Just ordered the BajaDesigns M/C Single 8 inch Halogen for the bike, mainly because I was getting tired of the look of my KLX. I have had it now for 6 years and the last year and a half it hardly got ridden. Brushed off the cobwebs last week, put some new tags on it (finally, no emissions required here in AZ for motorcycles) and rejetting it one more time before I go with the pumper.

Is anyone else using the BajaDesigns 8 inch, wondering how they like it?

 

I wonder how YOU like it, I was thinking of changing my headlight as well (need more light and a better look)...its between this one and the trail tech extreme. How do you like it for road riding at night?

 

I think member redpillar used one or similar for a while. maybe look up his posts.

 

Baja Designs isn't DOT legal, if that matters.
Cyclops is DOT approved.
Cyclops Adventure Sports
I'd take either but am leaning towards the Cyclops, despite the price.

 

I think they look like crap...but they work really well. Trailtech has what appears to be a pair of identical versions...55 or 100 watt. Refresh my memory...isn't this just a race model with no low/high beam? I think I recall this particular light has a fairly high power requirement. I don't know...I think I'd be tempted to go with one of the high output LED models out there. Even though many of them aren't DOT legal either, they require low power input with high lumen output. You can also diminish the number of LED light modules in the unit to yield a low beam similarity. I have a couple of acquaintances who do night races with that big 8" light in your pic, and they work very well in that application...the 100 watt version if I recall. I know they had to have a modded stator wiring and run a battery for full performance.

 

Squadron LED Motorcycle Lights

These are LED, small too.

Racelight, M/C Double 8 Inch HID, Electric-Start

This is what Klx250s_rider is looking for I think :P

 

I went with the BajaDesigns (BD) because the Trailtech setup uses off the shelf Hella lamps designed for trucks & buggies. Baja Designs manufactures their own lamps which are replicas of the Cibie Super Oscars Team Honda has successfully used in Baja for years. The BD setup works better because their light pattern accommodates the extra suspension pitch motorcycles have that 4-wheel vehicles don't.

On their HID setups, Trailtech mounts the ballast on a plate behind the lamp which is totally exposed to the elements. BD mounts the ballast inside a sealed lamp backing bucket.

Lastly, BD originally designed the quick release frame/reciever setup and has been manufacturing it for years now. Trailtech just ripped off this design and has only been selling their version for about a year...

 

my friend put the 8" on his 610 for a trip we did recently, it lost a filiment in the bulb. I had an extra with me (klr650), so we took it apart. Lots of fasteners (some sae, not metric) and a rubber gasket that we had to grease in place to get it back together. Light worked fine and the on the fly aim feature is nice, but the bulb going out 1st ride makes me wonder if the mounting has too much vibration? anyway carry a spare bulb.

Also another frind has one on a klx450 and uses a frisbee for a rock protector during the day trail riding. Fits perfect.

 

Now quit sweatin' the DOT stuff will ya! You just need to keep the light aimed lower when driving on the street, it is very easy to adjust.

 

Quality versus quantity:
Lots of experience from building and using lights for MTBing leads me to the conclusion that nothing beats halogen for light quality. That said, we now run LEDs due to wieght and power saving. Additionaly LEDs have more "throw" which suits fast riding (hopefully you're going a bit faster on your KLX than I am on my MTB).
The cold light from LEDs (and worse from HID) gives a flat 2D view of the terrain, so halogen would be preferable in gnarly stuff.

We used to run halogens at 18V. Surprisingly the bulbs last a whole season and the light quality is superb.