HID lights

I have a couple of HiD lights for my HP2 (front and aux light).

But I think if I was you I'd wait a few months and see what happens with LED lighting availability as an aftermarket option for BMW bikes.

The GS1200 2013 has an LED headlight as well as integrated LED auxillary lights: unless I'm misunderstanding the press release package that just came out.

And maybe someone like Touratech and Wunderlich and others in the USA will start to bring out LED headlights for bikes.
Is a HUGE market: I bet a very big percentage of GS1200 owners would buy one if they could.
Doesn't burn out, less power, more powerful than std light.

Even if not, I'd look at LED sidelights: are really good now and less power drain. You might not need a brighter headlight with them.

An HiD can be a bit of a headache: not just wiring it up, but you can get hassle from MOT, and there's a few other issues.

So if I were you I'd hang ten on HiD's.

Maybe buy LED aux lights in the meantime then in 6 months or so can buy an LED headlamp kit.
 
CREE LED lamps for cycles are now stunningly powerful and come complete with tube clamps.

I have used older style 24 LED torches as marker lights with one of these to provide power from the bike.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-CAR-PO...ctronics_PowerAdaptors_SM&hash=item1c26e859bd

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I haven't yet seen any LED lights that are powerfull enough to light the road ahead for night time riding. They work well as marker lights though to aid the riders own visibility to other road users. I'm sure they will get better and better though until the next technological achievment comes along.
 
I haven't yet seen any LED lights that are powerfull enough to light the road ahead for night time riding. They work well as marker lights though to aid the riders own visibility to other road users. I'm sure they will get better and better though until the next technological achievment comes along.

My marker lamps have a 50mm dia lens with 24 LEDs but being hand torches at around £5 a pair, they can't be expected to do too much. They are however compact and unfocussed so great as marker lights and my first pair lasted 2 winters. See http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rolson-24...ing_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item4cff7697d8
I powered them with a switchable DC to DC box set to 4.5 volts.

However, at 1800 lumens these are seriously bright:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XML-...isure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item20c5013dc9

This says that halogen gives 15 lumens per watt.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080525205417AA5O7xB

If that's correct, the CREE LEDs are at least 2x brighter than a 50W halogen. However I suspect the LEDs have a narrower light bandwidth (or maybe spikes of primary colours) so overall dont illuminate as well as the fully filled spectrum of incandescent lights.

Maybe there are experts who can explain why LEDs seem to be less bright.
 
Take the first advice, speak to Les at HID50, did a cracking job for me, I'd be highly surprised if any of his customers from here would ever be anything but 100% satisfied. He does a nice coffee as well!
 


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