So last week sometime the headlight on my CBR burned out. The problem is I had bought it used from someone who installed an HID headlight on it. Going online, I discovered there are approximately 42 million types of HIDs out there (H1, D1R, 9006, etc.) and I have no idea what kind I have on the bike. Does anyone know how I can tell what type of bulb I'm supposed to buy, or if it even matters?
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How to tell what type of HID bulb to get
- Thread starter schmuck01
- Start date
Flying Pig
Still learning to ride
Assuming your previous owner just did a simple plug and play installation, look at what your CBR takes and buy that. I know H7's are common for most kawi's. Not sure about CBR's.
If you're really worried, look at pictures between what you have and what the manual says you're supposed to have, as the largest difference is between the length of the actual bulb, and how the notches line up imo.
A single bulb/ballast will run you around ~$35 shipped from DDM.
But then your color temperature might not match
If you're really worried, look at pictures between what you have and what the manual says you're supposed to have, as the largest difference is between the length of the actual bulb, and how the notches line up imo.
A single bulb/ballast will run you around ~$35 shipped from DDM.
But then your color temperature might not match
YOUR SERVICE MANUAL WILL TELL YOU WHATS THE ORIGINAL BULB.
EG H4, H7, H11 ETC. THEN YOU CAN JUST BUY A PLUG AND PLAY KIT
FOR THAT BULB.... IF THE OLD OWNER HAS THE WIRES SOLDERED,
THEN YOU MIGHT NEED TO DO THE SAME, REALLY DOUBT IT ON NEWER
BIKES THOUGH CUZ MOST WERE PLUG AND PLAY. -WILL-
EG H4, H7, H11 ETC. THEN YOU CAN JUST BUY A PLUG AND PLAY KIT
FOR THAT BULB.... IF THE OLD OWNER HAS THE WIRES SOLDERED,
THEN YOU MIGHT NEED TO DO THE SAME, REALLY DOUBT IT ON NEWER
BIKES THOUGH CUZ MOST WERE PLUG AND PLAY. -WILL-
Flying Pig
Still learning to ride
ST Guy
Well-known member
OK, some clarification here. One can NOT just plug an HID bulb in the socket of a halogen equiped bike and convert it to HID. It's a totally different kind of bulb and requires a ballast and transformer to operate. (I'm not even going to mention that HID bulbs do NOT work properly in housings and reflectors designed for halogen bulbs.)
In any case, just pull the old bulb out and there should be markings on it. If it's really a halogen bulb (some bozo's sell blue tinted bulbs as HID), then do NOT get a blue tinted bulb. The blue tint robs the bulb of light output and does nothing for your ability to see. It's simply a way to make a halogen bulb appear like an HID for those who are hung up on HID as a status symbol. Buy a clear halogen bulb that is high quality. A +30 or +50 will increase light output over a standard bulb. Osram, Phillips, and Narva all make these bulbs.
In any case, just pull the old bulb out and there should be markings on it. If it's really a halogen bulb (some bozo's sell blue tinted bulbs as HID), then do NOT get a blue tinted bulb. The blue tint robs the bulb of light output and does nothing for your ability to see. It's simply a way to make a halogen bulb appear like an HID for those who are hung up on HID as a status symbol. Buy a clear halogen bulb that is high quality. A +30 or +50 will increase light output over a standard bulb. Osram, Phillips, and Narva all make these bulbs.
Sorry, for clarification the bike DOES have an HID kit already installed (ballast and everything). The old HID bulb just burned out.
It seems like H7 is the proper replacement though. Thanks for the help everyone
!
Flying Pig
Still learning to ride
What he's saying is that your bike didn't originally come with HIDs from the manufacturer, thus just getting a HID bulb/ballast and sticking it in there is the wrong thing to do, even if you're just replacing what was there by the previous owner.
The light spread is very much different, and it tends to spray the light everywhere, usually directly in the mirrors of the vehicle in front of you. Projector bulbs are the way to go with HIDs (since they tend to have a fixed cut-off for the light to stop spreading), however the bulbs usually cost more than the HID kits do, thus not everyone goes out and does it properly.
The light spread is very much different, and it tends to spray the light everywhere, usually directly in the mirrors of the vehicle in front of you. Projector bulbs are the way to go with HIDs (since they tend to have a fixed cut-off for the light to stop spreading), however the bulbs usually cost more than the HID kits do, thus not everyone goes out and does it properly.
Aah, I didn't know this. Maybe I should just take out the HID stuff since I still have the stock halogen? Though the pretty blue light is so... pretty...
schmuck01, here is a HID pic (low beam only/6k temp) when I had my 03 cbr600rr for reference. DDMtuning.com sells replacement bulbs cheap and the ones in my car have last 2+ years so far. Get the 4300k if you decide to get them! It'll be the brightest opposed to 5-6k.
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afm199
Well-known member
The higher the color number, the harsher the light. At a certain point oncoming traffic will start giving you high beams because the glare blinds them. 5-6 k, as pointed out, is really hard on the eyes.
Sorry, for clarification the bike DOES have an HID kit already installed (ballast and everything). The old HID bulb just burned out.
It seems like H7 is the proper replacement though. Thanks for the help everyone
Hid's don't last long when they "hot start" . This is when you turn the key on and then start the bike, the bulb lights when the key is turned on, then when the bike is turned over the bulb goes out, bike fires and the bulb lights up. This scenario drastically shortens the life of HID's.
Also if you have HID high beams don't flash them because this is whats happening.
The get around for this (with low beams) is a time delay relay that keeps the lights from coming on until the predetermined time elapses. They are easy to come by, the solid state ones are best.
K (kelvin) is temp range. Light is measured by lumen. The 4800 I believe is the most lumen (light). the higher the k (4500 starts blueish 8000 purplish) doesn't mean more light.
I have an HID in my projector beam housing with a time delay relay and the light works well.
I tend to believe that more lumen (ie light) is better no matter what housing you have imho . Some people will have a different opinion but this IS a public forum
evanb
New member
That time delay thing is interested. I bought a bike used with an HID light in it that just went out, sound like maybe I should pick up a delay relay too? Is there somewhere online that I can find one?
I just googled Time Delay Relay and found a solid state one ..... if you can't find it PM me I'll look and try to find the info for you.
Here it is, I only use this on the low beam for starting the bike and not "hot starting" the HID's. If you have high beam HID's you need to obviously start the bike with only the low beam on. PM me with questions you may have.
http://www.wolstentech.com/products/timedelayrelay/timedelayrelay.php