Post by: Ashdowner on August 14, 2015, 08:44:39 PM
Post by: Bryanj on August 15, 2015, 10:43:33 AM
Post by: JamesH on August 15, 2015, 06:44:43 PM
Post by: hairygit on August 15, 2015, 07:12:22 PM
Post by: Nurse Julie on August 15, 2015, 07:55:19 PM
Post by: Green1 on August 15, 2015, 08:12:14 PM
My brother is all for them but I find whilst being brighter there is no real beam directed onto the road. So the light is lost lighting up the surroundings rather than the part of the road you want to look at.
Mick
Post by: Nurse Julie on August 15, 2015, 08:19:54 PM
Post by: Green1 on August 15, 2015, 08:24:15 PM
Mick
Post by: mike the bike on August 15, 2015, 08:24:57 PM
Post by: Nurse Julie on August 15, 2015, 08:29:26 PM
Post by: hairygit on August 15, 2015, 08:31:17 PM
Yes, headlamp works but I probably was on side light but because it was all so dark I couldn't see the switch on the handlebar to turn it on properly ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)Only a girl would admit to that! Take up smoking, then you'll always have a lighter or box of matches to see the switch
Post by: Nurse Julie on August 15, 2015, 08:35:13 PM
Post by: Johnwebley on August 16, 2015, 12:32:19 AM
its pretty good,
the 500 is supposed to have a 200watt altenator at 5,000rpm,
so guessing side lights,speedo/tacho etc and ignition will only get to about 100watt max,so it should be ok,
unless you spend lots of time in city traffic
Post by: deltarider on August 16, 2015, 06:57:30 AM
Post by: mike the bike on August 16, 2015, 10:23:37 AM
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=109485.0
Post by: bomber on August 16, 2015, 11:56:11 AM
My 500 has been with me since 1980 and always had the 55/60 Watts halogen. The Philips X-treme vision or Motovision is stunningly good and leaves nothing to be desired. If you're really worried about charging (you shouldn't) you could choose the Philips Ecovision that has the performance of a very good 55/60 Watts halogen but draws 20% less. Philips always came out best in tests. Recommended.Thanks for info, I wonder if you have original head lamp?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Post by: deltarider on August 16, 2015, 12:43:45 PM
Post by: deltarider on August 17, 2015, 03:28:38 PM
Post by: matthewmosse on August 17, 2015, 05:24:06 PM
Post by: deltarider on August 17, 2015, 08:34:12 PM
Since decades the little PA slideswitch (to give lightsignals) on mine is lame. I always ride with headlight low beam on. The number of times that I discovered (for example when entering a tunnel and seeing the blue high beam idiot light on) that the slide switch must have accidentily slided in the on position causing both the low (55Watts) and high (60 Watts) filament in the H4 to be on... Yet I never had a depleted battery.
Now heated grips is another story.
Post by: Ashdowner on August 18, 2015, 07:18:13 AM
The issue is the draw on the alternator and I understood that the HID had LESS draw on than the standard halogen (which my the way on my K3 is not at all bad).
The problem is that with electronic ignition and the headlight on my battery is slowly discharging unless I'm tearing along, hence I need to know if HID is effective as a means of lighting the road ahead.
Post by: deltarider on August 18, 2015, 07:31:27 AM
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What's surprising though is that if the later 550s came with H4 bulbs and these would normally be 55/60w bulbs why wasn't the alternator uprated to accommodate the extra wattage.Because there was no need to. There was no issue. OK, the US CB550 models didn't have 55/60 but did have (silly) extra running lights in the front indicators adding at least 10 Watts more consumption. I've been riding my 500 (supposed to deliver 200 Watts @ 5000 rpm) with a 55/60 Watts halogen since I bought the bike in 1980 (it was already fitted and everybody has them here) and I have always returned from trips with the battery well charged. In fact the two Yuasa batteries I had, have each lived 6 and a half years, be it that the last six months I had to use the kickstarter. With cheaper batteries I've always managed 4-5 years.
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The problem is that with electronic ignition and the headlight on my battery is slowly discharging unless I'm tearing along, hence I need to know if HID is effective as a means of lighting the road ahead.What electronic ignition is that? Have you measured how many amps go to your electronic ignition?
If I were you, I'd look for the Philips Ecovision, a H4 that perfoms like a 55/60 halogen with 20% less draw. Excellent halogen light and with 44/48 Watts consumption it's a relative cheap solution.
So far I've read nothing that has convinced me of 'advantages' of HID and I find Led lights disappointing. Brightness is not the same as good usable light on the road in front of you.
Post by: s7paul on August 18, 2015, 07:52:31 AM
Post by: deltarider on August 18, 2015, 07:56:46 AM
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I thought that the main issue with HIDs is that you only get the correct blend of power and beam pattern with OE installations, because the reflector shape is designed to work with HIDs. Putting HIDs into a reflector designed for conventional bulbs means that you get the brightness, but the beam pattern will probably be wrong.
That's also my understanding.
Post by: Bryanj on August 18, 2015, 10:15:28 AM
Post by: Johnwebley on August 18, 2015, 10:26:08 AM
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/Hid/conversions/conversions.html
Post by: totty on August 18, 2015, 02:06:34 PM
It sounds to me that there may be an underlying charging problem, inappropriate coils, duff battery, and/or a sedate definition of tearing along :-)