Finally HiD H4-3 in stock

[Gazzabart]

IMHO

You have missed my point,no matter how you dress it up,better or not by fitting HID kit your bike/ car without the type approved lens,reflector, or paying extra insurance wont change the fact that your vehicle is no longer type approved.

Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the after market should:

1. be type approved to ECE Regulation 98 as a component.

2. when fitted to the vehicle should enable ECE Regulation 48 to be complied with (although no government inspection will take place).

3. Comply with RVLR as far as "use" is concerned.
In practice this means:

1. The headlamp unit (outer lens, reflector, bulb) shall be type approved to ECE 98 and be "e-marked" to demonstrate this. That can only be done by the headlamp supplier - Hella, Valeo etc. who must test the headlamp in an independent laboratory.

2. Once fitted to the vehicle it must have headlamp cleaning and self-levelling (which can be for the headlamp or can be in the vehicle suspension - some expensive estate cars have "self-levelling suspension" and that is adequate). Also the dipped beam must stay on with the main beam.

3. The headlamp must be maintained in good working order, kept clean, and aligned/adjusted correctly like any other headlamp.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.

In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.

Transport Technology and Standards 6
Department for Transport
Zone 2/04
Great Minster House
76 Marsham Street Telephone: 020 7944 2078

i have lost count the amount of times my HID's fitted by Les have saved me from being knocked off my bike
they are the best upgrade you can put on your bike i just hope and prey no copper ever knocks on your door and has to explain to your nearest that some OAP / seventeen year old twat didnt see you
basically sorry to say this but i dont give a fu@k what the regulations are i simply want to come home after a ride out and i think my HID's help me to do this

 

[sani]

i have lost count the amount of times my HID's fitted by Les have saved me from being knocked off my bike
they are the best upgrade you can put on your bike i just hope and prey no copper ever knocks on your door and has to explain to your nearest that some OAP / seventeen year old twat didnt see you
basically sorry to say this but i dont give a fu@k what the regulations are i simply want to come home after a ride out and i think my HID's help me to do this

+1

 

[shugie]

It has been rumoured that the headlight type regulations don't apply to bikes.

True or false?

 

[pomm001]

i have lost count the amount of times my HID's fitted by Les have saved me from being knocked off my bike
they are the best upgrade you can put on your bike i just hope and prey no copper ever knocks on your door and has to explain to your nearest that some OAP / seventeen year old twat didnt see you
basically sorry to say this but i dont give a fu@k what the regulations are i simply want to come home after a ride out and i think my HID's help me to do this

I have had HID's on my bike for over 18 months and agree it the best money i have spent on the bike .
My point is be aware that this modification is not within the regulations, and as such the possible effects this could have :
consider this and make your choice.

 

[marky-mark]

i think the majority of the regulations relate to cars rather than bikes...

The regulations you quote state they must have a cleaning system, which i have heard before...

I know the DC5 Honda Integra Type R (jap only model) has HID lights fitted as standard without any wash system.
The car is frequently imported into the UK, in fact Matt Neal won the BTCC championship in one 2 years in a row in 2005 & 2006!

But i have heard of a few failing mot's as there is no wash system on the headlamp, as its not a requirment in Japan & honda never made the car for the UK market & therefore UK laws. I think it was put down to anal mot inspectors & those affected just went to a different mot station!

Agreed its a rare extreme example, but i don't know of any bikes (with or without HID lights) with a automatic headlamp wash system! Which would suggest different set of rules for bikes...
(im assuming that there are bikes with HID as standard without washers?!)

 

[sani]

I have had HID's on my bike for over 18 months and agree it the best money i have spent on the bike .
My point is be aware that this modification is not within the regulations, and as such the possible effects this could have :
consider this and make your choice.

Why have you still got them on your bike if its illegal? Maybe you should practise what you preach and stop being so self important. I am sure you get my drift.

 

[GSmonkey]

I wouldn't worry too much about minutia like this. Who gives a toss?

 

[RSavage]

Can anyone comment on whether the HID fitment to an 1150GS improves the awful main beam? Pencil narrow spotlights may be fine on a stable platform such as a car but on something which must lean, like a bike, they are dreadful.

I have fitted a pair of worklamps which, although dog ugly, fill in the holes left as the standard main beam unit illuminates the hedgerows as one corners into Stygian darkness (bitter memory of frightening first night time ride in Yorkshire Dales).

Richard

 

[Les Wassall]

Can anyone comment on whether the HID fitment to an 1150GS improves the awful main beam?

Yes, yes and err yes, best upgrade yet, IMHO

 

[RSavage]

Yes, yes and err yes, best upgrade yet, IMHO

Hmm, not a tad partial in your opinion, by any chance?

