Q & A: Installing HID to a Vespa PX
Zaldy’s wasp in full HID glory!
I’ve been wanting to blog about this for quite sometime now but I simply don’t know how I should approach in writing this. Clearly, I’m not a technical guy who knows the inner workings of a Vespa — electrical, mechanical or otherwise. I’m just into the riding part and not too keen with tinkering and DIYs.
But like any other Vespa PX guy, I knew I wanted to upgrade my headlamp to improve nightime visibility. I know a number who are considering an HID upgrade for their scoots but are still waiting by the sidelines due to some concerns and considerations. I too had those but as soon as I’ve learned that an after-market HID kit fit for a Vespa was already locally available and heard good feedback from a couple of friends who had it, I decided to go for it as well.
True I still had some concerns but I felt the improved nightime visibility is worth taking the risk. Below are the questions I had before which I now have the answers to. I figured others might have the same things running through their heads. The answers I have is limited to PX and I really don’t know how it goes with the other Vespa models. Here goes…
Q. An HID upgrade is costly. Is it worth it? Is there a big difference compared to a halogen headlamp?
A. Yes it’s definitely worth it. In onemotoring.com.sg, it said that motorist using an HID lamp system is able to see about 100 meters to the front of the vehicle, compared to about 58 meters with standard halogen lighting. Here’s a photo from that site to better appreciate the difference.
Q. Would it melt the clear plastic lens of the halogen headlamp?
A. I was concerned of that too. But I know of a couple of riders who had their HID installed in that halogen housing and their lens are fine until now. But I took another option. Since most PX150 here in Manila came out between the years ’97-’99, the stock headlamp is non-halogen with a translucent lens made of glass. You may use that instead to ease your worries.
Q. What’s the size of the ballast? Where can it be mounted discreetly?
A. The kit in those PX (including mine) which got an HID upgrade has a ballast as slim as an iPhone and just about half that size. These HID kits were made specially for motorcycles. If fits behind the horncast with more room to spare.
Q. Does it flicker like the stock headlamp when the PX engine is idle?
A. If it’s installed properly, it shouldn’t. I had mine done by Vespa mechanic/electrician (Bunso) who had retrofitted HID kits in two other PXs before mine.
Q. Where could I get one?
A. Mine came from ZaldY Austria who is fellow Vespa rider. But I heard 2211Works have a few stocks available now. You may try calling them to inquire.
Liwanag sa dilim!
-o-
{▫}
J0HNRANA
john[dot]rana[at]gmail[dot]com
Interesting John! Can I ask-Where is it made? Can I switch back to stock in the future? Any major hacking or drilling? I keep my lights on all the time, is it ok to do the same with HIDs? And most of all how much?
Jojo, it’s a Xenon HID made in Korea. If you’re using the Halogen headlamp housing, all that’s needed is to replace the bulb. Since I used the stock non-halogen housing, Bunso needed to trim the black plastic at the back end/opening of the housing so the bulb can go in fully. I can go back to halogen anytime. Only the highbeam is on HID, so for daytime ride, I remain on lowbeam. I use the HID at night only when really necessary.
No major hacking. There’s no drilling involved din
I heard from Zaldy it’s P6,000 in 2211 including installation but there are 5 HID kits lang yata at this time. Better call them first just to be sure. I got mine directly from Zaldy for a bit less than that since it was part of the first batch and I just had Bunso install it in my place. He did everything — wiring and all — very pulido.
bos john, me feedback sa HID. ang sabi mahirap pag rainy season ang naka HID kasi parang daw me fog pag umuulan compared sa halogen na all weather. any info regarding this kasi nag iisip din ako mag HID
Jon, I haven’t tried riding mine on a rainy night. I hesitate to scoot kasi if umuulan like last night. I’ll post a feedback here pag nataong masabak ako sa ulan.:)
very nice upgrade for our rides!
… Zaldy, Dale, Bert and you mga naka HID na, congrats!
Nice upgrade. Were did the kit come from ?
A High Intensity Discharge or HID Kit gives a facelift to your old or new motorbike, car, truck, etc. through better quality illumination to hit the road with great amount of confidence. Choose your preferred HID Kit from HIDOnlineStore.
Nice article.The xenon bulb is a new concept of gas discharge principle. The high intensity discharge (HID) provides more light with low consumption of electricity. These kits offered in the market can replace the original accessories of these elite cars. They are more qualitative and user-friendly so far as voltage and wattage are concerned.