DavidField

Does anyone have any problems with the beam pattern on High beam with HIDs fitted.
I fitted high & low to mine. Low is fantastic. High beam appears way to high with a dark, non lit area separating the two beams and the high beam's pattern spread too wide giving a dimmer illumination. Was considering removing the High HID & replacing it with one of those PAA 55 100 bulbs unless the level of the high beam can be adjusted independently of the low beam.

Does anyone know if this can be done?

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"They tell me you'll lose your mind when you get older. What they don't say is that you won't miss it very much." ~ Malcolm Cowley

shewie

You can not aim them independantly, but you might try shimming the bulb back a bit to change it's location in the focal point of the reflector. This may help with the aim issue.

I am running a 100w Halogen bulb in the high beam and it is nearly drowned out by the HID low beam - useless to the point that I am planning to change it to an HID.

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If you don't like the way I ride then stay off the sidewalk.

XXDAD

The space between your HID beams...if that is new...the spacers for the HID bulbs may not be installed correctly. I had to be careful with my spacers...something to check.

DavidField

I assume you mean between the bulb & the bulb housing. I didn't fit any spacers. I did have to put a large plastic 'washer' between the splring clip & the bulb 'though. To take up the space of the bulb adaptor.

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"They tell me you'll lose your mind when you get older. What they don't say is that you won't miss it very much." ~ Malcolm Cowley

Banshee

My HIDs were longer in the globe than the H7s they replaced. I had to put a spacer between the flange & the housing to pull the globe out of the headlight slightly so that the arc was in the same place as the filament usually is. This fixed my beam spread issues completely.

DavidField

Didn't think to check the length agains the old bulbs. I'd better do that.

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"They tell me you'll lose your mind when you get older. What they don't say is that you won't miss it very much." ~ Malcolm Cowley

heisti

i did while installing it to my car. it was exactly the same space between socket and the lightning area.
h7 in my car too, so i wonder why some manufacturers produce other dimensions

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Banshee

Here are some pics of my globes & the spacer I used for lining the HID up to where it needed to be. If you look at the full size, you can make out where the filament is relative to the arc.

Attached Images

	h7hidspacerrn9.jpg (78.6 KB, 42 views)
	h7hidfz6.jpg (48.6 KB, 31 views)

Edde

Don't you need to include a VFR spacer with these? To match up the beam with the stock reflectors?

Banshee

VFR spacer? Mine were at different points, so I just made one from the bit that normally goes on the back of the H7.

DavidField

Thank's for your input. I've been away diving in Egypt & am just back so haven't had a chance to check yet. Will have a look at the weekend

__________________
"They tell me you'll lose your mind when you get older. What they don't say is that you won't miss it very much." ~ Malcolm Cowley

ScottyUK

Aha !!! I get it now. Doh! I saw the pics before but it didn't sink it what you've done!! Doh ! doh!

When I put the HIDs on my CBR600F and then moved them to the XX, I cut the bulb holder down flush and used it as a spacer to ensure the bulb fixing spring was tight i.e. it's the same thickness as before.

I didn't consider the spacer being on the other side of the metal bulb base.

What you've done makes so much sense to get the filament more closely alligned with the focal point in the shell.



I think I'll be moving my spacers over the weekend.

Just wish it had clicked in my head when I saw your post before I fitted them.

doh! doh! doh!

I can't tell in the pic but does it sit flat or is it a little wobbly? Have you tried the bulb holder/"spacer" both ways up?

DavidField

Me too!!! I put them on the other side.
Will now need to check bulb lengths

__________________
"They tell me you'll lose your mind when you get older. What they don't say is that you won't miss it very much." ~ Malcolm Cowley

CBRDEAN0

You can now get 40mm hid H7 bulbs rather than the more common 45mm bulbs - the 40mm units put the ARC much closer to the H7 filament position.

ScottyUK

In Banshee's first pic it looks like the pins on the spacer don't sit well on the bulb. When trying this change I found the same.

Instead I placed the spacer into the headlight recess with the pins facing forward. This gave a smooth flat rear for the HID to fit up against.

I've done both dipped and mainbeam so the focal point on both should be better than before now.

