Author Topic: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100  (Read 37177 times)

Offline Streak

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Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« on: May 07, 2012, 06:42:30 PM »
Well today I embarked on installing Xenon H4 Bulbs into My ST1100, i have read much about it, had lots of advice, and i still found myself swearing and lost, but hey that's the fun of doing work yourself!

I have had advice on going in from the top or bottom, both ways sound quiet simple, i tried from the bottom, but i struggled to get the Plugs out, so i then went in from the top, which involves you having to remove the Screen, the outer Plastic below the screen, and the plastic underneath that.







I was still having trouble getting them out, so much googling, and phone calls to Saaz & Alans1100, and it was simply i was not being rough enough to get it out, you have to just work it side to side till the plug comes out.

with the rubber covers you need to just get a decent grip on them and they pop off



I getting the bulbs out is really simple, a great peice of advice from Saaz is a mirror and a torch, so you can see for yourself what you are dealing with, but simply, push in the wire as shown below and click out it comes, both sides are the same.



 I pulled out the Xenon lights, and trimmed the tabs off, and slotted the aftermarket sleeves over the top, i found that trying to pop them in on the bulbs was a touch tricky, so i just put a dab of sticky stuff on them and slotted them straight in to the slots in the headlight itself, clicked the wire back over the top, quick test before i put the boots and the overs back on, and we are good to go!

my photo's didn't turn out very well so i have robbed these couple of diagram that i found on the net



as for the differnce i took a couple of before and after shots so you can judge for yourself, but i am pleased with how it came out, and the change from the yellow to the white:

BEFORE




AFTER






Streak (Graham)
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Offline walton

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2012, 09:23:28 PM »
Good job. I've got a set of xenon globes in the shed that I've been meaning to drop in. Although, I think 90/100 might be a bit much. I bit of eBaying will fix that. I'm just wondering where exactly you get the adaptor rings from. A quick google (although I don't know what I'm looking for) proves they're made of unobtanium.
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Offline scarp

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2012, 09:24:09 PM »
Well done where did you get the shims?
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Offline scarp

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2012, 09:31:48 PM »
I've seen them in a few places usually around $12.95 a pair but they want $40 to post them
http://www.electricalconnection.com/non-electrical/h4_shim.htm
& here:
http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?
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Offline scarp

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2012, 09:41:53 PM »
I just ordered a pair from California Sport Touring cost A$ 12.75  :)
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Offline Streak

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Offline Dan

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2012, 09:43:50 PM »
I got mine from eBay, but I found the bulbs seated better without them.
 

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #7 on: May 08, 2012, 03:48:03 AM »
Nicely done :-++
It looks awesome  :thumb
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Offline gerd

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #8 on: May 08, 2012, 09:56:29 AM »
Super job, Streak. My ST1100 already had the shims in from the previous owner which was handy.

 :dred11
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Offline saaz

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2012, 11:55:25 AM »
Great job there Streak. I did notice that you lights seemed on the yellow side (but next to Diesel's 55w HIDs anything would look dim), so should be far better now.  I used Philips Vision plus bulbs before going HID.  You used to be able to get 100/55 bulbs which were good as the headlight did not get too warm around town, but on the highway using high beam there was enough wind to keep the headlight cooler.  On my Suzuki it was so easy to change bulbs that I used 130/90 for night trips and put in a normal bulb for normal riding, but the reflector was metal..
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Offline royst1100

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #10 on: May 11, 2012, 06:23:57 PM »
hey streak have you trialed the Xenons at night yet and are you happy
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Offline Bikebear

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #11 on: May 11, 2012, 06:47:23 PM »
Got me a set of Xenon bulbs so now I might be able to make use of the shims I bought months ago.
Craig..
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Offline Streak

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #12 on: May 11, 2012, 08:34:58 PM »
hey streak have you trialed the Xenons at night yet and are you happy

I will be giving mine a test out on a far ride in two weeks, everything I have seen so far have been very good though.
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Offline scarp

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #13 on: May 13, 2012, 09:36:36 AM »
I'm awaiting delivery of mine then I'll be real nice to Malcolm who's going to help me fit them
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Offline Malcolm6112

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #14 on: May 13, 2012, 11:03:02 PM »
Quote
I'm awaiting delivery of mine then I'll be real nice to Malcolm who's going to help me fit them

Mate.

