As a replacement for the stock light? Or as aux?
Aux lights would work fine. Stock lights will not.
Since the stock headlight is a dual-filament reflector design, if you install a cheapo HID kit, the bulb will illuminate both the low and high-beam parts of the housing simultaneously, meaning you will blind everyone. You will not have "just low beams" as some ignorant folk think, you just lose the ability to turn it off. It is illegal in many places to leave your high-beam on at night, therefore this is illegal to do. Also, you lose the ability to use your flash-to-pass button.
If you use an inexpensive HID low/halogen high setup, you will hate it since your high-beam will look weak and yellow compared to your low.
If you use an expensive solenoid shutter based HID setup, you may be able to prevent your light from blinding people, while getting max brightness on both low and high. However, there will still be much light scatter, and it will not look clean, nor provide proper contrast. Also, the mechanism will likely require permanent modification to the housing, and may not even fit in the small space on the fairing.
Also, depending on your jurisdiction, it may be illegal to put HID in a non-HID housing. Long and short, just don't do it.
I had HIDs in several vehicles, including motorcycles, and the only time you can retrofit without making your lights crappy is if you have a projector-style housing (looks like a sphere of glass in the light). They can be aimed and usually have a sharp cutoff line to prevent light from scattering upwards into people's eyes. This is the style that all OEM HIDs use, and for just these reasons. No matter what you do with a reflector-style housing, you will always have too much light going where it shouldn't.
Aux lights would work fine. Stock lights will not.
Since the stock headlight is a dual-filament reflector design, if you install a cheapo HID kit, the bulb will illuminate both the low and high-beam parts of the housing simultaneously, meaning you will blind everyone. You will not have "just low beams" as some ignorant folk think, you just lose the ability to turn it off. It is illegal in many places to leave your high-beam on at night, therefore this is illegal to do. Also, you lose the ability to use your flash-to-pass button.
If you use an inexpensive HID low/halogen high setup, you will hate it since your high-beam will look weak and yellow compared to your low.
If you use an expensive solenoid shutter based HID setup, you may be able to prevent your light from blinding people, while getting max brightness on both low and high. However, there will still be much light scatter, and it will not look clean, nor provide proper contrast. Also, the mechanism will likely require permanent modification to the housing, and may not even fit in the small space on the fairing.
Also, depending on your jurisdiction, it may be illegal to put HID in a non-HID housing. Long and short, just don't do it.
I had HIDs in several vehicles, including motorcycles, and the only time you can retrofit without making your lights crappy is if you have a projector-style housing (looks like a sphere of glass in the light). They can be aimed and usually have a sharp cutoff line to prevent light from scattering upwards into people's eyes. This is the style that all OEM HIDs use, and for just these reasons. No matter what you do with a reflector-style housing, you will always have too much light going where it shouldn't.
Look into PIAA bulbs. They are a halogen, and cost a bit more, but have a near 5500K colour temperature, looking almost like HID.
Joined Nov 2012
1K Posts | 9+
Mobile Al.
Joined Mar 2013
3K Posts | 161+
Naples, IT
I could care less about the color. The white-wash of HID's is cool but they also throw out a lot more light than halogens.
I honestly don't understand the function of the diffuser on our stock lamp. It kinda just shoots out a spider web of not so bright light; even worse on high beam. Does the difraction boost the weak bulbs output? It seams like the lamp is only there so other cars see us coming...honestly, every bike I've ever owned had wimpy lamps.
I honestly don't understand the function of the diffuser on our stock lamp. It kinda just shoots out a spider web of not so bright light; even worse on high beam. Does the difraction boost the weak bulbs output? It seams like the lamp is only there so other cars see us coming...honestly, every bike I've ever owned had wimpy lamps.
It's the colour that makes it look like more light. Whiter light (closer to 5000k) has better contrast and usable light, which is why HID is better. In reality, a standard 35w HID kit has same light output as a 55w halogen, but the bulb shape is different (even with "compatible" kits), which will have more scatter and more useless light than a properly fitting bulb.
The purpose of all light housings is to focus the light, so yes make a 'weak' light stronger. You could always just swap the bulb for one of higher wattage, hence I suggested PIAA, and it will be better. Or, add aux lights as I will be doing. 10w projector LED x 2. Phenomenally bright.
As for bikes with wimpy lights...that's your bike choice. My ZX14 had ridiculously effective lights. I could light up deer at 5 miles with those quad projectors!
If you really want HID, go for it. I'm just sharing my experience and knowledge. I think they look like crap in the wrong housing, and could be illegal. If you like the look, have at it! Just ride safe!
I fitted bi-xenon on the strada. Had a **** time trying to find a cozy place to fit the slim ballast. It ended up inside the beak. Due to the tight space inside, the beak couldnt fully close.
Brought the bike out to test. It did not work as expected. Light throw was somewhat limited. I think it is the design of the head lamp etc
Removed it. Now considering to fix external aux light instead. Simpler and brighter
Brought the bike out to test. It did not work as expected. Light throw was somewhat limited. I think it is the design of the head lamp etc
Removed it. Now considering to fix external aux light instead. Simpler and brighter
Thanks ohayo for sharing your experience.
Now I know what to do. External led lights seems to be the best solution.
Now I know what to do. External led lights seems to be the best solution.
Last edited:
I ride with a vfr a lot and those headlights melt my eyeballs. I mentioned it to him once and everyone else on the ride piped up and said mine were brighter??
Is it better spread you need?
Another rider in my regular group rides a 998 and Ive seen brighter candles than his headlight.
