Dual HID headlights

[Droopy Dick]

I'm now in serious consider mode.

As we all know the headlights onthe GS are as much use as a chocolate fire guard.

I previously asked about fitting secondary lights an a lot of very useful information appeared.

Has anyone ever fitted HID lamps to both dipped and main beam of the R1150GS?

Is it even feasible?

If so, how difficult would it be?

Would I be able to find someone who could do it for me as I'm sure I lack the relevant skills?

OR

Would I be better to fit an HIS dipped beam and two additional driving lamps that are linked to the main beam switch?

 

[Darryl]

have a look at nippy norm's site, he has an HID system upgrade for £230 and let us know if it was worth it

 

[MikeP]

I have HID main beam replacement and it is good.

Not sure if dipped beam replacement is possible as well or even if it would be much of an improvement. As far as I can tell the problem with the OE dipped unit is that the size/shape/design of the reflector is what limits its effectiveness. Unless this is addressed by any replacement you will just get a brighter light in the same (poor) pattern.

 

[turbine_2]

Depends on what you are going for. If you're just replacing the built in head lamps then it's doable but not so easy. If you're adding additional lights (like most people appear to) then it's pretty simple. For what it's worth I have HIDs slaved to the dipped beam and halogen's for the main beam (HID's aren't very good for flashing) bolted on to a MiGSel light bar.

 

[Droopy Dick]

Depends on what you are going for. If you're just replacing the built in head lamps then it's doable but not so easy. If you're adding additional lights (like most people appear to) then it's pretty simple. For what it's worth I have HIDs slaved to the dipped beam and halogen's for the main beam (HID's aren't very good for flashing) bolted on to a MiGSel light bar.

Hmmmmmmmmm .. I gave up flashing when I was arrested last time. The Beak said flashing was anti-social ...

 

[simonm]

Dual HID

Droopy,

There's a shed load of info on this at Advrider.
Try a search in GSpot for "HID"
Here's a link which should give you some idea of what's involved.
I know Ricky Kuhn (sometimes posts here) did this a couple of times.

 

[tonys]

I have replaced dip and main with HID, pretty easy job, bit tricky finding somewhere for the ballast boxes, would get some pics for you, but bike is in a crate on it's way to NZ! Improvement in light output is nothing short of miraculous!

 

[Danamr]

I would bet that just relamping the existing GS lights is as illegal in the UK as it is in the US. I am reluctant to do something that is not easy to reverse. Also since the reflectors are wrong for HID anyway, you are creating a hazard for drivers coming toward you.
That said, here are a couple of things that will work.
Touratech has a drop in HID replacement high beam unit that puts out a ton of light. Take a look at Marco Prozzo's write up of it on AV Rider forum. It's a very clean install, and I have seen Marco's bike in person, the light output is impressive.
You could add aux lamps on a light bar, Touratech, and Micatech have HID's. They Micatech is very popular with the Long Distance Riding community here. There is a good write up on www.fjrtech.com. They call the "Eyes of God". I think a pair on a set of GMTmoto lightmounts would be a killer solution too.

 

[tonys]

Sorrry, but the reflectors are NOT wrong for HID's, as long as you buy a good quality conversion, the HID bulbs are engineered such that the point of light production is in the same place a the OE bulb, therefore the beam pattern etc is unchanged, simply much brighter. The kit on my GS was originally fitted to my 1100S, and it worked fine on both bikes. Never had a problem with dazzling other drivers, unless the headlight is adjusted too high, but that's no different to the stock setup.

 

[Danamr]

Sorrry, but the reflectors are NOT wrong for HID's, as long as you buy a good quality conversion, the HID bulbs are engineered such that the point of light production is in the same place a the OE bulb, therefore the beam pattern etc is unchanged, simply much brighter.

Nope, wrong, not true. Talk to a automotive lightning engineer. HID bulbs are designed for HID reflectors, rebasing a bulb, by definition is putting it in a reflector that it is not designed for. Yes you are getting more light, but talk to the drivers coming toward you what it looks like.

 

[Shooter]

I have a pair of Micatech HID's on my Adventure. I'm looking into the HID headlight conversion for both the Adventure and my Yamaha.

There is a guy on the MTF forum looking into a group purchase to get the cost down.

 

[CoolCarbon]

I carried out a dipped beam conversion on my 1150, details here

It works well with the BWM Unit, the 'Kick up' on the nearside can be seen clearly and is a vast improvement on the standard unit.

CC

 

[MikeP]

Question for CC.....

Followed your thread. Thanks.

I may have missed something though. Does this conversion do dip and main? If so does the discharge unit supply both?

I have the TT mainbeam conversion and the discharge unit is tucked up under the headstock (done by my local Beemer dealer 'cos I'm a complete numpty when it comes to electrikkery). When I bought it I was informed that it could only power one lamp. I would have preferred the dip to have been replaced because IMO it was the worst of the two.

Cheers.

 

[CoolCarbon]

It's just the Dipped Beam.......You get a Phillips Blue Vision Blub included in the kit to uprate the Main Beam......no use to you I know..........

HTHs

CC