My First Night time HID Ride

[Bohsfc]

As the title says I have just been out on my first ride at night time since I installed a HID dip beam to my bike which was purchased on this site from Villguy.

My first encounter to notice anyone hindered by it was an aul geezer in an MX-5 who put his hand up to cover his mirror. I simply put this down to my superior height on the road in comparison to him.
However as the run went on between stopping and starting it seemed to bother an awful lot of drivers. I noticed alot of passengers leaning forward to look in the near side mirror obviously because the driver was bringing it to their attention.
Getting closer to home 2 cars actually pulled in, 1 putting there hazards on and when I passed they put on their high beam to try and blind me, obviously thinking that I had had my high beam on.

I don't do any night runs in general but I have to say this is putting me off doing anymore as I don't think it would be long before some driver would get so annoyed that they would try and run me off the road or else it will attract the unwanted attention of the police.

So far in day time driving I have to say it has been brilliant as most cars just move over to let you pass, so much so that I have christened my bike, MOSES.

It would be very interesting to hear other peoples experinences and views on their HID light conversions.
After tonight I may be switching back for the winter months for the dark drives home.

 

[ian6760]

Man that's a same, I don't have HID so it's only a guess. Can’t just lower the beam and make use of that beam adjuster on the light, that should solve it. I’d try that first before thinking of removal.

Good luck with it.
Ian.

 

[Bohsfc]

Man that's a same, I don't have HID so it's only a guess. Can’t just lower the beam and make use of that beam adjuster on the light, that should solve it. I’d try that first before thinking of removal.

Good luck with it.
Ian.

Excuse my ignorance but is there a way of adjusting the light down?

 

[Mr K]

Excuse my ignorance but is there a way of adjusting the light down?

Yeah!

That'll be the headlight adjuster..FFS you fit HIDs and you haven't even adjusted the stock lights??



PS: For technical info HID lamps have a different focal length to halogen lamps that the headlamps refectors were designed for and that is why you are having this problem.

 

[Tarka]

Yeah!

That'll be the headlight adjuster..FFS you fit HIDs and you haven't even adjusted the stock lights??

You`re sounding like me now....

Even more of an FFS factor is how the HID`s are used in the daytime but the shite halogen is going back on for the dark of Winter.

 

[Bohsfc]

You`re sounding like me now....

Even more of an FFS factor is how the HID`s are used in the daytime but the shite halogen is going back on for the dark of Winter.

Ah Yeah but I have 2 nice TT spots for then. But anyway RTFM and found the adjuster so a little work to do tomorrow.

 

[Mr K]

Ah Yeah but I have 2 nice TT spots for then. But anyway RTFM and found the adjuster so a little work to do tomorrow.

Thank you.

 

[Myke Rocks]

HID beam

Did you get the dip beam set on a beamsetter?
If not, you may be blinding people.
Before and after I fitted HIDs, the dip beam of my bike was illuminating the front guard.
I had it beamset after I fitted HIDs, &, even though it was raised massively, have never been flashed for blinding people.
The cut off is superb.
Myke.

 

[Bohsfc]

Did you get the dip beam set on a beamsetter?
If not, you may be blinding people.
Before and after I fitted HIDs, the dip beam of my bike was illuminating the front guard.
I had it beamset after I fitted HIDs, &, even though it was raised massively, have never been flashed for blinding people.
The cut off is superb.
Myke.

Myke, I never had it adjusted but before fitting them I read some post somewhere where someone said that prior to taking their halogen light out they shone the light on the wall of house or wherever and keeping the bike in same position they fit the HID and checked the position of beam again.
I know its not a great way of doing it or perfect but both beams hit the same place.

 

[ironandsteel]

I use cars

I was blinding a few drivers when I first rode with mine at night - as MR mentioned, the cut-off is so clean that I now adjust mine for the average car rear window (which means it is a little lower than I'd really like).

After each weight change - one-up, two-up, camping, etc., I ride out at night and find an average height parked car, sit behind it at my normal riding distance and adjust it whilst sitting on the bike - not very technical but it seems to work.

you'll always shine in smaller cars rear view mirrors but you would with a standard bulb and you'll always p*ss of drivers opposite at junctions in your path who are turning right (again, you would to a lesser extent with standard bulbs too).

Hard acceleration raises the beam quite a bit too....

when riding quite fast at night on motorways, etc.. mine shows up the vibration a lot more and the blue shaky light does tend to clear a path.

I'm keeping mine!

 

[Stewart H]

I had to lower my headlight quite a bit when I first fitted my HIDs I have not been flashed by an oncoming motorist since (Apart from when I fitted my FF50s)

Stewart

 

[E. Buygum]

I have never knowingly upset any car drivers with my HIDs (without wanting to)...when Les Wassall fitted them he adjusted the headlight downwards a bit (he seemed to know exactly by how much) and dipped gives a very bright but quite tidy (not "scattered") pool of light. For me it was money well spent for the fitting by Les.

 

[Bohsfc]

Thanks for all the comments guys. I reckon I will be keeping them on after all now that I know how to adjust them.

Once again £12 weel spent on subs.

 

[steve case]

I thought HID lights had to have electrical height adjustment fitted by law?

The ones on my car have huge boxes which controls the step up voltage and also the height.

When I turn them on I can see the beams raising up from the ground.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

 

[sockpuppet]

I didn't adjust my hids down, never had anyone flash me though.

I thought HID lights had to have electrical height adjustment fitted by law?

The ones on my car have huge boxes which controls the step up voltage and also the height.

When I turn them on I can see the beams raising up from the ground.

Simple answer.

Cars need auto levelling to use HIDS as thier headlights must be type approved to be used on the roads bikes don't.