HID Hi/Low kit or just Low kit ?

[ths61]

I am looking at the SoCalMotoGear HID kits and wondering if I should get the Hi/Low kit or just the Low kit.

My last bike had H4 bulbs which were combo Hi/Low beams in a single bulb. The HID kit just shifted the location of the HID bulb (electro-magnet) and did not actually turn the High element on/off. Being such, toggling the High beams did not stress the HID ballasts.

With the F6B's 4 bulb design, I am concerned cycling the High beam will stress the High beam ballast.

Any comments ?

TIA

[bigbird]

With the F6B's 4 bulb design, I am concerned cycling the High beam will stress the High beam ballast.
Any comments ?

That's exactly the reason HID's are not recommended for the high beams.
In fact, if you go with HID low's, it's recommended you install a low beam cut out switch.
That prevents the HID's from cycling twice every time you start the bike.
The cut out switch prevents the HID's from igniting when you turn the ignition key to "on", only turning on the HID's after the engine is running.
It works via a relay which is switched on from the oil pressure sending unit.
It works perfectly.
I have that setup on my bike.

There are a few threads here about replacing the high beam bulbs with LED's.
Hornblower has found some high power LED's which are as bright as the stock bulbs.
However, some fabrication is needed to make adapters for the LED's to fit.
Read about it here:

http://hondaf6b.com/showthread.php?5100-new-headlights-before-spring/page4&highlight=high+beams

[Hornblower]

Hornblower has found some high power LED's which are as bright as the stock bulbs.


Actually, bigbird, the LED's I'm using are much brighter than stock halogen bulbs. In fact, I believe they project light close to what my previous HID bulbs did. The advantages have been using less watts and projecting a more defined light pattern. So far, I'm more than pleased with this conversion.

[bigbird]

Actually, bigbird, the LED's I'm using are much brighter than stock halogen bulbs. In fact, I believe they project light close to what my previous HID bulbs did. The advantages have been using less watts and projecting a more defined light pattern. So far, I'm more than pleased with this conversion.

I am thinking of going LED high and low as well.
Like you, I'm not pleased with the "spray" pattern of the HID's.
I have my low beams adjusted to their max upward tilt, as I like to make sure cagers can see me during the daytime.
At night, overhead reflective lane signs are illuminated from my HID's like search lights.
I'm surprised that I have only been flashed by a few oncoming vehicles at night.
I'll try lowering the low beam angle to see if that helps, but the light from the HID's is all over the place.

Do you still recommend your original eBay supplier of the high power LED's?
If not, could you post a link or two.

[Hornblower]

Do you still recommend your original eBay supplier of the high power LED's?
If not, could you post a link or two.

I purchased two sets at separate times and wound up buying from different vendors. Both were fine. They were these vendors but I don't know if they are still selling this particular bulb:


top-autolight



auto-sports


Currently, I do see this listing for the bulbs (H7) but can't vouch for the vendor:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/60W-6000LM-Kit-CREE-LED-HeadLight-30W-Bulbs-H1-H3-H7-H8-H9-H11-9005-9006-HB3-HB4-/111662597232?hash=item19ff9c0470&vxp=mtr

Here's another listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CREE-H7-LED-Headlight-Conversion-Kit-6000K-HID-White-4800LM-40W-HI-LO-Beam-Bulbs-/161674431318?hash=item25a48c0b56&vxp=mtr

You can probably find more if you search. Happy hunting!

[bigbird]

I purchased two sets at separate times and wound up buying from different vendors. Both were fine. They were these vendors but I don't know if they are still selling this particular bulb:


top-autolight



auto-sports


Currently, I do see this listing for the bulbs (H7) but can't vouch for the vendor:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/60W-6000LM-Kit-CREE-LED-HeadLight-30W-Bulbs-H1-H3-H7-H8-H9-H11-9005-9006-HB3-HB4-/111662597232?hash=item19ff9c0470&vxp=mtr

Here's another listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CREE-H7-LED-Headlight-Conversion-Kit-6000K-HID-White-4800LM-40W-HI-LO-Beam-Bulbs-/161674431318?hash=item25a48c0b56&vxp=mtr

You can probably find more if you search. Happy hunting!


