Headlight bulbs

[hughm]

I bought a set of 100watt Bulbs online, the Full beam works okay, but the dipped beam lights up then fades after a few seconds, (the bulb seems fine).
I swapped the bulbs about but the reaction is the same.
Can the wattage be to high for the bike??

 

[rce]

Yes the canbus will be killing it due to over current.

You could also have problems with the heat from a 100w bulb damaging the headlight, not worth it.

 

[TeaPig]

Yup, Canbus sees too many amps on the circuit so shuts it down. Get a 50watt HID setup, it'll be much brighter than even a 100W normal bulb

 

[CliveS]

If you want better standard bulbs without going to HID us Osram Silverstar + 50. They are the same wattage as the standard bulb but use a different gas, I think its a Zenon gas?
I have been using them for years in all my cars and bikes and the difference in light output is fantastic.

You can find some on eBay under "Silverstar H7" You are lucky, I have to import mine from the UK.

I should add that they are also UV stabilized. Very important if you have a plastic headlight housing.

Good Luck
Clive

 

[littleredrooster]

HID is the way to go. Like many others, I went down the traditional route of light bar/fogs/spots/high-output bulbs then discovered HID. The difference is like night and day - it means that you can finally see where you're going at night, even going round corners.

Try Silverstars if you must, but be aware that (like all other high-output bulbs) they have a fairly short life span - 4 per year in my case - and only make a slight difference.

For the small extra cost, HID is a major improvement.

 

[Beemerman59]

I ended up with 50w HID for Dip beam and 35w HID for Aux lights. I did have HID on main beam but didn't like the delay when riding country lanes at night. So went back to Halogen (Philips Xtreme) on main and fitted Hella FF50's again with Philips xtreme bulbs and I'm very pleased with the result. Not sure if I'm going to bother with HID on the FF50's.

 

[Gremlin Serbia]

I have installed Osram Nightbreaker bulbs, 55 W each. Perfect light, no canbus problems, no overheating. Not very expensive at all.

 

[GSmonkey]

Get a Hid. Added bonus, you won't set fire to your bike

 

[yoxi675]

Any recommendations on HID kit suppliers and are they a DIY job or would you recommend professional installation as I have been pondering updating the dip beam for some time now.

 

[NAB]

Contact Les Wassell of this parish or HiD50.com.

Easy to fit if you follow Les,s instructions

 

[Kremmen]

Knowing the potential issues with Can i opted for 80Watts bulbs, no problems at all with dimming.

 

[bose]

hid bulbs ??

what goes first ,the bulb or the ballast box ,an can either or be purchased seperatley or does the unit light/box last 3000-4000 hours an thats it ,an you just get a new kit?????

 

[Biking4veryday]

I bought a set of 100watt Bulbs online, the Full beam works okay, but the dipped beam lights up then fades after a few seconds, (the hid bulb seems fine).
I swapped the bulbs about but the reaction is the same.
Can the wattage be to high for the bike??

I thought maybe if you had decided to go with HID bulbs then it would fix your problem. Not only do the HID look nice on your bike but it also gives out a lot of light.

 

[Magwych]

what goes first ,the bulb or the ballast box ,an can either or be purchased seperatley or does the unit light/box last 3000-4000 hours an thats it ,an you just get a new kit?????

..if it only lasts 3,000 hours and you average 30mph for those 3,000 miles that comes to 90,000 miles. Even if you could not locate the separate components that is not a bad life, IMHO.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I've tried all sorts of different, so called, brighter 55watt bulbs over the years. They are all crap, being no brighter than a regular bulb.

I eventually just started using 100/80 watt bulbs (130/110w bulbs didn't last). A much better improvement than "Special gas filled, 1000% brighter than normal" bulbs.

Recently, I bit the bullet, and spent a load of money with Les Wassal. I shall never buy 100watt bulbs again. Well, unless they start doing a 100w HID set-up, which I doubt, as the 50w set up is overkill as it is.

I've even considered putting a kit on my Land Rover.

 

[littleredrooster]

Knowing the potential issues with Can i opted for 80Watts bulbs, no problems at all with dimming.

There are no issues with the canbus when using well-specced HIDs. There are lots of potential issues with the canbus when using over-rated (80 or 100w) bulbs which draw more current than the canbus is expecting.

Don't be surprised if the system shuts your lights down at random one rainy night.......

 

[bose]

oh dear

..if it only lasts 3,000 hours and you average 30mph for those 3,000 miles that comes to 90,000 miles. Even if you could not locate the separate components that is not a bad life, IMHO.

whats the chances of averaging that speed for 90000 miles maybe for you ,not me this is what you get i suppose for a simple answer