Bulb upgrades - Philips/Osram - any good?
Discussion
LED's are excellent, I have one on my CB400 commuter and will 100% bet getting a set if/when I change it to a VFR800.
I was riding with a mate on Saturday who has an LED bulb in his ZR7, behind the old style glass headlight lens and I was always in front of him, it was very bright and noticable in the daytime. I've never been flashed with mine on when it's dark.
I was riding with a mate on Saturday who has an LED bulb in his ZR7, behind the old style glass headlight lens and I was always in front of him, it was very bright and noticable in the daytime. I've never been flashed with mine on when it's dark.
Dave. said:
I put some Phillips Racing Vision in the sheddy focus... They lasted October to January, and didn't get used everyday.
Stupidly i bought another set after the lhs one went thinking I'd got a duff one, but the other side went a couple of days later.
Put the original motor craft ones in, they're still going strong and I'm pretty sure they're the originals, on a y-reg! We've had the car 6 years and never changed them.
All of the claimed brighter bulbs that I have fitted to cars have packed up way quicker than the standard bulbs. And bearing in mind how much hassle it is to change bulbs in many modern cars I can't be bothered anymore.Stupidly i bought another set after the lhs one went thinking I'd got a duff one, but the other side went a couple of days later.
Put the original motor craft ones in, they're still going strong and I'm pretty sure they're the originals, on a y-reg! We've had the car 6 years and never changed them.
Half of the problem with most bikes is that the dip beam is set at the road two inches in front of the wheel, so at any speed in the dark you've got no chance. If the dip and main are independently adjustable then raising the dip helps a lot.
It doesn't matter if your headlights have independently adjustable beams or not.
Adjust them so they are legal, and who cares how dazzling the main beam is - in traffic you won't be on your main beam!
I've got a set of (eye wateringly expensive!) Clearwater Ericas fitted on my bike. They are excellent! But youll have extra lights hanging off your frame / forks so this solution definitely ain't for everyone. But the results are epic.
I've used (with great success) Osram Nighbreakers for years in different cars. Currently fitted to my Landcruiser. I can definitely see the advantage.
Adjust them so they are legal, and who cares how dazzling the main beam is - in traffic you won't be on your main beam!
I've got a set of (eye wateringly expensive!) Clearwater Ericas fitted on my bike. They are excellent! But youll have extra lights hanging off your frame / forks so this solution definitely ain't for everyone. But the results are epic.
I've used (with great success) Osram Nighbreakers for years in different cars. Currently fitted to my Landcruiser. I can definitely see the advantage.
It doesn't matter if your headlights have independently adjustable beams or not.
Adjust them so they are legal, and who cares how dazzling the main beam is - in traffic you won't be on your main beam!
I've got a set of (eye wateringly expensive!) Clearwater Ericas fitted on my bike. They are excellent! But youll have extra lights hanging off your frame / forks so this solution definitely ain't for everyone. But the results are epic.
I've used (with great success) Osram Nighbreakers for years in different cars. Currently fitted to my Landcruiser. I can definitely see the advantage.
Adjust them so they are legal, and who cares how dazzling the main beam is - in traffic you won't be on your main beam!
I've got a set of (eye wateringly expensive!) Clearwater Ericas fitted on my bike. They are excellent! But youll have extra lights hanging off your frame / forks so this solution definitely ain't for everyone. But the results are epic.
I've used (with great success) Osram Nighbreakers for years in different cars. Currently fitted to my Landcruiser. I can definitely see the advantage.
It does matter if the dip is way too close. Which they usually are. And can be remedied if dip and main are independent.
If I happen to be shifting it in the dark (100+ say) I don't want to end up in a ditch when I have to use dip for oncoming vehicles because the dip illuminates the front wheel. And every bike I have ever bought has the dip too low as standard.
If I happen to be shifting it in the dark (100+ say) I don't want to end up in a ditch when I have to use dip for oncoming vehicles because the dip illuminates the front wheel. And every bike I have ever bought has the dip too low as standard.
Update to say that I've been trying these Osram Night Racer Motorcycle bulbs. They're great! 
About £10 on Amazon, which seems a small price to pay for night vision at this time of year.
Other upgraded bulbs have always packed in before long (due to vibration damage, I guess). Whereas the Night Racer Motorcycle has lasted, presumably thanks to protection against bad vibes.
About £10 on Amazon, which seems a small price to pay for night vision at this time of year.
Other upgraded bulbs have always packed in before long (due to vibration damage, I guess). Whereas the Night Racer Motorcycle has lasted, presumably thanks to protection against bad vibes.
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