Headlight bulbs?

Discussion in 'Maintenance' started by Black & White, Jan 24, 2022.

  1. Black & White

    Black & White Well-Known Member

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    What's the best in lighting these days?
    I've got an HID for dipped & a '100 Watt' main. Still not happy with beam over distance.
    The 100W main is ok (I don't think it's much brighter than std 60W tbh), but you can't have that on all of the time....Or do you?
    What are you finding best, especially dipped beam?
     
  2. bonjo

    bonjo Active Member

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    I use standard rates bulbs but higher brightness from Philips and on-ramp.
    I do not use nor recommend 100w. It’ll age your plastics.
    A well designed 60 outperforms a 100w.
    Ps neither bulbs you have are road legal.
     
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  3. Black & White

    Black & White Well-Known Member

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    Shhhhhhh!!! regards the road legal !
    I must admit, the 100w were cheapies. I didn't think they'd last but wanted to see if the extra wattage made much difference. Didn't.
    Should have really gone for quality, as you say.
    Is on-ramp a make, or did it auto correct from Osram?
    Cheers for the tip on the plastics. The HID seems to develop a lot more condensation than normal bulbs.
    I've got a ton of different LEDs I've tried, but they're rubbish too!
    Back to standard then!
     
  4. bonjo

    bonjo Active Member

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    Is ram night breaker 200 or laser, Philips tremendous vision 150 in my experience will give you the best light output. StaY away from those”extra white” ones.
    Technically, 100w should give out more lumens if designed correctly.
    Hid would also do so but not for me:(
     
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  5. Slick

    Slick Elite Member

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    I've gone full circle on these (taking about a '10 plate) so the lense design for newer model may have difference results

    HIDs - the beam dispenser is all over, cant remember the K (think they were between 6 and 8k rating) but visibility was really bad if the road was wet, also ballast meant some harness cutting and finding a place to mount it. Not that they ever failed on me, but if one did, you couldn't quickly swap dipped with full beam bulb.
    Osram cool blue- OK but don't last long
    Cree LED - couldn't get the buggers to fit (still in my spares draw!) however I assume the dispersion would be the same as HIDs


    Osram Nightbreakers - IMO overall the best, bike doesn't look any cooler but roads and signs lit up as they should without every-other road user flashing me
     
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  6. Black & White

    Black & White Well-Known Member

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    Cheers for that. I might take a trip to Halfords.
    1) Because they're unlikely to be moody products.
    2) I have a trade card!
    The HID isn't too bad, but I think it doesn't use the reflector properly owing to the length of the 'bulb'.
    The MOT rules did relax slightly for motorcycles compared with cars & the retrofitting of newer technology, but most lights fall foul of making the correct beam pattern.
    I know that HIDs on cars must have cleaning & self levelling systems to be legal, but that's a bit tricky on a bike!
    Years ago I bought a USA made bulb kit for my Firestorm & it was brilliant. I can't remember the make but it was about £80 and it was an H4.
    I was kinda hoping they do an H7 that would impress me as much but as I say, I can't remember the brand.
    The councils seem to be switching off more & more lights, especially on faster roads, so I am yearning for some really strong visibility.
    I'll give the ones you mentioned a try.
    Thanks pal. I'll let you know.
     
  7. Black & White

    Black & White Well-Known Member

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    Nice one!
    Hahaha! I know what you mean regards the bike's looks. The HID is lovely in that respect, but bike turns into a brown-toothed monster when the yellow incandescent goes on!
    I like the low consumption of LEDs, but most have a cooling fan that causes interference on my Interphone radio, which is cack at the best of times. They also (in H7) only have two panels.
    I managed to wire a 3 panel H4 bulb in to my main beam, but it was not noticeably better.
    As I said previously, The USA designed & made H4 light I put on my Firestorm absolutely transformed it.
     

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