lousy front light

[kevin nx650]

Hi

Has anyone replaced the front bulb in the head light with one that actually emits a decent beam and if so what type or our night rides to stay scary.

[ste]

Hi Kev,
I fitted a HID headlight to my RD08 Dommie. The bulb is a combination and the high beam is HID and the dipped beam is a standard halogen filament.

The kit came with all the wiring and ballast which I've fitted onto the inside of the farring. The only drawback is how the bulb fits into the existing unit, the rubber cover over the back of the headlight unit will not fit tightly now with the light fitted, so I've had to tape it in place. So far all is good

The difference in light when using the high beam is fantastic, it's like riding in daylight! I would recommend this upgrade of the lighting system, as you say the regular lights are very poor for night riding.

The kit I got was advertised as an H4 HID on ebay and cost around £20.
Cheers,
Ste

[Rubberchicken]

I've got one of those mixed kits in the GS, it was a bit odd though.

As you said the high beam was HID and the dipped beam was regular halo, but the shield for the dipped beam was underneath the HID bulb, not the halo bulb.

So I switched 'em.

Now I've got HID dipped, which is brilliant, and halo high beam, which is... Utterly Unimpressive.

I'm thinking of going to full HID for both dipped and high, the amount of light is addictive.

[Jenna]

how do you guys get on with the extra heat the HID puts out?.. i'm putting dual dip/main on the xtz over the next week and have to say the heat aspect is a bit of a concern!

[Rubberchicken]

Haven't, so far.

The HID is 35W, the stock lamp is 55W, and I've heard of people running 100W halo for ages without any problems... (edit for clarity: I mean on the GS) Though that last bit will ofcourse be different on other bikes.

[Jenna]

xtz is 35/35 standard (hence the desperate need to switch) but people have said the closeness of the bulb to the glass Len's makes it get very hot!