JDC
Zone Head
Posts: 570
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posted June 16, 2009 10:43 AM
HID's as high beams
Anyone using HID's as high beams, and if so, what's your opinion?
  
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Compton
Zone Head
Posts: 969
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posted June 16, 2009 10:49 AM
Only low beams for me. I use my highbeams to flash people, and HIDs aren't an instant on. they have to warm up, takes too long.
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b.w.
zx14, little longer, little louder, little lower.
08 Busa, just a little longer and louder and lower than the 14
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THEMADKAW
Expert Class
Posts: 211
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posted June 16, 2009 10:54 AM
i was wondering the same thing. because i was told you couldn't or shouldn't do it because the will not flash, but a company called EFX was at North Myrtle this year and he had a set in a Gixxer 1k and they flashed just like regular bulbs. i asked him if that hurt the system any and he said it wouldn't hurt a good high quality system. but it could've been a sales pitch.
i haven't gotten mine yet, still doin some research, and dragging my feet. lol
what have you heard?
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FastestBusaAround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted June 16, 2009 03:26 PM
Ummmm NO, they don't "flash", They take time (30-45 seconds) to warm up to full intensity. Your Gixx would be better served with them on the low beams, and a set of cheap (non-HID) Xenons for highs, which will give you what you want...
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FYYFF!!!
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ZX11D
Zone Head
Internet Police
Posts: 674
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posted June 16, 2009 03:45 PM
JCD, use HID on low beams only (max. 6K temp.) and PIAA H9 Xtreme White on high beams.
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'94 ZX-11
'07 ZX-14
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JDC
Zone Head
Posts: 570
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posted June 16, 2009 06:37 PM
Zx11
That seems a good idea.
I do not ever 'flash', so now I'm wondering if HID have a more quick on than 30 ish seconds to full. I have usually turned them off by then.(city and calif highway).
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dattaway2
Novice Class
Ninja's rule
Posts: 51
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posted June 16, 2009 08:06 PM
Flashing shouldn't hurt anything if the bulb has a decent quality ballast. The HID ballasts are constant current output, so it will *try* to start the bulb at full brightness. Since light output is effectively equal to the current passing through the gas, it boosts the voltage. The cold bulb isn't as efficient as those small mercury balls in there and a smatter of other metals take a little time to become part of the discharge. When it heats up, the ballasts draw much less power and enjoys normal operation as a discharge lamp rather than the initial mode of an ultraviolet arc lamp.
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JDC
Zone Head
Posts: 570
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posted June 16, 2009 10:58 PM
Great info.
and prices are so cheap now, low and hi are up for replacement.
thanks all
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dattaway2
Novice Class
Ninja's rule
Posts: 51
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posted June 17, 2009 12:08 AM
They will get much cheaper too. The ballasts were the most expensive to make. China has learned to perfect them at high volumes. The quartz tube is super cheap to make as there is nothing to them.
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Beondwacko
Expert Class
Posts: 393
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posted June 17, 2009 03:38 AM
I have HID's on both low and high beam. It's a bit annoying that you can't independantly aim the highs and lows. The lows on my bike are a bit too low and the highs are a bit too high. But, let me tell you what it's like to have 220W of HID at night.
WOW !!
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08' Atomic Silver, PCIII, Brocks pipe,BMC, -1, strapped front end
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FastestBusaAround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted June 17, 2009 05:53 AM
Yup, sucks with that setup...looks cool when looking at the bike from the front, but useless for riding. I currently have and had the same setup on my 06 and 08.
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FYYFF!!!
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THEMADKAW
Expert Class
Posts: 211
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posted June 17, 2009 04:01 PM
i'm not saying they don't have to warm up to give their full potential lighting, but on the bike i saw, with the flash ot pass button, they were instant on and off when hitting the switch. i've seen many sets come on and change colors and intensity as they warm (wife's car has them) so i know what you mean. but this guy had a set that would do flash to pass.
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FastestBusaAround
Needs a life
I eat Fish...
Posts: 7889
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posted June 17, 2009 04:31 PM
Those were probably just regular Xenon's, as HID Xenons's would barely be seen with a "flash" only...
It's sometimes hard to tell the difference between the two..like if the highs are set too high up...a regular Xenon bulb would appear as bright and white as an HID Xenon to the viewer, head on...but there's no way that an HID would come on at anything more than 10-20% brightness/intensity in a 1-2 second flash, no matter whether it's a 35 or a 55 watt.
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FYYFF!!!
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Flame On
Needs a life
Fuel Air & Spark
Posts: 17104
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posted June 17, 2009 05:03 PM
Hids on low only for me too the highs are plenty bright enough the stock low beam is weak went with the 8 they are also easy on the eyes on long night runs.
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77 RD 400
80 GS1000 GT
06 ZX14
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