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Tourer
Posts: 499
Chattanooga, TN | Good job! I like it. I have a little under 40k on the clock and know they won't last forever. Anybody know how long the HID lights might last? Also, I have so much crap going to the battery now, I need to lighten it up a bit. But the real concern is, once I do this, I also want to use a modulator and I don't think those work with HID do they? I really like being seen, I could care less if it is obnoxious to cages. I want them to see me in the daytime before they turn left in front of me and am convinced that the headlamp modulator is the way to go. What is the best way to get both HID and a modulator? Just HID the 2 lights and modulate the third which I can turn off when riding in a group?
Edited by baadawg 2012-11-11 7:38 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort) | I'm sure modulators draw attention but I've never been a fan.With a HID headlight I would think having the cyclops driving light a standard switchable halogen with a modulator would be the way to go if that's what you wanted. Average life span of a HID bulb is 2,000 hours- I would guess most of us average 40-50 MPH that would make the life expectancy of a HID bulb 80,000 to 100,000 miles in a perfect world-we'll see. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Since a HID switches from hi to low with a motorized mechanism to physically move the bulb into a different angle, I don't know if it could do it quick enough for a modulator. Even if it could, that would be a lot of wear and tear on that mechanism. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | So my HS1 driving light burned out. I easily removed it, confirmed it was bad and put it in since local auto parts stores don't have it. I decided to get the PIAA HS1 HID conversion kit. Plug and play. I could not get the %##%^!!! retainer on with the PIAA bulb. WTH? Old bulb it goes right on. I even dremmeled some material of the new bulb. Wasn't gonna happen. I was sooooo close (2mm maybe).
Anyway I would not be beat and pulled all the GD bodywork and the headlight. I found something interesting. With the headlight assembly out I still couldn't secure the retainer.
I can't add photos from my iPhone, I'll do it tomorrow, but this is what I think. They assembly it by inserting the bulb than screwing the tab in place. If it is not tightened down straight there is almost no chance of changing the bulbs on the bike. I loosened the single Phillips head screw, turned it a few degrees and it went right on. I decided to check the other 2. Same thing.
It will make more sense tomm with pics. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | Pics, PLEASE! This could be why I couldn't get my previous HID to fit. I really don't want to take off all the tupperware, but if that's what it takes, I guess I will. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1290
Ruskin, Fl | Here you go Monkeyman. I can email you the higher quality if you like.
Photo 1 is the PIAA bulb. It is stamped H4 despite being in the HS1 kit. It fits right in the housing. That is was not the problem.
Photo 2 is side by side, HID and HS1. The plastic base is slightly thicker than the stock bulb's stamped metal base.
Photo 3 is after I took a dremmel to the bulb. This did not help. The material was nowhere near the problem. Remember, the headlight is still on the bike at this point. Just going by feel this made sense to me. I was able to put the OEM bulb in and out in 2 seconds without any problem.
Not to be beat I took the whole thing apart. I REALLY didn't want to do that before I had my new horn and amp ready to install.
Anyway, after I got it out I still could not get it under the tab. I loosened the single phillips head screw and turned it a little. Photos 4 is before adjustment of the main headlights. Photo 5 is the HID bulb in place after I turned the retaining tab. Unfortunately you have yo take it apart to adjust the tabs, but at least there is a chance of doing it on the bike now.
After I rotated them a few degrees I could latch and unlatch all 3 with one hand. They are still very secure. I don't think they can pop out due to that slight adjustment.
Edited by cw1115 2012-11-18 6:55 AM
(HID 1.JPG)
(HID and OEM.JPG)
(unneeded mod.JPG)
(retainer tab 1.JPG)
(retainer tab 2.JPG)
Attachments
----------------
 HID 1.JPG (49KB - 1 downloads)
HID and OEM.JPG (49KB - 1 downloads)
unneeded mod.JPG (51KB - 2 downloads)
retainer tab 1.JPG (52KB - 1 downloads)
retainer tab 2.JPG (52KB - 0 downloads)
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | Thanks. I thought the problem was fitting the bulb in the socket, not the retainer. My problem with my previous kit was that I just couldn't get the bulb to fit the socket. Most of the bulb base (that fits in the hole in the reflector) is round but the bottom is flat. Seems like the HID I got didn't have the flat spot high enough. In other words, there should have been more flat. I'll post a pic of the aftermarket HID and a generic HID/H4 I found online somewhere.
If I buy another one, I don't know if there's enough material for me to be able to grind that flat spot bigger so it fits in the reflector. I don't want to grind the reflector hole at all as I'm not sure what that would do to the light beam. I assume the '12s have the same headlight reflector assembly as the rest so I doubt that's the problem but I honestly don't know. One of the reasons why I chose the Vision was for the HID cyclops light. I'm NOT spending $500 for the official Vic HID accessory kit. Just not going to happen.
Edited by Monkeyman 2012-11-18 7:20 AM
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HID Headlights
