hid low beams

[showmerider]

I'm thinking about changing to HID's for my low beam headlights. Just wanted to know if there are any reliabilty problems or other issues with them. What type do you all recommend and where's the best place to buy them? Thanks in advance. By the way it's for a '12 level 3 if that makes any difference.

[Cruiseman]

I'm thinking about changing to HID's for my low beam headlights. Just wanted to know if there are any reliabilty problems or other issues with them. What type do you all recommend and where's the best place to buy them? Thanks in advance. By the way it's for a '12 level 3 if that makes any difference.

I have the HIDs from SoCalMotoGear.com and have had them for nearly 3 years on my 2012 with no problem. I LOVE them. And, they are a board sponsor. I also have a video on how to install them.

[CaptLen]

Definitely a worthwhile addition- wouldn't be without them. See if Cruiseman will re-publish his list of most worthwhile safety/convenience items he's done. I've done many of them like the HID's and Muth Signal Mirrors, LED buls in back, (I did the Wig Wag since I don't have a spoiler-yet) and the Kisan spoiler light thingy that attracts attention. I also just didnthe LightMode electroluminescent helmet kit, which should add huge visibility to other drivers
Ride safe and enjoys

[misterk]

+1 on the socalmotogear, i would not want to go back to oem bulbs. simple plug and play.

[popsclawson]

Had the SoCalMotoGear HIDs put in 2 years ago. Couldn't believe the difference. Love them.

[Cruiseman]

Definitely a worthwhile addition- wouldn't be without them. See if Cruiseman will re-publish his list of most worthwhile safety/convenience items he's done.

http://www.theglforum.com/articles/136-my-favorite-gl1800-aftermarket-products

[TravelinLite]

Make sure you get the optional part from SoCal that keeps the lights from going on and off each time you start the bike. That will shorten the life of the bulb. I don't have those lights but some of my friends do and man are they bright....how do you like your deer cooked

[MMR]

I will throw in a +3 on the low beam HIDs from SoCalMotoGear. I would not ride a bike without them, now that I have used these for the past 30K miles. And...mine even survived a lightning strike, and kept working. Really !

As Travelinlite suggested, make sure you buy the low beam cut-out relay....also available from SoCalMotoGear...as this cut-out relay will delay the starting of your low beams...until the engine has been started...and the oil pressure sender has received a grounding signal that there is oil pressure. That grounding signal acts as the ground for the low beams, and allows the mow beams to come on. The purpose of this low beam cut-out relay is to avoid having the HIDs cycle on and off when starting the bike.

[ChrisE]

I'll probably be the first person banned from this site.

I have the DDM HID kits ($22.50 for each bulb) for both low and high beams. I've had them in the bike for 3+ years. They are fairly easy to install, the only difference I can see between the SoCalMotoGear and the DDM is that the SoCalMotoGear comes with a plug that fits onto the OEM bulb connector. On the DDM kit, you have to push two space connectors into the OEM bulb connector.

I carry the OEM Halogen bulbs, in the plastic cases the DDM bulbs came in, stored in the CD bay in my trunk. I could switch back to the OEM bulbs in about 2 minutes should I need to.

The bulbs comes on at about 95% brightness instantly and are much brighter than the OEM halogen bulbs. I have the electrical connection HID cut out relay. This delays your low beams coming on as you turn the key on and then going off and back on as you start the bike.

I have 35W/5000K bulbs.

[TravelinLite]

ChrisE, please tell me why you chose a 4300 Kelvin bulb over a 5000 Kelvin bulb. By going with the 4300 I assume you were wanting a bright white (absent of yellow or blue), so curious why you went with 4300 over 5000. Thanks.

[ChrisE]

Sorry, I got 5000k, they are just white, no blue or yellow tint.

[srt8-in-largo]

If you're really after light output, I'd recommend retrofitting a real HID system. Putting HID bulbs in a halogen reflector is not HID.

[Rollin]

+1 on the socalmotogear, i would not want to go back to oem bulbs. simple plug and play.

Add me to this list.

[Cruiseman]

If you're really after light output, I'd recommend retrofitting a real HID system. Putting HID bulbs in a halogen reflector is not HID.

I would agree that the HID in Halogen reflector is not "true" HID in the traditional sense, but it is an affordable alternative that is easy to install and delivers much better performance than stock Halogens.

[KYBubblehead]

I have the SoCalMotoGear driving light kit - I was impressed with both the quality of the parts and the huge light output...

Anyone else have the light bulbs that ChrisE used? I was thinking about upgrading to the SoCalMotoGear HID low beam kit,but if I can get 75% of the light increase for 20% of the price, I'll sure consider it...

Lemme know!

btw- just looked at DDM's web site - it IS an appealing choice.

[Cruiseman]

I have replaced a couple of DDM systems on other bikes and was not impressed with the quality compared to SoCalMotoGear.com. The ballasts look very similar, but there are differences that you can't see. The installation's I have seen were clunky at best and certainly not plug-n-play. Besides, SoCalMotoGear is a board sponsor. They will stand behind their product.

[ChrisE]

So this is what I had to do to install the DDM's.

I had to round off the corners on the plastic spacer to get it to fit, about a minute's worth with a small file.



The two wires from the DDM ballast have spade style connectors that are just lie the prongs on the back of the OEM bulb and just push into the OEM headlight connector.

I zip tied the wires to make sure these could not come out. So to basically go back to OEM, I have to remove these two wires and swap the HID bulb for the OEM halogen and push the headlight connector back on.

[showmerider]

Ok, everything sounds great and I watched cruiseman's install video, but it doesn't show installing the low beam cut-out relay.Is it plug and play or hard wired? How much more time is required to install it? Thanks again for the advice I really appreciate it.

[Cruiseman]

If you have a 2012-2015 or F6B, the cutout is a little more complicated.

[ChrisE]

Ok, everything sounds great and I watched cruiseman's install video, but it doesn't show installing the low beam cut-out relay.Is it plug and play or hard wired? How much more time is required to install it? Thanks again for the advice I really appreciate it.

The EC Headlight Cut Out kit is installed under the seat at the main relay block, the instructions are good and it takes about 2 minutes.

Your low beams lights will not come on until the engine is running, so if you need light without the engine running, just switch to high beams.

[bandito]

I have the SoCalMotoGear driving light kit - I was impressed with both the quality of the parts and the huge light output...

Anyone else have the light bulbs that ChrisE used? I was thinking about upgrading to the SoCalMotoGear HID low beam kit,but if I can get 75% of the light increase for 20% of the price, I'll sure consider it...

Lemme know!

btw- just looked at DDM's web site - it IS an appealing choice.

I have had DDM kits in my high beams for several years with no problems. I havent used any other brand so I cant really compare but I cant imagine how they could be any easier to install.