HID headlight kit installed (with pics)
HID headlight kit installed (with pics)
First off I would like to thank Howard at Motorcycle Metal (a forum sponsor) for offering such a great deal on these HID kits and his great customer service. When he said he was just a phone call away he was not kidding. Now on to the install and kit.
Install was pretty simple. All it involves is running a hot wire to the battery, grounding the unit, mounting the ballast, and installing the bulb. The bulb installed with ease in place of the standard halogen H4 bulb. I was able to use the stock wire that holds the bulb unlike another member (cmdwolf) who removed the bulb shield inside the headlight housing. I found there was no need to remove it because it did not interfere with the bulb movement or light output. (This is on an 08 model. Your results may vary with earlier models) Total install was about an hour. The most time consuming part is routing the hot wire to the battery. I decided to just lift the tank instead of removing it completely. (Note to anyone installing one of these or anything that requires running a hot wire to the battery: Wait until your tank is almost empty. Dummy me just filled up my tank the day before.)
Now the results:
Just went out tonight to try it out. Light output is very bright and very white. Not as much on lows as on highs. The light spreads outwards more allowing advance warning of critters along side the road. I can't say that it is like driving in daylight like alot of people describe. But it really puts out a good amount of light on the road allowing for more confident nighttime riding.
Here are some pics of the light output:
Daylight - low beam - with passing lamps
Daylight - high beam beam - with passing lamps
Daylight - high beam beam - no passing lamps
High beams straight on
Low beam with passing lamps on
Low beam with passing lamps off
High beam with passing lamps on
High beam with passing lamps off
The following pictures don't do the light output justice. Night pics are really hard to take and come out good. If you'll note the two signs in the picture. The first one (the yellow one) was 2/10th of a mile (about 1000 ft.) away and the second one was 4/10th of a mile (about 2000 ft.) away.
Low beam with passing lamps on
Low beam with passing lamps off
High beam with passing lamps on
High beam with passing lamps off
All in all I am pleased with the kit and highly recommend it. Having bad night vision and working alot of late days that fall into night, it allows me a more comfortable ride home.
Thanks again Howard.
Install was pretty simple. All it involves is running a hot wire to the battery, grounding the unit, mounting the ballast, and installing the bulb. The bulb installed with ease in place of the standard halogen H4 bulb. I was able to use the stock wire that holds the bulb unlike another member (cmdwolf) who removed the bulb shield inside the headlight housing. I found there was no need to remove it because it did not interfere with the bulb movement or light output. (This is on an 08 model. Your results may vary with earlier models) Total install was about an hour. The most time consuming part is routing the hot wire to the battery. I decided to just lift the tank instead of removing it completely. (Note to anyone installing one of these or anything that requires running a hot wire to the battery: Wait until your tank is almost empty. Dummy me just filled up my tank the day before.)
Now the results:
Just went out tonight to try it out. Light output is very bright and very white. Not as much on lows as on highs. The light spreads outwards more allowing advance warning of critters along side the road. I can't say that it is like driving in daylight like alot of people describe. But it really puts out a good amount of light on the road allowing for more confident nighttime riding.
Here are some pics of the light output:
Daylight - low beam - with passing lamps
Daylight - high beam beam - with passing lamps
Daylight - high beam beam - no passing lamps
High beams straight on
Low beam with passing lamps on
Low beam with passing lamps off
High beam with passing lamps on
High beam with passing lamps off
The following pictures don't do the light output justice. Night pics are really hard to take and come out good. If you'll note the two signs in the picture. The first one (the yellow one) was 2/10th of a mile (about 1000 ft.) away and the second one was 4/10th of a mile (about 2000 ft.) away.
Low beam with passing lamps on
Low beam with passing lamps off
High beam with passing lamps on
High beam with passing lamps off
All in all I am pleased with the kit and highly recommend it. Having bad night vision and working alot of late days that fall into night, it allows me a more comfortable ride home.
Thanks again Howard.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
I got mine from Howard too and I love it! I have an '07 and I ran the hot wire under the tank console, but otherwise did everything the same way. It really catches the reflections of all the street signs and critters (if they're looking your way.)
It shines when there are no street lights.
It shines when there are no street lights.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
Likes: 453
From: Davie, FL
Great Job!
Now you know the truth about lighting. I do recommend aiming your (everyone's) headlamps once finished if you do this upgrade.
Stay tuned for a new update later this month or maybe next. I have something in addition to this but no one else has thought it up yet. Will be finishing R&D'ing it soon. Thanks to Joe from Adjure who has helped me developed this project and should prove to be the next big thing. When fully proofed out I will take photos and explain the it.
Stay tuned for a new update later this month or maybe next. I have something in addition to this but no one else has thought it up yet. Will be finishing R&D'ing it soon. Thanks to Joe from Adjure who has helped me developed this project and should prove to be the next big thing. When fully proofed out I will take photos and explain the it.
Last edited by FastHarley; Sep 1, 2008 at 11:29 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Yorba Linda
Aside from a smaller ballast whats different from this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motor...mZ220276261575
I just bought it and received it and again aside from a little bigger ballast it appears to be the same thing.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motor...mZ220276261575
I just bought it and received it and again aside from a little bigger ballast it appears to be the same thing.
Now you know the truth about lighting. I do recommend aiming your (everyone's) headlamps once finished if you do this upgrade.
Stay tuned for a new update later this month or maybe next. I have something in addition to this but no one else has thought it up yet. Will be finishing R&D'ing it soon. Thanks to Joe from Adjure who has helped me developed this project and should prove to be the next big thing. When fully proofed out I will take photos and explain the it.
Stay tuned for a new update later this month or maybe next. I have something in addition to this but no one else has thought it up yet. Will be finishing R&D'ing it soon. Thanks to Joe from Adjure who has helped me developed this project and should prove to be the next big thing. When fully proofed out I will take photos and explain the it.
Awww c'mon. Don't tease us like that. How about a hint.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
are the passing lights to brite to leave on all the time. I like to leave mine on but don't want to blind on comeing traffic.
Trending Topics
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Pinewood SC
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public
Verdad Gallardo
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
Not at all. I keep mine on all the time and have never had a problem. When I was running a regular halogen headlight bulb I ran with my highs on all of the time and rarely got flashed by oncoming traffic.
Zimbob: A long time. There is a good info section on Howard's site that I linked to above.