Classic Motorbikes

Special Tips for HID Headlight Installation on Motorcycles

If you’re looking to upgrade to a new HID lighting setup on your motorcycle, there are certain things you need to keep in mind that you wouldn’t have to consider when installing HIDs on cars or trucks.  From ballast placement to the actual installation of the bulb itself, this article can serve as a guide for what to look out for when giving your motorcycle an HID upgrade.

1 – Where should I mount the ballast on my bike?

There are usually several good places to secure the ballast, and it really depends on your specific bike model.  For those kits that contain long wires, you can often hook up the ballast in the storage compartment.  You always want to look for places that have flat surfaces away from the engine, so this location is ideal for that reason alone.  You can also secure them adjacent to the air ducts near the headlight assembly, but this doesn’t always work depending on how rounded the area is.  If you’re dealing with shorter wires, try any area protected from exposure to the elements, and if you can’t secure it with larger equipment or screws, heat-resistant double-sided tape works best.

2 – Will I have to make any physical modifications to my bike to install an HID light?

Perhaps.  It really does depend on one thing, and that’s whether your vehicle is already HID-capable.  If it is, you can simply switch out the bulbs and reconnect the new wires.  If it isn’t, some physical modifications may be necessary, depending on the framework of your bike.  For classic or vintage bikes, it becomes highly likely you’ll have to sever the old connections and utilize a relay harness that allows your HID light to connect to the bike’s battery.  If your bike’s headlight dips deep into the frame, the well itself may also require alteration in order to fit the components (such as enlarging the opening to the ballast/engine/etc.).

3 – What benefits of HIDs differ for motorcycles compared to cars, trucks, and the like?

Actually, there are a number of different results you get installing an HID headlight on a motorcycle over a car or truck.  Depending on one headlight can be dangerous, especially if it loses its luminosity or dies out all-together.  HIDs last substantially longer than halogen headlights, and their dramatic increase in brightness also makes them more readily noticed.  Sometimes, oncoming traffic will see a dim headlight coming towards them and assume it’s just a car with a dead headlight, only to realize it’s a motorcycle.  Drivers should provide you more adequate distance between their cars and your bike if they can notice your motorcycle is actually a motorcycle earlier.  Also, because many bikes are low, you likely won’t encounter as many blinding incidents with HIDs as do car drivers, but you should still focus your beam lower than normal to ensure it doesn’t inhibit another driver’s vision.