HID's for cheap : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

06Trainrider · 10-08-2008, 06:58 PM

The harley HID light is $500 big ones and you only get one light. Go on ebay and type in H4 HID and you can get a car kit that comes with two lights and balasts for 75-85 bucks shipped. I have one in my night train and two guys i work with bought them for their ultra classics. Its easy to mount the balast in those. On softails and dyna's you can mount the balast on that cross member bracket on the front of the frame and the wires reach into the headlight housing. Seriously guys these bulbs are WAY brighter than halogen bulbs and last longer. there are different brightnesses
i reccomend 4300K(bright white) or 5000K(Blueish white). higher you go the more blue/purple you get.

Im telling ya night driving is ten times better.

Nytmare · 10-09-2008, 03:07 PM

Interesting... I have an aftermarket headlight bucket (~7" long), do you think the ballast would fit inside of it?
Gotta link to the ebay thing, or an item number?
Thanks!

06Trainrider · 10-09-2008, 03:36 PM

Just do an advanced search and search by user id name and type in hidgate. or just search H4 HID's. mine is a normal balast which may not fit in your headlight. if you fnid a slim balast set then it may fit. ill take pics of my set up tonight and post them.

Geezer-Glide · 10-09-2008, 03:52 PM

Baggers have a 7" light. Fitment problems with that??

06Trainrider · 10-09-2008, 04:38 PM

Absolutley not. Two guys i know installed them in theirs no problem. the balast can go anywhere in the front fairing. they are actually easier to mount.

mcouture · 10-09-2008, 07:15 PM

I have an HID with slim balast on my Sporty. My headlight now drowns out cars that don't have HIDs! Riding at night is MUCH better. If you're on the fence - do it! I have the 5000K and love it.....

Geezer-Glide · 10-09-2008, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 06Trainrider

Absolutley not. Two guys i know installed them in theirs no problem. the balast can go anywhere in the front fairing. they are actually easier to mount.

My worry is that typically automotive headlights are 4 or 5 inches round, not 7. Can you shed some light on this for me? (Pun intended!)

Ram_RK · 10-09-2008, 08:20 PM

I have a RK with the H-D system and the ballast fits in the behind the head lamp lense assy on a bracket made for it you can get the bracket and nail an after market ballast with out much problem at all. It may even fit the holes for the H-D ballast and then you won't have to drill any!?

Nytmare · 10-09-2008, 10:51 PM

You've piqued my curiousity. I've wanted to do this for a long time...
What about the whole hi/low beam deal?
What about current draw when it fires up? Do you turn on your power switch and wait for a couple of seconds, or do you notice any increased drag on your starter?

Nytmare · 10-09-2008, 10:55 PM

Geezer-
These conversions are not lenses/lamps. They are the ballasts and the bulb (it replaces an H4 in this case). If you use an H4, they replace the bulb you are now using, so your headlamp size shouldn't matter.

huskerbob · 10-10-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 06Trainrider

The harley HID light is $500 big ones and you only get one light. Go on ebay and type in H4 HID and you can get a car kit that comes with two lights and balasts for 75-85 bucks shipped. I have one in my night train and two guys i work with bought them for their ultra classics. Its easy to mount the balast in those. On softails and dyna's you can mount the balast on that cross member bracket on the front of the frame and the wires reach into the headlight housing. Seriously guys these bulbs are WAY brighter than halogen bulbs and last longer. there are different brightnesses
i reccomend 4300K(bright white) or 5000K(Blueish white). higher you go the more blue/purple you get.

Im telling ya night driving is ten times better.

Trainrider:

Sorry - i'm struggling with a case of Terminal Dumba$$.

Question - I have a 2007 Softail Custom. So I'd order the HID set up on ebay, and use it to replace the stock bulb and balast on my bike and i'm in business???

thanks

06Trainrider · 10-10-2008, 08:36 AM

Huskerbob
Yeah when you purchase them, you get two bulbs and two balasts. It is in essence a car kit. you can sell the other to a friend and get your money back or keep it. They last longer than halogen. and the HID will be your low beam and when you switch to high it turns to halogen. Trust me you will never turn your high beam on. Any other questions feel ffree to ask.

06Trainrider · 10-10-2008, 08:42 AM

oh and on your softail you dont have a balast to begin with. you will be adding one because an HID needs a discharge. Oh and for the question about HID's drawing too much.....Not even a little bit. They actually use less energy. When you turn your bike on you will notice the light get brighter...that is because it is warming up to its opperating temp/brightness. As far as staring issues. You can start your bike just like you have been. I expect to hear from all of you who buy one because it makes a world of difference at a low cost. feel free to email me at gtautodetailing@yahoo.com

huskerbob · 10-10-2008, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 06Trainrider

oh and on your softail you dont have a balast to begin with. you will be adding one because an HID needs a discharge. Oh and for the question about HID's drawing too much.....Not even a little bit. They actually use less energy. When you turn your bike on you will notice the light get brighter...that is because it is warming up to its opperating temp/brightness. As far as staring issues. You can start your bike just like you have been. I expect to hear from all of you who buy one because it makes a world of difference at a low cost. feel free to email me at gtautodetailing@yahoo.com

Trainrider:

THANKS!!!

I'll contact you directly when I'm ready to make the move.

Thanks again!

FXDRYDR · 10-10-2008, 09:10 AM

Been thinking of this for my 03. It has a regular, non-halogen, non-HID bulb. Would this approach work for me as well, or do I need a new bucket / lens / reflector?