Max watts bulb to use in standard headlight fitting?

[Grendel]

Ok I’m after a more powerful headlight bulb for my Transalp and don’t fancy the expense of fitting HID. So I was wandering how high a Watt H4 bulb can I fit before I risk melting the reflectors and wiring?

Will standard electrics stand up to an 80W Rally bulb or even a bulb 100W?
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Past bike: 2004 Hyosung Comet
Current bike: 1993 Honda Transalp
Transalp Page: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=11418462079

[Kickstart]

Hi

Maybe. However the wiring is easy, just run wires from the battery via a relay and trigger the relay with the standard headlight wires.

Heat wise it will depend on the materials used to make the headlight, headlight size, etc.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[c-m]

Hi,

I have a ZX9 with at standard bulb of 55w. This was awful for my weekly commute. After speaking to a few guys on zx9 forums, I bought a 100/110w 4500k bulb (well i bout two for £14 but only need one).

I have been running it all winter and its been fine. I was give a higher amp fuse but I have kept the original 10amp one in. No problems yet, but a world of difference in night vision.

[nasty]

I was thinking of trying one of these, not heard anything about them though:
https://www.lighting.philips.com/in_en/consumer/carlighting/2_2wheeler_lighting/products_for_2wheeler/1_motovision.php?main=in_en_consumer_lighting&parent=89083467512&id=in_en_car_lighting&lang=en
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ZX6R F3

[smegballs]

What is the secret to good lighting?

Cars manage it! Even a normal crappy fiesta or such has much better lights than any bike I've ever seen.

Some of the snazzier cars are amazing to be in at night, they light up everything ! I always think I could ride so much quicker at night if my bikes had car lighting....

[Grendel]

[c-m]

[Grendel]

Thanks for that. Think I may play it safe and look at an 80W bulb that way it should be safe enough even if I do have plastic reflector.

Local Car shop has these going cheap:
https://www.motor-world.co.uk/index.cfm?product=1775&product_title=Ring%20Xenon%20Max%20H4%20Headlight%20Bulbs

But logically the higher Watt the bulb the better it should be. Out of interests do you have to change the bulbs over every MOT for road legal ones?
____________________
Past bike: 2004 Hyosung Comet
Current bike: 1993 Honda Transalp
Transalp Page: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=11418462079

[c-m]

I have a plastic reflector on the ZX9 and haven't had any problems with the 90/100w bulb.

As for the MOT i haven't had one yet, but i'm planning on leaving the bulb in. They will only check the lights positioning. Looking at it from the front the light just seems like more of a car light so should be fine.

[Grendel]

Thanks for the Info
____________________
Past bike: 2004 Hyosung Comet
Current bike: 1993 Honda Transalp
Transalp Page: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=11418462079

[Kickstart]

[Grendel]

Well just fitted the 12v 100/80w Halogen bulb. I forgot you have to remove all the fairing to get to it on the old Transalp so a 15min job took an hour.

Looks brighter compared to the 60/55w Xenon headlight bulbs I had fitted last year and a lot whiter.

But won’t know how much difference till I go out at night or down an unlit road.
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Past bike: 2004 Hyosung Comet
Current bike: 1993 Honda Transalp
Transalp Page: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=11418462079

[tsmith]

i fitted an Osram Nightbreaker H4 55/60w to my GPZ and aimed it up slightly by adjusting the alignment wheel

much better than stock

[Im-a-Ridah]

xenon/special filled bulbs/super brilliant ect are are still 65w dont bother with them

Proper xenon hid kits are cheap enough!

If you want more light but not xenon hid, then just use rally bulbs with uprated wiring. I run 90/130 IIRC on my ZX6R. Bulb life is less though so make sure you have a backup light source, mine went out at night after I passed a truck on the A34 at ~80mph ish, luckily I had a secondary light to cover me!

[kawakid]

This months Ride magazine has a full review of all the bulbs on the market.

The bulbs that come out top are these

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PHILIPS-H7-X-Treme-extreme-Power-80-GENUINE-bulbs-NEW_W0QQitemZ220539328682QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item33592b18aa
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I've a twin and a 4.

[Noxious89123]

I put one of those Philips X-Treme vison bulbs in my bike. It's much whiter than the standard honda bulb. Regarding the 80% more light claim, I would say it was beleiveable.

Would definitely reccommend it as an easy and worthwhile upgrade.
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[Im-a-Ridah]

[kawakid]

[Kickstart]

[Im-a-Ridah]

[Smooth]

[Noxious89123]

They do not use Xenon gas. The glass that the filament is inside is smaller, and the gas inside is under greater pressure, so the fillament can burn hotter, and thus brighter. Or something like that
Either way, they do not use xenon gas, and do not claim to do so.

[Grendel]

Well it’s been a few months since I fitted the 80W bulb in Feb and its still going strong with daily use and nothing melted yet. Must admit cleaning the lens and reflector would be an idea but it's a sealed unit on the Transalp so I can’t
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Past bike: 2004 Hyosung Comet
Current bike: 1993 Honda Transalp
Transalp Page: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=11418462079

[LeeR]

RiDE reviewed standard wattage bulbs in April this year, you can find the results: here I'd already bought some Halfords Super Brilliance Blue (=6th) on a BOGOF early this year, but if I get the chance I'll try the Phillips X-treme Power @ £22.25/pair for this winter.
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My claim to fame: Austin Vince nicked my pen...

[iooi]