| In modern night riding, helmet lights are typically | | | | natural white color of the light, showing actual colors |
| purchased with a few different types of light bulbs. | | | | and producing a clearer perception of surroundings. |
| LED, Halogen, and HID are the three most common | | | | HID lights are also extremely power efficient |
| types of lighting used for night riding. Most riders are | | | | compared to their luminous output. Some battery |
| familiar with LED and Halogen, but because of the | | | | backs for HID helmet lights last as long as 2 to 4 |
| more recent development of HID lights in general, | | | | hours, providing ample before switching to a new |
| some are unfamiliar with how HID's work and what | | | | battery. |
| kinds of features they provide for night riding. | | | | For extreme speed while maintaining peripheral vision, |
| Even HID lights come in a variety of versions such as | | | | some riders choose to use one HID helmet light for |
| mercury vapor, metal halide, and high-pressure | | | | distance and one or two halogen lights for closer |
| sodium lights, but they all work on the same basic | | | | vision. In this situation, the HID is most commonly |
| principles. HID's are typically used to cover large | | | | mounted to the center of the helmet, while the |
| distances and illuminate large areas. You might notice | | | | halogens are mounted farther down the side of the |
| their bright white color at baseball games or theme | | | | helmet. This provides the ultimate in "see where you |
| parks. | | | | look" lighting. Remember, that the faster the speed, |
| These High Intensity Discharge lights, or HID's, | | | | the more your head will point downward. It is instinct |
| produce light by heating the gases within a fused | | | | to lead with the top of your head, looking upward |
| alumina tube to the point of evaporation. The | | | | with your eyes at higher speeds. So it is usually |
| tungsten electrodes within this alumina tube begin to | | | | necessary to mount an HID light farther back on the |
| heat up, striking the tungsten electrodes and | | | | slope of the helmet, so that the beam gives an |
| producing a bright, and purely white arc of light. HID | | | | accurate spotting of the trail. |
| lamps must have a device that discharges the gas | | | | The utilization of HID lighting for snowmobiling, dirt |
| and limits the flow of electrical current. This is known | | | | biking, atv riding, mountain biking and more, has |
| as a ballast, and is also known for its use in | | | | brought night sports to a new level by producing |
| fluorescent lighting. Without this ballast, the gastric | | | | longer, more powerful, crystal white beams. If you |
| reaction cannot occur, and the light cannot operate. | | | | love night riding, you have to try an HID helmet light, |
| HID helmet lights are becoming increasing popular as | | | | at least to see the difference. Some riders are still |
| night riding speeds improve. They produce a very | | | | partial to halogens, but everyone needs to see what |
| bright, long distance beam, making it easy to see | | | | all of the talk is about with HID. |
| what is far ahead. Some riders especially like the | | | | |