November 30th, 2013, 10:15 AM | #1 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Brian
Location: Boston MA
Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): 08 250R Posts: 639
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HID's worth getting installed?
I know absolutely nothing about installing HID's and where they hook up to. I don't know what brands are the best, and if they will last. For someone who knows nothing and want's new bulbs in there 250 would it be best to pay for a professional install somewhere?
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November 30th, 2013, 11:06 AM | #2 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Chris
Location: Malaga, Spain
Join Date: Mar 2013 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250R Posts: 69
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From what I can tell HIDs offer far superior lighting. However, you can't just install the bulbs as our stock housing and reflector isn't set up to accommodate them. Proper projectors and a ballast are needed, which can run you up to several hundred dollars in materials alone.
Besides that, they're illegal most anywhere in motorcycle applications and can catch fire if in an inadequate housing. I've never had problem with the police or getting through inspections as long as my cutoff line was right. If you find yourself lacking night time visibility go for it, just be prepared for a lot of work (or a lot of money if you're paying for someone to do it). |
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November 30th, 2013, 11:52 AM | #3 | |
Daily Ninjette rider
Name: Hernan
Location: Florida
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Quote:
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=5586
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November 30th, 2013, 12:51 PM | #4 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Bob
Location: NY
Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 2009 Ninja 250 Posts: 730
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You can order from xentec on eBay (Super cheap )
Lightweight digital ballasts for motorcylces. I did 5k/3k Normally I suggest buying from DDM but they are a bit more expensive and longer ship times. The ballasts tuck nicely under the black "wings" left and right of the gauge cluster. Both work nicely
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November 30th, 2013, 03:59 PM | #5 |
Blind 250 Loving Whore
Name: Tom
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R, 02 FZ1, '20 Fat Bob 114 Posts: A lot.
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If you're putting HID bulbs in your stock reflector housing, not only are you a dick but there's a good chance you're gonna get pulled over.
Do it right and retrofit the projectors. Several of us have pretty easy to follow DIY's in the thread. It's really not bad at all. |
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November 30th, 2013, 04:48 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Bob
Location: NY
Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250 2009 Ninja 250 Posts: 730
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Realizing we don't have projector housings to begin with, I'm just being realistic.
There's a handful of people who did the retrofit, so I guess the "dick" club is most popular.
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November 30th, 2013, 04:50 PM | #7 |
"scandal!"
Name: Adan
Location: Somewhere
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 250R(Crashed 2/26/2014), 09 ER6n Posts: 660
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Here's a full kit. Sadly it comes with the angel eyes... not to my taste but still good. I've heard good things. Projectors included
http://www.bkmoto.com/index.php?rout...&product_id=55 |
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November 30th, 2013, 06:35 PM | #8 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Brian
Location: Boston MA
Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): 08 250R Posts: 639
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Yeah so unfortunately I don't have the money laying around to get HID's installed for my bike, and a lot of these installations seem tedious and very confusing. Honestly, unless my hand was made out of rubber I can't seem to find a way to reach all the way to the back of the housing, let alone do work there. I know somebody who had regular like stock bulbs in there housing that give off a blueish halogen "HID" tint. There would be nothing "unsafe" about this and it runs on the same power if I'm not mistaken.
Something like: http://www.motosport.com/motorcycle/...lasma-GTX-Bulb or: http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEXON-HID-XE...e420e1&vxp=mtr Thanks guys |
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November 30th, 2013, 06:42 PM | #9 | |
Blind 250 Loving Whore
Name: Tom
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250R, 02 FZ1, '20 Fat Bob 114 Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
Those are just going to give you less light than you already have. |
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November 30th, 2013, 06:43 PM | #10 |
Fast-Guy wannabe
Name: Jason
Location: Brentwood, Ca
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja250, 2011 RM-Z250, 2004 NSR50, Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jan '13
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As someone who rides close to 15,000 miles a year and nearly half is at night yes HID's with "Projectors" is totally worth the 300 or so $ they cost. They are so good I use a dark smoked visor 100% of the time and can see great
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1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
December 1st, 2013, 01:21 AM | #11 | |
"scandal!"
Name: Adan
Location: Somewhere
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 250R(Crashed 2/26/2014), 09 ER6n Posts: 660
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December 1st, 2013, 05:30 AM | #12 |
Cat herder
Name: Gort
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A friend of mine at work has a bike with HIDs. He didn't do the install... the guy who had the bike before him did it. They're yellow.
They SUCK. Whether it's because of poor components, poor installation or a bike that was poorly kept up, I do not know. But my regular old H7 bulb throws MUCH more light. In theory they should be brighter. But in practice? I suppose it depends. Will you see a miraculous improvement simply because you now have HID bulbs? Based on what I've seen, don't count on it.
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December 1st, 2013, 07:26 AM | #13 | |
Fast-Guy wannabe
Name: Jason
Location: Brentwood, Ca
Join Date: Oct 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja250, 2011 RM-Z250, 2004 NSR50, Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Jan '13
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Quote:
Those BK-moto kits are some kind of plug and play setup so I'm leery to trust them since I haven't seen the results in person but they seem to get good reviews on here and the pics of the lights on action look way better then the POS kit we bought for the Ford. |
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1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
January 8th, 2014, 06:17 AM | #14 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Dave
Location: CNY
Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 250R CLG Posts: 23
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yes the bkmoto kits are nice, but do some shopping around, as they're not abkmoto product. try searching "VISION HID"
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January 8th, 2014, 06:28 PM | #15 | |
Board Member
Name: ...
Location: WI
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250R (street), 250R (dirt) Posts: A lot.
