Headlight bulbs, a topic with many opinions.

[macx]

But I'd like to hear some of them. I've read some of the posts in this forum,
some for, some against things like the H4 Xenon, etc.

I'd also be curious to know if a higher wattage standard bulb is safe,
and won't melt things from too much heat.

I read on another site tonite about a Warner bulb that has 90 / 120 watts,
just standard bulb but of course would be brighter. But, too hot?

HID is out for me, too much $.

From what I've read about Xenon, I'd want a 4000 color?
Basically white.
The colored ones apparently actually cut light output with
the colored coating on the bulb. I don't care for the really
blue or purple or other colors, anyway.

Other things I've read say the Sylvania & Philips Silverstar bulbs are
good quality.

Appreciate any experience (NOT just uninformed opinions, of which
there always seem to be plenty

Thanks!

Oh, any experience with the headlight relay setup where you power
the headlight thru a relay directly off the battery (& thru a fuse of course)
and just use the switch to activate the relay, thereby supposedly getting
"full" voltage to the bulb and reducing the voltage going thru the switch?
Should be desirable (?)

[challey]

No personal experience with anything other than the stock bulb but this guy has posted about his testing and experiences with a number of bulbs:
http://www.bikersoracle.com/rs/forum/sh ... ostcount=2

I was appalled to find out firsthand (my wiring harness is fried and I'm removing it, dissecting as I go) that the not only is the headlight circuit on the R1150R unfused, the wires used are very marginal for this type of application, probably something like 14-16 gauge. Since they run through the harness, if they overload and lose their insulation, you will be looking at a very costly repair. I speak from experience on this this point. To prevent this, and possibly get some better headlight perfomance, I'm in the process of ordering this headlight relay kit: http://easternbeaver.com/Main/Products/ ... _kits.html

If you do not change to a relay-type system (highly recommended), I would strongly advise you to make sure that whatever bulb you eventually choose does not draw any more current than the stock headlight bulb.

Charlie

[Speedo66]

The Sylvania Silverstars look to be a good alternative, high light output for their stock wattage.

The only drawback I see, aside from price, is their rated hours. While it's about 150 hours for the low beam, it's only about 50 hours for the high beam. If you ride with the high beam on during the day, that will go quickly.

[The Meromorph]

The Sylvania Silverstars look to be a good alternative, high light output for their stock wattage.

The only drawback I see, aside from price, is their rated hours. While it's about 150 hours for the low beam, it's only about 50 hours for the high beam. If you ride with the high beam on during the day, that will go quickly.

If you go with the Eastern Beaver relay kit, you will get noticeably more light out of the stock bulb. Not enough, but noticeably better. If you add a higher wattage bulb, go with Hella bulbs, much cheaper and as good quality as any.
My R1100R headlight is fine with a 100W/80W Hella bulb (light now excellent). If yours has a plastic lens, stick to a 80W/65W Hella bulb.

[macx]

Thanks! That's EXACTLY the info I was looking for!!

I had been looking at that relay kit, and had seen a couple things that kind of hinted that our
wiring was barely adequate at best, but it's good to hear first hand details. Now that relay
kit really does make sense.

Also, thanks for the bulb info, I didn't know if I could go higher wattage or not, even though
our headlite housings are pretty good sized. Had also seen conflicting, but still vague, info
on that, too.

Now, to find those Hella bulbs.

This kind of info needs to be stickied or at least saved in the maintenance links & tips.

[macx]

Well, well!

Did a little research on Hella, found their website, has lots of good tech info.

What's adviseable, what's good in bulbs, etc etc.
BTW, they DO recommend the relay system.

http://www.hella.co.nz/?t=46

[The Meromorph]

http://www.amazon.com/Hella-HLA-H831401 ... 83&sr=1-18

[macx]

Yup!

I work nites, so had a little time, found those bulbs on Amazon.

