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[UK Dave]

In that last photo you can see the bulbous section of the glass tube - that's where the arc strikes

You can also see it's not aligned with the cutout

Now whether that's how it should be or whether the cutout should allow a different proportion of the arc to shine through to give more light to the lower section of the beam I don't know but in the first post of this series I mentioned about the dark looking lower half of the headlamp lens - I just feel this would be improved if the cutout was in line with the arc

I will contact the (HiD) dealer and see what they say and advise accordingly

Have a great holiday - did I mention I am off now until 2 Jan?

Cheers

Dave

[RJ749]

See, now I know my wife is full of it when she says I'm addicted to this site.

I totally missed this thread for the past two months

I do have the HD HID so I am covered but I sure miss the opportunity to chime in on something that I believe is a great addition to our bikes.

UK, thanks for posting your install and alternative to the spendy HD light.

[UK Dave]

Hey Guys - I got a surprisingly quick response from the guy who is selling these upgrades - which is good, at least it shows he cares.

He knows about the "mis-aligned" cutout and basically it's a compromise between getting good Hi-beam throw and not dazzling the oncoming traffic with stray light out the bottom half of the headlamp on Lo-beam

He is working on a new design of shield with more cutout (= more light) for Hi-beam while retaining the sharp cutoff for Lo-beam

Because he was pleasantly surprised that a biker understood (a little) about lighting/lenses/reflectors etc (and because I advised him there was interest on this site) he is going to keep me in the loop.

I will advise on future developments as they happen (or, at least, when he tells me...)

Cheers

Dave
PS What's in a number anyway  

[bisounours]

Thanks Dave for these news.
I'm interested by this solution and I'll wait the evolutions.

Merry Christmas and happy new Year !  [smiley=santa3.gif]

Regards
Jacques

[Black_Dog]

This is a great thread, thanks for heading me in the right direction.

Black Dog [smiley=pumpkin.gif]

[Eqcons]

Right, I'm going to seriously upgrade the lighting on this bike before it takes to the road. Regular readers may recall that I fitted the HD HID headlight to my last bike, and I've kept it to go on this one.  It isn't bad on dip, but main beam is a pathetic H8 35w, and of course when you switch to main beam, you lose the passing lamps, so on main beam you have the HID + 35w, instead of HID + TWO 35w!

The plan -

HID headlamp
replace the H8 35w with a blue H9 65w
replace the 35w H3 in each passing lamp with a blue H3 55w
have the passing lamps come on with main beam as well as dip.

As I see it there's plenty wiring and fuse capacity for that, but my only concern is the extra heat generated by the 65w H9 in the little main beam reflector.  Anyone else done the same conversion, and if so, any heat problems?

Jim

[UK Dave]

Hi Jim, I've done pretty much what you are planning to do.

I ran a heavy wire from the battery (fused - natch) to a relay in the the headlamp area and also fed the driving lamps (with blue 55w H3) from that so they are on with both lo and hi beam (or off - of course)

The aftermarket HID is working fine and I adjusted it up slightly when I fitted deeper trim rings (Frenched?)

The headlamp wasn't filling the bottom of the deep trim ring - looked kinda naff...

Still don't get flashed (by oncoming traffic) too often so can't be too bad but I have noticed a few complaints when I am behind someone on the country roads - mind you I'm not behind them for too long...

I was looking at the other lighting thread (with the Bosch spots?) and I might have to give that a go - can never have too much light !!

I don't think the additional heat (from the 65w H9) is going to be an issue for you - the reflector will just throw it forward

I suppose you could run the headlamp loose (in the garage) and test the temp of the reflector with your hand - I don't think you would even feel it get warm let alone hot

Are you planning on Spain this year?

Cheers

Dave

[Eqcons]

Hi Jim, I've done pretty much what you are planning to do.

Cool, Dave!  I was beginning to feel pretty lonely! 

I ran a heavy wire from the battery (fused - natch) to a relay in the the headlamp area and also fed the driving lamps (with blue 55w H3) from that so they are on with both lo and hi beam (or off - of course)

I did it on my '03 Glide, but didn't run an extra wire - used a feed from main beam to operate the relay, and just used the normal feed for the passing lamps. They were just 35w standard bulbs though, not the 55w.

The aftermarket HID is working fine and I adjusted it up slightly when I fitted deeper trim rings (Frenched?)

Yes, the HD HID was fine on dip - but a 35w main beam?  I don't think so!

The headlamp wasn't filling the bottom of the deep trim ring - looked kinda naff...

Yes, again on my 03 I had the trim ring.  Didn't like the gaps, so have not had one since.

Still don't get flashed (by oncoming traffic) too often so can't be too bad but I have noticed a few complaints when I am behind someone on the country roads - mind you I'm not behind them for too long...

 

I was looking at the other lighting thread (with the Bosch spots?) and I might have to give that a go - can never have too much light !!

I think the standard ones (at last this year we have the fluted reflector that the US bikes have, though still 35w H3) with the blue 55w bulbs are going to be as good as any - they look really white. And they look the part.

I don't think the additional heat (from the 65w H9) is going to be an issue for you - the reflector will just throw it forward

Hopefully!  As an aside, they really don't want you fitting an H9 in place of the H8!    You have to trim one of the 3 lugs on the bulb to get it to go in, and then the plug won't connect as the H9 has an extra key that has to be chiselled off!

I suppose you could run the headlamp loose (in the garage) and test the temp of the reflector with your hand - I don't think you would even feel it get warm let alone hot

Oh, they do get warm!  (try it with your passing lamps!) Hope that the v. small area of the main beam reflector can cope.  Might try it as you suggest though.

Are you planning on Spain this year?

Yup!  You?

Cheers

Jim

[UK Dave]

Sounds like you are on the right track Jim

See you in Fuengirola

Are you riding all the way or ferry to Bilabo/Santander

Cheers

Dave

[Eqcons]

Sounds like you are on the right track Jim

See you in Fuengirola

Are you riding all the way or ferry to Bilabo/Santander

Cheers

Dave

Riding all the way, Dave - through the tunnel.

Jim

[bisounours]

Good evening , Dave and Jim,

Are you planning on ST TROPEZ for the HD Eurofestival the 10th till 13th May ?

Regards
Jacques

[Eqcons]

Good evening , Dave and Jim,

Are you planning on ST TROPEZ for the HD Eurofestival the 10th till 13th May ?

Regards
Jacques

Bonsoir Jaques!

Not unless I become rich between now and then, and am able to give up work! :-)   I'd LOVE to go - but I am 725km north of Dover!  But are you going to Fuengirola?

Jim

[bisounours]

Bonsoir Jim,

I'll be not to Fuengirola.
It's 4 days in Fuengirola, 2 for go and 2 for back = 8 days.
Not enough time in June for this travel.

Jacques

[Eqcons]

Bonsoir Jim,

I'll be not to Fuengirola.
It's 4 days in Fuengirola, 2 for go and 2 for back = 8 days.
Not enough time in June for this travel.

Jacques

That's a shame, Jacques - I was hoping to see you there.

Jim

[Eqcons]

"R/B Jester CUSE²
Previously, the delivery date was April 2007.
Started from the States the 9th January.
Arrival at the dealer the 14th February.
previous first miles : 17th February 2007, morning."

Hey Jacques, your bike is here!!!    I didn't realise you had got it at last!    Did you post somewhere that it had arrived, and I missed it?  Are there photos somewhere on the site?  How is it to ride? (Your weather must be better than ours!)  Have you fitted all your accessories?

Jim