Newbie with HIDs fitted

[Yam Yam]

I meant to post this a week or so ago.
I've only had the bike a couple of weeks but I notice my ST already has HIDs fitted by the previous owner.
I know what these are but I have no experience of having them fitted to any previous cars or bikes.
What is their reliability like?
I'll be travelling into mainland Europe in a couple of months and those funny European Johnny's like you carry all sorts of crap including, but not restricted to: a spare bulb kit, warning triangle, hi viz vest, breathalizer kit, organ donor card, birth certificate, marriage certificate / proof of nici & decree absolute, spare gloves, glasses, sensible shoes, a warm sweater (in case it 'gets a bit nippy' at night), a letter confirming nationality, a letter confirming why you don't have a letter confirming nationality and not forgetting a blood, tissue and stool sample etc etc etc
OK, I lied about the warm sweater.
And the shoes.
You can also take the bit about spare gloves with a pinch of salt too but all the rest is true. Well, some of it is.
I might be being a little weird here (as people appear to want to move OVER to HID lights) but would it be a complete PITA to change back to stock? Even if it's only for the duration of the trip just so I don't piss off The Man :-\
Or, for the sake of 50 quid a light, take spares with me?
Decisions decisions ...

 

[macca]

Hid reliability can be hit and miss . I've had some HID bulbs fail and ballasts fail in the past though these were cheap Chinese kits (though some expensive kits could be Chinese stuff marked up :? ) . Depending on how its fitted it may be easier to carry a normal halogen bulb swap to that if a hid lamp goes out, worth doing a trial run before you set off to see what's tricky.

 

[Boris]

Spare bulbs in mainland europe are not mandatory (car or bike) in the vast vast majority of countries, in fact neither are fire extinguisers or first aid kits. Warning triangles are, but don't apply to motorcycles.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/compulsory_equipment.pdf - lists needs for most EU countries.


http://www.rac.co.uk/travel/driving-abroad/countries/france/ - country by country rules

Cheers

 

[Roge]

If you carry the OEM normal bulbs they can be fitted easily by removing the HID striker cable connector and fitting a normal bulb to what should be the normal connector if you get my drift.

 

[Yam Yam]

Spare bulbs in mainland europe are not mandatory (car or bike) in the vast vast majority of countries, in fact neither are fire extinguisers or first aid kits. Warning triangles are, but don't apply to motorcycles.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/touring_tips/compulsory_equipment.pdf - lists needs for most EU countries.


http://www.rac.co.uk/travel/driving-abroad/countries/france/ - country by country rules

Cheers

Thanks for that link Boris. Very useful.
I note "France Motorcycles helmets must have retro reflective material fitted"
Re high viz jackets, I'm looking out for one of these in my size ::025::

.

 

[Boris]

Where are you off to? Myself and a couple of mates are off to the Vosges and Black Forest in June.

Have done many many parts of Europe over the years, Still loads more to do, perhaps Romania or Croatia next year.

Cheers

 

[Yam Yam]

I'll be in Wisconsin in June.
We're off to Cartisoara, Romania. At the top of the Transfagaras pass. End of July / beginning of August

 

[Boris]

Romania, mmm, sounds good.

If you do a trip report or photo blog, please post a link. I'd be very interested to know how it goes.

Cheers