DDM Tuning HID Kit

[keand3]

Hi.

Got my HID kit from DDM Tuning the other day and before I go ahead and mount it I was wondering where you other guys (that have done this mod) have put your ballast?
Is there some places that are more suitable for mounting the ballast then others?

Cheers

Ken

[Firehawk068]

Not alot of room up under the fairing, but it can be done............I just did mine (mine's a '90) and here's how I mounted mine..
I zip-tied everything in place, and tied up all the extra wiring......

[keand3]

Thanks.

Now I know what I have to struggle with 

Cheers

Ken

[HARTLESS]

the po installed the same one I believe and installed it on the left side as well... it seems that there wouldn't be many other options with as little room there is.

[FJmonkey]

Damn close to how I did mine, twice...

[keand3]

Thanks guys.
No point in trying to mont it elsewere i guess

Will mount it when i get the bike back from the engine rebuild. 

Cheerio
Ken

[keand3]

Hi guys.
I hope you could help me clarify some issues i have been discussing with some friends.

As the thread says i recently bought a hid kit from DDM, but i haven't had the time to mount them.
In a discusion the other day, the topic was how the light would perform when a hid kit installed in a projector/case/box (whats it called?) meant for a regular halogen bulb. There was some concern that the light would go all over the place, blending oncoming traffic and not have a straight or correct setting. The hid kit would need to be installed a proper projector meant for xenon light.

How ever i am no expert on this matter,but know the kits a widely used. But i would guess the purpose for the kit, hence being made as a H4 socket, is that it's intended to be used with the old halogen projector with H4 socket?

Anyone who has a before and after picture of your hid instalment? Would like to see the difference in lighting.

Cheers
Ken

[ribbert]

They are illegal here as an aftermarket fitment for that reason.
They work best with a reflector (I think that was the word you were after) that is designed for them.
I had a bike come at me the other day that obviously had one fitted and it was blinding, in the daytime!

I have hi/lo one that was quite expensive but I haven't fitted it yet.

It is my intention to add running lights to the bike, to be legal, and have my headlight switched, which it is not at the moment, and just use the headlight when I need it to see where I'm going at night and use the running lights for normal use.

It is mandatory here for bikes to have there lights on at all times.

There is no doubt they light the road up but I don't believe they are very friendly to oncoming traffic.

Noel

[keand3]

Thanks Noel.
Just the kinda info i was after.

But is there any reflector on the market that will fit the FJ?
All I have bee able to find is this: http://www.casperselectronics.com/store2/product_info.php?products_id=693
It really not a reflector, and i guess it would reduce the unwanted effect a bit but not enough. The DDM kit comes with a similar shield.

Ken

[keand3]

On Futher investigation on achieving true and legal HID, I found this:
http://eshop.ktautopart.com/motorcycle-hid-projector/hid-projector-motorcycle-single-beam/kt-mt5.html

The projector is meant to replace the ordinary H4 projector and reusing the lamp housing.
Looks promising, but don't know if it would fit the FJ headlamp. They have a tutorial on youtube with a similar headlamp as the fj, so it does look promessing.

[Dan Filetti]

Bah!  A parabola is a parabola.  Assuming the focal point (distance and position away from the reflector) does not change, then the amount of light is irrelevant.  Again, unless the bulb position changes relative to the reflector, then the light will focus as it was intended to.  It's not like you are changing the curvature of the reflecting surface.  It's basic optics. 

Your friends are crack-smokers are they?

Dan

[keand3]

Your friends are crack-smokers are they?

You gave me a good lough Dan, one of my fellow riders is a old hippi. Heck, still is:-) I would guess that hos past might have given him some blurry visions

Anyway, as you said its easy optics and i should not be a big issue. It does however looks like the hid bulb sits futher in in the casing then the H4. Don't if that would effect anything. I will install my kit anyway.

I do however gonna continue exploring the possibility of fitting a genuine xenon projector in the headlamp. No particular reason why, just for fun i guess.

Cheers.

[ribbert]

Bah!  A parabola is a parabola.  Assuming the focal point (distance and position away from the reflector) does not change, then the amount of light is irrelevant.  Again, unless the bulb position changes relative to the reflector, then the light will focus as it was intended to.  It's not like you are changing the curvature of the reflecting surface.  It's basic optics. 

Your friends are crack-smokers are they?

Dan

Interesting point Dan, I have thought about that to. I believe the problem is not that the beam pattern changes but they are so damn bright they need a narrower more focused beam to keep it out of oncoming drivers eyes.

The light is so bright in a halogen reflector that the glare, even when not looking straight into them is considered too bright from many angles(dangerous).

Also, they are very sensitive to the position of the focal point of the globe in the reflector which can make the light scatter even worse.

Here, they are only legal on vehicles with self levelling headlights and washers (OEM).

The "S" type globes with shields cut down on some of this glare but they are still deemed dangerous to oncoming vehicles.

I had a brief thought of grafting some projector lenses onto FH#2 for a project but you still have the problem of them rising under acceleration and getting those straight in your eyes would be worse.

My concern is, the most likely thing a blinded oncoming vehicle will hit is me!

Noel

[Arnie]

Noel,

Adding "running lights" is a good idea IMO, especially if your bike has a switched headlight.  I choose to not use my headlight during the day for a couple of reasons.  Trusting that the idiot in the cage behind you can tell the difference between a tail light and a brake light is very dangerous.  And, with the headlight off, I can use it as an additional signal to my loud horn.

BTW  It is NOT illegal to ride with your headlight off in VIC (during the day).  The law did require headlights all the time back in the 80's for a short while, but it was repealed.

Arnie

They are illegal here as an aftermarket fitment for that reason.

It is my intention to add running lights to the bike, to be legal, and have my headlight switched, which it is not at the moment, and just use the headlight when I need it to see where I'm going at night and use the running lights for normal use.

It is mandatory here for bikes to have there lights on at all times.

Noel

[ribbert]

Noel,

Trusting that the idiot in the cage behind you can tell the difference between a tail light and a brake light is very dangerous. 

Arnie

I have just fitted a brake light modulator, when you apply the brake, the light flashes for an amount of time and a number of flashes ( both are adjustable) before settling back to a solid light. I have it set for about a dozen flashes over about 4 seconds. I fitted led bulbs which give it even more impact.

Under $30 including postage from the UK.

Noel