Aftermarket Bulbs

[brandonmccann]

So I've been pondering getting some different bulbs for my bike. I live right off a rural highway and I feel that my light is not sufficient enough for the road speed.

In my searches, I've found 2 options.

PIAA Xtreme White Plus H7 Halogen bulbs

PIAA Night Tech H7 Halogen Bulbs

DDM Tuning HID conversion kit.

Now, the HID kit is the cheapest option, and puts out the most light. But to my understanding, since it will be without a projector, the light will be illegal and blind oncoming traffic. Which leads me to the PIAA bulbs, but I've no experience with either so I've turned here!

Opinions?

[victor441]

Many suppliers make "plus" bulbs that are brighter (i.e. Sylvania, Phillips, etc.) and they are available for about $30/pair at Amazon. The good ones really are significantly brighter but that is at the expense of reduced life...worthwhile for me and have them on all my bikes. If your bike does not have headlight relays adding them can make a BIG improvement, many bikes without them drop 2 + volts between the battery and the bulb and that will cut brightness nearly in half. Adding relays is a fairly easy DIY project if you have the tools or you can get a high quality ready made kit at http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Wi...ring_kits.html

[Lee Dodge]

PIAA is overpriced poor quality junk. Their main product is hype. Don't waste your money.

[brandonmccann]

would it be legal if I went with the HID bulbs? I was planning on 6000k

[kantuckid]

no

[troidus]

Originally Posted by brandonmccann

would it be legal if I went with the HID bulbs? I was planning on 6000k

No, it won't be legal (but you probably won't get pulled over for it), and dear God please don't be another asshole who thinks bright blue light gives you better vision. You give yourself less effective lighting and blind everyone you meet on the road.

Follow Victor's suggestion first and put in a relay. It made a huge difference on my Concours.

[Yossarian™]

I would recommend you head over to:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/p.../products.html

and check out the H7 options there.

I have used the Osram and Narva bulbs (still do, actually) and find they give "cleaner" light at the same wattage as the factory stock bulbs. Same wattage means not having to rewire anything, which is a good thing in my book.

[dennism]

Originally Posted by brandonmccann

would it be legal if I went with the HID bulbs? I was planning on 6000k

Go with 4300K bulbs, 35 watts, they're close to the same color as stock, but much brighter.

Aim the low beam light a bit lower, you'll still have plenty of light on high beam, when you need it.

Finally, HID bulbs don't do well when they are switched on and off quickly, so set up a way to turn them on after the engine is running, and try not to "flash" them at oncoming traffic.

You'll like 'em!

[H96669]

The higher the Ks and the more reflection against rain, fog and highway signs. I stayed with the lower Ks in the 4000 range.

I also installed a On/Off switch for the low beam just so I don't have to do the quick on and off when starting the bike but plenty have ignored that step without damaging the HIDs so I may be a little too cautious. But still I like the ability of cutting off the headlight in case of low battery or when servicing my bike.

You can also get "time delay" relays that would switch the lights on after an interval of your choice, the time function is usually adjustable on them.

On my bike the relay setup improves the voltage by 0.73V, that's not insignificant.

[kantuckid]

Ask me how much light you get from an "extra bright" burned out HL bulb after nightfall south of Monclova, MX trying to get to a bed? That part about not lasting as long as normal has its price in real safety. +1 on the read Daniel Stern notion.

[Commuter Boy]

http://store.candlepower.com/osraulhiouh7.html

I've been using these for a while now. Not crazy bright bulb that needs a new relay harness or makes you a heatscore, but an improvement nonetheless.

[troidus]

Originally Posted by kantuckid

Ask me how much light you get from an "extra bright" burned out HL bulb after nightfall south of Monclova, MX trying to get to a bed? That part about not lasting as long as normal has its price in real safety. +1 on the read Daniel Stern notion.

I carry at least one spare and sometimes two spare headlight bulbs. Changing a burnt bulb on the side of the road at night still sucks, but it's better than not being able to change the bulb at all.

[victor441]

Originally Posted by Commuter Boy

http://store.candlepower.com/osraulhiouh7.html

I've been using these for a while now. Not crazy bright bulb that needs a new relay harness or makes you a heatscore, but an improvement nonetheless.

Relays very often need to be added for stock power bulbs (like 55/60W H4) as even they will cause a big voltage drop across undersized stock wiring, read about 2.5V on my DR650 which cuts light output nearly in half...high powered offroad bulbs pull more current and would cause an even greater drop and maybe HL switch failure too if there is no relay added (happened to me). "Plus" bulbs are the same power rating as stock and thus legal but are shorter lived so definitely need to carry a spare if the tradeoff is worthwhile for you...
Anyway, relays are a BIG improvement and worthwhile no matter what sort of bulb you use on many bikes, though some bikes have relays and/or adequate wiring stock...a quick comparison between battery and headlight bulb voltages will show if you need them (assuming something else is not wrong, like bad connections, switches, etc...)

[ultrachrome]

Originally Posted by brandonmccann

So I've been pondering getting some different bulbs for my bike. I live right off a rural highway and I feel that my light is not sufficient enough for the road speed.

In my searches, I've found 2 options.

PIAA Xtreme White Plus H7 Halogen bulbs

PIAA Night Tech H7 Halogen Bulbs

DDM Tuning HID conversion kit.

Now, the HID kit is the cheapest option, and puts out the most light. But to my understanding, since it will be without a projector, the light will be illegal and blind oncoming traffic. Which leads me to the PIAA bulbs, but I've no experience with either so I've turned here!

Opinions?

About $150 for an HID projector retrofit. Save a few watts over a high powered incandescent but is a bit time consuming to install and debug.

I've done it on my SMT. Happy with the result.

[brandonmccann]

Originally Posted by ultrachrome

About $150 for an HID projector retrofit. Save a few watts over a high powered incandescent but is a bit time consuming to install and debug.

I've done it on my SMT. Happy with the result.

Yeah but me having to cut into something to make it work kind of doesn't make me feel comfortable. As far as the stern lighting, are the H7 bulbs white? All I'm looking for is something to light up a little farther down the end of the road, not blind traffic, and I still need to be able to flash my high beams at intersections.

The thing that moved me over to HID lights was that it would make things so much brighter due to the scatter of light. What if I got a white halogen for the low beam, and the same color in HID for my high beam? I'm typically using my high beam on my way home anyways...

I'd need to be able to flash my high beams because too many times have I felt that made someone not cut me off. Sides, it's become an unconscious habit anyways.

edit: Emailed Stern to see what he says.

edit2: Stern suggested I purchase 2x 65w H7 bulbs. The stock bulbs are 55w, he said it won't be a problem dropping in the 65w ones but is that true?