HID lights

[carrera2]

I know there's a search function but things move on pretty quick re: good suppliers etc...

It's an '02 1150GS and the lights are dire - I'd like to get this sorted before the winter kicks in.

Which is the best kit to replace my existing dipped AND main with please?

Thanks chaps.

 

[davegs]

HID's

Les Wassell, he's on here do a search

 

[Buz]

Les's site is www.hid50.com

 

[plrb]

Can recommend Rudimoto's HID's also, a convert here, very helpfull clued up chap.
PRB

 

[monkeyboy]

IMO - don't do it. Buy some good aux lights instead. Better spread and no single point of failure. Last trip I went on with a group, a Honda had 2 fail and a GS had his go too. Not what you need when you're 8000 miles from home in the middle of nowhere! I had on on my R1100S and it failed - just kept turning off. I could turn it off and on again but that's not easy in a corner in the dark I just don't trust them enough. No doubt people will tell you they're reliable but just read around - I wouldn't have another. If you're not doing too many miles maybe but....

 

[D6]

did 3 years on mine inc off road 2days in rumania, never a failure, got em on the drz too, used 90 % off road, 2 yr, and thats a cheapy ebay one, again, no probs, you got bad uns, bulbs can be like that too

 

[monkeyboy]

did 3 years on mine inc off road 2days in rumania, never a failure, got em on the drz too, used 90 % off road, 2 yr, and thats a cheapy ebay one, again, no probs, you got bad uns, bulbs can be like that too

I'm prepared to accept that I got a bad bulb but by the same token you may have a good one. How many miles have you done? How many times have they been turned on and off? I'm sure people have good experiences with them - I have consistently not though, over a lot of miles in all year round riding. IMO, good aux lights are better. Also, with the GS headlight sitting so high it really pisses off the cage drivers - especially when you're following. For me they also give too much contrast between light and dark. Just my opinion though

 

[D6]

I'm prepared to accept that I got a bad bulb but by the same token you may have a good one. How many miles have you done? How many times have they been turned on and off? I'm sure people have good experiences with them - I have consistently not though, over a lot of miles in all year round riding. IMO, good aux lights are better. Also, with the GS headlight sitting so high it really pisses off the cage drivers - especially when you're following. For me they also give too much contrast between light and dark. Just my opinion though

yup i may have got a good un or two,
not many miles on the gs,but 4000 or so in 3 week,
the drz has had more rough use than a road bike would ever have over 10yr, let alone two,,,inc being almost totally underwater,,
set your lights up properly on a good set and it doesnt dazzle, this points towards you having a poorly made set if yours dazzle, best mod i did on my 1150,
the drz light is even higher, this doesnt dazzle either, im lucky enough to be able to set up on a beam tester, i find that good hid have a very sharp cut off and are better to set up than many bulbs, i have also come across some shite cheaper set ups that throw light where it shouldnt, some of these were badly fitted though

 

[GunZenBomZ]

did 3 years on mine inc off road 2days in rumania, never a failure, got em on the drz too, used 90 % off road, 2 yr, and thats a cheapy ebay one, again, no probs, you got bad uns, bulbs can be like that too

Doing exactly the same, had a twin setup off of Les @hid50, 35w kit. One ballast (control unit) has blown/deaded. Bought some cheap hid35w 6000k bulbs off feebay, work perfectly(don't look quite as good but they work). Found a replacement HID ballast 35w Slimline,...£30 odd..job done.

 

[D6]

iv seen slimlines as little as ten quid now, its the bulbs that cost,

 

[IanPorter]

had my first ride in the dark last night on my 1150GS with HIDs last night.

absolutely brilliant, the beams need adjusting as the high beam was way too low but a huge improvement over the stock candles.

as for reliability, you could just carry a spare halogen, it only takes a minute or two to swap it back.

 

[monkeyboy]

Doing exactly the same, had a twin setup off of Les @hid50, 35w kit. One ballast (control unit) has blown/deaded. Bought some cheap hid35w 6000k bulbs off feebay, work perfectly(don't look quite as good but they work). Found a replacement HID ballast 35w Slimline,...£30 odd..job done.

Reliable? They're ok and cheap to replace that's true. If they fail in the pitch dark on a fast corner however (mine did on a dark roundabout) .... (and I know a bulb could fail too but it would more likely fail on turning it on I reckon)

You carry a spare it's true, especially at these prices, but they're just not reliable enough for regular hard use - I don't just mean a few 1000 miles either.

 

[mr_magicfingers]

£40 for a pair from ebay, lights up the night like you wouldn't believe. Took less than an hour to fit both sets.

search for VVME on ebay, you can choose your bulb type and colour temperature, I went with 5000k.

 

[carrera2]

IMO - don't do it. Buy some good aux lights instead. Better spread and no single point of failure. Last trip I went on with a group, a Honda had 2 fail and a GS had his go too. Not what you need when you're 8000 miles from home in the middle of nowhere! I had on on my R1100S and it failed - just kept turning off. I could turn it off and on again but that's not easy in a corner in the dark I just don't trust them enough. No doubt people will tell you they're reliable but just read around - I wouldn't have another. If you're not doing too many miles maybe but....

Good advice, thanks monkeyboy.

Out of interest - which Aux lights do you use?

 

[sockpuppet]

Just carry a spare normal bulb if your worried. The sets Zero cool sells mean I could turn it back to std head lights in 20seconds if I really wanted on a cold wet dark road in the middle of no where.

 

[Pat]

Just carry a spare normal bulb if your worried. The sets Zero cool sells mean I could turn it back to std head lights in 20seconds if I really wanted on a cold wet dark road in the middle of no where.

I agree, I have a set of hids that I got from Zerocool, and have been used nearly every day for over a year, 85 km a day, and never had a problem. I work nights so need good lights on the bike. If you are worried then bring a spare H1 halogen.

 

[carrera2]

I agree, I have a set of hids that I got from Zerocool, and have been used nearly every day for over a year, 85 km a day, and never had a problem. I work nights so need good lights on the bike. If you are worried then bring a spare H1 halogen.

Is zerocool a site? If so, what's the address? Thanks.

 

[Packer]

HID'd for about 5 years and 45,000 miles now. Including some off-roading and a love of two wheeled aviating.

Still all original HID components. I carry an original lamp just in case. Murphy's law dictates that as long as I carry the spare it won't be needed.

Additional lights mean more weight, more drain on the lectrical system, more wires and switches to go wrong and they are normally very vulnerable in the event of the bike taking a wee rest on the ground.

Use the KISS principal

 

[carrera2]

Is zerocool a site? If so, what's the address? Thanks.

Does anyone know where to buy the Zerocool stuff from?

I've googled to no avail.

Cheers.

 

[BSD]

Does anyone know where to buy the Zerocool stuff from?

I've googled to no avail.

Cheers.

He's a member on this site. Drop him a pm for more details. Have a search on the members list