[mjw930]

Here's another option, buy an H11 kit from one of the HID conversion companies directly. Even though the prices are per pair many will sell the kits in 1 lamp/ballast if you contact them. OR, 2 of us go in and buy a standard kit and split the cost. The costs seem to run around $500 per pair, that makes it $250 per bike.

Here's some contacts:
http://www.xenondepot.com/CDNorderonlineCDnov03.html
http://www.proxenon.com/add_cart_frm.php?product_id=65

 

[mjw930]

90% of the HID upgrades are only low beam. That's one reason I haven't spent any money on aftermarket HIDs.

Hella makes a HID driving light that's interesting but it only seems to be available in Europe.

 

[mjw930]

To take John's comment a bit further, the light source needs to be identical in position and size to the OEM bulb for the reflector housing to work correctly or you get the effects mentioned in Drew and Kennedy's posts. There are HID upgrades that are sold as complete units that use reflector housings, Philips make a series of conversion kits that include both the bulb, ballast and housing.

One thing that usually get's screwed up when a bulb is re-based is the light source focus. At least one of the vendors I've seen makes a pretty strong argument that their re-based lamps retain the correct focal point. If true then these should not cause undue light scatter.

Remember people, Halogen lamps were illegal in the US back in the 70's because they weren't sealed beams. It had nothing to do with the properties of the light but simply the construction of the bulb. (they claimed that unsealed beams allowed for corrosion on the reflectors and a reduction in light. I ran Euro Halogens for years and never had a problem.

BTW, an alternative to the HID bulb replacement is a good set of 85 watt driving lights