Better head light bulbs? Curvy.

[craig dow]

now its getting real dark early at nights , and still dark when i leave for work , im finding my head lights . not bright at all , think its standard bulbs , i have a sv650s 1999 , read a lot of threads on here regarding bulbs , just want your advise , what is the best , osram night breakers , or phillips +80 or +100 and is it just the matter of changeing the bulbs , or do i have to go to adding fuse and other stuff , would like to swap bulb for bulb with no messing about
thanks again for your help :o

[rictus01]

I had the Phillips bulbs back when I had my curvy, a simple swap of bulbs was all that was needed, they made a noticeable difference, however it's the shape of the reflactors, so no bulb is going to make them really good, if you are doing a lot of night riding I'd think of supplementing the standard headlight with driving lights or perhaps a HID kit.

Cheers Mark.

[johnnyrod]

I've recently put in Philips Xtreme and they are better than standard halogens. If you've really got stock bulbs then they're 35W so just changing to 55/60W wil make a big difference. I did this back in 2000.

[alol]

I have put on OSRAM Nightbreakers PLUS - noticeably whiter light...

[chezvegas85]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-12342-BVUSM-Vision-Headlight-Bulbs/dp/B00440CWDK/ref=lh_ni_t

How would these compare? Still brighter than oem i'm assuming? Looking at getting some as i'm a noob and the blue excites me :dwarf:

[rictus01]

yeah they are 60/55w

[Luckypants]

Blue bulbs get their colour from a filter on the bulb. This reduces the amount of light from other parts of the spectrum and so consequently there is les light on the road from these bulbs. I always fit clear (white) bulbs for maximum visibility.

These would be better http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-12342-XVS2-X-Treme-Power-Bulbs/dp/B00440CWBW/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1349169085&sr=1-3.

I fitted uprated bulbs to my curvy back in the day and it does make a big difference.

[chezvegas85]

:rolleyes: ok ok captain sensible

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/330759576294?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla

suppose this way i can use the leftover cash i have in paypal and say its purely a safety thing when the mrs nags at me for spending money on the bike

**Now bought, along with a replacement rear light.

[craig dow]

brill thanks for that , so would you say these are better then the nightbrakers ones that iv read that some use , need to get asap , as its dark in mornings at 6.30am going to work , thanks again

[MJC-DEV]

Adding a full relay circuit to bypass the internal loom makes a BIG difference, even with (or even especially with) up rated bulbs. I have the Eastern Beaver loom and really rate it but its another step up from just changing the bulbs.

[otaylor38]

iv uprated mine to a 35w HID kit from HIDs4u. There are mixed reviews around for HID kits, many people obviously hate them because they can blind oncoming traffic. however once set up right (and the bulbs must go in one way, or they scatter like crazy), and dipped the correct amount, theyre brilliant.

Id highly recommend them to anyone who rides at night alot. outstanding brightness, just dont expect too much difference between low and high beam.

[chezvegas85]

Just replaced mine with the xtreme, turns out i already had philips power2night in there. Will see if the xtremes are any better (they both claim to be +100% on oem)

[craig dow]

hi just orderd some myself , so hope to see a diffrence soon , thanks

[Paul D]

Hi guys, My SK1 manual, and everything I've read with any credibility, states my twin headlight bulb spec is 45w/45w. After much further digging, I verified they are H4's.

But, searching online bulb suppliers and eBay is fruitless, as far as finding H4 45/45 bulbs go. And the references on here are all r.e. 60/55 (or similar bulbs)...

... So...begs the questions...

1) why did Suzuki fit 2x 45/45 spec bulbs (Max current 7.5A)?

2) will fitting 2x 60/55 units (Max current 10A = i.e. 2.5A above specified bulb) overload wiring, any standard fit fuses, or alternator?

3)...or will the extra heat produced discolour the plastic lenses (i.e. Even assuming quality bulbs [Phillips, etc) are used?

Thanks in advance of all feedback...

[markc123]

1) why did Suzuki fit 2x 45/45 spec bulbs (Max current 7.5A)?

