Head light bulb

[boooya]

PIAA Powersports H4 Super Plasma GT-X Anti-Vibration Twin Beam Bulb (Single)
Anybody ever give these a try? They get great reviews but there a bit $$$.
PIAA Powersports H4 Xtreme White Plus Anti-Vibration Bulb (Single) for
Deciding between the 2.

[amvince]

I installed a Sylvania Silverstar bulb and it helped a bunch. Some others have it and say the same.They now make an Ultra but I couldn't find it being made for a Single Headllight Motorcycle. The Silverstar Bulb is about $20.

[ghostriderchuck]

I found an Ultra at my local auto parts store, even double checked the reference book there and it had the M50 listed. Installed over the weekend, haven't had a chance to try while riding yet, but from trying it in the garage it does seem significantly brighter them the OEM, now I can start to hope that cagers will see me coming and stop pulling out making left hand turns in front of me!!!!!!

[Stephen Soulsby]

I must agree. While PIAA is a reputable name, there really isn't anything out there that is all around better than the SilverStar. Even if the PIAA bulbs were the same price, I'd still swing to the SilverStar without question. They have the purest white light you can get. No blue, no yellow, just pure white. And the brightness is improved as well. The only thing that would top a SilverStar is if Suzuki used an HID system. Now that would be awesome.

[Powerslave]

All I used was the H4 silverstar car auto bulb, it is the same as the H4 for Motorcycles. Have used it one full season, still works fine. Plus buying as a pair, they are cheaper. They say the motorcycle bulb is different (vibration characteristics), but I put them both SIDE BY SIDE, they were the same exact bulb, and the same markings on the plug. Worked for me, and was cheaper.

[boooya]

CanadianDriver: Replacement Headlight Bulbs: PIAA Extreme White Plus; Sylvania Silver Star Ultra; GE Night Hawk

This made it a bit easier for me to decide.

[mrcandyman]

PIAA makes the best bulbs, HOWEVER, The price difference between the silverstar ultras and the piaa bulbs is pretty high, I'd just go with the silverstar ultras

[boooya]

Well I got the bulb today went with the PIAA Extreme White Plus and what a difference, its night and day. My wife car uses the same H4 bulb as the bike and she has the silverstars installed, so I pulled one out and installed the PIAA and there is a world of diffrence from one side to the other. Ok the silverstars have been on for more then a year and they might have faded a bit but still much brighter. Dare I say it but there almost comparable to HID bulbs. Totally worth the $$$.

[dreygun]

i used an extra h4 silverstar ultra bulb i had bought for my honda element. same bulb and very cheap.

[mbgraham2000]

I found this site on the web,

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

The tech section gives a good explanation of bulb technology.

[womper]

i have a silverstar bulb and it's really good...
i have PIAA 1100x aux lighting, and those are REALLY good...
i wouldn't change my headlight to a PIAA though, i don't think it's very cost efective at that point.

[MotoJPizzle]

as bright as womper likes it, you know the bulb has to be great! It's like he rides in daylight at any hour.

[womper]

heh.. it's no joke... I have the headlight, the PIAA set and another Set of fogs.
it's bright at night and have no problems avoiding forest rats and any obstacles at night... if i want it a bit brighter i'll go get another set of PIAA 1100x's and mount them higher

again rule of thumb for lights... AIM THEM PROPERLY and you'll see better and people will see you better.

[highplains]

Well I changed from the old bulb to the silver star now, and did a little headlight adjustment.
Even during the daylight hours now the difference is amazing compared to the old bulb.
I think that the bulb and headlight adjustment should be listed as 'must upgrade' options.

[tsjohnston]

Howdy folks, added the PIAA GTX couple of days back ,, I love it , kinda blue-ish, much brighter than stock and next to my other buds mines shows more of what on the road and much easyer to see now. Placed a Metzler XXL on the back yesterday, 200/70/15
and still have some room for a 220 perhaps , not sure if anyone make it or a 230/70/15
it looks way better and the handeling has improved as well.

Always be safe and keep it on 2 wheels, and remember, to use you cell phones with care, hands free devises are your friends.

[highplains]

Good day everyone!
Well after putting in the silver star bulb and tweaking the vertical adjustment I thought that I had things pretty well set.
To my surprise I was still about 7 degrees or more off compared to my wife's bike, doesn't make too much difference at 10-15 feet, but get out about 20-40 feet and it's all the difference in the world for not over running your headlight.

I was bouncing light off of a calf hut - those rural cyclists will know those plastic dome huts well! Wife's bike would hit the top rim out about 30'-35' mine wouldn't even hit the top of the bottom door edge - it was over a 2foot difference in height!

I am still getting the driving lights, but out here in the Dakotas there are some pretty desolate spots - so your lights are the ONLY thing lighting up the road in many areas.

Good luck everyone on the lighting projects!


If you're traveling in the evening or at night, check your lights and make sure they are aligned right. It can make all the difference.

[womper]

aiming of the headlight is probably the most important thing to do if you ride nights...

i'm thinking of adding another set or changing my lighting config around again...
maybe another set of PIAAs or something.

[TonyS50]

So - the stock light is halogen??

[Ray Nielsen]

My solution for brighter head light is a relay kit from Eastern Beaver in Japan. It is fairly inexpensive at about $60 and installs easily inside the headlight shell on my M50. Instructions are clear, parts are of the highest quality and I'm very satisfied after 24 K miles and two years of service. I think their web site is <www.easternbeaver.com> or something close. Do a search if that doesn't work.

As a reference, my M50 had a voltage drop from the battery to the headlight connector of 0.9 Volts on low beam and 1.0 volts on high. After the relay kit was installed the voltage drops are 0.09 volts on low beam and 0.1 volts on high beam. Lights are noticeably brighter, especially on low beam where the light extends to the beam edge with more authority. I'm running standard bulbs in a heavy duty specification and so far no problems.

Ray Nielsen, in Minneapolis.

[highplains]

Wow Nov 1st, we've had our first snowfall, but its gone, weather was good and rode my bike home from it oil change & check up.

I did install an H4 bulb to replace the old standard bulb and WOW what a difference. I need to adjust the aim a little bit more, but the difference was incredible!

So if you are doing night riding - upgrade the headlamp! And if you are looking at doing alot of night riding get those extra lights. My wife and I ride alot by ourselves and that extra light really helps you spot the critters in the ditches and the ones heading for the roads.