Lighting talk....

[Duster]

OK, so my headlight pods I put on ended up getting the wires torn up, bulbs ruined, etc...

These were H3 pods... and silverstar bulbs were like $21 each, so I said screw it... and had planed to install an H3 HID conversion.

Well then I never did get around to it, and I was at autozone, and saw some interesting bulbs for a good price, so I snatched them since I knew I had a night ride coming up.

The bulbs were Pilot bulbs... the blue fog light type. These are a nice improvement over stock, and over the H3's I had before. Bright piercing light... pretty standard color.

However I am just now to the point of pretty satisfied. The light is enough I guess. But I think I could do better somehow. The light is like spotlight or beam. Set it high enough and it shines bright forever and gets large in the distance. However, the light is not "big" with the lights set close.


I would like to have bigger light close in for detail, with enough distance for speed.

At this point I don't know rather I should keep the plan to convert these pods to HID... or if I should instead just be looking to change light optics???

I don't know jack about this stuff.

I thought about going to big ol' light pods... like Hella 500's or something.
But there again when I looked at these there is one size, but two optics with way different lenses.

I am open to ideas....

I'd like to set them up somewhat quick-tach maybe.

Thought about up on the bars... or one on the bars and one on the bumper.
I dunno...


And I might be fine with just doing the HID conversion on what I have...
I don't know... how does the HID conversion effect things?
Brighter longer light the same size?... Or bigger brighter light?

School me...

[Duster]

Here's an old DR650 with dual Hella's.



I don't mind the Baja look (though some of you surely will).

[Slaytanic454]

The way the light is dispersed is dependant entirely on the angle of the reflector in behind it (Especially so with HIDs, as the front of the bulb is blacked out, and 100% of the light cast out is reflected off from behind the bulb). A 'flatter' (I.e. less depth and larger diameter, if you know what I mean) reflector will produce a wider, but less focused/intense beam, while a tighter cone will produce more of a spotlight effect.

Hence why those Hellas throw off so much light in all directions; big, wide reflector behind the bulb.

Maybe keep that in mind if you're looking for a new set?

[Duster]

Thanks... that kind of info really helps me understand.

[strubby]

Duster, you bought upgraded bulbs that fit in the OEM pods? I haven't even ridden this bike on a night ride yet, maybe tonight, so I haven't critiqued the OEM lighting. I went with Ricky Stator bulbs in the Honda, which were better, but I know what you mean want more, crisper lighting. I'm spoiled with the headlights on my 350Z...

[Duster]

Quote: Originally Posted by strubby

Duster, you bought upgraded bulbs that fit in the OEM pods? I haven't even ridden this bike on a night ride yet, maybe tonight, so I haven't critiqued the OEM lighting. I went with Ricky Stator bulbs in the Honda, which were better, but I know what you mean want more, crisper lighting. I'm spoiled with the headlights on my 350Z...

You can do that... H6M HID conversion... and it seems to work EXCELLENT with the stock pod optics from what I have seen.

I just ran across these H3 pods a buddy had... guy had given him like several different sets to see which ones would work on his truck. This one set had a nice size pod... and this after-glow feature... which was Kawasaki green.

These I had to have because of that and the fact I so disliked the stock headlight looks. I had already done a mod to run the stockers without the cover... just didn't like the star wars crab look... and wanted something different.

[ononewheel]

the hids for the stock headlights work pretty good!and for around 50-60 bucks its even better!

[Duster]

Seen the pics and they do look like they do REALLY well converted.

I just don't like the look on my machine.
Mine doesn't look as good as yours with the stock pods and cover.

[ononewheel]

Quote: Originally Posted by Duster

Seen the pics and they do look like they do REALLY well converted.

I just don't like the look on my machine.
Mine doesn't look as good as yours with the stock pods and cover.

hows that its the same bike?

[Duster]

Looks wise, here are the changes I made...

Took the cover off a while...
Then decided to mask and paint the exposed stock pods...
Then went no lights at all...
Then switched to new pods...
Then raised them back and moved them up...