Standard headlight Vs Narva 100 plus

[rowanc]

I recently bought my GS500F second hand from peter Stevens in Ringwood. It's my first bike (although I'm 34), and I'm loving it.

I mostly end up riding it at night though, and I thought the headlights, to put it mildly, were crap. After having a bit of a look around the web, I figured I'd at least buy some better H4's, and supercheapauto had the Narva plus 100 globes. Not cheap for a globe, but supposedly twice as bright - I'll try that!.

So, for anyone else that is wondering, I took photo's (attached) to see the difference between the two setup's on high beam and low beam.

Also, it turns out that adjusting the headlight is fairly important! I would have thought that that was something they'd do in the roadworthy, but if it's meant to drop about 5cm in 5m (2in in 17ft)(that's the only alignment reference I can find), mine was already hitting the ground at 5m. After I took these photo's, I adjusted them up, and now I CAN SEEEEEE!!!!

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[prmas]

Mine too was way too low from new. Vertical adjustment helped a lot with the original globe. I am using the Phillips +120 globe and find it a vast improvement over standard. Not only does it put more light onto the road but it filled in most of the shadows in the beam spread. All of that without needing any more amps as there are not many to spare in the GS. At idle with the grip warmers on 100% the battery voltage drops to under 12 volts therefore it is running on the battery. Lucky that I don't spend too much time idling.

Macka   

[Janx101]

  ... Onya Rowanc !! ... Been saying the same for years!! .. well done you on converting and 'seeing the light'  hahahahhahaha

[fetor56]

HID's are the ultimate for lighting....i put them on my Yamaha TDM900(left low beam 35w/4300K,right high beam 55w/6000K) and they work excellent.
My Naked GS model didn't work out well cos it's unrealistic with the ballast needing to be far away from the globe(no space in the bucket),and the globe itself being too deep for the headlight bucket.
I bought Narva Plus 120's but still havn't given up on the HID idea.
Yours having fairings would atleast overcome the ballast location problems.

[weedahoe]

a lot of guys also use Sylvania silverstars also over standard halogen bulbs but I do a lot of HID projector retrofits for customers and hands down, they are THE best light output devices on the market that are street legal.

Either way, glad you can see better and especially so at night. Maybe go on ebay and get some rim reflective tape also if you do ride more at night.

[ohgood]

I recently bought my GS500F second hand from peter Stevens in Ringwood. It's my first bike (although I'm 34), and I'm loving it.

I mostly end up riding it at night though, and I thought the headlights, to put it mildly, were crap. After having a bit of a look around the web, I figured I'd at least buy some better H4's, and supercheapauto had the Narva plus 100 globes. Not cheap for a globe, but supposedly twice as bright - I'll try that!.

So, for anyone else that is wondering, I took photo's (attached) to see the difference between the two setup's on high beam and low beam.

Also, it turns out that adjusting the headlight is fairly important! I would have thought that that was something they'd do in the roadworthy, but if it's meant to drop about 5cm in 5m (2in in 17ft)(that's the only alignment reference I can find), mine was already hitting the ground at 5m. After I took these photo's, I adjusted them up, and now I CAN SEEEEEE!!!!

if you really want some light, do a search on youtube or google for aftermarket jeep LED headlights. the latest version i've seen was from a speaker manufacturer, and will throw a beam much wider, longer, and brighter than what you're using now.

more night riding, more night light.

[Calpantera]

Just a few comments,
1. No matter what type of light you have make sure it is adjusted properly or it does you and others no good
2. Never out drive your lights
3. Don't blind others on the road with overly bright or miss-adjusted headlights

I have always run Silverstars in all of my vehicles that they have an application for and have never seen the need for brighter lights. Keeping the lenses clean and polished helps a lot too.

[RossLH]

I have always run Silverstars in all of my vehicles

Sylvania Silverstars are probably the worst bulbs on the market. Expensive, low quality, very low light output. Osram Silverstars (Osram is Sylvania's parent company) are definitely some of the better bulbs you can buy.

[Calpantera]

I have always run Silverstars in all of my vehicles

Sylvania Silverstars are probably the worst bulbs on the market. Expensive, low quality, very low light output. Osram Silverstars (Osram is Sylvania's parent company) are definitely some of the better bulbs you can buy.

And that is based on?
I have never had an issue with these bulbs, nice bright white light and always an improvement over stock. I think one key thing that has helped is to use gloves when installing them and do not use a wattage that is higher than what the vehicle was designed for. I have heard people complain about life span but I have never had an issue.

[RossLH]

Here's some good reading.

Basically, the filament is overpowered in order to get a very bright light in order to counteract the dimming effect of the blue coating. The end result is a low lifespan and low light output. The Osram Silverstars use the same filament at a lower power and the bulbs have no coating, resulting in a whiter light, fantastic lumen rating, and much longer life span.

[ohgood]

I have always run Silverstars in all of my vehicles

Sylvania Silverstars are probably the worst bulbs on the market. Expensive, low quality, very low light output. Osram Silverstars (Osram is Sylvania's parent company) are definitely some of the better bulbs you can buy.

sweet info ! thanks, will look into this.

[Calpantera]

Here's some good reading.

Basically, the filament is overpowered in order to get a very bright light in order to counteract the dimming effect of the blue coating. The end result is a low lifespan and low light output. The Osram Silverstars use the same filament at a lower power and the bulbs have no coating, resulting in a whiter light, fantastic lumen rating, and much longer life span.

Hmm, no offense but I am going to stick with my own expierience over a random web site even if he does claim to be "North America's premier automotive lighting consultancy". They work for me! 

[RossLH]

I'd recommend trying something like the Osram Silverstars just once. You'll be amazed at how much better you can see at night.

[Soloratov]

Is there any noticeable  increase in electrical draw from these?