HID conversion

stever1

Elderly n deluded I’m told.
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
Jul 10, 2010
Messages
9,945
Reaction score
3,774
Location
Back in Hull
Hi folks, the wife and me went out on the GS Thursday night, and i think the headlights are poor. So i`ve been thinking about fitting an HID kit to both bulbs. Any views from you all would be gratefully recieved.
1. will it affect the warranty.
2. any known problems when fitted, I.E canbus wiring.
3. are they that much better.
B.T.W the bike is a 2010 model.
 
Only issue on a 2010 bike.....I had Les Wassel of this parish fit mine, 50w main and dipped, and 50w to the spots....but he had to reduce them down to 35watts (spots only) because the canbus kicked in (apparently this doesn't happen on pre2010 bikes as the spots have a traditional fuse)

But on main and dip there'll be no problem :thumb2

And the improvement is immense!
 
One pause for thought...

I have HID on both dipped and main beam. Just be aware having HID in the main beam means that it takes a finite amount of time for the light to build up to a suitable level. Might be annoying for you, might not. I don't mind cos I have non-HID spots linked to the main beam and they light instantly. The other thing to bear in mind is that you might have to dip your main beam a little more than a normal bulb to prevent oncoming drivers flashing every single time.
 
I put HID on dipped on my 2010 1200 courtesy of Les, but wouldn't bother with main beam as they take too long to warm up. Massive difference, do not hesitate, best upgrade without doubt :thumb
 
Only issue on a 2010 bike.....I had Les Wassel of this parish fit mine, 50w main and dipped, and 50w to the spots....but he had to reduce them down to 35watts (spots only) because the canbus kicked in (apparently this doesn't happen on pre2010 bikes as the spots have a traditional fuse)

But on main and dip there'll be no problem :thumb2

And the improvement is immense!

2010 bike has two traditional fuses for the spots, same as my 06 and 08 GSA's.
 
all post a picture if you want??????:augie

earlier bikes had the fuses under the right hand side near the front of the tank, the 2010 bike has the fuses moved to under the small cover on the left of the bike at the front of the riders seat.

Good deals at specksavers.
 
I have HID on both dipped and main beam. Just be aware having HID in the main beam means that it takes a finite amount of time for the light to build up to a suitable level. Might be annoying for you, might not. I don't mind cos I have non-HID spots linked to the main beam and they light instantly. The other thing to bear in mind is that you might have to dip your main beam a little more than a normal bulb to prevent oncoming drivers flashing every single time.

That is very true.

Many have reconverted them back cos it annoys them. All I do is 'blip' it occassionaly when there's no other traffic to energise them. I'd rather have the hid high beam and the niggle, with the improved visability, rather than the pathetic OE main beam.
 
I ride with a black visor all year and even at night, Get Les Wassals H.i.d kit, awesome bit of kit. Easy to fit, and excellent quality.:thumb2
 
Could i have Les Wassals contact details please.
I'm considering the upgrades and wheather or not to upgrade the spotlamps also.

Also has anyone had the upgrade with a perspex headlight protector fitted, and if so do you get any light distortion ? :confused:
 
Could i have Les Wassals contact details please.
I'm considering the upgrades and wheather or not to upgrade the spotlamps also.

Also has anyone had the upgrade with a perspex headlight protector fitted, and if so do you get any light distortion ? :confused:

I've not got a Perspex light shield...but apparently they're more prone to glaring back from the Perspex I think.
 
all post a picture if you want??????:augie

earlier bikes had the fuses under the right hand side near the front of the tank, the 2010 bike has the fuses moved to under the small cover on the left of the bike at the front of the riders seat.

Good deals at specksavers.

Post pic if you would, have just been onto tec at the dealers and no fuses for the fogs on the 2010 model, so would be interseted incase we have missed somthing :thumb2
 
Here they are,
left side of the bike under the small plastic cover at the front of the seat.
Mines a 2010 GSA built in july.

p10101071.jpg


p10101081.jpg
 
Also has anyone had the upgrade with a perspex headlight protector fitted, and if so do you get any light distortion ? :confused:

Yup - loads. Amazingly irritating if you have a tall aftermarket screen. Still, 30-odd notes then buys you a Touratech "blinker" that blocks it off. I think Nippy does a non-Touratech one a bit cheaper.

You can of course take off the perspex cover...

Oh yes - and the mesh ones glare back too. :blagblah
 
HID

I had both dip and main fitted with 55w HID. The dip doesn't cause any problems to on coming traffic but is so powerful that you can hardly see the difference when the main beam is on. I really want a main beam that throws light much further than the HID does. Apparently you can't adjust the main & dip seperately. The main beam seems to need raising to throw the beam further but this would raise the dip which would cause problems to on coming traffic.

So HID great but you only really need the dip.
 
35w or 55w?

I have just changed my 1150 Adventure for a 2010 1200 Adventure and was thinking of putting an HID dipped in.
Can anyone tell me if I need to fit a 55w, or can I fit a 35w without it causing a problem with the canbus system? Does that expect the headlight to draw 55w and flag up a problem is it doesn't?
Thanks in advance
 
I have 35w on dip on '05 GS, no canbus issues but I get embarrassed if I pull up behind a car as they have to hold their hand over the rear view mirror.
.....and yes, it is adjusted down as far as is practical.
I actually believe that the HID is not best suited to the design of the reflector (or vica versa)

But it is a massive improvement when on a dark road - almost no improvement when I switch the (conventional) high beam on.

All in all, worth doing and the chaps at Adventurebike Warehouse in Manchester offer good price for a (so far) reliable HID setup:thumb
 
enjoy em whilst you can ,,,

vosa just told me the after market hid will FAIL the mot ,poss dec 2011,
no ifs, no buts, hid=fail,
unless fitted as standard,,,,
the plans are drawn but not released yet, but i have seen them
 


Back
Top Bottom