Xenon HID Lights

[Noryb]

hi all,

just wondering if any bros (n sis) here has HID installed on their S10? where would one hide e ballast and also would the current draw burn any wiring harness or fuses? was thinking of doing a set of HID fog/sport lights too but then again the issue of positioning e ballast came back again.. any thoughts?

byron

 

[Mellow]

I'm planning on doing some soon. I know there's at least one other member here that has.

I'll post something once I do.

 

[AVGeek]

Hey Byron, have you seen these?

Internal Ballast, 30W, flood or spot, silver or black. I'm looking at putting a pair of these up near the turn signals. From www.lazerstar.net

 

[justbob]

I think that the effectiveness of the HID conversions depends a lot upon the design of the existing reflector in the headlight housing.
HIDs use a different reflector that halogen bulbs do. I have done a few HID conversions, most were an improvement in total light output but not necessarily a good light pattern. The light seems to be more scattered with some dark holes left in the pattern. On one bike I can adjust the headlight housing for the low beam to get an overall improvement compared to stock lighting but the high beam is just about useless with the housing adjusted in this position.

 

[carrot]

Have you looked at the piaa cross country lights they have the ballast bullet in?

 

[justbob]

from what I have read, the Piaa cross country and the Trail Tech HID's are the same light, not sure which company is making them but they both have some negative feedback on durability and reduced light output from the 2" lens.

 

[Mellow]

from what I have read, the Piaa cross country and the Trail Tech HID's are the same light, not sure which company is making them but they both have some negative feedback on durability and reduced light output from the 2" lens.

Yup.. I like the size but everyone I've seen that has them has said something like 'yeah, they replaced this and that'...

As for the HIDs, I've put them on an ST1300s, Toyota Tacoma, Chevy HHR and Ford Fiesta and in all cases the improvement was definitely there. Due to the size of the light source alone, you'll not get the same abrupt cut off depending on the reflector, some like the Tenere have a very abrupt cutoff, the ST1300 doesn't even with incandescent bulbs.. so, you'll typically need to aim the lights down a little lower than the OEM setup but once you do that, you aren't annoying to other drivers and you get full advantage of the extra output of light.. high beam is incredible and you don't have to worry about mounting extra aux lights. You do have to consider where to mount the ballasts but the Tenere headlights are close together and there appears to be good places for the ballast...

I'm getting a set to play with and will report my install and findings.

 

[Tremor38]

For people who are thinking about conversion kits for the headlight, capsule placement within the bulbs is critical to making them work with our halogen based projectors. If you search the vendors, there's a guy in there adversing a kit that has positive customer feedback regarding uniformity of light output. You can tell when you get one that doesn't have the capsules in the right spot because you get dark spots immediately to the front and sides and aiming them is really a wonky affair.

 

[Mellow]

For people who are thinking about conversion kits for the headlight, capsule placement within the bulbs is critical to making them work with our halogen based projectors. If you search the vendors, there's a guy in there adversing a kit that has positive customer feedback regarding uniformity of light output. You can tell when you get one that doesn't have the capsules in the right spot because you get dark spots immediately to the front and sides and aiming them is really a wonky affair.

Actually, that vendor I looked at and they are waiting for someone to install their kit and provide feedback. Their kits are a few more $$ than the one I have on the way. Most hid kits are all sourced from china these days and packaged to look like the were sourced from the company you order them from. I've seen several low $ and high $ kits and they were identical except packaging.

Anyway, we'll see how the kit I ordered does and if it helps the vendor here determine what works for the S10 then cool.. I know the vendor here stated something about h7 bulbs having 3 sizes but I couldn't find that anywhere so not sure how to determine which one works for our bike.. I'll report back as soon as I get my kit, have it installed and have a chance to determine it's effectiveness with the projector housing we have.

 

[newventurer]

I have the Touratech HID/Fog light combo (one of each) and love them. The ballast sits on the back side of the fuse box on under the right panel. I believe if you go to Touratech website you can pull up the directions for mounting them. Its a tight fit. And they are not cheap.

 

[Tremor38]

I have the Touratech HID/Fog light combo (one of each) and love them. The ballast sits on the back side of the fuse box on under the right panel. I believe if you go to Touratech website you can pull up the directions for mounting them. Its a tight fit. And they are not cheap.

Those seem like the real deal, but it's tough getting past the price. I still may end-up getting them though. I've often wondered how the Denalis would perform arranged in that fashon; one with a fog lense and the other with the Euro driving light pattern lens. They probably wouldn't reach as far on high beam, but might be a budget alternative in comparison. I'm thinking the Touratech fog pattern might have a bit wider coverage as well. Have you posted any night shots?

How far out does the HID reach?

 

[Mellow]

Another option are the hella micro de hid driving lights. But, those are still in the $500+ price range. They do 'appear' to take up about the same vertical space as the Yamaha oem aux lights.

I'm still considering the hella as my next option. My thoughts were if I still have to find a place to mount the ballasts, might as well have it all integrated as part of the headlights and that option is cheaper as well so as long as the final outcome is satisfactory then it's a very affordable solution.

If that doesn't work then the hellas are probably in my future, will probably get tabasco to make a light mount as he's nearby.

 

[Tremor38]

Actually, that vendor I looked at and they are waiting for someone to install their kit and provide feedback. Their kits are a few more $$ than the one I have on the way. Most hid kits are all sourced from china these days and packaged to look like the were sourced from the company you order them from. I've seen several low $ and high $ kits and they were identical except packaging.

Anyway, we'll see how the kit I ordered does and if it helps the vendor here determine what works for the S10 then cool.. I know the vendor here stated something about h7 bulbs having 3 sizes but I couldn't find that anywhere so not sure how to determine which one works for our bike.. I'll report back as soon as I get my kit, have it installed and have a chance to determine it's effectiveness with the projector housing we have.

Yeah, my memory is a bit fuzzy right now, but I remember somebody talking about the H7's coming in short and long lengths. This same person claimed that he actually tried both and only one of the lengths worked on the S10, though I don't recall which one. I'll try to search a bit more to see if I can find it again.

 

[newventurer]

"Have you posted any night shots?

How far out does the HID reach? "

I have posted some night shots on one of the threads dealing with Auxillary lights. The pictures are at home so I can't attach them at this time.

I am not sure how far the HID will go out as I have them pointed about 20 feet in front of the bike to prevent them being in other drivers eyeballs. The Fog light has a nice broad (less intensity) pattern. The combination with the stock lights makes for a nice setup, IMHO. I haven't had anyone turn in front of me (yet) so I chalk that up to them seeing me coming. The HID does not have an on/off switch so its always on (others have wired to the brights so it is switched) The Fog light is switched.

 

[Tremor38]

"Have you posted any night shots?

How far out does the HID reach? "

I have posted some night shots on one of the threads dealing with Auxillary lights. The pictures are at home so I can't attach them at this time.

I am not sure how far the HID will go out as I have them pointed about 20 feet in front of the bike to prevent them being in other drivers eyeballs. The Fog light has a nice broad (less intensity) pattern. The combination with the stock lights makes for a nice setup, IMHO. I haven't had anyone turn in front of me (yet) so I chalk that up to them seeing me coming. The HID does not have an on/off switch so its always on (others have wired to the brights so it is switched) The Fog light is switched.

Yeah, that would be my only misgiving about HID. I would prefer that, since it can 'reach out and touch someone,' it come on with the high beams when I really need to see a ways down the road, but the on/off cycling is not a great thing for that bulbs and ballast plus there is the warmup time for the bulb. Aiming it as you've done is an option, but I'd alway have this pestering feeling that I'm not using the light to its full potential..but that's just picky ol' me speaking because you sound more than satisfied.

 

[newventurer]

One option...I have just reached down and pulled it up before to get some additional distance, then went back and tightened it up again later. I call that the analog approach ::025::

 

[Tremor38]

One option...I have just reached down and pulled it up before to get some additional distance, then went back and tightened it up again later. I call that the analog approach ::025::

Haha! Imagine that light with electric adjustment....$2000.00 easy!

 

[Mellow]

Some string would do... the get an old non-electric car window handle/mechanism..

 

[Tremor38]

Another option are the hella micro de hid driving lights. But, those are still in the $500+ price range. They do 'appear' to take up about the same vertical space as the Yamaha oem aux lights.

I'm still considering the hella as my next option. My thoughts were if I still have to find a place to mount the ballasts, might as well have it all integrated as part of the headlights and that option is cheaper as well so as long as the final outcome is satisfactory then it's a very affordable solution.

If that doesn't work then the hellas are probably in my future, will probably get tabasco to make a light mount as he's nearby.

I just checked out those Hellas and they sound like crazy-good fog lites.

As far as the headlight conversion kits go, I did a search of the forum with 'zenon' as the only term and came-up with somebody doing a photo install of some VVME H7 HID's. They gave a brief assessment that they worked well; however there were no actual pics of the light pattern from that person's bike...only advertisement photos. I keep hearing voices in my head when I look at these unbelievably low priced units. The Japanese bikers normally go with Osram or other high end ballast/bulb combos because there have been too many reports of the cheaper Chinese knock-offs either failing or catching on fire. My kawi dealer backs these accounts up by saying a couple of his customers installed them on the C14's with similar results. The local auto parts places have pretty much removed the cheaper units from their shelves because most Japanese customers wll not tolerate something that breaks down easily or freqently regardless of price.

Anyhow, just some random thoughts.

 

[Mellow]

I have seen many over st ST-Owners.com with the vvme kits and a couple have had failed kits but many more have gone at least a couple years without issues. No one has reported a fire so I won't drink that kool aid 'til I see it reported and one or two isolated issues won't convince me. The bulbs need to be installed correctly or they can fall out and they are hot so can melt plastic.. same thing can happen with OEM bulbs.

I understand the risks and have run these on bikes and cars with zero issues so I'll see how well the work with the Tenere, maybe they won't or maybe they'll be great.. we'll see.. pun intended.