HID lighting upgrade

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

As TLW says, better to leave the high beam one as a halogen, perhaps just fit a better bulb of the same wattage.

Does dip beam stay on when you switch to main?

Yessir

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by Ed

Yessir

if it's anything like my SV you'll find yourself using lo beam more of the time, HID lo beam makes the high beam all but redundent unless you're riding very fast...

[northwind]

Yup, exactly- low beam becomes effective right out to the edge of its beam, which isn't the case with halogens as the light is too diffuse at its longer range. I still use high sometimes, but not often.

TBH I'd say try and find someone, anyone who's done it before- the trouble with HID is that you have no real idea if it'll work or not when you fit it, the lenses aren't designed for this sort of light source. You're in luck since the 675 has projector lenses, doesn't it- they've got a lot in common with the HID-specific lenses so it'll probably work well, but it still might turn out unsafe or terribly aimed. Unless you can find good info before you kind of have to be open to the possibility that it just won't be usable.

That's all I did- I couldn't find anyone else who'd done it on a UK spec SV so I just had a crack on the basis that I could sell the bits if it didn't work out. It did, phew... And it's ace. The wiring is simple enough, it's hiding the wiring that's not so straightforward!

[fizzwheel]

Blimey Ed, I would have thought that would have had decent lights in it to start with.

My GSXR is as the lone wolf describes, I dont bother with main beam, its not much better than the dip is on its own. Mind you the lights on my GSXR are f*cking ace...

I'd be inclined to try a bulb upgrade first though, HID Kit looks like a lot of work to me...

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I'd be inclined to try a bulb upgrade first though, HID Kit looks like a lot of work to me...

depends on how lazy you are

took me a couple hours to wire it in, i didn't consider that a lot of work and i'd like to think i'm pretty lazy

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

depends on how lazy you are

very lazy

[northwind]

Setting mine up to aim right took longer than fitting it. Oh, and stashing all the wiring, but that'd be easier if you were happy to modify the looms for length, I wanted to keep mine intact for future options.

[Stu]

Ed, Have you tried washing the headlight lense? I thought you said your bike was covered in salt. - Much cheaper & easier upgrade

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

very lazy

apparently

The awfulness of the 675 lights has to be seen to be believed. I had cars all but up my pipe (so to speak) cos I was riding so solw, I pulled over quite a few times. It really comes to something when 40/45 is top whack cos you can't see where you're going. Maybe the 675 wasn't designed for night riding I'll try a bulb but the the H7 replacements I've seen on the 675 site really are fantastic. I emailed the (UK) seller and they said yep it's plug and play so I hope it would be fairly straightforward to fit. Anyway it's high time that I learned!!

Plus I need some new tyres now, so lots of spend upcoming. I'm going to be mr popular at home.