Time For Some mod - HID lamp on P200

After the launch of P220,What had people talking about it most, was its fairing and the great head lamps it houses.Not only do they look good but are also superb when it comes to illumination.No other bike in India has such powerful beams up front,reason behind it is Projector lamp(albeit for low beam only.High beam is regular halogen).
Now with HID kits making their apperances in car shops, one can have such powerful lights on almost any vehicle that has battery.Unlike Halogen (or incandescent) bulbs, HID(stands for - High Intensity Discharge) bulbs do not have filaments.Instead of heating a filament, HID bulbs emit light by bridging an arc between two electrodes similar to the energy transfer of lightning. This arc stimulates a mixture of Xenon gases and metallic salts, producing a phenomenal bright white beam of light which is approximately 3times brighter than conventional halogen illumination, while lasting 10 times longer.

A lot of people have been wondering including me, whether these lamps can be fitted to P200?because the P200 already shares most of its parts with P220 but not those fabulous lamps.However it does not imply that P200's lights are weak.They are alright, but ride it on hilly roads with lots of ups and downs and you will crave for better lights.Add rain soaked wet roads to equation and the lights feel even more inadequate.On the normal city roads though P200's headlamp is very fine.
May be the next P200 will sport those HIDs!But till then here's way to do it.
As you might have guessed,This is not as easy as just going to Bajaj spares and buying 220's HID and then fitting on P200.It needs some clever mods to its electrics.
But after saying this let me tell you that its not impossible either.
And one fine guy from down south has done it successfully.Namely Sandeep K. Ram of Banglore.
Here is the link to Sandeep's guide on Xbhp.

YouTube video of HID in action on P200.


The diagram for changes made in wiring to fetch the current directly from battery.(Sandeep drew it on his own,great work!)
As for the expenses, these kits cost anything upwards of Rs.3000.The one Sandeep used is of VisionX Bi-Xenon ,which he bought in Banglore.This kit cost him close to 11K.
Contents of kit usually include 2 bulbs, 2 ballasts (amps), one relay coil, fuse, connecting wires etc. According to him many vehicle specific kits are also available and prices vary vastly.
Kits with only one bulb and ballast are also in the market for around 3K.(But these low range kits have only single beam bulbs that is - low beam.For high beam you will have to use another bulb, a halogen.The kit that Sandeep used has bulbs that have both Low and High beams like usual halogen, that's why the additional cost)
But apart from this, other expenses are minor.The wiring needs to be slightly altered, because HID lamp needs DC current(It runs directly off the battery) and not usual AC of P200.This mod however is easy and most mechanics will be able to do it at negligible cost.Availability can be and issue though.Suggested places are up-market car accessory shops.(Yes, these kits are basically for cars).Happy Night riding!
Thanks to Sandeep for wonderful article and the video!Keep it coming.
For the whole guide and pictures of HID kit see his blog here-
http://sandeepkram.blogspot.com/2007/08/new-hid-silencer-and-starter-motor-plus.html