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January 8th, 2014, 06:37 PM | #16 |
Jedi on Two Wheels
Name: Cameron
Location: Kent Island
Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Kawasaki Ninja 250r (Slightly Modded) Posts: 489
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I bought my bike the way it is, but I think my hi-beam is a xenon bulb in stock housing, however my lo-beam is stock. You think this would cause issues since most of the time highbeam is never used around other motorists?
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January 8th, 2014, 10:00 PM | #17 |
RIP Alex
Name: Cuong
Location: Houston, TX
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot.
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I see no problem with that.
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January 9th, 2014, 01:00 AM | #18 |
RIP Alex
Name: Cuong
Location: Houston, TX
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '10 250r, '09 265r Posts: A lot.
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The retrofit source kit. I'm considering getting them myself vs BK MOTO.
http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showt...t=64230&page=3
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January 9th, 2014, 06:25 AM | #19 |
Ninja Parts Master
Name: Dan
Location: Houma, Louisiana
Join Date: Aug 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ducati Streetfighter 1098, 2014 Honda CB1100 Cafe, 2007 SV1000S, Quite a few 2008-2012 Ninja 250s Posts: 366
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If you DO decide to install HID, make sure you do your research and buy QUALITY components and you do a safe and QUALITY install. I dismantle so many bikes that have the most "ghetto" rats nest install. Sometimes the wires and ballasts can even interfer with steering. I have seen some sh*t, man. I usually end up just throwing the whole system in the trash after I remove it, thats how crappy some of these cheap sytems are. Long story short, If you do install HID, do it RIGHT.
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January 9th, 2014, 11:10 AM | #20 |
Certified looney toon
Name: Teri
Location: 39°52'40.7"N 118°23'53.8"W (Northern NV)
Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250, 102k+ miles -- 2014 CB500X, 42k+ miles Posts: A lot.
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I just sent an email to BK Moto to see how much an install from them would be or if they have complete headlights for the 250 already. I am also curious as to the exact power consumption when using both bulbs vs just one for the low beam. I have heard that the ballast also uses power which may void out any attempts at saving. If anyone is interested, I can post the response when i get it.
Much as I like tinkering, there are some areas I would rather not mess with. Headlights are one of those areas.
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January 9th, 2014, 11:20 AM | #21 | |
Motorcycle Nurse?
Name: Jacques
Location: Gulf Coast
Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250R, 1998 Ducati 748L #77/100 Posts: 606
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Quote:
This thread makes me want HIDs, but i don't want to get rid of my modulator. |
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January 9th, 2014, 11:21 AM | #22 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Brian
Location: Boston MA
Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): 08 250R Posts: 639
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Quote:
This is like an angel-eyes assembly, but I don't think it's the whole enclosure. |
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January 9th, 2014, 12:51 PM | #23 | |
Motorcycle Nurse?
Name: Jacques
Location: Gulf Coast
Join Date: Sep 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250R, 1998 Ducati 748L #77/100 Posts: 606
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Quote:
They make Halogens that look like the white/blue HIDs by tinting the glass on the bulb blue. However you sacrifice light output because the light is filtered by the glass. |
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January 9th, 2014, 01:33 PM | #24 |
EX500 full of EX250 parts
Name: Bill
Location: Grand Rapids-ish, MI
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I have a "PIAA H4 Star White 3800K XTRA" in my EX500. They were on sale and they're supposed to be more durable too. Whereas a regular halogen bulb is around 3200K, this 3800K is a little whiter. OEM HIDs are usually 4300K, and 5000K is popular for retrofits, while 6000K is getting into the bluish light. The PIAA is more like a crisp new light vs. an old yellowed one, while the HID kits are actually a lot whiter.
Even the 35W HID kits will put out 3 or 4 times as much light (~1000 lumens vs. 3000+ lumens) and it's 10 times the intensity (20,000cd vs. 200,000cd) according to http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/hid...eadlights.html. That's still a huge upgrade in lighting, plus you're even saving some power. To do HID right, it will require some wiring changes and you should install projectors. You may be able to get away with a drop-in replacement HID bulb in your high-beam reflector, but it won't be anywhere near as good as a proper projector setup. It'll just be a brighter, whiter version of what you have, possibly with a screwed up light pattern (since the HID bulb might not be located in exactly the same spot in the housing as the halogen bulb would be). Like Floki said, the "HID look!!!!!111" halogens just have a blue tint on the glass, so they look blue and put out less light. They're more for the appearance of your vehicle than for the lighting performance. |
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January 9th, 2014, 01:41 PM | #25 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Brian
Location: Boston MA
Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): 08 250R Posts: 639
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Yeah that's why they make them, same with the angel eyes, they look awesome. Again it's not worth spending that much for the actual HID's because I would need to get them installed by someone who knows what they're doing and they cost too much. I'd think about something like that for my car but not for my motorcycle especially only for one bulb to be on all the time.
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January 9th, 2014, 03:46 PM | #26 |
ᗧᗣᗣᗣᗣ
Name: Nick
Location: NY
Join Date: Nov 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250R and 2014 Triumph 675R Posts: A lot.
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I have DDM HIDs in my car (highs and lows 55w 10k). The bulbs and ballasts are the cheap part its getting a sustainable housing and projector that's the real cost. For my car the new housings cost around $275 for the pair. The light output is exceptional and the highs just light up the road. I would do the install myself, did it on my car and took most an hour and a half.
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January 17th, 2014, 04:54 PM | #27 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: ricardo
Location: maryland
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): 250 Posts: 390
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i have a hid kit in my high beam of my 08. It works really well at night, i use it only when no oncoming traffic is coming. It is nice that its just in the high beam, so at least you have the option of switching it off.
its prett much a straightforward install, nothing to it. You just need to find a place to install the balasts. |
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