Xenon in a BMW R1100S

Pilot xenon product review and how-to

Below you will find the review and guide to fitting a Pilot Pro Line motorcycle kit with an H1 fitting in a BMW R1100S. For this bike, the Pro Line H1 xenon kit was fitted. Naturally, the xenon kit works without any faults whatsoever.

New: Hilox Evolution xenon kit

Want a better xenon kit that is easier to install and also €100 cheaper? Go for the H7 Hilox Evolution xenon kit. Not only is this xenon kit easier to install, it also gives 1,000 lumens more light than the Pilot xenon kits. In the aftermarket xenon world, this is the breakthrough of 2016.

Step-by-step guide: fitting xenon on a BMW R1100S

1. Check that everything has been delivered ;-) : one Pro Line ballast and one xenon bulb per headlight.
2. Connect the xenon kit before you fit it.
3. Make sure there is enough room.
4. Switch off the lights and the ignition.
5. Take the halogen bulb out of the headlight.
6. Fit the xenon bulb in the headlight.
7. Connect the lighting's power supply to the xenon kit.
8. Make it all watertight: drill a hole of about 20mm through the headlight's cover cap.
9. Then pull the sealing rubber through the hole in the cover cap.
10. Tuck the ballast and the wiring away neatly.

The result: 6000K Pilot Pro Line xenon on the BMW R1100S.

Source: motor-forum.nl

Solo or duo: which xenon kit suits a motorcycle?

A car has two headlights, most motorcycles just one. That is why, alongside Duo kits, there are also Solo kits with one bulb and one ballast. If your bike has two headlights, as some sports and touring bikes do, you need a Duo kit or two Solo kits.

An example from the current range is the H1 Xenon Kit, Hilox Evolution II Black, Solo. According to the product details:

• 1 x H1 xenon bulb, in 5500K or 6500K
• 1 x Hilox Evolution II ballast with IC chip, which keeps the current stable and prevents overheating and flickering bulbs
• a CAN-bus II module for cars and motorcycles with CAN-bus or bulb monitoring
• 2 years' warranty on both the bulb and the ballast

Solo kits are also available in H7, H11, HB3/9005, HB4/9006 and HIR2/9012. Please note: according to the product information, these kits have no ECE approval or E-mark and are not intended for public roads, but for the racetrack and private land.

You can read more about choosing a fitting and a colour in xenon on the motorcycle: what should I look out for?

Space, vibration and water: the ballast on a motorcycle

On a motorcycle, the space behind the headlight is often tight, especially on a naked bike. The ballast has to be given a fixed spot somewhere, and on a bike it has a rougher time than in a car:

• Vibration. Secure the ballast firmly with cable ties, a bracket or double-sided tape so it can't shift or rattle. A separate bracket is available for the Evolution II ballast.
• Water. Pick a spot where the ballast isn't sitting right in the rain or the spray. Make the headlight watertight as in the step-by-step guide: a hole of about 20mm in the cover cap, with the sealing rubber pulled through it.
• Heat. Keep the ballast and the cables away from the engine block and the exhaust.
• Handlebars. Check that the cables don't pull tight or get trapped when you turn the handlebars fully left and right.

After fitting: check and adjust

Once everything is connected and tucked away, run through these points before you ride off:

1. Start the engine and switch the light on. The xenon bulb ignites straight away and builds up to full strength over the first few seconds.
2. Switch between low and high beam a few times and check that everything works.
3. Park the bike in front of a wall and compare the cut-off line of the light with that of the halogen bulb. If it differs, check that the xenon bulb is seated properly in the headlight and adjust the headlight with the adjusting screw.
4. After the first few rides, check that the ballast is still firmly fixed and that there is no moisture in the headlight.

After fitting, have the beam aligned so you don't dazzle oncoming traffic. If you are unsure about the rules for lighting on your motorcycle, check with the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority).