My recommendation for headlight bulbs

[RVC7]

I've taken so much great info from this site, I thought I'd give something back. Well, I probably spent way too much time researching bulbs for my trusty 1150R. It turns out the best bulb without upgrading your harness is the same one I bought for my Sequoia. It's the Philips X-Treme Power 80% H4. I found a great site in the UK that sells them at a huge discount over anybody here in the US. I don't have any affiliation with them but I was very happy with my order and thought I'd pass it on. The lowest price I found on Ebay and suvlights.com was around $52.00 plus shipping. This place was only $29.00 for a two pack with free shipping! It took about 10 days to get to me in NJ. The lumen output is so incredibly higher than the stock blub. Good luck and happy riding! Here's the link: http://www.motorbulbs.com/product_info. ... cts_id/107

[Beemeridian]

11

[challey]

Thanks RVC7, that's an excellent price. Since they're a British supplier, is seems odd that the price quoted in US dollars ($29.46) is less than the price in GBP after conversion - £24.46 which at the current rate of 1.38406 would be about $33.87. And the US price even includes international shipping. When I lived in England, I often heard the complaint that Brits always get screwed on prices. Seems like they may have been on to something.

I do have a question however: How will an automotive bulb like this hold up in a motorcycle headlamp? I always thought that the filaments used for bulbs in motorcycle applications were stronger or somehow more isolated from vibration than those designed for automobile use.

Charlie

[Beemeridian]

11

[Hottech]

Did you have to buy two and if you did would you be willing to sell one?

[RVC7]

I'm keeping one for backup. Thanks anyway. BTW, I'm very happy with the amount of light this bulb puts out.

[NoRRmad]

Cool!

Let us know when it burns out.

[jm1515]

.....
I do have a question however: How will an automotive bulb like this hold up in a motorcycle headlamp? I always thought that the filaments used for bulbs in motorcycle applications were stronger or somehow more isolated from vibration than those designed for automobile use.

Charlie

I thought the same thing, so I bought a Sylvania Silverstar H4 bulb 'for motorcycles only' at Advance auto. $19 at the time, to upgrade my OE candlelight. Definitely brighter than OE, but it lasted ~8000mi before the highbeam went...I use the highs ~50% of the time.
Sooo, in Aug '06 I bought 2 Phillips Vision+ H4s from Powerbulbs.com and installed one with 14,000miles on the bike.
That was just about 20000mi ago, and that bulb is still going strong....
No affiliation, just a happy customer etc etc , but I ordered my bulbs on July27th and they got here so fast I installed them on Aug 02....

[Airman]

I've taken so much great info from this site, I thought I'd give something back. Well, I probably spent way too much time researching bulbs for my trusty 1150R. It turns out the best bulb without upgrading your harness is the same one I bought for my Sequoia. It's the Philips X-Treme Power 80% H4. I found a great site in the UK that sells them at a huge discount over anybody here in the US. I don't have any affiliation with them but I was very happy with my order and thought I'd pass it on. The lowest price I found on Ebay and suvlights.com was around $52.00 plus shipping. This place was only $29.00 for a two pack with free shipping! It took about 10 days to get to me in NJ. The lumen output is so incredibly higher than the stock blub. Good luck and happy riding! Here's the link: http://www.motorbulbs.com/product_info. ... cts_id/107

Thanks for the link. I bought a pair for my van at, I think, $46 or so. I currently have a Philips Vision +50 installed which I consider to be vastly superior to the stock H-4. Do you thin the X-Treme Power bulb is going to be better than the +50 ? I didn't thin the dfference in output in my van was startling when I went to the X-Treme Power 9007's. I seem to remember the +50's cost me something like $27 a pair from California Sport Touring.

[RVC7]

Airman: I think if you look at the comparison page for both, the +80 will put out more lumens (brightness) than the +50. They are considered one of the best, most efficient bulbs out there. I really don't care if they last me only 10K miles. I have piece of mind seeing and being seen better at night.

