Brighter M50 Head Light?

[vtbme]

Originally Posted by womper

i've got PIAA 1100x on the lower forks.
love it.
bulbs are expensive as hell and hard to find, so i have to order online.

i have fog lights for wide angle too
and had silverstar bulb until it popped (during a crash...)

Got a picture?

[vtbme]

Originally Posted by chinton

You could try swapping out the standard h4 bulb for an HID kit. I did so on my C50T and never even need to run my high beam because of the increase in light output. I purchased the kit from eBay for $74 shipped and was able to fit everything inside my headlight bucket.

My friends liked the improvement so much, I have since done it to 3 other bikes.

What's involved here? Is it a simple plug and play?

[womper]

Originally Posted by vtbme

Got a picture?

yup...
here http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/fo...tml#post464381

[chinton]

Originally Posted by vtbme

What's involved here? Is it a simple plug and play?

Install is really easy. The kit is listed as plug and play since it comes w/ a wiring harness that connects to the stock wiring via stock connectors but i would say it may be one step above.

1. replace stock bulb w/ HID bulb
2. Connect wiring harness (plug/play) to stock connectors
3. Connect + and - on wiring harness to battery.

With that said - my dad, who has no electrical experience, was able to put his kit on by himself. He only called me once to verify that I ran the power from the harness directly to the battery.

Id say you could knock it out in 30mins.

These are pics directly from the seller i got mine from.




Bulb connects to ballast -> ballast goes to wiring harness.

[vtbme]

After HID conversion, or replacement bulbs easy to find?

[vtbme]

See also this US based seller. I have a message into them confirming model and price:
XerayUSA :: Quality Products for Life and Security - Motorcyle HID Kits

How about replacement HID bulbs? Special order or available at local retailers?

[chinton]

Originally Posted by vtbme

See also this US based seller. I have a message into them confirming model and price:
XerayUSA :: Quality Products for Life and Security - Motorcyle HID Kits

How about replacement HID bulbs? Special order or available at local retailers?

Replacement bulbs are available online - I am under the impression that aside from putting out more light and using less power than conventional halogen that they will also last a lot longer.

i was originally going to purchase from xerayusa (via eBay) but the person answer my emails did so incomplete. I had to send multiple emails to get 4 questions (sent in the original email) to be answered...the replies were coming back one question at a time and were not very clear.

on a sidenote - my family and I (4 bikes) just got back from "Thunder on the Mountain" in Brian Head, UT. We stayed an extra day to check out the sights and ended up getting caught in a rainstorm and fog at night going through 2lane mountain curves. the lead bike (HID imitation bulb) was so thankful that the 3 bikes behind him had the HID kits as we lit the way for him. The amount of light being put out was unbelievable esp. with us being in a staggard formation.

[05HDRAM]

HID conversions are good if you are on the bike or in a car that has been converted, but if you are the oncoming traffic - not so good. Unless the housing was designed for HID, the light is going to be scattered. I looked into converting my truck, so I did a bit of research. The best option I came up with was retro fitting projector lenses in the housing. I am all for brighter light, just not at the expense of others.

[vtbme]

From Wally World, I found Sylvania Silverstar 2 pack of 9003/HB2 ST and package reads "also meets H4"; 12.8v, 60/55w.

Started thinking maybe that wasn't right, so went directly to Pep Boys and got the single pack (dusty obviously been there a while) Sylvania Silverstar H4ST 12v, 65/45w.

Checked the existing bulb which is Phillips 12v, 60/55w.

What gives? None of that is consistent. Are both types of Sylvanias okay to use?

[womper]

funny.

if it were me, i'd get the 9003 bulbs from wally world... prolly cheaper and it'll last as long.
12.8v 60 watts = 4.68 amps
12 v 65 watts = 5.8 amps
12 v 60 watts = 5 amps

i wouldn't use the 65/45. use 60/55. 12.8 volts won't do much difference than the 12 volts.

use the cheapo wally world bulbs. they'll last longer as long as your charging system is putting out 12.8 volts (on highbeam) when charging... and it should be (it should put out almost 14 volts.

[vtbme]

Originally Posted by womper

funny.

if it were me, i'd get the 9003 bulbs from wally world... prolly cheaper and it'll last as long.
12.8v 60 watts = 4.68 amps
12 v 65 watts = 5.8 amps
12 v 60 watts = 5 amps

i wouldn't use the 65/45. use 60/55. 12.8 volts won't do much difference than the 12 volts.

use the cheapo wally world bulbs. they'll last longer as long as your charging system is putting out 12.8 volts (on highbeam) when charging... and it should be (it should put out almost 14 volts.

Thanks! I was perplexed... obviously don't know much about this stuff. Should make installing the PIAA fork lights interesting.

[womper]

the piaa multi-fits are a breeze to install.

battery to relay.
lights to relay
switch to relay.
pie.

the hardest part if figuring out where you want to mount the light switch.

i'd suggest you cut into the headlight socket for the switch (where they tell you to connect to battery) so that you can only turn on your lights when the bike is on

let me know if you need help with it...

[vtbme]

Just might do that Womper. Thank. Currently going through the parts list...wish they gave a picture of the parts - I'm such a visual person. The directions in general kind of suck from that stand point...just a bunch of verbiage. I need to go through it again because I think I might be missing some parts.

Do you run yours all the time? Just with low beam? Just with high beam? Do you ever NOT run yours?

[womper]

you should have two long bolts... two brackets and two lights...

i run mine most of the time, either hi or low beam...
i cut into the AUX socket for mine. there's juice when the bike is on, and when the bike is off, i won't drain my battery by forgetting to put the lights on

i sometimes forget to turn them on... but it helps other vehicles seeing me coming at them... that's why i like them during the day...