I just wanted to add a little something to this thread concerning HID lights. I have fitted two systems, one each for two of my three of my bikes here in China. One system has been fitted to my Dragstar 1100cc cruiser while the other was fitted to my CFMoto 250cc large scooter (aka Honda Helix). The HID systems are Chinese brands, and are the top end units, with HID xenon high and low beams (25W), as opposed to many of the units which are 25W high beam xenon with a standard 50W halogen low beam (sometimes the halogen wattage is even lower).

Fitting was easy on both bikes, the CFMoto scotter being the easier of the two, since there is inherently more space under the front fairing and around the headlight unit itself which meant the ballast could be hidden away inside underneath the fairing cockpit. The only caveat was that it takes time to remove the CFMoto front-end fairing and refitting it all. In comparison the Dragstar didn't take as long to remove the front headlight from it's housing, but the downside was that the ballast unit is far too big to fit inside the headlight housing. I ended up placing the ballast above the headlight using double-sided foam tape against the front fork head yolks.

In application the headlights have been quite good, and certainly is markedly better when it comes to the CFMoto 250 head-light. Even though I'd previously fitted a 100/90W halogen buld to the CFMoto and the Dragstar it never was as bright as the Dragstar headlight. In contrast, the Dragstar headlight with the 100/90W halogen had a great spread, and fairly decent forward penetration.

I've had the HID's fitted now for about 5 months (cost CNY270 per set), and they have proved to be hassle free. The issue with the HID units for me has been that the intensity of the white light tends to be too focused with not enough spread effect on either high or low beam, and this is true for both bikes that I've fitted the HID system. The other issue for me, is that the HID hasn't a wiring loom that allows integration of the standard "passing" switch which is seperate to the head-light on/off switch, and when pressed would momentarily activate the head-light high beam. Though I tend to ride with my head-lights on no matter the time of day.

While I like the white intensity and penetration of the HID overall, the majority of the beam is too focused to an area in the front of the bikes with much less spread of the light beam as I'd like and is normal on the halogen bulbs. For that reason I'm likely to remove the HID from the Dragstar and fit a 130/100W halogen, which is what I run in my car. They're damn good. I also miss not having the ability to use the passing switch with the HID light.

In all honesty around these parts, Chinese tend to drive with their lights on high (full) beam at night, irrespective of other road users, and they often don't respond to being flashed with high beams in an effort to have them "dip" their lights, so my having really bright lights is important.

Just my kuai's worth.

If anyone wants to some close up photos of the units fitted then let me know.