2) will fitting 2x 60/55 units (Max current 10A = i.e. 2.5A above specified bulb) overload wiring, any standard fit fuses, or alternator?

3)...or will the extra heat produced discolour the plastic lenses (i.e. Even assuming quality bulbs [Phillips, etc) are used?



1) No idea

2) Not done any harm to mine, has also coped with heated grips etc at same time

3) again no problem for me.

[Paul D]

Hi Mark,

How long have you been using the higher wattage (60/55) bulbs?


Folks,

Reading this and other related threads, evidently lots of forum members now use these bulbs (as are standard for many bikes + cars - so its seems a modest upgrade in wattage is without any adverse effect..other than a modest increase in alternator loading.

NB: Allowing that Suzuki dealers charge £60 each !!!!! and that the std 45/45 bulbs are very poor for night riding, the change to 60/55 seems widespread and very understandable.

I guess Suzuki spec'ed the originals at 90w (i.e. 2x 45w) as this was higher current drain than the single headlight K1, and allowed for a moderate tolerance based on the standard wiring spec, switches and connectors. But going any higher in wattage is almost certainly going to reduce reliability and/or cause perspex lenses to yellow through heat aging I imagine.

[leebex]

I used 55/60w bulbs in my curvy s for 2 years and it was fine, I really wouldnt worry about it, rode with headlights on all the time, and didnt notice the headlight degrade, you could always buy a spare cheap headlight if it does worry you.

[MJC-DEV]

Hi Mark,



Reading this and other related threads, evidently lots of forum members now use these bulbs (as are standard for many bikes + cars - so its seems a modest upgrade in wattage is without any adverse effect..other than a modest increase in alternator loading.

.

A higher bulb load is actually a good thing (as far as alternator system is concerned) as the more power you use as light, the less the Rect/reg will have to get rid of as heat which should help its life. This is 'cos bike alternators are fixed output unlike car ones with field control.

[Viney]

Hi guys, My SK1 manual, and everything I've read with any credibility, states my twin headlight bulb spec is 45w/45w. After much further digging, I verified they are H4's.

But, searching online bulb suppliers and eBay is fruitless, as far as finding H4 45/45 bulbs go. And the references on here are all r.e. 60/55 (or similar bulbs)...

... So...begs the questions...

1) why did Suzuki fit 2x 45/45 spec bulbs (Max current 7.5A)?

2) will fitting 2x 60/55 units (Max current 10A = i.e. 2.5A above specified bulb) overload wiring, any standard fit fuses, or alternator?

3)...or will the extra heat produced discolour the plastic lenses (i.e. Even assuming quality bulbs [Phillips, etc) are used?

Thanks in advance of all feedback...

Over the years I have used nearly all the +50/60/80/100% bulbs all H4 and 55/60 with no issues with the loon or anything and that's been over 12 years(70000 miles). I have also had HID. Out of the bulbs I finished in Osram Nightracers which were the best of the bunch. HID are ok but no matter what way you rub it, the reflector or lens are up to it and essentially not designed for it and produce glare and beam scatter. I have just ordered some Ring Xenon max +120% for my car from eBay. £15 a pair. In summary any bulb is better than the 45/45 standard bulb

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Sent from my Sony Xperia S using Tapatalk2

[leebex]

HID are ok but no matter what way you rub it, the reflector or lens are up to it and essentially not designed for it and produce glare and beam scatter.

Shame we didnt get euro type curvy headlight as standard, projector as standard, ready suited to HID

[Knobby]

Am suprised to hear that on a curvy(as you call them ) the bulbs are not 55/60's !?!?
I dont think the headlapms are that bad.
Mind you I dont know if sombody has changed the bulbs in my 2000 SY model.To me they look bright enough.
Im gonna have to look now aint I? LOL
Mind you anythings better than the headlamp on my FJ1200 3XW model,that headlamp is really crap and its only one bulb.

[markc123]

I have been using the 60w bulbs for 3 years, 2 of which I have also been using a new loom so that they get something approaching 14v. The stock wiring is very poor. Something else to think about if you are after maximum lighting performance.

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[craig dow]

hi mark , is it easy to do a loom for the lights , if so any info on how to do it would be great , thanks