Jokes apart Lee; does the HID conversion to main beam improve the spread purely by 'leakage'. It can't alter the intended performance of the reflector, which I think is to produce a focussed narrow beam.

Richard

 

[pomm001]

Why have you still got them on your bike if its illegal? Maybe you should practise what you preach and stop being so self important. I am sure you get my drift.

I fitted the conversion fully aware of the law , and they are still on , and there staying on, i'm not saying dont fit them just me aware
ditto and ditto

 

[Les Wassall]

Jokes apart Lee; does the HID conversion to main beam improve the spread purely by 'leakage'. It can't alter the intended performance of the reflector, which I think is to produce a focussed narrow beam.

Richard

Sorry miss read the thread High beam is better but still not the best, but with the dip beam HiD'd then you hardly use the high

 

[RSavage]

Thanks Les (apologies for previous name change)

A more important question now: ISTR that when HIDs were becoming available and Hella were offering bolt-on HID spotlight units (I remember them in particular because I fancied fitting them to a car until I discovered the cost) that much was made of the safe and permanent shutdown of the control box in the event of an impact. This was to protect rescuers from the high voltages required to operate the HID 'bulb'.

Is that still the case and will your units shutdown in the event of an impact? I'm sure I'm not the only GSer to have dropped their bike!

Richard

 

[Bryn]

Thanks Les (apologies for previous name change)

A more important question now: ISTR that when HIDs were becoming available and Hella were offering bolt-on HID spotlight units (I remember them in particular because I fancied fitting them to a car until I discovered the cost) that much was made of the safe and permanent shutdown of the control box in the event of an impact. This was to protect rescuers from the high voltages required to operate the HID 'bulb'.

Is that still the case and will your units shutdown in the event of an impact? I'm sure I'm not the only GSer to have dropped their bike!

Richard

Fitted to Mrs Flips Transalp 650 for 6 months now. Excellent result when compared to standard bulb. Have done a bit off off roading and she has had a couple of "offs" and the unit has withstood the abuse without issue.

.

This seems to answer the shut down issue?

 

[bumpmuncher]

I have fitted a few of these now and you are right, the change from Hi to low is lightning fast. The only problem with these 'telescopic' HID conversions is that on some the lamp does not move far enough to reveal the shroud cut out at the bottom. What this means is that the 'focus' point will move to the correct high beam location, however, the lower half of the reflector is left in the dark. Net result is that the high beam pattern is cut off too low and the road is not iluminated above the horizon. The cure is to carefully file out the lower cut out on the lamp shroud untill the light emitting 'globe' part of the HID lamp is open to the slot (high beam position only) and hence light will now shine onto the lower part of the refector as it should do.

I have done this small change to a few of these kits now and the results give a beam pattern of the same shape as the origonal H4 lamp but with much more light.

RESULT

any chance of a picture of the mod, i think there are a few people waiting. i have one fitted to my airhead and its a good improvement and draws approx 1.5A less than the standard and gives a LOT MORE LIGHT. are they still only available in 6K. cheers Bm

 

[Losttheplot]

Thanks Les (apologies for previous name change)

A more important question now: ISTR that when HIDs were becoming available and Hella were offering bolt-on HID spotlight units (I remember them in particular because I fancied fitting them to a car until I discovered the cost) that much was made of the safe and permanent shutdown of the control box in the event of an impact. This was to protect rescuers from the high voltages required to operate the HID 'bulb'.

Is that still the case and will your units shutdown in the event of an impact? I'm sure I'm not the only GSer to have dropped their bike!

Richard

My 1150 gsa survived several tumbles during the Cambrian rally. The dipped headlight also had it's outer lense smashed after a fellow competitor decided it was great fun to roost me coming out of corners....and it all still works fine!

 

[sterzam]

Les, you have email.

 

[davegs]

Tough lamps

My HID dip bulb has survived more than most!, forks ripped off after hitting a Mexican truck (true), and after hitting a dog in Peru at 80 mph the bike (1150) flipped over completely and landed on the screen, breaking the large supporting frame which holds oil cooler, headlights, beak etc in half. Both headlights smashed and are at present being replaced by me. Dip light £143.0.
head light £93.00 !. But, the HID lamp still works! so did the head light std bulb. so save me a few more pennies!. No ins as only third party in Mexico!,
So, don't worry about reliability of HID's. Think Nippy ought to send me a free kit as he could then use this testimonial ( some hopes!). You'll be pleased to know the truck survived, but the dog dident.
dave (gs fork removal service) gs.

 

[sterzam]

Hey Les!
Just got mine yesterday and will fit them today...
Do we really need a relay, or is there a way to by pass it?

 

[Les Wassall]

Hey Les!
Just got mine yesterday and will fit them today...
Do we really need a relay, or is there a way to by pass it?

Yes fit the relay, it's all to do with the solinoid working.