Anyone done a HID conversion for headlights?

[dgc67]

For those of you who understand electronics (Lawrence!     ), is the feasible to do on an older bike like my 1st gen?

http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/1001725675.html

[lragan]

Most of the "ballasts" (power supplies, actually) for automotive HID systems run from 8 to 18 volt inputs, so there is no reason they could not work on a 1st gen bike.

These systems are actually plasma discharge lights, a descendant of the crude WWII carbon-arc search lights and early movie projectors.  There characteristics are:

1) High efficiency -- for the same power input, you get as much as 3 times the light.
2) Blue in color -- the color of incandescent lights is biased toward the long wavelength (red) end of the visible spectrum.  This is what we are used to seeing.  Hence the HID's will look "funny" as they are biased toward the short wavelength (blue) end of the spectrum.  Some items show up better (most reflective materials, for example) in blue light, some worse.
3) Expensive bulb replacement -- expect to pay upwards of $25 per bulb.  They should last a long time, unless you pick up a pebble into the headlight.
4) Precision of aiming.  Because the spectrum is also narrower, as well as higher in frequency, these lights are easier to focus into a tight pattern.  This is good if you are pointing where you are going, but in a turn, they may not show up that deer waiting in the shadows as well as the broader pattern lights you are used to using.

Overall, though, this should be a safety improvement, IMO.  If I were into night riding at all (I avoid it like the plague!!), I would probably install one on my 3rd gen.

[dgc67]

I am not fond of riding after dark either.  Since I had lasik my night vision is not what it used to be.  Which is one reason I am considering doing something about some better lighting.  I don't really want to put extra driving lights on as I am worried about it over taxing my system.

[hootmon]

I'm am just passing this along as a conversation I had in Daytona with someone that sold HID's.
He stated that there may be an issue if the Headlight bucket (like on a Gen 3) is made of plastic as they do produce more heat that a standard bulb.

Also - blue light tends not to do as well in fog..

[Magna86]

I think it would be better to just upgrade the headlight as whole piece like the Valk headlight on the 3rd gen's. But I'm like you and first gen bike and haven't found any upgrades for the light. Anyone done a headlight upgrade on the first gen other than a brighter bulb? Because a better housing with a better reflector would make a great deal of difference. If someone has done a headlight swap can they post pics?

[lragan]

I'm am just passing this along as a conversation I had in Daytona with someone that sold HID's.
He stated that there may be an issue if the Headlight bucket (like on a Gen 3) is made of plastic as they do produce more heat that a standard bulb.

Also - blue light tends not to do as well in fog..

If the HID you pick draws the same power as the filament bulb you are using now, there will be less heat, not more.  Same power, more light, can only mean one thing -- less heat. 

If you pick a higher power unit, in addition to being sure the reflector can handle the heat, you need to be sure that you have the alternator/rectifier capacity to drive it.  No different than adding extra lights.

Possibly a bigger issue is that the light may not be directed as you would like if you use the housing designed for a filament bulb.  The center of illumination needs to be at the same point to take full advantage of the reflector.  I suspect that to get the tightly directed beam that HIDs can offer, one would need a new reflector.

[Jumbobret]

 I put a true HID from a 2008 Nissan Altima on my '85 V65. First it produces less heat, &  buttload more light. But the best part is that it takes only 35watts to power them, where a traditional lamp is 55 watts. So there for we have plenty of alternator to power them. If "smoked you" will show up he can upload the pix we took of them. These things are great.

[hootmon]

I put a true HID from a 2008 Nissan Altima on my '85 V65.

Did you get the parts from a junkyard, or are you driving around with only one headlight in your car, or is your neighbor pissed off and scratching his head a lot??

[lragan]

I put a true HID from a 2008 Nissan Altima on my '85 V65. First it produces less heat, &  buttload more light. But the best part is that it takes only 35watts to power them, where a traditional lamp is 55 watts. So there for we have plenty of alternator to power them. If "smoked you" will show up he can upload the pix we took of them. These things are great.

Jimmy, did you use the Nissan reflector?  Did it fit in your original housing, or did you need a new one?  Am I going to have to ride out to Bronte to look, or are you going to post pics? 

[dgc67]

Yes, pics and more info on what you had to do please!!

[Jumbobret]

I used the magna reflector with no fitment issue. As far as where I got the parts, I work for a Nissan body shop. I got lots of Altimas with with broken headlamps but good enough to get parts from it.

Iragan, who is Jimmy?

[lragan]

I used the magna reflector with no fitment issue. As far as where I got the parts, I work for a Nissan body shop. I got lots of Altimas with with broken headlamps but good enough to get parts from it.

Iragan, who is Jimmy?

Sorry, jumbobret, the picture you use under your signature was also used by Jimmy Glover, Central Division Coordinator, in Bronte, TX.  I didn't even look at your name!!

Is there a legal way we can purchase components like you used from your body shop or some other body shop?  What happens to the pieces parts that are still intact but do not constitute  a standard stocked component?

[dgc67]

What all is needed other than the bulb?

I thought it was "Gloveberg" posting too.  Same pic for sure.   

[Curtis_Valk]

Sorry, jumbobret, the picture you use under your signature was also used by Jimmy Glover, Central Division Coordinator, in Bronte, TX.  I didn't even look at your name!!

Lawrence I almost made that mistake the other night when I saw JB's post about living or working in Arlington.  I though "did I miss when Jimmy moved???". LOL

JumboBrett, you might want to think of changing your avatar ........Jimmy's had that one for quite a while and it would limit the confusion.

Curtis

[TLRam1]

What is that image on your avatar?