Better head light bulbs? Curvy. - SV650.org

02-10-12, 07:14 AM

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

rictus01 · 02-10-12, 08:03 AM

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 · 02-10-12, 09:00 AM

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.

02-10-12, 09:04 AM

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

02-10-12, 09:09 AM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-1234...DK/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

rictus01 · 02-10-12, 09:17 AM

yeah they are 60/55w

Luckypants · 02-10-12, 09:17 AM

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-1234...9169085&sr=1-3.

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

02-10-12, 09:55 AM

ok ok captain sensible

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/33075...bar&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.

02-10-12, 11:47 AM

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 · 02-10-12, 11:52 AM

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.

02-10-12, 07:14 AM	#1
craig dow Guest Posts: n/a	Better head light bulbs? Curvy. 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

02-10-12, 08:03 AM	#2
rictus01 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South London Posts: 9,799	Re: head light bulbs 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. __________________ Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride!

02-10-12, 09:00 AM	#3
johnnyrod Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Doncaster, oop norf Posts: 2,128	Re: Better head light bulbs? Curvy. 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.

02-10-12, 09:04 AM	#4
alol Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Better head light bulbs? Curvy. I have put on OSRAM Nightbreakers PLUS - noticeably whiter light...

02-10-12, 09:09 AM	#5
chezvegas85 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Better head light bulbs? Curvy. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-1234...DK/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 Last edited by chezvegas85; 02-10-12 at 09:09 AM. Reason: typos

02-10-12, 09:17 AM	#6
rictus01 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South London Posts: 9,799	Re: Better head light bulbs? Curvy. yeah they are 60/55w __________________ Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride!

02-10-12, 09:17 AM	#7
Luckypants Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nr Ruthin Posts: 7,079	Re: Better head light bulbs? Curvy. 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-1234...9169085&sr=1-3. I fitted uprated bulbs to my curvy back in the day and it does make a big difference. __________________ "Your Viffer sounds like it is raising hell! Spot on." - Witchery 17/4/08 Snow Plough Appreciation Society - Member #3

02-10-12, 09:55 AM	#8
chezvegas85 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Better head light bulbs? Curvy. ok ok captain sensible http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/33075...bar&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. Last edited by chezvegas85; 02-10-12 at 11:27 AM. Reason:

02-10-12, 11:47 AM	#9
craig dow Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Better head light bulbs? Curvy. 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

02-10-12, 11:52 AM	#10
MJC-DEV Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Falmouth Posts: 621	Re: Better head light bulbs? Curvy. 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. __________________ 2006 SK6, wavy discs, 8.5N K-Tech springs, Debrix Emulators, Nitron Shock, Silkolene RSF Pro 10W, Eastern Beaver H4 Dual Headlight Relay Kit, Avon Storm Ultra 2 tyres, Ebay billet brake/clutch levers

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
head light bulbs (bright ones)	lancasterlad	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	5	20-10-07 10:39 AM
sv650s curvy- what are the light bulbs behind the speedo/tacho?	vzzzbuxt	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	2	19-09-07 04:48 PM
x4 Curvy sv clear tail light lenses inc bulbs,p&p = £22	Styler	For Sale - SV's and SV related items	3	10-09-07 10:48 PM
light bulbs	Quiff Wichard	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	1	26-04-05 11:54 PM
Light Bulbs	Nekkid	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	9	19-11-04 09:09 PM