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Offline STRay (Roo Killer)

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #15 on: May 14, 2012, 07:08:37 PM »
hey streak have you trialed the Xenons at night yet and are you happy

 :thumbsup I've been running them for a few years now, wouldn't have anything else. A much whiter and better light output ( along with my HID spotties! )
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Offline alans1100

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #16 on: May 14, 2012, 07:45:53 PM »
hey streak have you trialed the Xenons at night yet and are you happy

Mine are a little whiter at 6000k and compared to my Territory low beam the  :bl11 is on par.

High beam is another matter but having returned from Adeaide on Saturday evening the  :bl11 high beam was more than ample for 110kmh highway state limit.



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Offline harieg

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #17 on: May 15, 2012, 02:46:46 PM »
ok
 i am new to this post, 1999 ST1100 A Gold 50th anniversary
what globes, fittings etc  do i need to buy
any one want to combine order and shipping
maybe Streak can send all members broadcast ?
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Offline harieg

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #18 on: May 15, 2012, 03:11:25 PM »
just bought 5 sets of lock rings from Canada
extras available at my cost
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Offline harieg

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #19 on: May 15, 2012, 03:12:54 PM »
ok
what bulbs
xenons  or hid  what does that mean ???
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Offline Brock

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #20 on: May 15, 2012, 03:57:42 PM »
Xenon bulbs are a plop in replacement for the standard bulbs, HID are a replacement lighting systen that connects into the existing wiring, (with a bit of tinkering and swearing) and uses special high intensity bulbs
Brock
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Offline harieg

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #21 on: May 15, 2012, 03:58:31 PM »
I've seen them in a few places usually around $12.95 a pair but they want $40 to post them
http://www.electricalconnection.com/non-electrical/h4_shim.htm
& here:
http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?


i paid a $1:70 us for the postage on 5 sets
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Offline harieg

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #22 on: May 15, 2012, 03:59:49 PM »
Xenon bulbs are a plop in replacement for the standard bulbs, HID are a replacement lighting systen that connects into the existing wiring, (with a bit of tinkering and swearing) and uses special high intensity bulbs


so by that i go for xenon ??

did you see my EM to you
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Offline saaz

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #23 on: May 15, 2012, 04:06:32 PM »
As Brock said, but I type slow.

Xenons refer to normal looking H4 bulbs that are more efficient than standard halogen H4s, so perform better.  So you can just fit them to the bike with little drama.  Similar power draw to other H4 bulbs.

HIDs are the real xenon lights, but you need a quite different setup.  On a proper H4 setup the bulbs are in a container that the bulb moves around in to give you hi/lo beam. You also need ballasts (these convert 12v to much higher voltage needed by the HID bulbs) to power the bulbs - one ballast per bulb (ballast is the size of two cigarette packets).  There should also be a separate power harness to power up the HIDs , that goes from the battery with its own fuse. So the HIDs are essentially a parallel lighting system to the normal Honda wiring, just like when you add driving lights.  One of the original Honda light plugs is used to supply the hi/lo signal to the HIDs. HIDs are far more efficient than Xenons or normal H4 halogens, putting out a lot more light per watt you put into them (say around double).  Down side - may be a bit bright on reflective signs, beam pattern may not be as good as the H4 bulbs.

So simply - Xenon H4 bulbs mean not much change to the Honda lighting system. HIDs mean a more serious upgrade but with benefits (longer bulb life, far more output, less power draw for more illumination).  I have tried better H4 bulbs in the ST11 and they are definitely worth it.  If you do more night driving the HID setup may be worth considering.

I have HID headlights and HID spotlights.  Again, the spotlights with better bulbs in them were a great improvement - just depends on how far you want to go.
John
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Offline harieg

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Re: Installing Xenon H4 Bulbs (not HID) Honda ST1100
« Reply #24 on: May 15, 2012, 04:13:53 PM »
thanx Saaz   ( Paul )
a good answer to my question
you make sense out of it
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