I apologize in advance. I have been looking all over for this simple mod here on the site and since it has been a while I can't seem to find it. So can someone please help a "Search impaired" Bueller find the link with the pics.
So I don't start another thread that has already been started anyone have the link to get the HID's for the 2009 XB12scg?
This is not coming from out of the blue. I was actually caught after dark on some back roads and I swear I couldn't see 5h!t. I was holding down the flash to pass button just to keep both lights on.
Posted on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 11:05 am:
I'll give you my opinion of the HIDs: Don't do it. They are stupid bright, and brighter is NOT better, contrary to popular opinion. Our headlight housings do not adequately control the light- HIDs really need to be in projector housing. Massive light spill all over the place, blinding light for oncoming drivers, all with no more useable light than a quality halogen bulb will give you.
I had them, now they sit on my shelf in the garage.
And for goodness sake, if you do get them don't get the 55w, get the 35w.
Posted on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 11:31 am:
Andy
I agree that there is some light spill over however, proper adjustment of the housing will minimize the distraction for oncoming traffic. I disagree with you on the "no more usable light" statement. There is a huge difference when compared to the stock halogen.
Posted on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 12:42 pm:
And I'll disagree with you Properly aimed, they are WAY too bright for other drivers. To counter this, they must be aimed too low, and then you have hot spots on the ground in front of you.
There is no arguing that HIDs are NOT meant for our housings. The bulb type is designed for a projector housing. They are not DOT approved, nor will they ever be because they are simply dangerous for oncoming drivers.
Run them if you want, I'm really OK with that. But I think that those who are considering them really need to here the other side of things. I wish I had read up more and heard more about the reality of them before buying them, they wouldn't be sitting on a shelf that way! All I heard from other users before buying them was " They are so bright, so much better than stock!...". There's more to it than just bright.
Posted on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 03:24 pm:
quote:
they are fantastic when adjusted correctly and they don't blind oncoming drivers.
Perhaps you did not read this:
quote:
Properly aimed, they are WAY too bright for other drivers. To counter this, they must be aimed too low, and then you have hot spots on the ground in front of you.
Aimed by the book, they are WAY too bright to be considered safe. If you don't have people flashing you, does not necessarily mean that they are safe.
Again, do what you want. I feel they are unsafe and removed them. Others (including your law enforcement folk) feel the same way. I just want the other side of the "HID are the bees knees" coin to be seen.
Posted on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 03:35 pm:
I did, I just do not believe you had them properly aimed. I never used the book for it, so I'm not sure what it says, I did it with trial and error, and real world testing with me in a car having my bike go by.
Posted on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 - 07:42 pm:
I put the 55W HID on my low beam. Much better and I have never been flashed by oncoming traffic. Yes, they are illegal. I've never been hassled about them though.
IMO the DOT approved stock headlight should be illegal. That's just dangerous on a dark road.
Posted on Thursday, September 22, 2011 - 12:29 am:
I'll only agree with the statement that the stock lights should have been illegal, this applies to most stock motorcycle headlights because as a general rule they all suck and are way too dim to be safe in any area that does not have decent overhead street lighting.
Posted on Thursday, September 22, 2011 - 12:37 pm:
Both of our Triumphs (Street Triple & Sprint ST) have adequate stock lighting. I haven't bothered touching either of those. The light on my XB was the worst I've seen on a modern street bike.
So its not just me! This morning about 6:30am I was riding along and saw a car pulled over he had hit a cardboard box with a bunch of small tin things. I couldn't see them till I was almost passing him. Luckily I had the sense to move 1 lane over before I got there.