dubious
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Posts: 8442
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posted May 13, 2009 09:25 AM
 Edited By: dubious on 13 May 2009 17:27
Will I be satisfied with the distance the PIAA bulbs will throw?
I would like to double the distance of the stockers without diluting it much, also I like to light up the ditches, or at least cover the entire width of a 2 lane highway with wide shoulders when I blast down the yellow line on empty road.
Thanks for the response BTW , much appreciated
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natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
  
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ZX11D
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posted May 13, 2009 11:55 AM
Edited By: ZX11D on 13 May 2009 19:57
The 65W H9 bulbs have rated output of 2,100 lumens, which is the highest for automotive halogen bulb of any type, making them suitable for high beam applications. Having said that, it's still short on light output of standards 35W HID capsule with color temperature between 4 to 5 K, which is around 3,100 lumens. There are disadvantages using HID high beams, namely delay upon turn-on, and also undesirable light dispersion. FBA has posted about this problem while back. In the end it comes down to your decision, if you are willing to live with the shortcomings, having superb high beams for fast night blasts on long stretches of open highways.
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'94 ZX-11
'07 ZX-14
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pdonnell
Expert Class
Posts: 130
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posted May 13, 2009 04:11 PM
In terms of HID hi beams you have to decide what best for you. As said they have their disadvantages. Big one, time to fully illuminate is not instantaneously. But if you can ride with them on for a long time WTF? I had to go with the lows. My work commute is on many surface streets with oncoming traffic. My HID low beams were "supposedly" rated at 3200 lumens so I went with them as the light throw is much longer and brighter. (no flashes from oncoming cars either)
.
Its unfortunate that Kawasaki decided to integrate hi and low beam adjustments on one knob. (although from a production standpoint why not?) Next time I paint my bike (soon) I am going to shim the hi-beam down so I can get some useful light from them and throw some PIAA's in them.
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Meangreen14
Expert Class
Posts: 343
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posted July 16, 2009 07:47 PM
I just put some 8k on my 09 14, I got them from eBay used worked great but had problems with installing the bulbs the did not fit flush like the stock ones any one with the same problem? I no I need 2 buy some brand new ones but I could not pass up these for only $25 bucks!
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PCV, quick shifter, stock gearing,
fly's out, custom garrett gt28 stage1 turbo, JE pistons, 625cc inj, MTC lock up clutch,1:1 fuel pressure regulator...
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Rideharder
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Posts: 821
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posted July 16, 2009 10:51 PM
I'm actually going to install one HID light on my zx14.. since this thread is already started I will post my project in this thread it relates to HID lights.. I will start this project tomorrow..
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Wheelie
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Old Man
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posted July 17, 2009 05:55 AM
quote:
I'm actually going to install one HID light on my zx14.. since this thread is already started I will post my project in this thread it relates to HID lights.. I will start this project tomorrow..
project installing a bulb? lol
wee
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JDC
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Posts: 570
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posted July 17, 2009 04:46 PM
I've had the same experience as a number of you, needing to adjust the beams once the hi's and lo's were changed out. For me the hi's were spot on following the change, but the lo's were too low. Haven't adjusted them yet...
Thinking of the shim idea... or ?
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FastestBusaAround
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posted July 17, 2009 05:33 PM
Ya - well the shimming will work, but lot's of trial and error. Your lows are probably pointing down to the ground now...quite useless for lighting, but they do look cool I bet. LOL
I still haven't bothered to start the shimming process, as I have my Connie which I use for night riding anyway for the most part, and I'm a lazy fuck when it comes to this shit anyway... 
As soon as you bring your lows up, your high beams will be pointing up 60 degrees or more...lighting the tops of the trees...again - useless...LOL
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FYYFF!!!
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Rideharder
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posted July 17, 2009 06:22 PM
Edited By: Rideharder on 18 Jul 2009 02:43
Okay guys if you guys remember when I hit that dead raccoon at night it was because of the headlights..
