DIY - HID Headlight Conversion

[kkim]

Ryan,

You can thank us later.

[camaroz1985]

I'm sure I will after, but I'll curse you first

[g21-30]

Originally Posted by camaroz1985

Well I just impulsively ordered the HID kit (Dang you guys )

[camaroz1985]

Got mine in yesterday. It took about 2 hours, and that was the first I ever had the fairings off so that should give you guys some kind of worst case time frame (I also had to remount the left ballast twice to get it out of the way of the fairing.

The difference is amazing, at least in the garage, I haven't ridden yet. I also did the dumb thing of letting them burn in while I reassembled. That drained the battery and the high beam started flickering

Charged it up and started fine today.

You were right Kelly, I am thanking you for talking me into it now

[kkim]

Ryan,

Glad you like them.

Be sure to check your headlight aiming after you get on the road. Nothing irritates other drivers more than having HIDs blasting them in the face while traveling in the opposite direction. I've found, properly aimed, the light pattern is quite contained.

[g21-30]

[camaroz1985]

Will do thanks Kelly, but it just snowed about 4 inches today (I know you don't know what that is you don't have to rub it in ) so I will have to wait a little bit.

[LuckyDog]

I installed a set today right before I have to goto work. Just one quick question ..... After everything is put back together .... minus a screw or two. What are the Factory specs for adjusting the headlights?

[kkim]

Originally Posted by LuckyDog

I installed a set today right before I have to goto work. Just one quick question ..... After everything is put back together .... minus a screw or two. What are the Factory specs for adjusting the headlights?

I just adjusted mine by eye and used common sense, which is why taking it out on the road after your done with the installation to see what you need to adjust was my recommendation.

I also set up a mark on my garage floor and the wall in front of it to make relative corrections once I knew where I wanted the beam to go.

[g21-30]

These maybe catching on!

[camaroz1985]

Its definitely a smart mod for anyone who rides a lot at night.

You copy my windshield, I'll copy your lights

[g21-30]

The windshield arrives Friday. I will see if I can beat your install time!

[LuckyDog]

WoW ...... lastnight when i got out of work i took the Ninja for a quick ride ...... and I was like . I could not believe these lights. I'd recommend ANYONE who has a motorcycle to get a set of HID lights. By the way .... I purchased a set of 6000K.

[Sound Wave]

Originally Posted by LuckyDog

What are the Factory specs for adjusting the headlights?

high beam

ON high beam, the brightest points should be slightly below horizintal with the motorcycle on its wheels and the rider seated. Adjust the healight to the proper angle according to local regulations

(they don't say exactly what angle for the high beam)

low beam

For US model, the proper angle is 0.4 degrees below horizontal. This is 50 mm (2 in.) drop at 7.6 m (25 ft) measured from the center of the headlight with the motorcycle on its wheels and the rider seated.

[kkim]

converts, I tell ya... converts!!

So, LD, can you imagine just a bulb change bringing such a dramatic increase in lighting output? I keep telling those looking at just a bulb swap to pay a few dollars more and get some real light output difference for their money by using a HID kit. Glad you like the results.

[Sound Wave]

are there any kits that don't require ANY cutting of the rubber boot thingy or adding extra shims?

basically a plug and play kit? i want to be able to switch back to stock easily if needed.

does anyone know if this company is any good?
http://www.xenonexpert.com/xtreme_moto_hid.html

they also have a cheaper kit
http://www.xenonexpert.com/ddm_moto_kit.html

[grandmaster]

Gary, the swap really is super easy!! And it basically is plug and play, no wires to splice into or such.... The extra shims aren't needed, just cut the plastic piece with a hack saw or dremal tool. In the end if you HAVE to go back then you can get all the parts from the dealer, but i don't see why you would need to do that.

[g21-30]

Originally Posted by Sound Wave

are there any kits that don't require ANY cutting of the rubber boot thingy or adding extra shims?

basically a plug and play kit? i want to be able to switch back to stock easily if needed.

does anyone know if this company is any good?
http://www.xenonexpert.com/xtreme_moto_hid.html

they also have a cheaper kit
http://www.xenonexpert.com/ddm_moto_kit.html

I don't know if there are any kits that don't require you to do something, i.e., cut a piece of rubber (me), or hit a Kawasaki bulb adapter with a hammer (ViperByte).

So, contact them and ask for a copy of the installation instructions for the Kawasaki Ninja 250 2008+ and see how "Plug and Play" it is. They talk about a smaller ballast. OK, well you can't see the ballast once the skins are back on. If you're pressed for space or you don't want to cut a $2 piece of rubber, just do like some others have done and don't cut the rubber. Don't put it back on!

If you're trying to save money, that's a good thing. That's how I found the kit that this DIY is built on. I didn't want to pay $130 or $199 or pick another price over $70.

