Headlight Bulbs

Message

EdinburghFalco · #1 Post by **EdinburghFalco** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:34 pm

My headlight bulb just blew. Any of you used any of these bulbs that promise increased power? Do they work? Are they worth the extra dosh?

Aladinsaneuk · #2 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:40 pm

xenon bulbs

are they worth it... no, i do not think so - the standard falco lights are pretty good and the xenons add a little - but only a little

is it the dip or full beam that has gone?

if it is the dip, then go find assorted links and do the HID install - VERY VERY worth it

I have changed the full beams to xenons but - no point once you have the HID dip

Dusty · #3 Post by **Dusty** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:57 pm

If you don't want to fork out on HID, try this outfit for xenon bulbs. http://www.powerbulbs.com/ They usually have some good offers, and their delivery is super fast.

EdinburghFalco · #4 Post by **EdinburghFalco** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:46 pm

I'll have a look, can't stretch to HID at the moment

dyzio · #5 Post by **dyzio** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:12 am

A different forum I'm on (not Falco) recommends Osram Nightbreakers.
Maybe worth trying.

Firestarter · #6 Post by **Firestarter** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:19 am

I've put brighter bulbs in the cars - one car the difference was huge, the other was noticeable but not as significant a change. Don't know what difference they'd make on the bike, though. They were just Halfords extra-bright jobs for one, and extra-bright blue bulbs for the other

Dusty · #7 Post by **Dusty** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:20 am

I've just realised that I didn't answer the question. I replaced all of my bike's and cars' bulbs with xenon bulbs because they were on a 2 for 1 offer from Powerbulbs. Although as already stated, they're not nearly as good as HIDs,they do give a brighter, whiter light than the bulbs I was using.IMO certainly worth the extra cash if you can get BOGOF!.

EdinburghFalco · #8 Post by **EdinburghFalco** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:34 am

Can I just check, its an H7 that's a replacement for the main beam isn't it?

#9 Post by **mangocrazy** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:41 am

In all the tests I've seen, the Philips X-Treme Power seem to come out on top. I've bought a pair for my van but haven't got round to fitting them yet...

TwinNut · #10 Post by **TwinNut** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:55 am

D-Rider · #11 Post by **D-Rider** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:41 pm

Yes although I've not fitted Xenons myself (yet), I'm not surprised that there are mixed responses.

I would expect that from the fact that some are "30% brighter", some "50% brighter", the philips I believe are "70% brighter" and the Osram "90% brighter".

Therefore there is quite a range of performance available .... along with questions such as "brighter than what?" ... and "are they all measured in the same way?" that may cloud the issue.

The eye also has a non-linear response to brightness and something that will give twice the light power output won't look twice as bright.

I'm thinking of fitting the Philips or Osram bulbs for my main beams to compliment my HID dip.

HowardQ · #12 Post by **HowardQ** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:59 pm

I would simply say if you need a new bulb, get one of the relatively cheap uprated ones, rather than pay a bit less for a standard unit, and stick it in the dip beam for now, YES it is an H7.
If the existing bulbs are OK, I don't think most of the upgraded bulbs are that much better, so I would only change when they blow. Must say that I have never tried the ones that TwinNut mentions. I replaced all mine with Xenon uprated and didn't seem to make a great difference.
I am also planning on going down the HID dip road in the near future but like some others may eventually try some other newer uprated bulds for the mains.

TwinNut · #13 Post by **TwinNut** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:31 pm

D-Rider · #14 Post by **D-Rider** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 2:44 pm

Maybe I wasn't clear but I wasn't disagreeing with you. Reviews I've seen also indicate they work.

It was more about whether the different brands take their measurements in the same way and whether 50% brighter with one brand is no better than 30% brighter of another brand (for example) and would you notice 20% brighter at all.

I'm sure that the ones that are reported as being good are good.

#15 Post by **mangocrazy** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 3:03 pm

TwinNut, have you tried the Philips X-treme jobbies? They seem to get the top marks in comparative tests and are more expensive than the Blue Vision bulbs (about £21 compared to £15 for the BVs). So the cheaper bulb out-performs the dearer one?

I'm not doubting you, by the way, as I'll always give preference to a 'real' user as opposed to a magazine test. Not that I'm saying magazine tests can be influenced by advertisers, oh dear me no...