Modern Vespa

I am getting ready to install HID lights on my motorcycle and I wanted to see if anyone had ever done this mod on their Vespa? I am guessing the amps required might be an issue.

I have used this guy on ebay twice now for hid's on my cars. Quality is very good.
The lights on my fiat are H4 fitment, and i believe the GTS is the same.
This would be suitable then. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOTORCYCLE-HID-XENON-HEADLIGHT-CONVERSION-KIT-BI-XENON_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ36476QQitemZ130068476463QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
it is a bi-xenon type lamp with a small filter that moves back and forth to enable both hi and lo from one bulb. It works great on my fiat.

I've not yet taken the handlebar covers off to see the room under there to mount the ballast, but i reckon it would be okay, i can give you dimensions if you need.
You would also need to run a power cable to the battery to power to hi-lo solenoid . Shouldn't be too difficult with the battery where it is.

Don't know about the amps issues. Maybe someone else can comment on that

I'm thinking about fitting this kit. I'll update you if i order one.

deeyup

HID lighting would be such a great idea. I would love to have HID's on my GTS. Better visibility. They last longer than the halogens too, so even though they are always on they should last.

If you decide to do this to your scooter please share it with the group. Many of us do night riding and this would be a huge safety benifit too. I would love to hear about any potential issues from some of the Vespa mechanics of the group. Now this would be an awesome mod!!

OEM Low Beam

OEM High Beam

Soltek Fuego auxiliary HID driving lights

i have HID's on my supermoto. it's worth every penny especially for night riding. i have the bi-xenon too and it works like a charm.

here's a shot of the lowbeam against my driveway...

IS heat not a problem with the HID?

I would REALLY like to do this but there are a few questions.

1. I presume most of the other HID units on Ebay will not be suitable as they only have one fillament/setting so there is no High/Low option as there is the one you are suggesting.

2. For the high low you suggest a connection to the battery, but surely this just needs to be to the hi/lo beam switch, not all the way to the battery?

Any info would be very useful as I am tempted to proceed.

Charles.

I still am not sure this is the right kit. I have not had time to remove the old bulb and check it's an H4, anyone know for sure? the owners manual doesn't say. It looks like H4 from the outside.
With regard to the high/low switch connection, this is not necessary. These kits are plug and play, the high/low actuation is taken care of down the original wires which change the power from one filament to the other.
The reason for the battery connection is to power the solenoid/motor which moves the shield/shade back and forth to switch from high to low. the wiring harness will be included for simple connection to the battery. Until I get the scooter apart a bit, i won't be able to tell if this is as simple as i think it'll be. I need to fit a new chrome trim to the leg sheild which mens removing the floor, I'll know then.

I'll find the fitting instructions for my car H4 kit and post them here tomorrow to show you how they wire in.

Charles, you are correct about the other kits on ebay being no good, as you may not have the correct wiring plug with the kit, so forcing you to start cutting wires, and you'll be stuck with one fixed beam.

With regards to heat, i've had no problems on my wifes Espace, and none on my Fiat GP. Both have plastic headlight lenses. I'm sure they give out less heat because they consume only about 35 watts. This place says they do run cooler http://www.1tail.com/sa/c/HID_Xenon_Headlight_Kits.htm

deeyup

The GTS does use an H4 bulb. I replaced my original bulb with a PIAA Xtreme White H4 bulb.

I'd like to know also whether or not an HID kit is available for the GTS. I'm all about better night visibility.

Okay, i've gone and bought the HID kit from ebay as in the second post. Past deliveries have only taken 3 days to get to me, so i'll fit it this weekend if it gets to me in time. I'll take some photos as i install and put them up here.

deeyup

Please post your installation and final outcome here, it would be great to know what works or not, and how the installation was. Thanks in advance.

will be watching this thread closley

this is something i have wanted for along time
once you have HIDs its hard to go back

are you going to hide the ballast in the headset or in the legshield ?

a great spot would be where the piaggio alarm sits
might want to pick up a set of w5w wedge leds to swap out that city light while your in the headset

Can you give me any more info on this? I'd love to do this to my Husky Supermoto...

Balls!!

the kit didn't arrive today, so next week now

deeyup

Ahhh the suspense is killing me!

If it doesn't melt the headlight lense I'll be doing this mod also.

Would you mind adding photos of the install? A night shot with the light on would be the best.

Just got the hid kit delivered. Got to go to work now, so I'll post some photos of the kit later.

Deeyup

oh boy this is going to be great ....
i will be checking back all day long

Split the rest of this thread into Project Reports Here.

Any source for a plug and play HID solution for an LXV 150? No splicing etc. Looking for 4300 - 4500 range. Thanks

Believe Motorsport has a HID kit. Is this what you're looking for?

http://www.scooterwest.com/item_detail/HID-True-Xenon-Light-Kit/2785/

$159.00 reduced down to $135.00

Has a PDF download for installation.

I've heard good things about their kit, but I believe it's only available in a higher K-range. I installed the 4300K bi-xenon H4 kit on my GTS from xenonrider.com. Good quality kit & the guy who sells them is very helpful and a pleasure to work with, should any issues arise. However, I don't know what the clearance is like inside the LX headset, it was very tight in the GTS, but it just fit.

here's what a 6000k looks like on the LX150.... very nice

6000K is about as hot (blue) as I'd like to have on a bike. Sadly, many riders here are fitting 8300K HIDs. Horrible. (

[quote="vicferrari"]here's what a 6000k looks like on the LX150.... very nice

vicferrari,
Do you by chance have other/more pics of your HID lights? Thanks.

Tim

[quote="Scootover"] i got mine from v-led.com





in the fog




i know i need more pix of my bike .... i am

-vicferrari, that is amazingly bright!

Nope it looks like it's PnP for the GTS models only. It doesn't say it's PnP for Lx models.

[quote="vicferrari"] is your kit plug n play? they offer a 4300-4500 temp kit?

here is what i had to grind down the part with the red tape and i think ... but then think it was not necessary the metal tab just blow the red tape.

i also had to grind a bigger hole in the light housing to get the bulb in

[quote="Phanderson"] opps it http://www.v-leds.com/Xenon-V-HID/c130151-1-3/

the only hard part really was getting the dang glove box back on .... man i could line it up at first ... but got it done....

just remember to tie up all the wires, wrap the open electrical with tape (and i put some plastic food wrap too, just for safe measure) and you are good to go

Sounds like you had to splice a few wires?

yes just to make the battery wires longer to the back of the bike and there is this part you have to plug in that would go where the ballast is that you want to tape up... cause when you wash it water gets into it

Here's my LX150 with the HID kit from VLED and still going strong well over a year...





This is the kit...The second bulb was ordered for a spare.

Wow, I started this thread almost 2 years ago. Adding the HIDs was one of the best mods I have ever done. Safety during the day and night.

For reference, here's the link to the kit I ordered for my GTS:

http://www.xenonrider.com/products/h4_bixenon_hid_kits.shtml

It just barely fits, without cutting anything. You do need to maneuver the bulb a bit, to fit it inside the headlight bucket, but if you turn it this way and that, it'll just squeeze in. The back of the bulb rests snugly against the speedo when you put the headset back on, but it does screw together without any trouble.

One caveat: I do have trouble getting the bulb to fire up when it's cold, but I'm certain this is because I used a ground wire to the relay that was of a smaller gauge than it should be. I'm going to replace it soon with a thicker gauge wire, which I believe should take care of that issue, I'll post back when I do.

I have to say, I've gotten really spoiled by the HID in my 250, it makes such a difference... my 300 with the stock halogen is so much dimmer! That will be upgraded soon enough though.