Installing HID conversion kit

[08_r1200r]

I purchased an HID conversion kit from xenondepot.com and I'm trying to figure out how to install it cleanly, safely, and properly on my '08 R12R.

Here is the response that I got back from technical support when I emailed them asking how to properly install:

Our motorcycle kit will require you to power the ballast directly from the OEM headlamp leads in order to avoid getting a CANBUS error. Our motorcycle kits come with a relay harness that powers the ballast directly from the battery while utilizing the OE headlamp wiring to trigger the relay in our harness on/off. However, in CANBUS applications you bypass this relay harness and power the ballast directly from the OE headlamp wiring. Our ballasts are low draw so can safely do this as the ballasts only draw up to 5A on a cold start. Most ballasts can draw up to 17A on a cold start making it unsafe to power them without the use of a relay harness.

Does anyone have any experience installing a conversion kit and how/where to splice into the existing wiring system?

Thanks

[deilenberger]

Does anyone have any experience installing a conversion kit and how/where to splice into the existing wiring system?

Thanks

What they're telling you is their ballast directly replaces the bulb you're replacing with the HID. And I'd REALLY suggest that you do no "splicing" (ie - cutting or tapping into wires..) There are adaptors available that will plug right into the socket that connects to the bulb, and allow you to connect this adaptor to the power feed for the ballast. Since you have to find a place on the bike to mount the ballast and then run the high-voltage bulb wire into the headlight shell, you can run the power feed to the ballast back along the same path (from the shell to the ballast.)

If all this sounds like a mystery to you - you could ask Frederick - or perhaps find someone in your area with some experience in motorcycle wiring.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Well Frederick as mentioned above has returned his futurvision Hid kit to the manufacturer because he followed the recommendations of a well known North American BMW Guru named Don Deilenberger.

The reason was that its too much of headache to use HID unless the ballast is integrated, the lamp reflector is designed for the HID bulb, the brackets and everything are compatible with the R1200R and the overall cost is not too pricey for what it is. (Indeed since Frederick did 7500miles on his "R" he could notice how annoying and gadgetic are HID light on cars or EVEN bikes)

Instead of FuturevisionHID kit Frederic ordered from Lumalink the brackets that are supposed to fit perfectly on the R1200R and are designed to use 2 driving lamp Hella's FF50 with great quality halogen bulbs matching outstanding performance of Hella's FF50 lamp reflector .

But Frederick is waiting for someone RELIABLE to install all his electrical farckles including those auxiliary lights or access a complete and precise sources of information in order to do the job himself or supervise an averagely experienced mechanic.

Actually and since now almost 2 months Frederick
lights are residing in a comfy carton box next to Frederick cat house.

But Frederick can show you how look like
a pair of Hella FF50 Halogen on a R1200R
Better if light are mounted underneath the brackets

I think some memberS of this forum have Converted those Hella's to HID
and had to deal with ballast placements and anyway the reflector is still not designed for HID.

Underneath the bracket like here...those are mine...

[08_r1200r]

I ordered some PIAA 15211 H11 Style Xtreme White and I'll see if I like those.

I'm trying to keep my bike as "uncluttered" as possible. (I don't mean that in a bad way and please don't take it that way.) I'm trying to not add additional lighting/gadgets to it, just improve on what's there.

I don't ride at night often, but I do commute on one of the worst roads in the city roughly 50 miles a day. Known for it's daily accidents, I'm just trying to stick out more and I know that personally I notice the cars that are running HID lights so I assumed that if I put HID lights on the bike that I too would be more noticeable.

I've got 30 days to return the HID kit if these lights don't seem bright/noticeable enough.

That said.....anyone have any recommendations for upgrading the existing halogen lights?

[NeilS]

Increasing the brightness or changing the color of the existing headlight is probably not the best was to improve daytime conspicuity. Instead, consider the following options:

1. Add a headlight modulator.
2. Add auxiliary lights so oncoming traffic sees a triangle of light.
3. Combination of #1 and #2, modulating either the headlight or the auxiliary lights.