I'm also getting some driving lites, so got the lower wattage bulbs,
do a lot of 2 lane driving at nite (home from work) and usually
meet about 100 cars on their way TO work, so knowing how I
am with overly bright lights (like some of the i.e. Harleys with
about as much light as the average locomotive with the 3 headlights
that blind me from 1/2 mile away!), I went with the H4 Xenon
at the 55/60 watt or whatever they are.

Also got a couple switches that mount on the bars, one to shut
the headlight off while cranking the motor, (I'll run the power for
the headlite relay thru that switch, from inside the headlight shell,
and the other for the LED driving lights so I can control them
independently. I'll take the power for them (low power consumption)
off the lead from the battery for the relay setup.

[rdsmith3]

I am currently using an Osram Nightbreaker H4 bulb from here
http://www.powerbulbs.com/product_list.asp?cat1=39

I installed the Eastern Beaver relays.

I have also successfully used a 90/100 watt bulb for extended periods of time, but I would not recommend it without a relay.

[macx]

Noting that most of the posts talk about using a higher i.e. 90/100 watt bulb,
anyone using them ever have any problems with the law?

All the places that sell those say they're illegal for on-road use.

Also, any opinions on them being so bright they might blind oncoming drivers
on 2 lanes? (Probly the reason they're illegal for on-road) I know my eyes are
light sensitive, but some vehicles with the real bright driving lights or the big
bikes with 3 large blazing lights on front just about blind me, of course some of
them seem to be aimed right at my face too. Makes me want to carry a BB gun
or something!

[Airman]

Noting that most of the posts talk about using a higher i.e. 90/100 watt bulb,
anyone using them ever have any problems with the law?

All the places that sell those say they're illegal for on-road use.

Also, any opinions on them being so bright they might blind oncoming drivers
on 2 lanes? (Probly the reason they're illegal for on-road) I know my eyes are
light sensitive, but some vehicles with the real bright driving lights or the big
bikes with 3 large blazing lights on front just about blind me, of course some of
them seem to be aimed right at my face too. Makes me want to carry a BB gun
or something!

I'm with you on shooting out the bright lights, I hate the real bright blue ones the most. But while we're shooting things, I'm always tempted by those modulating headlights. I know what they're supposed to do, but I think the irritation level is too high. It goes beyond "conspicuity".
Top of the shooting list is cell phones of course. Shooting the cell phone out of their hands (left handed) while flying by on your speeding BMW is a true feat of gun control. Truth be known, a cell phone jammer (also illegal) would probably work nearly as well, get you off with a lighter a lighter sentence.

[rdsmith3]

You have to aim the headlight properly, which is very easy to do on the Roadster -- just whack it up or down. I never had anyone flash me when I was using the higher wattage bulbs. I believe that most problems with headlight brightness are really due to bad aiming. I do not use the high beam during the day, as some do.

[bimrluvr]

I'm using a high wattage yellow bulb with the Eastern Beaver relay and a headlight modulator, AND PIAA driving lights. As long as all are aimed properly, I never get "flashed" by other drivers, at least not in the daytime.

Seriously consider adding driving lights like PIAAs cause besides providing a heck of a lot of light, the triangle they form with the headlight makes it much easier for oncoming or turning drivers to judge your distance and approach speed...

[macx]

All good advice, and good info.

I do fully agree on the aiming thing - I don't know if
people don't realize it, or just don't give a crap, or what.

And cell phones, don't EVEN get me started!

Was driving down my 25 mph street today, meeting a
woman in a small crossover SUV, when all of a sudden
the darn thing came over into my lane right at me.
And not far FROM me, either.

Guess what. Yup. Looking at her cell phone.

What really gets me is that when people do stuff like
that, some of them look at you like it's YOUR fault!
Like "what are you doing in my way - on your side of
the road" (!)
People like that ought to be slapped every morning
before they get up, just in an effort to actually wake them up!

Well, probly will actually have a full day off this weekend,
if I do, I'll dig in and see if I can get all this wiring done on
the front end in one day.

Cheers!

[toolinalong]

do a search on this board for "piaa headlight bulbs"

and stay away from the Silverstars IMHO.