Halogen lamp recommendation for dip beam.

RSavage

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Which Halogen lamp would you recommend to replace the OEM dip beam lamp in a 12GSA?

For the avoidance of doubt I'm not asking about HID units.

TIA

Richard
 
Osram Night breaker is pretty good

Thanks.

Friend has (or rather had 'cos both failed on our last trip) these: Philips 12972-XVS2 H7 X-Treme Power 100% Kit (2 Bulbs) from Amazaon but they have mixed reviews.

Richard
 
I know your not asking about hid, but seriously it is the only way to go, ive uprated bulbs on cars an bikes over the years, and never really took much notice of hid set ups, but when I got me gsa I wanted something better than an uprated bulb, so took the plunge and bought the complete kit from les, an all I can say now ive fitted em is you can stick your uprated bulbs, hid is definatly the way, theres just no way anything else can compare! Speak to les mate, you wont regret it!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
 
I know your not asking about hid, but seriously it is the only way to go, ive uprated bulbs on cars an bikes over the years, and never really took much notice of hid set ups, but when I got me gsa I wanted something better than an uprated bulb, so took the plunge and bought the complete kit from les, an all I can say now ive fitted em is you can stick your uprated bulbs, hid is definatly the way, theres just no way anything else can compare! Speak to les mate, you wont regret it!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk


Thanks for noticing the exclusion :thumb

I already have an HID from http://www.motorbikeadventures.co.uk/ and it is, without doubt, stunning. In fact it is so stunning that my friends will not ride in front of me after dark. And that is the problem. Even though the lamp is, as far as I can tell, set correctly, bumps and undulations send very annoying bright flashes of light into their mirrors and into the eyes of oncoming drivers. On my last trip I determined to fit an HID for main beam as well because the OEM lamp is pathetic. However, I'm now thinking that I will experiment by moving the dip beam HID to main beam and fit the best halogen lamp in dip beam to see how well or badly that works. I'm also conscious that MOT testers are becoming more aware of bikes fitted with HIDs and that insurers will pull cover at any opportunity.

Cheers

Richard
 
Thanks for noticing the exclusion :thumb

I already have an HID from http://www.motorbikeadventures.co.uk/ and it is, without doubt, stunning. In fact it is so stunning that my friends will not ride in front of me after dark. And that is the problem. Even though the lamp is, as far as I can tell, set correctly, bumps and undulations send very annoying bright flashes of light into their mirrors and into the eyes of oncoming drivers. On my last trip I determined to fit an HID for main beam as well because the OEM lamp is pathetic. However, I'm now thinking that I will experiment by moving the dip beam HID to main beam and fit the best halogen lamp in dip beam to see how well or badly that works. I'm also conscious that MOT testers are becoming more aware of bikes fitted with HIDs and that insurers will pull cover at any opportunity.

Cheers

Richard

It sounds as though your HID is NOT set up properly. Mine is set up properly and does not dazzle oncoming traffic or people in front. I have a proper DIPPED burner (proper name for the bulb) as it has a copper shade on it.

HIDs are NOT a problem on bike MOTs.

I run a 55w dip and 55w main beam HIDs.
 
Which Halogen lamp would you recommend to replace the OEM dip beam lamp in a 12GSA?

For the avoidance of doubt I'm not asking about HID units.

TIA

Richard

over the years I have tried a variety of enhanced type bulbs (don't do a great deal of night riding out of town so have never bothered with HID) - some have made things a bit better but just about all have failed sooner than the stock bulbs (some less than 6 months), I now buy the cheap old Halfords car lamps in two packs, last longer and cost naff all

I think as has been said, correctly set HID or nowt!
 
I wonder if you have tried a 100 watt halogen and yes I know it's supposed to be off road or show use etc

I have my doubts about how good HID is on main due to the warm up time lag and yes I had one fitted to the last bike It may of course depend upon the kit used

Riding in the sticks with no street lights I would say HID is the dogs so just ride in front of your mates ;)
 
I thought a 100w bulb was a no no in the bm headlight. I seam to remember reading somewhere they can't stand the heat of a 100w in there. But I can't remember where I read it now.
 
Halfords Heavy Duty - not claimed to be brighter or anything, just last longer.

:thumby:
 
Thanks for noticing the exclusion :thumb

I already have an HID from http://www.motorbikeadventures.co.uk/ and it is, without doubt, stunning. In fact it is so stunning that my friends will not ride in front of me after dark. And that is the problem. Even though the lamp is, as far as I can tell, set correctly, bumps and undulations send very annoying bright flashes of light into their mirrors and into the eyes of oncoming drivers. On my last trip I determined to fit an HID for main beam as well because the OEM lamp is pathetic. However, I'm now thinking that I will experiment by moving the dip beam HID to main beam and fit the best halogen lamp in dip beam to see how well or badly that works. I'm also conscious that MOT testers are becoming more aware of bikes fitted with HIDs and that insurers will pull cover at any opportunity.

Cheers

Richard

That sounds ridiculous, suggest you take note of Mif and those who know set them up correctly as yours obviously are not.
 
It sounds as though your HID is NOT set up properly. Mine is set up properly and does not dazzle oncoming traffic or people in front. I have a proper DIPPED burner (proper name for the bulb) as it has a copper shade on it.

HIDs are NOT a problem on bike MOTs.

I run a 55w dip and 55w main beam HIDs.

Hi Miff

All I can say is that maybe the suspension on my GSA is more bouncy than yours? I don't have the copper tip to the burner but might ask MotorbikeAdventures about their anti-dazzle lamp (burner).

As for MOTs etc I bow to your superior knowledge. All I know on the subject is here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/194152/MSVA_2010_.pdf page 6/3

http://webarchive.nationalarchives....ormation-sheets/aftermarket-hid-headlamps.pdf

http://www.motester.co.uk/mot-information-for-motorists/mot-test-checks-list

And while I will agree that the self-levelling and lamp cleaning equipment, by virtue of its absence, cannot cause a fail through its non-function, the fitment of HID burners does take the bike outside type approval. As far as I am aware the R1600GT is the only bike that does have type approval for an HID lamp but it doesn't, again correct me if I am wrong, have any means of cleaning the lamp unit.

I had a pair of Les' 50W burners on my 1050 GS for many MOT tests and my tester knew that they were fitted and observed that the only instruction he had regarding lamps - apart from aim and pattern - was that they emitted white light. However, that was four years ago and things have moved on in MOT tests since then.

What, if any reaction, have your HIDs prompted from your MOT tester?

Rgds

Richard
 
That sounds ridiculous, suggest you take note of Mif and those who know set them up correctly as yours obviously are not.

I suppose, on the evidence of the declining build standards exhibited by BMW, that the headlamp unit could be missaligned :augie

Richard
 
Anyway, back to the question. Osram Nightbreakers are good as are the Philips +90 or +100 bulbs. I do know what you mean ref HIDs :eek
 
I used a philips extreme + 90% halogen bulb on the dip beam for a while and noticed it marked the surface of the reflector due to the extra heat generated , no such probs with the 55w hids from Les I have
now.
 
The mot/hid guidelines are for cars. If your mot tester is failing your bike due to an hid kit, then you need to find a different mot place.



Sorry. I'm on the phone.
 
I've just bought some 55 watt H7's up to 120% brighter bulbs from halfords for my car, £29.99 each but on offer at buy one get one free,
For that price you can do both high and low beam.
they are definitely brighter, I would consider them for the bike as well if I didn't have an hid low beam at the moment.
They did have higher wattage bulbs (off road use only on the box) but as said earlier in the thread I was worried about the extra heat generated.
 


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