HID 50 lights on an Airhead?

[CBI]

Hi all,

Anybody gone down the route of improving the terrible lighting on a R100GS/PD by fitting a Les Wassall HID50 lighting kit?

I note that it is now available for the old bulb fittings..

Any feedback welcome

Regards

 

[Mr K]

It's an ordinary H4 innit?

 

[Redboots]

Anybody gone down the route of improving the terrible lighting on a R100GS/PD

Fitted a kit I got off fleabay. Works fine. The dip beam is a bit of a strange pattern but I do very little night riding so I don't care. Main beam is very good.
The cage drivers do seem to notice it more though... or maybe tits the LED's on the hand guards

A few watts saved is also good.

John

 

[bumpmuncher]

yes and no i have a 35w H4-3 6000k non les kit on mine. yes it provides far more light than standard and uses less power. it only took half an hour to fit, it has the old fat ballast and that fitted under the tank over the ignition coils.

 

[judge]

Isn't the problem with the light the lens and reflector rather than the bulb?

I uprated by wiring and bulbs to no effect in terms of night driving I didn't go down the HID as I figured there'd be no improvement in terms of lighting the road at night.

Have the same with the oilyhead now but Hella DE fogs supplement it nicely and unlike my PD the alternator can cope

 

[bumpmuncher]

Isn't the problem with the light the lens and reflector rather than the bulb?

yes very true but when the hid puts out nearly 3 times as much light as standard its not so much of an issue it answered my problem more light without upgrading the power supply

 

[Roger Chatterton]

I'm also thinking of fitting an HID H4 kit to my 100GS PD. Les has them available, and says he's sold several to 100GS owners, but has not fitted them himself.
So, has anyone fitted his kits, and what problems, if any, are there?
Where abouts have you fitted the ballast, and does the original H4 bulb holder have to be modified or enlarged at all ?

Any pictures would be very helpful.

Oh yes, final thing -how much of the fairing has to be removed? I have removed fairing once before, just to change a blown neutral bulb, and it's a real pain in the bum , so hope I could get by without having too much grief.

Hope I'm not taking over CBI's post.....

 

[brassmonkey001]

The cage drivers do seem to notice it more though... or maybe tits the LED's on the hand guards

Yep, they'll get you noticed.

 

[Mike Wilkins]

hid

I fitted a 35W H4 kit from Les with no probs really to an R100GS.
The 2 leads from the 'black box' (rectifier?) that is attached to the ballast were not long enough to route with the other leads thru the hole at the bottom front of the headlight, so I removed the rubber bung in the speedo cable hole and used that. Even so, the insulated part that covers these 2 could do with being longer.
I have the 'black box' cable tied to the LH steering head gusset in front of the tank, and the ballast behind the frame tube and horn below the tank.
The cable mentioned above that needs to be longer prevented me from mounting the ballast over the coils as suggested by Bumpmuncher.
Did not have to change anything inside the headlight case - the burner mounting uses the H4 bulb fitting and the plastic cover fits nicely over the burner, with its plug in bit outside the cover if you get my drift !!
The only extra connections are the live feed to the battery and the earth - its an easy job.
HTH
MIke

 

[Roger Chatterton]

Hi Mike,
thanks for the reply, but as ever, I'm a tad confused ! What is this "Black Box" attached to the ballast please ? My R100GS PD uses the old K style headlamp, and an H4 bulb.
Below is a pic of the Ultra 50 & 35 ballasts as supplied by Les...and having had an HID on my 1150 , I don't recollect an extra black box .



Do correct me here if I'm wrong, as I may well be

Here's the bike I want to fit HID to...just to avoid confusion



cheers Roger & Out

 

[Redboots]

Yep, they'll get you noticed.

One of them went out... waiting for a new unit...

John

 

[Les Wassall]

I fitted a 35W H4 kit from Les with no probs really to an R100GS.
The 2 leads from the 'black box' (rectifier?) that is attached to the ballast were not long enough to route with the other leads thru the hole at the bottom front of the headlight, so I removed the rubber bung in the speedo cable hole and used that. Even so, the insulated part that covers these 2 could do with being longer.
I have the 'black box' cable tied to the LH steering head gusset in front of the tank, and the ballast behind the frame tube and horn below the tank.
The cable mentioned above that needs to be longer prevented me from mounting the ballast over the coils as suggested by Bumpmuncher.
Did not have to change anything inside the headlight case - the burner mounting uses the H4 bulb fitting and the plastic cover fits nicely over the burner, with its plug in bit outside the cover if you get my drift !!
The only extra connections are the live feed to the battery and the earth - its an easy job.
HTH
MIke

Thats worth knowing, Cheers Mike, I also stock factory extension leads in two sizes which I think would be the cure.

 

[brassmonkey001]

One of them went out... waiting for a new unit...

John

One popped out, eh? That'll happen without adequate support.

 

[DevonianScotsman]

Just out of interest, did your PD have an Oilcooler?
If so, has removing it made any difference?

I was thinking of doing so to make space for my spotlights - is it recommended or not?

Cheers!

 

[Roger Chatterton]

Hi, yes has an oil cooler, and it has been repositioned to fit in a more sensible position in the middle, just over the engine timing/alternator cover. The BMW idea of sticking the oil cooler out in the airflow on the crashbar seems a pretty dumb idea to me - an accident waiting to happen. Much safer tucked away where it is now.
No idea if it makes much difference, as I don't have an oil temp gauge ! What I do have though is the sump extension, which adds about 2 pints oil capacity, which is probably more effective at keeping oil cool. Can't go wrong with both though. !

 

[DevonianScotsman]

Cheers for that! I'll have a go at repositioning it!

 

[Redboots]

One popped out, eh? That'll happen without adequate support.

They also have orange leds between the whites that flash with the indicators

John

 

[Roger Chatterton]

Cheers for that! I'll have a go at repositioning it!

You'll need to get the "Re-Positioning kit", or at least get hold of longer brake pipes if you're moving the cooler. MotoBins do a kit I think.

 

[Shep]

You'll need to get the "Re-Positioning kit", or at least get hold of longer brake pipes if you're moving the cooler. MotoBins do a kit I think.

Why longer brake pipes???

 

[judge]

Why longer brake pipes???

longer oil cooler pipes yes but my relocated oil cooler had no impact on brake pipes.