80/100w Headlight bulbs in SV?
 

Not found anything on the forum search from anyone running 80/100w headlights.

Anyone tried them? I'm primarily concerned with any potential damage to the reflectors / lenses on my bike (curvy s). The headlight wiring itself is already fully redone with direct battery connections and a set of relays up behind the lights.

An I do know about HID's already and would prefer not to go down that route.

I have always found the SV lights to be very poor, even with Relays and night breakers I cannot see far enough ahead on full beam to really enjoy night riding.

Re: 100w Headlights
 

I've been running 80/100 on my daytona for 18 months now with no problems at all.
Loads more light and never been pulled either.

Re: 100w Headlights
 

I put 100w xeons in my pointy a year or so bak and found them a great improvement. They do make the lenses hot but i havent had an issue with any damage to reflectors, lens etc.

Re: 100w Headlights
 

There is actually a lot on here discussing hi-powered bulbs. This normally focusses on the potential for damage to wiring / switches due to the increased current draw of 80/100W H4s. I think the general consensus is that pointies are OK (-ish) but curvys can be damaged, curvies come with 40/60 as standard IIRC.

Personally I have never risked high wattage bulbs in my bikes, preferring to go with a high quality xenon bulb like Osram Nightbreakers or Phillips X-treme, which give a good boost in output for same current draw. The curvy I had was not bad with these bulbs in. YMMV.

Of course, the VFR lamps are so good I have not needed to upgrade my bulbs :smt038

Re: 100w Headlights
 

Have to agree with Mike that viffer lamps are pretty awesome, even just with standard bulbs. I had Nightbreakers on by SV1000 and found them pretty good.

Wish I could say the same about my Sprint lamps - HIDs are definitely on the cards for my next upgrade.

Re: 100w Headlights
 

I have to agree with you on that, the lights are very poor in quality.
You got any wiring diagrams/plans for the direct linkup?
Seams like a worthy mod to get better power out of my lights and may as well consider it as my low beam bulb on one side is getting 0volts thanks to a broken cable.

Collis

Re: 100w Headlights
 

Luckpants - as mentioned the wiring will not be a problem.

Collis - I'll look at sorting a diagram and a couple of photos of my install. The voltage drop at the lights was around 3.5 with stock wiring and nightbreakers, now around .5v. Huge difference. Still want more though!

Re: 100w Headlights
 

Ooops missed that bit in your post, that'll teach me not to scan read! (no it won't ;))

Re: 100w Headlights
 

I replaced the stock bulbs in my pointy for 55w ones, can't remember if they were nightbreakers or the phillips ones, took ages to turn up irrc!

Vast difference just going up a few watts, I bet the 80/100s make it light daytime!

Re: 100w Headlights
 

I had some unidentified 55/60w in my Curvy when I bought the bike, and they were ok. Then one blew and I replaced it with a £2 55/60 Osram.

Needless to say it was pants, so I bought some Nightbreakers. They are better, but the light is still not as white as these unidentifed ones. I swapped both out to Nightbreakers anyway.