Originally Posted by
Miles
Ken, thank you for bringing this up, as I needed to post something on this issue.
As some of you may know, I installed the complete set of HID lights in the front of my F6B a couple months ago. That is both Low Beams, and both High Beams. After doing the ride to the F6B Rally, and back, I have come to the conclusion that I can NOT recommend installing the HID High Beams on our bikes, and here is why:
While the HID Low Beams work GREAT, and I really like them...and you really should use the Electrical Connection Low Beam Cut-Out relay, so that it delays the starting of those Low Beam HID's until the bike has actually started........and finally you want to make certain that both of your Low Beams are adjusted to equal height, and not staring on-coming car drivers in the eyes...........................
The HID High Beams are NOT a good investment. I will be removing my HID High Beams, and keeping them as back-up...and replacement for the HID Low Beams, if I need a replacement ballast, or bulb. All of the HID ballasts and bulbs are the same...whether High or Low beam...they are all the same.
The "reason" I am removing the HID High Beams is because (whew...he finally gets to the reasoning behind all this)...is that when you have an opportunity to actually turn ON the HID High Beams, it takes several seconds for those HID's to come UP to full brightness. During that time you are waiting for them to come UP to full brightness, there is an equal chance that you will have to dim your High Beams, back down to just the Low Beams, because of an oncoming car or truck. That means you never really get the chance to ride for any distance with the High Beams ON. In trying to do this several times, between oncoming cars or trucks, you end up cycling the HID High Beams ON and OFF, and that is not good for the HID's.
I have decided to go with either the new LED High Beams like Hornblower has suggested, or...as an immediate fix...to install the PIAA Super White bulbs that I "did" have installed as Low Beam bulbs, prior to going to all 4 HIDs. I saved those PIAA Super White bulbs, as they cost a pretty penny, and now I will have a use for them.
You want your High Beams to be a light that can come ON instantaneously...without having to warm up or build up its' brightness. Having an H-7 bulb, or a LED bulb, will allow you to do what you want with the High Beams.
I do not mind switching my High Beams ON and OFF...when needed, as I want the extra light...when I need it. But to have to WAIT for the HID's to warm up and build up their brightness, became a safety issue.
For those of you that bought ONLY the HID Low Beams...that was a good move. For those of you wanting to go to HID's...only buy the Low Beam package...which is simply a box of two HID's, versus the four HID's for the full kit.