If mine only lasts 1 year, then I will just buy another. Let's see 2x70=$140.

Good luck on your quest for a "Plug and Play" HID. I'm sure your install will be quicker than GrandMaster's.

Come on in, the water's fine!

[camaroz1985]

Originally Posted by g21-30

The windshield arrives Friday. I will see if I can beat your install time!

I'm sure you can. Mine took over a week because I had to order a box of well nuts.

[g21-30]

Originally Posted by camaroz1985

I'm sure you can. Mine took over a week because I had to order a box of well nuts.

For future reference, Lowes has well nuts in stock! Cheap too.

[camaroz1985]

Yeah I went and got one there, but they only had the 10-24, not 10-32 and I was going away for the holidays so I just ordered them.

[camaroz1985]

Finally got to ride at night, and all I can say is Wow...again. The pattern is good, and they seem to be properly aimed. Maybe its just the psychological aspect of spending money, but the light seems like its not only brighter, but the difference in color seems to help you notice things more as well.

On question does the time for the bulbs to warmup decrease as they are used? Will say a month from now the time be decreased or will it always take a while to heatup and change from blue to white? I noticed that the high beam seems to take forever to get up to full brightness.

[kkim]

the time to come to full brightness will stay the same. It's just a characteristic of HIDs.

[camaroz1985]

That stinks. I was hoping it was like the energy efficient lights I have in my house. When I first got them they took a long time, now they are almost fully bright when I turn them on.

[paterick4o8]

I'm road testing these right now. I keep wanting to adjust them though, so I right now the ninja's half nekKid hehe. Just as a confirmation, do any of you know or remember if tightening the vertical knob results in raising the light or lowering it? I know I should be able to tell right now since I'm testing but think I'm just retarted.. AND I only need to make small adjustments at this point since I'm almost within spec of what's comfortable for me; I want to get it just perfect without having to turn the knob so much just to tell which ways is up and which is down.

[CaliGirl]

I've had my HID kit for like 6 months now. It's looking really pretty in the box. I should really install them

[kkim]

yes, I agree... they work a lot better when installed.

[SpyderGirl]

Not sure I saw this somewhere so could someone confirm with me that the H7 bulb is for both the high and low beam? I want to make sure I order the right thing.

And those HIDs are hotness on that blue bike.

[kkim]

Yes, both high and low beams take the same H7 bulbs.

4300k on a green bike.

[Rayme]

I test fitted mines..and they would flicker as the RPM goes higher... they work fine from a battery? argh !

[g21-30]

Originally Posted by SpyderGirl

Not sure I saw this somewhere so could someone confirm with me that the H7 bulb is for both the high and low beam? I want to make sure I order the right thing.

And those HIDs are hotness on that blue bike.

You can't go wrong with these!

[ahskeetz]

I just installed mine and i did indeed have to upgrade to a 15a fuse. I don't know if thats normal. Anyhow, I LOVE it.. think its probably my favorite upgrade so far.

[g21-30]

Originally Posted by ahskeetz

I just installed mine and i did indeed have to upgrade to a 15a fuse. I don't know if thats normal. Anyhow, I LOVE it.. think its probably my favorite upgrade so far.

Do you startup with both lights on?

[camaroz1985]

Originally Posted by kkim

Ryan,

You can thank us later.

I'm thanking you again now. Last night I rode 225 miles of back roads at night (Not a smart idea I know especially because they were unknown to me. Just couldn't bring myself to do 3.5 hours on the PA turnpike, boring.) My ride was very exciting, but thanks to these lights I was able to see all the animals that wanted to end their lives (deer, rabbits, cats, raccoons, etc.)

Thanks again guys!!!


Oh and I didn't have to upgrade the fuse on mine. Works perfectly with the original 10A.

[paterick4o8]

I had to up my fuse. I started my bike with both lights on and then the lights just blew out. Realized it truly was the fuse and replaced it to a higher one. It's A-ok now though with the exception that my high beam will flicker during idle at first if the bike isn't warm enough yet. However when I actually gas the bike, the flickering stops

[camaroz1985]

If you start it with only the low beam on you don't have any issues at all.

[paterick4o8]

yeah i figured that, but still a bit of annoyance, especially if you're used to having the high beam always on for safety during daytime riding

[kkim]

then turn the high beam on after the bike is started. really, from an electrical standpoint, replacing a fuse with a higher rated one without knowing the rest of the circuit's capability (in this case wiring) is not a sound electrical practice.

[paterick4o8]

that's what I've been doing now, but thanks

[Viper-Byte]

My stock 10A fuse would blow when ever I switched to high beam regardless of how long the bike had been running on low beam only... 15A fixed that.