HIDs in a halogen reflector housing are /not/ an upgrade. A correct and real HID retrofit that will actually give you a real benefit and not a "false benefit" (one you think you're getting, but you really aren't) must include optics designed for the HID arc.
HID lamps generate light differently from halogen lamps. Halogen lamps are brightest in a single point, and the optics are designed around that (relatively known) point. HID lamps generate their brightest light at two disparate points, neither of which is close to where the halogen point is (ends of the arc vs. center of the filament). Yes, an HID's output is /brighter/, indisputably, but with a reflector housing meant for a halogen light you end up putting that super-intense light everywhere but where you want it to go. You get a very bright wash immediately in front of you, and some light thrown way ahead of you, but very little intensity reaches the middle range. The bright wash close in, and the wide scatter to the sides makes most people feel like they are better lights, but the loss of the mid-range intensity (where you /should/ be looking while driving or riding) means the lights are actually worse at night. You also will lose your "high beam" lights entirely. That far-flung light and the wide scatter pattern also means that anyone ahead of you, either in your lane or oncoming, is going to get a faceful of super-intense light; that is the point of a High Intensity Discharge lamp, after all, to produce incredibly intense light. Being someone who drives almost exclusively at night, this particular issue is one that I have to deal with regularly, and it's one that has very nearly put me off the road on several occasions, rounding a corner or cresting a hill and suddenly being faced with something brighter than daylight directed in my face. For brighter, better reflected light with a stock look, there are companies that make improved, CSR (Complex Shaped Reflector) lamp buckets and more efficient, cleaner lamps for them. You can get them in a broad variety of sizes, from 4" (like an old Mercedes high beam) to 5 3/4" (most quad round setups) to 7" (most dual rounds and round motorcycles). Rectangular sizes are available as well, and actually can produce better viewing angles and light patterns than the round (Aren't light physics wonderful?). -Kurt On Sun, Sep 5, 2010 at 8:31 AM, 750S <[email protected]> wrote: > I have been considering a lighting upgrade for my 700S nighthawk. Two > options I'm thinking about are: > > 1. Converting original headlight bulb for a newer HID system. > (preferred option for me) > > > 2. Installing Piaa 1100X running lights > > > The 1st option, I believe, is my preferred method as I would like to > keep the appearance of bike as close to stock as possible, however I > would also like to get the most nighttime visibility. > > Anyone on here with any experience on 1 or both of these options I > would greatly appreciate your input. > Especially if anyone can direct me to the best choice for HID > conversion kit, as I am not sure on what to purchase. > > This forum in an invaluable means of information, keep up the great > posts. > > > Thanks in advance > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > [email protected]. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en. > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en.