Thank you Ken.

[ths61]

I purchased two sets at separate times and wound up buying from different vendors. Both were fine. They were these vendors but I don't know if they are still selling this particular bulb:


top-autolight



auto-sports


Currently, I do see this listing for the bulbs (H7) but can't vouch for the vendor:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/60W-6000LM-Kit-CREE-LED-HeadLight-30W-Bulbs-H1-H3-H7-H8-H9-H11-9005-9006-HB3-HB4-/111662597232?hash=item19ff9c0470&vxp=mtr

Here's another listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CREE-H7-LED-Headlight-Conversion-Kit-6000K-HID-White-4800LM-40W-HI-LO-Beam-Bulbs-/161674431318?hash=item25a48c0b56&vxp=mtr

You can probably find more if you search. Happy hunting!

Does your LED headlights have the same "bleeding/lack of sharp cut-off" as your previous HID kit ?

Did you have to modify your lens, or were they plug and play ?

Also, any heat problems (seen many that need extra cooling) ?

TIA

[Hornblower]

Does your LED headlights have the same "bleeding/lack of sharp cut-off" as your previous HID kit ?

Did you have to modify your lens, or were they plug and play ?

Also, any heat problems (seen many that need extra cooling) ?

TIA

If you're truly interested in this mod, I'd suggest going back and reading threads already posted. For example, the answer to your first question is just a few posts back (post #3). No mods to lenses or reflector housings. No heat problems that I can determine. Only mod is to rubber boot and fabrication of a spacer to replace the H4 adapter.

[Hornblower]

For anyone else interested in this mod, I see that one of the eBay sellers I used (Auto-Sports) is still listing this item. I'm not necessarily suggesting this seller over others but here is his listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/60W-6000LM-White-CREE-LED-Headlight-Conversion-Kit-H1-H3-H4-H7-H8-H11-9005-9006-/151528961375?hash=item2347d4755f

I should mention that other LED bulbs may work as well or maybe better but I simply can't help with any of those since I have not tried them. Believe me, this is really dicey business since there is much to consider. One of the reasons my bulbs fit and worked is due to the two-part design. You can install the base part with your added homemade spacer and the stock retaining spring will hold that in with no problem. Inserting the bulb part into that base is a bit tricky and takes a little patience. The fit is especially tight for the high beam bulbs due to a metal support bar that is sort of in the way but, at least on my bike, it was possible. Finally, being able to modify the stock rubber boots with the FrogzSkin membranes (P/N 10003) was only possible due to the O-A-L of the bulbs being short enough to sit completely recessed in the housing opening. Any longer bulb simply would not have allowed this approach. In retrospect, I would say I was just lucky these bulbs ever worked at all and turned out so satisfactorily. Still, only time will tell about the longevity of these bulbs and how well heat is managed with the FrogzSkins vents. All I can say so far is after about 20 hours of operation, all is well.

[53driver]

All I can say so far is after about 20 hours of operation, all is well.
Touch down, good guys!

[Hook]

I put HID's on every thing I own. I get all my kits from DDM Tuning :icon_biggrin:
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m250/hooksup2/0417131519_0001_zps2d97a67a.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/hooksup2/media/0417131519_0001_zps2d97a67a.jpg.html)

[grendl]

I put HID's on every thing I own. I get all my kits from DDM Tuning :icon_biggrin:
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m250/hooksup2/0417131519_0001_zps2d97a67a.jpg (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/hooksup2/media/0417131519_0001_zps2d97a67a.jpg.html)
From this vender -are the lights plug and play? If I go HID I am just going to put them in the low beams..