Additional Lights - Recomendation?

[freeloader]

I heard rumour that HID are melting the lights on the F800GS's.

True or False?

Melting, not exactly, but I went back to conventional H7 lighting after my dip beam reflector started to go like this:

 

[mechcanico lee]

john i think mine are in the best place as you have see, and very cheep!

Your spellings attrocious(is that spelt right )............very cheAp ......just like your women eh Keith hahahaha

 

[GunZenBomZ]

.... except for a replacement chain on the 800

Share the knowledge!!!! Seriously Adrian what chain would you recommend a plonker like me getting??

Paddy

 

[ide508]

I heard rumour that HID are melting the lights on the F800GS's.

True for False?

True as for what I have read, and seen !

 

[zippygser]

Hey Zip,

I have the lights wired separately. The flood is slaved to the ignition, so that when the low beam is on, the flood is also on. And the spot is slaved to the high beam. There are no separate switches.

I got a couple of wiring harnesses from VisionX. They each include a relay and a fuse, and they are wired directly to the battery. The harnesses come with wiring for a switch, but I just snipped those off and connected them to the ignition switch and high beam switch.

Given that these are such low-wattage lights, I'm not sure that a relay is strictly necessary. But I'd rather err on the side of caution.

I hope that answers your questions.

David

So that means you bought 2 seperate harnesses to be able to achieve to one light going on dims and the one going on the brights.
Is that correct

 

[WoodWorks]

So that means you bought 2 seperate harnesses to be able to achieve to one light going on dims and the one going on the brights.
Is that correct

That is correct. Two harnesses. No switches. Flood lamp goes on when the low beam comes on (with the ignition), spot goes on when the high beam comes on (via the high beam switch). I don't know how you'd be able to do that with one harness.

David

 

[Dean]

I heard rumour that HID are melting the lights on the F800GS's.

True for False?

Melting, not exactly, but I went back to conventional H7 lighting after my dip beam reflector started to go like this:

I took advice from the experts in this case the very helpfull (Mr L/W) HiD50

aparent the advice and word to the wise for my bike the F650 GS twin was that as it has a shallower lense than the bigger GS's 35W Hid was recomended (not 50W) if you scroll up you will see the pic of it in action!

I beleive i'm write in saying the F800 GS is the same.....................

so it just goes to show that sometimes a slight de tune, a slight drop in power produces the better overall performance, but if you want to use a sledge hammer to crack a nut or push something beyond its limits surely expect more failure or breakdown unless your just lucky


Dean

 

[lawe]

I heard rumour that HID are melting the lights on the F800GS's.

True for False?

Not if You drive fast enough

 

[everywherevirtually]

aparent the advice and word to the wise for my bike the F650 GS twin was that as it has a shallower lense than the bigger GS's 35W Hid was recomended (not 50W) if you scroll up you will see the pic of it in action!
Dean

Wrong 35W will also burn the lens. This was taken in August last year. The upper portion of my lens is now completely black and has clouded up the glass. Given enough time all HID's will do this. That said the light output is still fantastic. So you decide. Do you want a nice shiny lens that no-one will see as they run over you or do you want a mini star attached to the front of your bike

I believe there is a market out there for a metal lens that will resist the effects of the heat from a HID

 

[Dean]

Wrong 35W will also burn the lens. This was taken in August last year. The upper portion of my lens is now completely black and has clouded up the glass. Given enough time all HID's will do this. That said the light output is still fantastic. So you decide. Do you want a nice shiny lens that no-one will see as they run over you or do you want a mini star attached to the front of your bike

I believe there is a market out there for a metal lens that will resist the effects of the heat from a HID

then I stand corected,

I know at the time I wanted 50w and les advised 35w was more than enough and better in the shallow lens. maybe its a by product of HID and thats why its not standard on bikes

I have no blacking yet but its early days since my having them fitted. but I would not be without the HID now and would with out a boubt fit them to any bike I owned. I definitly have less cars pulling out on me so therefore safer as for after darkness, what darkness


Dean

 

[Micky]

Mine went the same .. the silvering of the reflector was going black, plus, because of the hole having to be made in the rear for the wires to enter, the inside of the unit was going milky due to condensation

So reverted to stock headlight, under warranty

Now just stick to aux lights... HID aux main beam and 55W 'fog light' used as a daylighter ie. on all the time. Works just fine

 