[Airman]

Airman: I think if you look at the comparison page for both, the +80 will put out more lumens (brightness) than the +50. They are considered one of the best, most efficient bulbs out there. I really don't care if they last me only 10K miles. I have piece of mind seeing and being seen better at night.

Well, even for hard core commuters such as myself 10k is about 2 years. I ride in the rain at night a lot and the lack of light really bothers me. If the X-Treme would put out more than the +50 I would gladly take that even with the shortened life. it would seem to me, having read the above link, that a heavier lighting harness would be a benefit even if heat was not an issue. it would insure that maximum voltage was supplied to the bulb, and reduce heat if you're using a high wattage bulb.

[Goff]

I picked up a bike specific HID kit just before Christmas... Longer life, less power usage, much less heat and no filament to get damaged... And of course much, much brighter! I'll be installing in a couple of weeks so we shall see what the difference is like.

First, I need to pick up a new RHS oil cooler cover and cylinder guard after my bike blew over in 100mph+ winds last week

[Beemeridian]

.

[Sunbeemer]

RVC7 found a good headlight bulb:

It's the Philips X-Treme Power 80% H4.

RVC7: Thanks for sharing the result of your search. Upon your recommendation (and the fact that my low beam burned out ) I purchased a pair of these from Motorbulbs.com (it took 10 days for them to arrive here in Florida w/ Free Shipping!) for ~$31USD, and they certainly throw a cleaner, whiter and brighter light. Hard to gauge exactly how much brighter they are since the whiteness may fool you into thinking it's much brighter, but I guess 50% brighter than my old stock bulbs, even though they are still 55/60 watt bulbs. Of course, my stock bulb may have been weakened by age before it died.

I'm not afraid of the dark anymore!

[kantuckid]

I am bringing back this thread to ask the question: How do the cheaper," xenon", guaranteed for life(you have to return them at your cost), H4 bulbs on ebay compare in life/brightness? You can get a pair for $8 delivered . your thoughts are appreciated!

[MotoDiva]

Well, with all this great info on how to improve on our very anemic headlight, I am compelled to add my 2cents to the topic.
I just replaced my PIAA (supposed to be super bright) bulb that lasted over 3 years with something new from OSRAM. It is the NIGHTBREAKER H4. According to the package, it produces "Up to +90% MORE light and Up to 10% WHITER light". They were about $52.00 for a 2 pack {don't think they are sold separately}. Osram is a German company and the bulbs are made there, as well.

So, my review: Until I installed it, I was seriously thinking of getting some auxillary lights {which I still may do at a later time when funds permit}. But, for now I am very satisfied. This thing is bright!!! No sneaking home or anywhere else with this bulb. After the install at a friend's, I rode home at night and I could see like never before. I really did not think it possible to get that[ much light from a single headlight. I highly recommend this one. Check it out at: http://www.osram.com/color]

One other thing for conspicuity: treat yourself and your bike to a Kisan Signal Minder. The least that it does is turn off your signals after 8, 30 or 45 flashes (you set). In addition, on BMW's it: eliminates the need for the gray signal off switch (just hit either the right or left signal button to turn off)called "same side cancel"; it turns your turn signal lights into running lights - making you so much more visible from front & rear. And, there are 2 settings for same. I leave mine on high intensity all the time. Really brightens up the rear end. And, you gotta luv the Fast Flash lane change feature. Find out more at: http://kisantech.com/view_product.php?product=SM-5

Enjoy!!

[twindave]

+1 on the osram night breaker

http://store02.prostores.com/servlet/af ... nal/Detail

[kantuckid]

I just bought a pair of the Nightbreakers/H4 on eBay which seems to be the best deal-is ~ $25 for a pair, delivered from UK.

[MotoDiva]

Wow! that's a great price!! They have come way down in price over the past year. And, switching out the OEM "candle" for one of these babies is one of the best (& most cost-efficient) farkle-like additions you can put on the R.