Ducati Monster Forum

I haven't started any serous mods yet.  But I'm interested in an HID projector headlight conversion.  I'm thinking about retaining the same headlight bucked and possibly even lens so the overall look of the bike isn't altered too much. 

I've beein looking in to it and it seems that Bill Finch of SOL Lamps used to sell a kit.  But, there is no more SOL Lamps and Bill is nowhere to be found.

Here is a pic of the kit of what they sold, I think it's cool;

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3427/3365154165_ce39308d27_m.jpg)

I also read about a guy having a custom pair made for his 67 Mustang.  They didn't look as stock, I'm not as fond of them.  You can see them here...

http://67mustangblog.com/?cat=2 (http://67mustangblog.com/?cat=2)


Anyone tried this?  Any problems or things to watch out for with something like this?

Stock headlight bucket is 5.15" deep.  I've figured out how to make a clear lens for the headlight....but I can't find a projector that I could fit inside the stock bucket.  There is exactly 1" of space behind the light before it hits the frame neck.  Spacing the light out a touch from the frame MAY work and would be easier than the other option....which would be having a spacer made to make the bucket deeper.

I'm trying to figure out a solution for this as well.

I really like the idea of an HID projector within the stock bucket too, but I have trouble with the idea of losing highbeams.  HID projectors aren't dual intensity, which means you have one output level. 

IF....  The HID system didn't draw more than the stock headlamp, you might could attach a second driving light underneath (maybe a flat one?  something less noticeable when off?) and wire that to the bright switches.  The question thenn would be, would turning on your highbeams turn off your HID?  On my SV650, if you flashed the highbeam, the low beam stayed on, but if you switched to highbeam, the lowbeam turned off.  How does the monster work here?  i've never checked mine, but if this were workable, I'd be all about it also!

you could always look into geting a bixenon setup.

Personally id love to make a custom headlight but i dont know how to seal it from the elements since i wouldnt want to keep the stock bucket. 

depends on what you call bixenon.

bixenon ebay means the bulb moves...if the bulb moves the projector doesnt work for the new angle.
if you mean two xenons, how the hell your gonna fit that into your headlights im not sure.

ive been looking for a lens to replace the duals on mine so i can do some testing since i have a kit and bulbs.

I was thinking about that too.  I thought it might be cool to have a CCFL halo for low and the HID Projector for high.

(http://img.alibaba.com/photo/12213351/Projector_Headlight_w_CCFL_Halo_for_Honda_Civic_2006.jpg)

Ya, the bucket also is super shallow for a Projector.  I was first thinking about using a BMW e30 ellipsoid headlight (because I had one from my old car) but it is too deep also.

stock e30 ellipsoid on right;
(http://e30.bmwdiy.info/xenon/ellipsoid.jpg)

and with clear lens and halo;
(http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h38/R_Town_Rider/IMG_0342.jpg)

Anyway, it's a cool idea.  Would love to hear if anyone figures it out!!

projectors by design are pretty deep, its gonna be hard to find one that would fit in the small space of the stock bucket

what i mean by bixenon is the real one where the projector has a solenoid that will flip the shield out of the way unleashing all of your HID bulb goodness.  Like on the acura TL, BMWs and MINIs... obviously these arent the only cars but you get the idea.

Yeah bi-xenon means just a little shield moves, not the whole bulb!  This would be a pretty awesome conversion if anyone can find a projector that might fit!

i have the cheapie ones where the whole bulbs moves away from the shield...i guess you could say its the same thing as the shield moving away form the bulb! lol ive never seen the bixenon in cars. i always thought they were 2 seperate bulbs.  ???

I would think that moving the actual bulb like that would eventually cause it to fail early...  But who knows!

i know! my bulbs failed twice! lol

most of the time that is the case... usually cars with Xenons will have a halogen hibeam.  The reason is, you dont want to constantly turn an HID bulb on and off... its bad for the whole system (igniters, ballast, bulbs) which is why many cars now have bixenon.  You can actually hear the metal shielf "flip" out of the way.  Its pretty cool and makes for a very bright hibeam that can flick on and off very rapidly.