Daytime Running Lights, HID et al

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Demonbaker · #16 Post by **Demonbaker** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:16 am

Never used HID as i find the light on the Gs adequate, although most GS and GSA's seem to have lights all over them. Read a post on the UKGSER were two guys riding in Austria were stopped and fined approx £100 per light.

Dusty · #17 Post by **Dusty** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:25 am

I've resisted fitting HID to my bike because I feel that retrofitting to a light designed for a halogen bulb isn't ideal and I do get irritated, particularly, by aftermarket dazzlers. It's also a PITA swapping for the MoT. My car has factory fit HIDs which, as the driver, I like although I have had one or two flashes from oncoming cars despite my lights being dipped. In fact, the French were probably onto something with their now abandoned yellow headlights. I recently fitted "all weather" bulbs to another car and they produce a much more yellow light, supposedly to reduce glare on dark, wet nights.

I have a friend who has just removed his aftermarket HID from his R1200GS because he got so much hassle from irate drivers. The last straw was a white van driver who berated him loudly and aggressively when he stopped for fuel.

I think, on balance, we don't need HIDs on anything, and we certainly don't need those ridiculous LED DRLs on cars.

Aladinsaneuk · #18 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:42 am

My views may be tempered due to my previous ducati with its awful head light - actually, its awful electrics overall!

I have only changed the dip beam - and i find that I do not get flashed at by drivers UNLESS the rear of the bike is heavy with luggage.....

main difference i find, and this is a personal view, the edges of the road are better lit - and in rural norfolk with abundant wildlife that pops out of the hedgerows, i would rather see the bloody deer a long time in advance

I also deliberately chose a 60 light - so not as bright as many

I guess it comes down to individual choice

D-Rider · #19 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:08 am

I have never been flashed or complained at for my bike's HID - I think that's down to good adjustment and choosing one that's not too blue (they come in a variety of colour temperatures)

Tonyunn · #20 Post by **Tonyunn** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:24 am

Had a look on e-bay and the low beam kits retail aorund £54 is this correct or is thier a specific kit one of you would recomend.
Anyone have a name of a kit or supplier?

Are they a decent direct replacement, no huge wiring mods etc.

back_marker · #21 Post by **back_marker** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:38 am

They are available a fair bit cheaper than that if you look around - whether or not there is a difference in quality I couldn't say, I'm sure someone around here will have their own view on them, but I have had no real problems with mine so far.

Bear in mind that they do seem to try and charge you more for a single setup for a bike than exactly the same components as a pair for a car. Just make sure you get the H7 non-CANbus variety.

Temperature wise I bought 6000K which gives a very white but not too blue light. I was informed by a fairly reliable source before I got mine that the higher temperature does not make them any brighter, in fact the opposite is true.

Aladinsaneuk · #22 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 11:36 am

pssst

go halves on a car kit with some one.... thats what i did

I got my car kit from ebay - 20 quid plus 20 quid delivery - and i went halves with nooj....

fatboy · #23 Post by **fatboy** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:37 pm

As mentioned, HID's are fairly old news now with LED becoming the new arc eye.
Im noticing a steadily rising number of cyclists now with retina damaging LED's.
Because they are slow moving, you tend to pass 'the moment' fairly swiftly but still too bright,as bad as bad HID's on the distraction front

davebms · #24 Post by **davebms** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:10 pm

Tonyunn wrote:Had a look on e-bay and the low beam kits retail aorund £54 is this correct or is thier a specific kit one of you would recomend.
Anyone have a name of a kit or supplier?

Are they a decent direct replacement, no huge wiring mods etc.

ive got the other half of the car kit if you interested, it has an adaptor so it fits straight in (saves cutting up the existing holder to use as a spacer)

paddyz1 · #25 Post by **paddyz1** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 7:29 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:
I use my lights all the time - part habit and part pre emptive defence - I have done everything possible to make my self visible before a smidsy!

Stealth falco..........needs re-naming

Aladinsaneuk · #26 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:15 pm

the bike is stealthy, but how could they miss my sylph like figure?

randomsquid · #27 Post by **randomsquid** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:46 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:the bike is stealthy, but how could they miss my sylph like figure?

I've got to stop eating cornflakes while looking at the site.
Least my nose has had a rebore.

Aladinsaneuk · #28 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:48 pm

fucking huge corn flakes around your way then

D-Rider · #29 Post by **D-Rider** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:52 pm

This looks like the perfect cornflake accessory for randomsquid ........

Aladinsaneuk · #30 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:25 pm

nod

if only he knew where it was