Is it better spread you need?
Another rider in my regular group rides a 998 and Ive seen brighter candles than his headlight.
I found this post today.
I will go this way for sure.
Bi-Xenon HID Retrofit on my new hypermotard
The Retrofit Source online: headlight upgrades for all applications
or
Xenon projector, ballast, lamp - Retrofitlab
I will go this way for sure.
Bi-Xenon HID Retrofit on my new hypermotard
The Retrofit Source online: headlight upgrades for all applications
or
Xenon projector, ballast, lamp - Retrofitlab
I found this post today.
I will go this way for sure.
Bi-Xenon HID Retrofit on my new hypermotard
The Retrofit Source online: headlight upgrades for all applications
or
Xenon projector, ballast, lamp - Retrofitlab
Ohhh badassery! That's awesome!
Today I ordered:
One Morimoto Mini D2S Bi-Xenon kit from theretrofitsource.com
Link -> Bi-xenon, Sportbike Kit
and
Two Moto LED Work Spot Light 30W from aliexpress.com
Link -> Spot Light 30W 3000 Lumen
Goodbye bad Hyperstrada headlight
I will update with photos from installation in a month or two.
One Morimoto Mini D2S Bi-Xenon kit from theretrofitsource.com
Link -> Bi-xenon, Sportbike Kit
and
Two Moto LED Work Spot Light 30W from aliexpress.com
Link -> Spot Light 30W 3000 Lumen
Goodbye bad Hyperstrada headlight
I will update with photos from installation in a month or two.
The Xenon project
I bought this:
Projector: Morimoto Mini D2S Bi-xenon
Ballasts: Morimoto 3Five Long Cord D2S
Bulbs: Morimoto D2S
Shrouds: GTI-R
Wire Harness: Morimoto MotoCycle Relay
The rebuilding of the headlamp has been going on for some time now.
A lot of thinking to get it right.
1. Put the headlamp unit in the oven (125 C for 7 min).
Then it was possible to remove the front plexiglas.
A couple of times in the oven and some bending and it came loose.
The oven will be used again when assembling.
2. Try to install the projector in the std reflector.
Had to modified the groove on the backside of the std reflector. The grooves is used to locate the H4 bulb.
Had to make them deeper (3.5 mm) or else, the nut that holds the projector would not go deep enough, which would have effected a second nut that will keep the bulb in place.
3. Checking if the plexiglas will fit in place. It will NOT. The projector is a little bit to long. 3-4 mm more space is needed.
Removing the reflektor from the housing. Trim the point where the reflector is jointed, 5 mm.
4. Used a dremel to cut off the inside tab of the H4 adapter plate so you can freely rotate the projector and make it level with the ground.
Now the projector is in place, the bulb can be installed and also the front plexiglas.
In Sweden we have to take the bike to inspection every two years.
Using Xenon is not allowed on vehicles without automatic height adjustment.
I have also made an adapter so I can use a std H1 halogen bulb.
5. Test with the unit on a table in the garage.
Photos shot with an Canon 1000D.
Time of exposureSpeed 1/15, Aperture 5. I did this setting to make the pictures look as real as possible.
H1 Halogen 55w bulb. Quit good.
Morimoto Xenon 3Five 35w bulb. Sucks. Not a good lamp or I got a bad one
Philips Xenon X-treme Vision 35 w bulb. Very good.
Next will be to attach the unit to the bike and figure out where to put the ballast and other stuff, including the two 30w LED lamps i received from China 5 days ago. They are 3000 lumen each and will give me a hell of a high beam.
I bought this:
Projector: Morimoto Mini D2S Bi-xenon
Ballasts: Morimoto 3Five Long Cord D2S
Bulbs: Morimoto D2S
Shrouds: GTI-R
Wire Harness: Morimoto MotoCycle Relay
The rebuilding of the headlamp has been going on for some time now.
A lot of thinking to get it right.
1. Put the headlamp unit in the oven (125 C for 7 min).
Then it was possible to remove the front plexiglas.
A couple of times in the oven and some bending and it came loose.
The oven will be used again when assembling.
2. Try to install the projector in the std reflector.
Had to modified the groove on the backside of the std reflector. The grooves is used to locate the H4 bulb.
Had to make them deeper (3.5 mm) or else, the nut that holds the projector would not go deep enough, which would have effected a second nut that will keep the bulb in place.
3. Checking if the plexiglas will fit in place. It will NOT. The projector is a little bit to long. 3-4 mm more space is needed.
Removing the reflektor from the housing. Trim the point where the reflector is jointed, 5 mm.
4. Used a dremel to cut off the inside tab of the H4 adapter plate so you can freely rotate the projector and make it level with the ground.
Now the projector is in place, the bulb can be installed and also the front plexiglas.
In Sweden we have to take the bike to inspection every two years.
Using Xenon is not allowed on vehicles without automatic height adjustment.
I have also made an adapter so I can use a std H1 halogen bulb.
5. Test with the unit on a table in the garage.
Photos shot with an Canon 1000D.
Time of exposureSpeed 1/15, Aperture 5. I did this setting to make the pictures look as real as possible.
H1 Halogen 55w bulb. Quit good.
Morimoto Xenon 3Five 35w bulb. Sucks. Not a good lamp or I got a bad one
Philips Xenon X-treme Vision 35 w bulb. Very good.
Next will be to attach the unit to the bike and figure out where to put the ballast and other stuff, including the two 30w LED lamps i received from China 5 days ago. They are 3000 lumen each and will give me a hell of a high beam.
Last edited:
