higher watt bulbs.

[BIKER-DENE]

after getting some bigger watt bulbs for the sv (curvy 650s)


maybe 80 or 100 watt coz i find the normal ones to be ****e lol


any 1 else done this? will it damage anything?

[Blue_SV650S]

I’d say your biggest risk is that the loom/switches might not take the extra current. Suggest if you go this route you wire directly to battery (using relay on the lighting circuit obviously).

Hopefully someone has done it and can ‘ok’ the loom, but I’d wait for that before burning out yours!! :D

[BIKER-DENE]

iv not got a clue about wireing mate lol i was hopeing it would just work lol

[Blue_SV650S]

iv not got a clue about wireing mate lol i was hopeing it would just work lol

Ah, well if no one comes along to give you the ‘ok’ then probably best to leave things be then, else you might find you have a crash course in wiring when you have to re-loom the bike!! :D

You might want to consider getting some bulbs that are the same wattage, but brighter, aren’t them fancy xenon bulbs brighter than standard halogen for the same wattage?

[Quiff Wichard]

headlight bulbs?


just get philips blue vision or similar- tremendous difference.!

[BIKER-DENE]

thanks guys

any links?

[Quiff Wichard]

i got min eon line - real fast delivery- and cheaper than the shops..but cant rememebr where??

direct bulbs or sumfin

[Gazza77]

Try powerbulbs.com (not sure how to add a link!) :oops:

[embee]

Try powerbulbs.com (not sure how to add a link!) :oops:

I've used these for bulbs
http://www.powerbulbs.co.uk/

I think others have found slightly cheaper places. Powerbulbs service is excellent though.

I use Osram Silverstars, but Phillips VisionPlus are equivalent.

If you really want to spend, try PIAA Extreme White like here
http://www.nippynormans.com/products.asp?dept=311

These are PIAA high output lamps specifically made for motorcycles/off road ATV etc with higher vibration levels. I haven't tried them, others have said they are impressive, but a bit pricey. If you're doing a lot of night riding they might be worth the investment.

Whatever you go for, I suggest stick to 60/55W if yours uses H4 bulbs rather than higher wattage ratings (which aren't road legal anyway :wink: ). Not sure what's in the later (pointy) headlamps.

[RandyO]

higher wattage bulbs do nothing except blind other motorists and **** them off, and put a strain on your wiring and light fixtures from excessive heat.... not something that happens overnite, but after thousands of miles, sockets overheat and crack, wiring gets brittle faster etc.

if you can't see as far as your headlamp goes at nite, slowing down is the best course of action

[TSM]

higher wattage bulbs do nothing except blind other motorists and p*ss them off

Say that to the people with HID lights & the UK police in their BMWs

[skidmarx]

I'd stick to tried and trusted bulbs as above as I read somewhere on here that people where complaining about the excess heat yellowing the plastic covers, or even melting the fairings!
The wattage used will give you an indication of the amount of heat generated, but what you need is a more efficient bulb.
I need some of these too, Can you get them from Halfords?

[northwind]

higher wattage bulbs do nothing except blind other motorists and p*ss them off, and put a strain on your wiring and light fixtures from excessive heat....

Honestly, i think this is just rubbish. Yes, putting higher wattage bulbs in is not wise, but you can put in more efficient bulbs and get a brighter and more effective beam without raiding the wattage.

And if you're blinding people, you want to adjust your beam. The SV headlights- especially the faied ones- are just not great. Not terrible, but not great. Silverstars or similiar bulbs will improve this, without affecting the wiring in any way whatsoever, and if your beam is adjusted correctly shouldn't inconvenience other road users.

[TSM]

From what i have read, HID bulbs run with less heat than normal so if you wanted to do that then it would be easy on the S bikes. You need a place to put the ballast/starter for the bulbs, so they could fit behind the fairing. Its a easy install but not cheep.

[embee]

From what i have read, HID bulbs run with less heat than normal so if you wanted to do that then it would be easy on the S bikes. You need a place to put the ballast/starter for the bulbs, so they could fit behind the fairing. Its a easy install but not cheep.

http://www.nippynormans.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PHP-HIDH44100K&variation=&aitem=3&mitem=4

[TSM]

Or http://www.hids4u.co.uk/products.asp

[RandyO]

higher wattage bulbs do nothing except blind other motorists and p*ss them off, and put a strain on your wiring and light fixtures from excessive heat....

snip


And if you're blinding people, you want to adjust your beam. The SV headlights- especially the faied ones- are just not great. Not terrible, but not great. Silverstars or similiar bulbs will improve this, without affecting the wiring in any way whatsoever, and if your beam is adjusted correctly shouldn't inconvenience other road users.


wait till you get older and your eyes can't adjust quickly even correctly aimed brighter lights will bother you.

and in reality the bright lights that annoy me the most are the ones in my rear view mirror

[northwind]

From what i have read, HID bulbs run with less heat than normal so if you wanted to do that then it would be easy on the S bikes. You need a place to put the ballast/starter for the bulbs, so they could fit behind the fairing. Its a easy install but not cheep.

Trouble is, HID doens't work so well with conventional headlight reflectors- it can cause really bad glare, in some lamps, and possibly dark spots. Still, it's somethign I've considered myself.