PIAA Xtreme White Plus H1 lights and high beam adjustments

[Jpainter187]

I am not satisfied with the light output on my Rockster, so am thinking about purchasing a pair of PIAA Xtreme White Plus H1 bulbs (found a new pair for $45). But before I do this I was wondering if there was a better alternative, besides installing some Motolights... Although that is on my list.

I also realized that my high beam is shining way low and to the left. Is adjustment fairly easy? I would just go take a look at the bike but I'm at work until midnight so I won't get a chance until tomorrow.

[rockstercliff]

I replaced my bulbs with PIAA xtreme White, and tried various ways to aim better, all to no great benefit. I finally broke down and bought a set of PIAA 1100X, caliper mount lights with the cyclegadgets brackets of an inmate at the Advrider forum. This was not cheep, but has made a huge difference in seeing, as I am older, and being seen, it seems less people want to pull out if front of me all of a sudden. They are wired to my turn signal cancel button/switch, and I bought that from my local BMW dealer. It is the best thing I have ever done on one of my bikes, I cant say enough about the difference.

[riceburner]

I have the 1100Xs as well - but they only come on with full beam (I'm not into blinding other road-users), and I've aimed them to fill the gap in the full beam pattern - work well.

[Jpainter187]

When you say expensive, what are we talking?

[rockstercliff]

I think they retail for 350.00 thru cyclegadgets.com, I bought from inmate on Advrider for 150.00 used, taken off his bike that he was trading. This included the wiring harness, then it was 25.00 for the turn signal cancel switch thru my local dealer. I had the dealer install when I was there for 12,000 mile service so the labor was bundled with all the work. I am pretty sure they said it took an extra hour, which at the time would have been 66.00, so I have app. 241.00 total in this deal. Totally worth it to me.

[Jpainter187]

Hmmm... that's quite a bit more than I'd like to spend. If I ever get fork mounted lights I want them to be black... I'm not a big fan of chrome on the Rockster.

And I found a pair of PIAA Super Plasma GT-X H1 55/110 bulbs BNIP for $50 shipped. These are the ones that are usually only sold in Japan and retail for $109. So I may just get them for now...

[sweatmark]

Might be useful to differentiate between improvement of the Rockster/GS headlight, and addition of lights that assist with either conspicuity or roadside illumination, or both.

The low/dip beam projector headlight benefits from a "brighter" bulb or HID. I have HID as installed by original owner - it's not perfect, as the HID capsule creates lots of glare along with lots of lumens.

And I don't use the high beam, as it's still halogen and is barely noticable with the always-on HID.

My intent this winter is to install a Hella bi-halogen projector assembly in the low/dip location. The Hella uses H7 bulb for improved performance over the old H1. This way I'll have low/high beam (to some degree) in one side of the existing Rockster housing. On the other side I'll relocate HID with it's H1-based D2 capsule... my driving light, if you wish.

For conspicuity and some additional close-distance light, I've used Motolights and am looking at a set of those Clearwater LEDs. I talked with the Clearwater guy at our state BMW rally, and he's pretty sharp. In fact, if you've got the cash, he has designed a very serious retrofit for the GS (and Rockster) headlight assembly that's built MIL-spec and 100% serious. Here's a review:

http://www.pashnit.com/product/clearwat ... light.html

And here's the Clearwater info:

http://www.clearwaterlights.com/infopg_headlight.html

I have no affiliation, but really admired that GS headlight assembly when I held it my greedy, sweaty hands.

[Jpainter187]

Thanks for the info. I'll check out the links.

[Jpainter187]

Well, I now wish I just left my lights alone... Let me explain why.

I went ahead and purchased a new pair of PIAA Supler Plasma GT-X bulbs off eBay for $50, hoping that they would help my visibility somewhat. Instead, they had the opposite affect and plain SUCKED. I voiced my opinion the guy I bought them from and he refunded me $20 to try and ease my pain. So being out $30 isn't too bad and I may just use them on my wifes Volvo for fog lights.

But the poor light output of the PIAA bulbs isn't what set me off. When I went to reinstall the old bulbs I realized that the low beams filament was now broken! I don't know how it happened because I made sure that I was extremely careful when removing them, and wore latex gloves while doing all this. 

But it gets worse... Now the low beam side will not come on AT ALL, even with a new bulb in it. Although the high beam still works fine. I double checked everything and it's all plugged in, but I have got to be overlooking something. In the mean time of me finding the problem, I may buy a single PIAA Xtreme White Plus for $18 to replace the stock bulb that broke. And I might as well start saving now to for some ClearWater lights!