The low beams was pointed to far down by the time I came upon the raccoon that I thought was a dead dog it was too late ...
So here's my new project to put one single light on the front of my motorcycle that will be hot enough to cook a pizza..
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dubious
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posted July 17, 2009 06:26 PM
Hmmm,
I might be very interested in the outcome of this!
Please post bigger pics though!
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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Rideharder
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Posts: 821
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posted July 17, 2009 06:31 PM
Edited By: Rideharder on 18 Jul 2009 02:47
I searched everywhere for a glass bulb for the HID light on my second day looking I found what I was looking for at Carquest.. I paid $60 for the fog light which will be my new headlight..
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dubious
Needs a life
Needs more time to ride!
Posts: 8442
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posted July 17, 2009 06:46 PM
Its all cool bro.
I have liked all of your workm in the past.
Everything is clean and tidy.
Lookin forward to the final results!
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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Rideharder
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Posts: 821
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posted July 17, 2009 06:52 PM
Edited By: Rideharder on 18 Jul 2009 02:53
Thank you dubious...
I'm still working on the fog light as opening up the whole for the HID light..
I'm going to add more glue and sand everything down and paint it Black..
Once I find a correct way of mounting it inside I will take pictures of that I am just glad there is room..
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Rideharder
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posted July 17, 2009 06:54 PM
dubious I've monitored your stuff as well and I actually have learned several things from you and I just want to thank you for that!
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Rideharder
Zone Head
Posts: 821
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posted July 17, 2009 07:17 PM
Edited By: Rideharder on 18 Jul 2009 03:45
Tomorrow when I go out in the garage I will write down the tools and take pictures of them..
Just in case somebody wants to start a project like this I can show them what to use..
Step one: I order front piece from Catalyst Racing Composites
http://www.catalystracingcomposites.com/
Step two: when I received the part from Catalyst Racing Composites, I went out and looked for the bulb everywhere and on the second day I ran across it at Carquest for $60
Step three: I used a door handle drill to drill out my front piece for it was the same size as the bulb later I will give you the correct size.. I also drilled out all the little holes for the windshield etc..
Step four: Went out to find my H.I.D light to fit the Carquest fog light and also have the correct wire harness so I did not have to cut any wires on my zx14 to make the H.I.D work.
I found the H.I.D at my local motorcycle shop which is Broward Motorsports. Located in West Palm Beach Florida..
Step five: Use a drill to open the whole at the bottom of the fog light so that the H.I.D light would snap in and stay..
What I did was pop the glass out and put it on the outside and glue it I will glue everything so moisture will not get in the inside of the glass.. Also I will stand everything and paint it Black.. I'm just picky on the way everything will look once finished...
Step six: I took my front piece to get painted I just received it back yesterday...
Now receiving it back I am ready to continue with my project.
So finally I will need to come up with a solution for the mounting on the inside which should be no problem because there is a lot of room..
Later I will post pictures of the plugs and the mounting positions..
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JDC
Zone Head
Posts: 570
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posted July 17, 2009 07:41 PM
Edited By: JDC on 18 Jul 2009 03:44
quote:
Okay guys if you guys remember when I hit that dead raccoon at night it was because of the headlights..
The low beams was pointed to far down by the time I came upon the raccoon that I thought was a dead dog it was too late ...
So here's my new project to put one single light on the front of my motorcycle that will be hot enough to cook a pizza...
Ride,
I've thought about a PIAA or radar detector inside the air dam, but that lower position is a great idea...
can u post up some close ups of the back side install? and is light air adjustable? and how is the throw.....?
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Rideharder
Zone Head
Posts: 821
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posted July 17, 2009 07:52 PM
Edited By: Rideharder on 18 Jul 2009 03:57
quote:
quote:
Okay guys if you guys remember when I hit that dead raccoon at night it was because of the headlights..
The low beams was pointed to far down by the time I came upon the raccoon that I thought was a dead dog it was too late ...
So here's my new project to put one single light on the front of my motorcycle that will be hot enough to cook a pizza...
