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HID question

2K views 30 replies 10 participants last post by  Rmkawi 
#1 · (Edited)
I've seen a bunch of old threads on this but want confirmation before i make an order. I have an 09 zx6r, i want to put DDM HID's in as well as LED for the parking lights. What exactly am i ordering? I'm looking at the DDM moto HID kit, both 35W and 4300K, one in H9 one in H11 is this correct? Or do i just need the bulbs? Additionally I'm looking at the 194 LED 6 x Samsung 5630 SMD in white also off DDM for the parking lights. Am i good to go? Any suggestions on better parking lights etc are appreciated. I've looked into the opt7 blitz bullet DC HID kit as well as morimoto.
 
#2 ·
Don't get just the bulbs! You HAVE to have the ballast that goes with each light: 2-bulbs, 2-ballasts. They most normally come in kit form, though one came purchase replacement bulbs.

In my case ('15 636), finding locations for the ballasts was the hardest part of the task.
 
#6 ·
OP, I would recommend avoiding 55W HID, particularly if you want to start them both at the same time. The electrical demand of the ballasts as they charge is much greater (3-5 times as much) than the 55W they consume when up to temp. Doing that with both bulbs means you put a demand on your alternator that could be as much as 10 times greater than what is was designed for.

My standing recommendation is to convert the low beam to 35W HID, and leave the high beam as a halogen bulb. It's a significant increase in light, even with a 35W kit. Bump up the wattage on the high beam if you want, change the color, use LED if you can make it fit.... but don't do both in 55W and start them up at the same time.

HID bulbs are not 'instant on'.... they take a while to reach operating temp and maximum output. Not what you want to have happen on your high beam, unless you plan on riding around with it on all the time. -- if you set it up to be much, much brighter than OEM , you really shouldn't be running around blinding oncoming traffic with it. Halogen is as bright as it's going to be as soon as you turn it on. It has no change in the amount of current it pulls to do so, either.

The low beam, which comes on when the motor starts, is constantly on.... a good application for HID. The bulb is compact enough to easily fit where the halogen low was, and the ballast can be reasonably easily hidden away. Use a relay harness to avoid melting the OEM wiring.
 
#7 ·
Hey guys thanks for all the help thus far. To be clear I had planned on using 35W regardless for hi and low. I may just buy the H11 HID @ 4300k for my low and call it a day. The only reason i contemplated buying hi beams in HID as well is because as of now with both halogen i end up riding with hi and low on at night just so i can see cause low beam halogen is atrocious as is.
 
#12 ·
hmmm, good to know ill look into maybe doing the hi beam as well. I wanted 4300K just for the brightness they provide I'm not overly concerned with my parking lights looking THAT much different. I'll try and get a definite answer for which is H9 and H11 but a few other threads i saw said H9 is the high H11 low.
 
#13 ·
http://www.bikebandit.com/oem-parts/2009-kawasaki-ninja-zx-6r-zx600r9f/o/m148811#sch638033

Low beam is on the left as you sit on the bike, and that is an H9. The H11 has a smaller base, so the socket hole in the head lamp assembly is smaller as well.

'13+, the bulbs are the same for high and low beam.

4300 is the closest color to what a Halogen puts out. The higher the Kelvin number, the more blue light is produced at the expense of the yellow content. 6000 K is about as high as I would ever go, if I was actually concerned with seeing something at night.

Older eyes need more yellow than blue. Blue light also reflects differently than longer wavelength yellow. That's why it disappears on a rain covered road. The light does not reflect back the way you would expect.
 
#14 ·
following that diagram, if the front of the bike is where the arrow says and you're sitting on the bike, the 92069 part number is H9 which would be the high beam. if you were looking at the bike head on, the left side is low, right side is high. Unless I'm missing something that diagram is telling me H11 is low.
 
#19 ·
So i ordered the ddm tuning 194 LED's and the 35W 5k low beam. Everything was simple plug and play i'll try and post pics towards the end of the week. It's a world of difference in brightness. My question is, i spoke to a buddy of mine who's a mechanic and he said most bikes have different positions the low beam can be adjusted to to have its output on the street or angled up etc. Does anyone know if this is true? Specifically for the 09 zx6r? I got the DDM to fit in the old position and lock in on the low beam and didn't wanna mess around further.
 
#22 ·
#23 ·
For 09-12 HID you can order both H11 or both H9 and they fit perfectly....No need to order one of each as told to me by The Retrofit Source and they were right. I have both H11 in mine.

I would never EVER buy anything from DDM tuning as I had my first kit from them and it blew a fuse a day until I sent that POS back to them.....you get what you pay for ESPECIALLY when it comes to lights that you rely on to see.
 
#25 ·
I never readjusted mine when I swapped out the DDM kit. It'll still project more or less the same, the pattern might be brighter in different areas vs stock. However, you SHOULD aim your headlights for EVERY bike you own, even brand new, from the factory. Headlight aiming takes rider weight into consideration, and as such, should be set appropriately for the individual.
 
#26 ·
H11 was the low beam, and thats the only one i changed with a 35W 5k hit from DDM. At that price with a lifetime warranty and using such low power i figured why not. Thanks for the link on how to adjust which way they project I may try that tmrw night when i can get a better look. At the very least I'll post pics tmrw or fri but they look good and seem good enough quality.
 
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