Has anyone fitted HID lights to the tenere?

pics/tips please

is there going to be a problem with heat/uv light affecting the plastic lens?

From what I've seen of the Tenere the main show stopper will being finding somewhere mount the balast(s) out of the way of the elements!

Al.

was thinking of changing the dip beam only and mounting the balast under the bottom yoke.

are the balast's waterproof?

my mian concern is damage to the head light from heat etc.

I thought HID bulbs run cooler? (I'm no physicist, but if they draw less power, then surely they must run cooler?)

Certainly I've been running 100w halogen bulbs in mine (for the least 15,000 miles) with no problems to the lens or wiring, so I can't imagine the HID bulb is hotter than that?

As for positioning the ballast, I imagine you could remove the black inner plate behind the grey fairing cheeks (where the front indicators mount) and mount them in there?

I'd be interested to see the results...

xxx

__________________
"Where we're going, we don't need roads..."

JennyDakar.com

I've been wondering about HID lights, too. Les Wassall of HID50 (see http://www.hid50.com/ ) is very well spoken of on UKGSer, so I emailed him to ask about HID kits for the Ten.

Here is my message, and the reply from Les:

Hi Les
I've seen much advice from you and recommendations from others on UKGSer, about the HID50 kits.
I am currently in the process of buying a new XT660Z Tenere. Have you fitted kits to any of these bikes yet? I do a fair amount of riding at night in darkest rural Somerset, and want plenty of light. Can I ask a couple of questions please?
a) Would your advice be to fit dip and main HID, or maybe dip only with auxillary lamps? My initial preference is for dip and main HId, but am prepared to be advised otherwise.
b) What would the cost be for you to supply and fit the options described?


Hi Allan , have not fitted to the yam yet but have looked over one and I think HiD would be no problem at all, the kit is �150 a pair or �75 each, the dip is a must and then the high would be good but not sure how good as i have not seen the o/e lights in operation, also maybe the 35 watt kits would be more than enough for the Yam as usually they are very good lights on Jap bike, the 35 kits are �110 a pair or half for a single, all plus some post.
If the alternator is only small then go for the 35 watt, small ballast as well so easier to fit.
the high beam is instant flash but full light is about 2 seconds.


I'm going to go for HID in some form, but haven't decided what, yet!

Hope this helps.

i'm interested in this too - thanks brewers for that info.

my thought is to go for the dip only, but wire it so that the dip is always on and the dipswitch simply turns the high beam on as well, rather than switching between the two. this would obviously mean adding wiring for the dip,as both lamps running from one wire wouldn't be good.

i personally dont think its worth fitting hid to the high beam on the Ten - the beam pattern only lights up the same area as the dip beam so why bother? I plan to fit some additional driving lamps which will be my main beam proper, whilst the hid dip beam does the foreground. if that makes sense.

You can get a slim ballast kit from Acumen for just under �100 - http://www.acumen-electronics.co.uk/..._Ballast_61014

The ballasts are supposed to be sealed with a suitable IP rating to allow them to be mounted anywhere on the bike.

Most of the situations I've heard of where folk have fitted them to bikes, the increase in light produces by them has rendered full beam fairly useless so I'd stick with the dipped beam only.

Al.

Good info brewers.

Are the cheap HID car kits on ebay the same as the bike kits? coz their half the price for two of them.

35 watt or 50 watt?

Peatbog i too was thinkig of having the dip and main beam on together.

for a cheapie there's this option, 35w only mind -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BIKE-SLIM-H7-XENON-HID-CONVERSION-UPGRADE-BULB-KIT-2YR_W0QQitemZ380114280106QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Mot orcycle_Parts?hash=item5880939eaa&_trksid=p4634.c0 .m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A30

or this twinset at 50-55w, buy it and split it with a mate? for the carriage they charge it must be hand delivered on a silk cushion though.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HID-XENON-CONVERSION-KIT-50W-55W-H7-6000K_W0QQitemZ350204253027QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_C arsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item5189ccd363& _trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A 1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50



but i have to admit the HID50 stuff looks better.

cheers peatbog.

Buying from HID50 seems a lot safer.