I guess I'll find out on my ride home from work at 19:00 tonight.

rustydog

I used the rubber washer off the end of a garden hose that seals against the tap, just position it into the body then fit the bulb in and lock the clips into place.

ascar

OK so you have fitted a HID to your High beam - so what are you going to do with the pass switch that is now of no use as HID's are not instant light ( passing switch if fitted to a bike must work or it will fail MOT)
Im sure HID in the high beam is not a good idea as you pass traffic with it off then you put on the high beam and wait a minute till it heats up - in that time you have hit the tree you cant see.
there are lots of posts on the UK bird site about HID in high beam and alot say ILEGAL
found this on bird site

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.

In summary it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.
just my 2p worth lol

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its not a minimoto blackbird - thats its real size

TheDuck

I know where you are coming from ascar, although the argument comes from the Department for Transport and is based on a negative - doesn't mention so is not legal - I've never seen this tested in court. I've been using HID for many years now and have never been pulled, never failed an MOT.

How about a counter argument "It complies with ECE Reg 48 since it is self levelling (my fork springs work!) and as you well know the unit is self cleaning since it never stops raining in Scotland!"

ScottyUK

I guess you don't have HIDs? From experience I've found that the flash works fine. I didn't expect it to but it does. Flicking onto main beam therefore doesn't take minutes so if I hit a tree it won't be because I didn't see it

I'll try and get a video clip to demonstrate.

I discussed the MOT issue with my local bike service shop before fitting. He's never failed a bike because of them. As long as the patterns fine then there's no reason to fail them and generally the pattern isn't out enough to be a fail.

At the end of the day I commute to work on shifts and either have a dfark 05:30 journey in or a dark 19:00 journey home.

With my CBR600 and the Blackbird both having one bulb the light is truelly shocking. I've tried the various high out put bulbs but nothing works like a HID. To me it's a safety thing. As long as they're not causing anyone else any grief then I can't see it being a problem or me being pulled for it. In fact the blue pilot light on my 600 never attracted any unwanted attention either.

DavidField

You make it sound so easy!! I tried the same. Washer in, bulb in, clip on, bulb not straight. Try again washer in bulb in, check bulb straight, Clip on, Washer fallen out.
Try again Washer, in bulb in, make sure bulb straight, clip on, bulb dropped again.
It took about a dozen attempts and very sore hands to eventually get it all correct. But the improvement is dramatic.
Not sure why but the dipped beam doesn't require the spacer in first. It seems OK with the spring clip on the spacer. Don't seem to have a problem with it being too high.

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"They tell me you'll lose your mind when you get older. What they don't say is that you won't miss it very much." ~ Malcolm Cowley

ScottyUK

After the ride home in the dark I've more tweaking to do. As DavidField mentions perhaps I need to put the spacer back behind the HID. It's definately raised the beam so I think I'll drop it first before I swap again.

Perhaps I'll be doing the dozen attempts too.

PrimalDoubleXer

ASCAR, you have a flash to pass button on your bird?

shewie

I bet all the Euro spec birds have it.

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If you don't like the way I ride then stay off the sidewalk.

PrimalDoubleXer

If that is true, I am one VERY unhappy camper!

ScottyUK

I thought all bikes/cars had it ????

PrimalDoubleXer

My controls definitely do not have a FTP button (none of the U.S. birds that I've seen/ridden/owned have)...I'll hit my starter button rapidly a couple times to "strobe" my low beam if I need to get someone's attention (they almost always move to the side right away as they probably think I'm a cop coming up behind them)...but wouldn't mind a real FTP button on my left control unit!

ascar

1st off i have HID on my low beam and it works fine - blinds all on comming drivers lol

as for the flash to pass it has been on UK bikes for years . there was one of the USA guys wanting to fit a farkle on his bike so he got a UK left hand controls and swaped out the pass switch

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its not a minimoto blackbird - thats its real size

ScottyUK

Wow - they save you live and learn and I've learnt something today.

London wouldn't work if people couldn't flash each other either. It's used as intimidation, rebuke, polite invite to proceed, etc etc. I've no idea how we all know what a flash means! Of course the law says a flash is only a way of alerting others to your presence. Yeah right!!

Banshee

That's why I only have the HID in my low(main) beam.

The spacer in the pics doesn't sit flat because it's lying on its side on a table. I shaved the inside edge of the pins to fit around the base of the globe so they are flush when held up or installed.

rustydog

Well I'm glad it all turned out good