Xenon Bulb - worth it?

[Taipan]

Fitted a few different bulbs to various bikes. The only one that actually was an improvment was Osram Silverstar 50% brighter. This Nightbreaker sounds interesting...

Having been blinded by YC's portable sun I can vouch for its brightness. DO NOT LOOK AT THE LIGHT!

also look at philips diamond vision - better than night breakers by far!

[the_lone_wolf]

If you're gonna do it, don't pussy about with it, 145W of HID + 55W of halogen FTW:







HID is the way forward for light output, but if you don't want the hassle or expense I've had Phillips, Osram and Halfrauds own brand bulbs, they're equally bright and equally better than stock tbh

[embee]

I've got some Philips X-Treme Power lamps in the car, they replaced some Osram Silverstars.
Silverstars were a good improvement on the originals when they first came out, and the X-Treme powers were a similar step up again. From what I've read, there's little to choose between Nightbreakers and X-Treme Powers, I'd go for whatever is cheaper ( Powerbulbs.co.uk are a good reliable supplier, but they also have an ebay shop where prices are usually better). Usual warning, there are some fakes on ebay.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by GavinD

also look at philips diamond vision - better than night breakers by far!

And do you have any evidence for this? Diamond vision put out a blue light for the HID wannabee but is still a basic halogen bulb in the end. So how does the Diamond Vision achieve it's blue colour? All coloured bulbs I know of use a dichroic (sp?) filter that blocks light from some of the spectrum to colour of the light. Result? Less ACTUAL light on the road.

So unless Diamond Vision achieve the 5000K colour (HID blue) by some clever means I have not heard of, then there is NO WAY they can be better than Philips X-treme Power / Osram Nightbreakers.

EDIT: Just had a look at some Diamond Vision bulbs online. The glass is definitely coloured blue, so they are definitely filtering the light, resulting in less light on the road. So basically coloured bulbs for posing, not a lighting upgrade. To top it off these bulbs are not 'E'-marked and therefore cannot be legally used on the road in the EU.

[Taipan]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

And do you have any evidence for this? Diamond vision put out a blue light for the HID wannabee but is still a basic halogen bulb in the end. So how does the Diamond Vision achieve it's blue colour? All coloured bulbs I know of use a dichroic (sp?) filter that blocks light from some of the spectrum to colour of the light. Result? Less ACTUAL light on the road.

So unless Diamond Vision achieve the 5000K colour (HID blue) by some clever means I have not heard of, then there is NO WAY they can be better than Philips X-treme Power / Osram Nightbreakers.

EDIT: Just had a look at some Diamond Vision bulbs online. The glass is definitely coloured blue, so they are definitely filtering the light, resulting in less light on the road. So basically coloured bulbs for posing, not a lighting upgrade. To top it off these bulbs are not 'E'-marked and therefore cannot be legally used on the road in the EU.

With regards to X-treme Vs Night Breakers I found this review from april this year which gives it to X-tremes. http://www.powerbulbs.com/blog/index...night-breaker/

Originally Posted by Luckypants

And do you have any evidence for this? Diamond vision put out a blue light for the HID wannabee but is still a basic halogen bulb in the end. So how does the Diamond Vision achieve it's blue colour? All coloured bulbs I know of use a dichroic (sp?) filter that blocks light from some of the spectrum to colour of the light. Result? Less ACTUAL light on the road.

So unless Diamond Vision achieve the 5000K colour (HID blue) by some clever means I have not heard of, then there is NO WAY they can be better than Philips X-treme Power / Osram Nightbreakers.

EDIT: Just had a look at some Diamond Vision bulbs online. The glass is definitely coloured blue, so they are definitely filtering the light, resulting in less light on the road. So basically coloured bulbs for posing, not a lighting upgrade. To top it off these bulbs are not 'E'-marked and therefore cannot be legally used on the road in the EU.

Seemed brighter when I upgraded from nightbreakers,

The bulbs are higher pressure (thinner xenon gas tube bit) and have a better intergrity filament that can be made thinner and so lights up brighter

They are not that blue but certainly more comfortable,

Nightbreakers are good - but I found these better.

They are not road legal - not that you'd get stopped for them and very very bright!


My post came from experience not a review (taipan thats not a dig at the review you just posted chap)

Don't want to appear stupid (I am but I'd rather hide it)... but is there a specific nightbreaker bulb I will need for a bike or are they the same in bikes and cars?

In eBay: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__osram...=228459_228460

Which one do I buy!?

[yorkie_chris]

Just H4 60/55w