baffled

[Dogsled]

we're heading South in April and do alot of night riding, so I have a month to figure out some Aux lighting. I think I want HID's, I don't want them in my headlights so aux lights seem to be what I want. I had a pair of regular lights on and they didn't give off any light worth mentioning. I looked at some light packages where the light housing/mounting and everything needed was in the kit. They were like 500 to 600 bucks.
So I found a link on this page; http://shop.hidcountry.com/HID-Kits-s/43.htm and scrolled down to the HID country slim for $84.95. The light below it warned of mounting into a smaller fog light housing. the Slim didn't. What do you think of switching the HID bulb into another housing. My assumption is there is a heat issue. If not, other than E-bay where is a good bulb/housing setup sold that others have purchased and found worth the money....but not 400 bucks. 200 is high but worth it if it's decent quality. The more I read about these bulbs and setups the more confused I get. I need it for a few hours a day. I can't even figure out the wattage as far a brightness vs. drainage. Then they have the beam spot, flood, partial flood. How the heck are you supposed to assume which bulb is best for you when a bad guess costs you hundreds of bucks and leaves you unsatisfied. The most I got so far was HID draws low power and puts out a bright white light..So I want to go with them......I think.
I like things like; "Call Joe, order kit 2, install them, be happy"

[goldminerusa]

If i were in your shoes i`d go down to the local honda and harley dealers and see what they have to say. At least they`ll understand the electical requirements for the bike/sitution. And i get 2 opinions from bikers.

[Dogsled]

Thanks, my dealer locally is likely to sell me anything but what works, just cause he doesn't know (Honda dealer) I don't know any bikers that have them. I've read so much BS about these lights thaty I can't see anybody dishing out cold hard cash with the myth backing the product. These lights gotta be strugglin to survive, I know alot of people and nobody has them. Oh well, ride slow in the dark and pick it up as the sun rises.

[goldminerusa]

Hey Dogsled, why not just keep it simple and put a Sylvania Silverstar in the stock bucket, no heat issues, much brighter and relly makes a difference.

[WingAdmin]

Hey Dogsled, why not just keep it simple and put a Sylvania Silverstar in the stock bucket, no heat issues, much brighter and relly makes a difference.

The Silverstar made a huge difference on my 1100 - but guaranteed it puts out far more heat than a HID bulb. However the 1100 has no problem handling it.

[Dogsled]

I did want something that was an add on so I can turn it off and on. HIDs seem to draw the least amount of juice but the rices the want for a set is ridiculous. Friggin bike ain't worth that much to me. Seems the don't make an economical assembly that holdsa n HID

[bustedwing]

Just a suggestion, I mounted a pair of haligon driving lights low on my '90GW trike, but of course I don't have to worry about cornering. But I used a push/pull switch with the biggest knob I could find because I can find it easy at night with gloves on. I mounted it next to the fuel door so it is kinda close to my leg and I can use either hand . The lights are too bright for oncoming traffic at night, but during the day nobody can say "I didn't see the bike"

[Dogsled]

Busted Wing, sorry for the late repl, been busy ridin. I don't care about oncoming traffic, i'll shutem down the question I got (a few) where did you get the lights, how big are they, how much juice do they draw, around how much did they cost? Basically anything you can tell me. I'd like to get something that someone can give me a personnal performance evaluation of. There are so many lights on the market it's mind boggling. I liked Halogens, then started reading about HIDS, a good fairly small aux. light setup is all i'm lookin for and i'm not sure of what to get. Thanks for your input though.

[bustedwing]

I got the lights at a local auto supply store and paid $50.00 for the pair, but are the size of small fog lights and draw 2 amps but work great.Hope this helps. Good Luck.

[SteveB123]

So I found a link on this page; http://shop.hidcountry.com/HID-Kits-s/43.htm and scrolled down to the HID country slim for $84.95. The light below it warned of mounting into a smaller fog light housing. the Slim didn't. What do you think of switching the HID bulb into another housing. My assumption is there is a heat issue.

It's a beam issue. HID's are simply a different light source, and need a different reflector.
Retrofiting them into a reflector designed for an incandecent source will not give satifactory results.

[Dogsled]

OK, thanks for that tip. I think i'm gonna try to find the smallest Halogen aux I can tuck in somewhere. I just want them for added light when needed. When I got my bike I had a bar made for aux lighting and I removed it cause the PO had the largest lights I ever seem mounted on them (and they gave off less light than a cheap flashlight, he was a chrome man though) The bar stuck out to wide and I can find them now, never thought of cutting them down. but there gotta be another location as soon as I find some lights. Thanks.

[WingAdmin]

OK, thanks for that tip. I think i'm gonna try to find the smallest Halogen aux I can tuck in somewhere. I just want them for added light when needed. When I got my bike I had a bar made for aux lighting and I removed it cause the PO had the largest lights I ever seem mounted on them (and they gave off less light than a cheap flashlight, he was a chrome man though) The bar stuck out to wide and I can find them now, never thought of cutting them down. but there gotta be another location as soon as I find some lights. Thanks.

Have a look at the mounting brackets on mine: Driving light mount

[RC4U]

i didnt see which bike you have but in my '81 1100 wing i put a new light bucket with bulb from Adjure lighting and it was twice as good as stock after putting the siverstar in stock one;;; cost was about $70 and well worth it...jeff