headlights

[sadlonelygit]

they're pretty foccing dire aren't they!
what are the options/solutions for improved illumination.

[tomlinscote]

Personally never had an issue with the stock lights but others on here reckon there are Philips lamps which offer a brighter light for the same watt rating, I would not be tempted to go for much higher wattage lamps incase you overheet the wiring....
 
P

[fazer390]

A decent set of 50% Brighter Bulbs & LED side lights... Jobs a goodun ;-)

[b1k3rdude]

Additionally you could buy a set of LED driving lights to enhance the dip beam and they would pull next to no wattage. Its something I have been looking into, Im trying to find the best price/perf ratio though.

Bikevis are selling a set, but as they are asking £115 and only a 1yr warranty which to me is a bit steep, if it was 2-3yr then I would be interested. Additionaly I cant find any reviews for them on the web, so dont know how good or bad they are art putting usefull light on the road.

- http://www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-cree-led-aux-light.html


Thre are other makes out there but more pricey, and then there is the ones from China....

[devilsyam]

dont ride at night 

[ZiggyCol]

Get some decent replacement bulbs and I reckon they are good enough. Never had to consider going to HID as I did on the FZS600 because the originals on that really were crap.

[gasmenace]

Additionally you could buy a set of LED driving lights to enhance the dip beam and they would pull next to no wattage. Its something I have been looking into, Im trying to find the best price/perf ratio though.

Bikevis are selling a set, but as they are asking £115 and only a 1yr warranty which to me is a bit steep, if it was 2-3yr then I would be interested. Additionaly I cant find any reviews for them on the web, so dont know how good or bad they are art putting usefull light on the road.

- http://www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-cree-led-aux-light.html


Thre are other makes out there but more pricey, and then there is the ones from China....

I bet they're all originally from China - the expensive ones just have better quality control! Hence the line "Sourced by BikeVis,,,"

Crafty Bikevis sell them on ebay for a tenner more than on their web site, and they use the exact same illustration main photo for another system at twice the already eye-watering price

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Auxiliary-Lights-BikeVis-Cree-LED-Aux-Lights-/180952105986?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2a21960402

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Auxiliary-Lights-Vision-X-Solstice-Solo-/180741723943?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2a150bd727

The second one melts snow and ice too, it seems: "The unbreakable   poly carbonate   lenses are housed by a 6061 aluminum face plate which doubles as a     radiant heat sink to melt away snow and ice in frigid conditions."

If it's melting snow, where is the power coming from I wonder?

I actually do want some as running lights, but not at those prices, and eagerly await further news on your price v performance research!

Colin

[VNA - BMW Wank]

Actually pretty darn good.

Even better if you fit some 100% brighter Philips Extreme lamps.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-12342-XVS2-X-Treme-Power-Bulbs/dp/B00440CWBW/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1350210273&sr=1-1

[dickturpin]

VNA, I was looking at these...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Osram-O472NBP-Nightbreaker-Plus-Bulb/dp/B003Y7FKTC/ref=sr_1_2?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1350211246&sr=1-2

Do you have info or experience to suggest the Philips are better?

D

[bludclot]

i just ordered a pair of these:


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120875453914?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649


i'll post up a picture and details. i figured for the money they would be worth a try. my led side light bulbs are pretty good so i'm optimistic.

[dickturpin]

bludclot, which sidelight bulbs did you go for? ebay has a wealth of different ones, some with six led's some with glass dome bulbs and some with the yellow panels???

How confusing can this be?

D

[bludclot]

i bought these:


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-FZS-1000-RN061-FAZER-1w-LED-Sidelight-Bulbs-/200832727959?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2ec2903b97


see this thread with a picture:


http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,3222.0.html


the seller sent another bulb straight away, brilliant service. turns out that didn't work either. i played with the tiny connection wires and managed to get all 3 working eventually. seller refused my offer of returning one of them so great again as i now have a spare.

[VNA - BMW Wank]

The Philips lamps usually lead the market.  Tests I've seen in the past put em in front for output and beam focus.

I'm the sure the Osram ones will be fine, a decent improvement on standard H4's and for the price better value.

Oh one of the Philips lamps I fitted to my car seven years ago has just failed.  Not bad, the other one is still burning bright.

And of course remember don't touch the glass part of the lamp when fitting.  Perhaps wear surgical gloves just in case you slip.  Grease from even clean fingers will shorten the life of the lamp.

Good luck with those LED H4 lamps, I hope you don't expect to actually see where you are going with them?

[sadlonelygit]

sadly i may have been spoilt with my last bike (BMW with projector lens and 6k hid) which was a fantastic set-up.
but my 26 yo katana has a better light set up than the fazer.

[gasmenace]

Here's a projector lens and 6k hid from those Bikevis folks

http://www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-hid-xenon-conversions.html

Looks like a bargain at £70-ish, or am I missing something?

Colin

[sadlonelygit]

spot the difference

and now!


£28

[dickturpin]

So what did you use in the end?

[sadlonelygit]

6k hid set up.
just need to hide the wiring now

[b1k3rdude]

6k hid set up. just need to hide the wiring now

You'll need to keep the old bulbs for MOT, as the HID will now not pass due to recent changes.

[bikerboys]

6k hid set up. just need to hide the wiring now

You'll need to keep the old bulbs for MOT, as the HID will now not pass due to recent changes.

  well my bike went in for it mot last week and past no problems with the hid fitted to the bike 

[b1k3rdude]

well my bike went in for it mot last week and past no problems with the hid fitted to the bike

They were being nice, technically they should have failed the bike, do to the scatter.

[karlo]

I just got a set for the car if they are any good I'll get some for the bike £45 delivered.

[bikerboys]

I just got a set for the car if they are any good I'll get some for the bike £45 delivered.

  HOWEVER there is a difference between "legal" and passing a MoT and in either case there are no "reasons for rejection " in the testers manual in respect of HID headlamps providing of course the beam test is passed. So you may pass the MoT 

[bikerboys]

It'll be fine
 
they  will pass HIDs as long as "the beam pattern is correct, what actually produces the light isn't our business" they said ,
or just take it off for the next mot then put it back on 

[sadlonelygit]

I just got a set for the car if they are any good I'll get some for the bike £45 delivered.

£26.59 with digital mini ballasts.