How to signal to bikers?

[Aubrey]

HRG said:

Aubrey said:

I want to do this too, Is is worth getting just one HID bulb kit for the low beam, or do the high beam as well? The low-beam is always-on on my gixxer.

IIRC HID's take a moment or two to warm up so you're better off sticking with just the low beam.

Ah that would make sense, because cars fitted with HIDs usually just have normal bulbs for high-beam. Clever you

[Hyperion]

Mine uses an H4 bulb - so I got a Bi-Xenon kit which has a moveable reflector built around the bulb, so I get HID on dipped and high beam
Makes nightime riding so much safer!

[dern]

Hyperion said:

Mine uses an H4 bulb - so I got a Bi-Xenon kit which has a moveable reflector built around the bulb, so I get HID on dipped and high beam
Makes nightime riding so much safer!

I think I'll just fit a low beam kit as my full beams are pretty much spot on. I just need to work out the difference between the kits aimed at my bike (at 50 quid) and the generic single h7 kits (at 15 quid)... apart from 35 quid, obviously.

[Aubrey]

Ah that's handy. The gixxer has two bulbs, one a projector for low-beam and a standard H4 (I think) bulb for high-beam.

[black-k1]

dern said:

Hyperion said:

Mine uses an H4 bulb - so I got a Bi-Xenon kit which has a moveable reflector built around the bulb, so I get HID on dipped and high beam
Makes nightime riding so much safer!

I think I'll just fit a low beam kit as my full beams are pretty much spot on. I just need to work out the difference between the kits aimed at my bike (at 50 quid) and the generic single h7 kits (at 15 quid)... apart from 35 quid, obviously.

Hi Dern

Does your 'Blade not have 3 bulbs (2 main and 1 dip) like my K1200S?

I've fitted a car HID kit (H7 bulbs) to the K1200S where I fitted 1 HID bulb to the dip beam and 1 HID bulb to 1 of the high beams. I then replaced the other high beam bulb with a 100w halogen as the 2 x 35 Watt HID plus 1 x 100 Watt Halogen (total 170w) is only slightly more than 3 x 55w halogen standard bulbs (total 165w).

While the original lights were pretty good I now have a very good dip beam and a superb main beam. If I flash the main beam the halogen bulb lights instantly and likewise when I switch from low to high beam. The only thing I had to get used to was on High beam, one side was lit by the "blue/white" light from the HID bulb but the other side was lit by the "yellow" light from the halogen bulb. A little strange at first!

PS – No on-coming traffic now leaves their lights on full beam!!

Edited by black-k1 on Friday 18th July 13:51

[Vipers]

Hyperion said:

I find a good 30% of drivers will move over slightly when they see me filtering - I don't think I've ever had somebody deliberately block my path?
I've had many drivers that could have moved over a bit to let me through though - but I put that down to their arrogance and standing their ground, rather than a malicious attempt to stop me getting passed.
A good set of HID headlights are a must I find - you can see me coming a mile off!!

I do hope you dont ride with FULL BEAM as some do, that does pi$$ off the motorists. My Volvo rear mirror only dips when the sun light is shining in it, or full beams behind me during daylight, (auto dip that is, you dont flick it by hand), a full beam in day light behind me doesnt activate it.

It activates me instead, and more so if said bike stays behind me...... I will always do whatever I can to let you guys through, but dipped please. Oh by the way, not saying you use full, but as you said "You can see me coming a mile off" I assumed you did?

[vrod]

Thanks for being so considerate, many car drivers often see bikes in their rear mirror and feel they need to move over.
If your in a line of traffic as described many drivers do move to the right and put on their right hand indicator as an acknowledgement to undertake.
If not in a hurry, many bike riders will happily hold position rather than take a chance.
In return for your consideration, if it's me, you will always get a nod or a thumbs up.