Ride,
I've thought about a PIAA or radar detector inside the air dam, but that lower position is a great idea...
can u post up some close ups of the back side install? and is light air adjustable? and how is the throw.....?
What I'm doing tonight is sketching everything on paper along with measurements then tomorrow look at my mount brackets and seeing how I would need to modify them to make them adjustable..
By the time I get done with my motorcycle it will look like a leader bike..lol
I will be taking pictures of the inside and I will post them as soon as I can...
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pdonnell
Expert Class
Posts: 130
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posted July 18, 2009 02:15 PM
Edited By: pdonnell on 18 Jul 2009 22:16
quote:
Ya - well the shimming will work, but lot's of trial and error. Your lows are probably pointing down to the ground now...quite useless for lighting, but they do look cool I bet. LOL
I still haven't bothered to start the shimming process, as I have my Connie which I use for night riding anyway for the most part, and I'm a lazy fuck when it comes to this shit anyway...
As soon as you bring your lows up, your high beams will be pointing up 60 degrees or more...lighting the tops of the trees...again - useless...LOL
.
.
Because the lumens output of my HID is almost double the stock low beams I adjusted them up and shimmed the high beam harnass down. Lot easier. BTW, the point of light output of a the stock bulb is at the same depth as the HID when secured into the bulb fastener. i.e. don't bother shimming the HID bulb so that the point of light output sits further back than the stocker. It doesn't work too well. The limitations of the stock low beam output becomes very obvious once a very bright replacement is used. Nothing wrong with the HID's, the stock light or its housing. Just adjust lows up further to maximize the HID throw and tweak the hi down since its vertical adjustment is integrated with the lows.
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FastestBusaAround
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Posts: 7889
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posted July 18, 2009 02:27 PM
Edited By: FastestBusaAround on 18 Jul 2009 22:29
How do you tweak the high beams down if the highs and lows move together? I don't get what you mean when you "shimmed the high beam harness down"...
____________
FYYFF!!!
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Superman T
Pro
Posts: 1831
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posted July 18, 2009 02:39 PM
I have HIDs in my blue 14(06). When I mildly adjusted the beam upwards, it did not affect my high beams at all(sure they raised but still looks awsome and does the right job when needed). I had a local shop asked for me to turn on my high beams(I used hoen 4300 bulbs). When I did, they were amaze as to the brightness and beam projection.
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JDC
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posted July 20, 2009 08:04 PM
bump
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Rideharder
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posted July 20, 2009 09:49 PM
quote:
bump
I will start back on the project tomorrow the next day... I will throw up some pictures and measurements... work comes before pleasure and I've been busy... tomorrow I should get a chance to start back on my project...
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Beondwacko
Expert Class
Posts: 393
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posted July 21, 2009 03:21 AM
Ride,
The project looks better than you described it to me this past sunday.
Remember though, the fog lamp will through a wide flat beam with little extension outward, but as for the bling factor, it looks like you got it going on.
Adam
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08' Atomic Silver, PCIII, Brocks pipe,BMC, -1, strapped front end
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masszx14
Pro
A mind beside itself!
Posts: 1806
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posted July 21, 2009 09:29 AM
Rideharder, that's a great project and can't wait to see the pics when it's finished.
I've seen in person a zx14 with a Catalyst front that had two cut-outs on each side almost exactly where the stock low beams are- looked really good... and that was on an orange bike too.
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universal@mind
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Rideharder
Zone Head
Posts: 821
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posted July 28, 2009 10:36 PM
Edited By: Rideharder on 29 Jul 2009 06:56
quote:
Ride,
The project looks better than you described it to me this past sunday.
Remember though, the fog lamp will through a wide flat beam with little extension outward, but as for the bling factor, it looks like you got it going on.
Adam
Thanks very much guys for the comments..
Everything mounted in perfect. I actually took a lot of pictures I will post them along with some videos.. Tomorrow I will actually bolt everything together and take more videos and pictures..
2006 ZX14.
I'm totally happy with the appearance now.
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