[everywherevirtually]

then I stand corected,

I know at the time I wanted 50w and les advised 35w was more than enough and better in the shallow lens. maybe its a by product of HID and thats why its not standard on bikes

I have no blacking yet but its early days since my having them fitted. but I would not be without the HID now and would with out a boubt fit them to any bike I owned. I definitly have less cars pulling out on me so therefore safer as for after darkness, what darkness


Dean

The bikes are new and the HID's are new but I fear the problems will arise in a years time when MOT's are first due. There are going to be a shed load of pissed off 800 riders with headlights that don't pass the MOT. These units are not cheap either. Somewhere in the £350 to £300 mark

For HID's to truly work they need to be directional as is the case with the type fitted to Audi and BMW cars. A light that could sense if the bike was under load thus it would correct it's pitch. Of course this is science fiction at the moment.

 

[Dean]

The bikes are new and the HID's are new but I fear the problems will arise in a years time when MOT's are first due. There are going to be a shed load of pissed off 800 riders with headlights that don't pass the MOT. These units are not cheap either. Somewhere in the £350 to £300 mark

For HID's to truly work they need to be directional as is the case with the type fitted to Audi and BMW cars. A light that could sense if the bike was under load thus it would correct it's pitch. Of course this is science fiction at the moment.

I see what you mean about the MOT but you will be there before me so you will just have to post your fail sheet up here but no seriously as you very well know theres plenty of the older big GS's passing there MOT with HID fitted 1100's 1200's so i dont think its an issue at all


anyhow I thought you far distant off road guys didnt need an MOT once you leave the tarmac dont you post your bike on for your travels? you could get a daytime only MOT I think they still do them

with the cars yes I have the xenon in mine projector lights, TouraTech do them in the auxillery with the lens (I think Micky has one )

I'm not going back to candles I think with the HID a lot of car drivers at that T junction moment decide not to pull out on the burning bright star and of course they even get a thank you very much wave you knoiw the ones that already two foot over the give way where they stopped


Dean

 

[everywherevirtually]

theres plenty of the older big GS's passing there MOT with HID fitted 1100's 1200's so i dont think its an issue at all

The HID is not the problem. On the other GS's the lens is fine. because the lens is burning on the 800/650GS it is a problem. They won't fail you because you have a HID. They will fail you because your lens is not projecting properly anymore because it is charred black. see what I mean?

 

[Dean]

The HID is not the problem. On the other GS's the lens is fine. because the lens is burning on the 800/650GS it is a problem. They won't fail you because you have a HID. They will fail you because your lens is not projecting properly anymore because it is charred black. see what I mean?

yes im with you now.

I understand that some BMW dealerships offer and fit HID (not BMW product but after market)

like I said earlier your and others MOT will be before mine, hopefully the issue wont be a problemb

Dean

 

[GS Biker]

An idea for additional lights to the hand guards, check out my post No 431 here; http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2216598#post2216598

 

[everywherevirtually]

An idea for additional lights to the hand guards, check out my post No 431 here; http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2216598#post2216598

Nice. How did you affix them?

 

[GunZenBomZ]

I used 20mm grommets. I'd recommend GS-Biker, adding a slice of acrylic to the front of the bullets, to stop water ingress.

Both sets of mine have died over winter with water issues. Still recommend them though as they are brilliantly bright. *Coughs DAN!*

 

[everywherevirtually]

Both sets of mine have died over winter with water issues.

hmmm that's a deal breaker for me. I don't want to have to keep refitting them these bikeviz lights because they are not actually motorcycle lights but just led lights dressed up for motorcycle use.

I bought cheap lights from Hong Kong that failed ultimately due to water ingress. That said they were designed for use inside a car and so I knew what I was getting into. These days I'm busy with other stuff so just want to fit lights once and not have to worry about them failing at inopportune moments

 

[zippygser]

hmmm that's a deal breaker for me. I don't want to have to keep refitting them these bikeviz lights because they are not actually motorcycle lights but just led lights dressed up for motorcycle use.

I bought cheap lights from Hong Kong that failed ultimately due to water ingress. That said they were designed for use inside a car and so I knew what I was getting into. These days I'm busy with other stuff so just want to fit lights once and not have to worry about them failing at inopportune moments

I would definately recommend the visionx lights though, bought a few from the MCN show last weekend, simply brilliant, pictures to follow.