[deilenberger]

Increasing the brightness or changing the color of the existing headlight is probably not the best was to improve daytime conspicuity. Instead, consider the following options:

1. Add a headlight modulator.
2. Add auxiliary lights so oncoming traffic sees a triangle of light.
3. Combination of #1 and #2, modulating either the headlight or the auxiliary lights.

+1

And I use #3 on the way to work (heading west, sun behind me) and on the way home (east, sun behind me..) It makes a difference. Otherwise, I just use #1.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

08_r1200r I got the Osram night breaker H11 and it is much much better than the stock bulbs..
lets say 3times brighter maybe. Got them from powerbulbs.com

At least I have the pathblazzer modulator running and noticed improvement in cars popping out. (At night, if I switch-on my high beam... the modulator is automatically blinking, adjusting itself I guess for 3 to 5 seconds...which appear really convenient to be seen while passing cars)

As described in Previous posts, I got rid of my HID kit, got some good bulbs for my headlight, Ordered Halogen Hella's FF50/Lumalink kit, and bought a photonblaster which among the other items are waiting to be installed by the right guy, if there is one

Photonblaster-->http://www.photonblaster.com/

[NeilS]

That's not the way a modulator is supposed to work. It should have a photocell that turns off the modulation function after dark. During the day, you want the modulation for conspicuity; at night, you want illumination, and the modulation compromises that.

You may have it installed so the headlight is illuminating the photocell. That keeps it from seeing darkness and disabling the modulator.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Not really Neils.... the photocell is on the handlebar somehow pointing out the clutch lever.

At night for example, either in full traffic and lights everywhere or in complete dark it act like the system by default is modulating the light in the first 5 seconds until "he know" that it is night time.

Its a kisantech pathblazer...not the one Don show on his website..the other one...but still can-bus compatible and never had any fault signals.

So I found this weird 5 seconds modulation often quite useful when passing cars if I just switch on my high beam for the occasion.

I know its strange and seems like a malfunction but its pretty helpful...during daytime the modulation is always on with no malfunctions detected so far.

[deilenberger]

Frederick, that's a malfunction. Call Kisan and ask to talk to Andy.. he should replace it for you.

And the latest version (not the one on my website) doesn't do this - and no modulator I've owned has ever done this.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

Ok ! but wait....I'll black tape the photocell first and ride at night in area's with poor public lightning...if switching on and off my high beams produce the same 2 to 5 seconds modulation effect I'll really start to call Andy.

Otherwise as I previously wrote

I found the feature or defect quite useful while passing cars at night...
After the 5 seconds modulation I already passed the car and don't need modulation anyway.

I also don't need high beam too so I switch it off.

[08_r1200r]

Well, I installed the PIAA 15211 H11 Style Xtreme White and I'm pretty happy with them.

Happy enough to return the HID kit that I purchased and save that money for some other "must have" gadgets.

[ka5ysy]

Frederick, that's a malfunction. Call Kisan and ask to talk to Andy.. he should replace it for you.

And the latest version (not the one on my website) doesn't do this - and no modulator I've owned has ever done this.

Frederick... Silly question, but did you set the light sensor trigger level according to the instructions? You need to flash the high-beam switch several times in the first couple of seconds from power-on of the bike with the light sensor seeing the light level you want the flashing to start with. That sets the module for correct operation.

[thepeacebullgrunt]

I found the problem !

It was a missing circuit board soldering all over the green connector but one of the connection was loose which generated unstable and poor electrical contact...it even gets hot around the contact.

Bought a $5 Auto-zone soldering tool kit to finish the job that were not done initially at the factory.

It works just fine now.

[celticus]

How do you like the Photon Blaster Frede? I tried the Kissan headlight modulator on my bike but it did not work. It was the correct unit for canbus but kept tripping the fault light warning.

Mark