change) the feedback score you leave them.

Using a DC ballast will shorten the lifespan of your bulb, and will also cause the "flickering" you read some people complaining about. The flickering may be OK to put up with if you're on a bike that already has vibration, but it will drive you nuts on a car.

For the reason we don't sell, nor recommend using DC ballast HID kits. If you go to all that trouble of install a HID kit on your bike (or paying someone to do so) why do you want to have to pull it apart again a few months down the track?

AC ballasts, like the 240 volts in your home, alternate the current through the HID bulb in both directions. That is why HID bulbs do not have a "positive" and "negetive" plug. AC ballasts are more expensive to manufacture, last longer and are the type used in factory (OEM) installed HID headlights in cars.
This kit, like all our HID kits, use AC ballasts.
The globes are available in colours ranging from 4300k to 8,000k (although we only recommend 4300k to 6000k, since over 6000k (blue lights) are illegal to use on-road).
UV-CUT Bulbs (original Philips quartz glass) means they won't discolour your bike lens, and make them go a milky / yellow colour. They are also safer for your eyes being UV filtered.
Electrode & Molybdenum from Sweden - which means high quality components result in a defective rate less than 0.5% in the bulbs

[FJmonkey]

Cheers Monkey!

I don't commute but as our clocks have gone back it now gets dark by 4pm!  So any extra light is very welcome

I really want to put in a HID but don't want it to fail its MOT and be a waste of cash!  I am going to have a chat with the guy tomorrow that will be doing the test to see how likely it would be to fail.  I may even get him to fit it (that way he knows it will be down to him if it doesn't go through!).

Cheers guys (arnie and lib) I'm gonna have a good look through these options and weigh up the pros and cons before jumping in.

You only need to ask if you will fail the MOT if you have the HID system installed. You can have a regular bulb in the headlamp during the MOT inspection. Then after you get your MOT cert, put the HID bulb in till next year. I can switch mine out in less than 10 minutes, that includes getting the ratchet to drop the horn.

Here is the post when I put my DDM kit in.
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=2674.msg58950#msg58950

[racerrad8]

Don't suppose Randy stocks this relay mod as a 'wiring harness' making plug n play so to speak?

I will tomorrow.

I will get a relay and the correct wiring plug for the relay. You will just have to run a wire to the battery and then the head light, and the wire for the headlight will hook to the signal wire and the other side will be grounded.

I will post the link once i have them listed on the website.

Randy - RPM

[nurse]

Crickey now I'm spoilt for choice!!

Randy would it come with the ceramic bulb holder/plug or would that needed to be sourced separately?

[racerrad8]

Crickey now I'm spoilt for choice!!

Randy would it come with the ceramic bulb holder/plug or would that needed to be sourced separately?

No, it will be just the relay and plug. The bulb will still use the factory holder

The relay is just installed to act as a switch for the full 12v power from the battery to the headlight bulb.

Randy - RPM

[nurse]

Gotcha!!

Great job, thanks for the help!  As soon as I work out which road to take I will be in touch. 

Your website doesnt have HID kits i guess they are not your 'cup of tea'!!

[racerman_27410]

Crickey now I'm spoilt for choice!!

Randy would it come with the ceramic bulb holder/plug or would that needed to be sourced separately?

i highly recommend a ceramic headlamp wiring connector if you plan on using higher than stock wattage bulbs....

a 90/100 will melt the stock connector into a blob.


KOokaloo!

[racerrad8]

Your website doesnt have HID kits i guess they are not your 'cup of tea'!!

No, there is a vendor that was trying to bring them into stock. He was testing the durability, but I have not been able to get an update for quiet sometime.

Hopefully sooner than later...

Randy - RPM

[baldy3853]

Guys I don't know about the FJ but on my FJR I've plugged my HID kit straight into the original wire harness where the standard ligh goes and have no difficulty, the lights are great and light up the road, don't have people flashing me to say my lights are too high, you may have to adjust your headlight.
The other thing about the HID kit is the amount of power they DON"T use compared to the Standard bulb
Standard bulb- 55w/60w = 115w
perfomance -90W/100W = 190w

HID = 35w/35w = 70W  which equals less power being sucked out of the system...... equals brighter lights see more been SEEN by more
Baldy

[nurse]

Had a chat with the MOT guy and he says that he never had a HID retrofit come in for testing  (wink wink nudge nudge), he also said that lots of bike headlights seem to get brighter the older they get (strange phenomenom he reckons!!) and they all pass their MOTs fine.  He reckons even if he did come across one which is never ever likly to happen  he said he would be sure it would be fine!

So thats one bit of good news! 

Its a bit like those builders you have in that never find bats nesting in your loft/attic (bats are a protected species in the UK and if disturbed will land you in court with hug fines etc!!).

Now i just need to choose which road to go down, the 'well illuminated' route (relay mod) or the 'say goodbye to your retinas' route (HID).

[rktmanfj]

Now i just need to choose which road to go down, the 'well illuminated' route (relay mod) or the 'say goodbye to your retinas' route (HID).

If it burns your retinas, you're using it all wrong.     

[John Hopkins]

Maybe this will help with the legal side for the UK..

http://www.phoenixautobulbs.co.uk/tp/hid-kits-new-legislation-2012/

John.

[nurse]

Maybe this will help with the legal side for the UK..

http://www.phoenixautobulbs.co.uk/tp/hid-kits-new-legislation-2012/

John.

Yeah I read all that on the DOT website.  However much
Of this applies to cars not specifically bikes, although the under lying principles still remain.  Until yesterday afternoon I had completely forgotten that my neighbour who is a very quiet but pleasant enough chap works for VOSA (the department that ensures and enforces MOT standards by spot checks and road side inspections).  As a lead inspector he is as good as it gets in my eyes (he also rides - a firestorm but don't hold that against him!!).  He told me tonight that in his opinion as long as the beam is set up correctly and the beam does not cause glare or distraction to oncoming vehicle then it will not be a problem!

So that's 2 yes's in 24hrs from 2 different people who should know! 

I'd would call that a result and a green light! Or white with the smallest hint of blue in this case!!

Better make sure I point them the right way, don't want to burn out my retinas!

[RichBaker]

Guys I don't know about the FJ but on my FJR I've plugged my HID kit straight into the original wire harness where the standard ligh goes and have no difficulty, the lights are great and light up the road, don't have people flashing me to say my lights are too high, you may have to adjust your headlight.
The other thing about the HID kit is the amount of power they DON"T use compared to the Standard bulb
Standard bulb- 55w/60w = 115w
perfomance -90W/100W = 190w

HID = 35w/35w = 70W  which equals less power being sucked out of the system...... equals brighter lights see more been SEEN by more
Baldy

It doesn't work that way..... You are only using one filament at a time, so it would be one or the other. The power figures do NOT add...

55W/60W=60W max
90W/100W= 100W max, etc.

[rktmanfj]

It doesn't work that way..... You are only using one filament at a time, so it would be one or the other. The power figures do NOT add...

55W/60W=60W max
90W/100W= 100W max, etc.

What he said.