Originally Posted by froze
This appears to be a section for aircraft pilots who need landing lights! What the heck, 40 watts of lighting just to ride a bike on the street? . . .
Granted if your riding techinical offroad trails then maybe an HID is what you need. But 40 watts for the street is close to what a car uses at 70mph!
On the road, cars treat me differently with an HID headlight. The extra bright light helps me to see exactly what that dark smudge on the road is. It also helps me to ID potholes and other cracks much more easily. On the trail, the HID makes a huge difference because I can see overhanging branches and can see road conditions. It is particularly helpful in the rain. When it gets icy and snowy, the light will make even more of a difference.
I'm glad your lighting system works well for you. It sounds like it is well designed. I agree that people should think twice before buying an HID system. But if you regularly ride at night, you should get the best lighting system you can afford.