Has anyone tried those Xenon headlight bulbs. Are they brighter than stock... the ads say they are over twice as bright... is that true... and how are those silver star ones... made by sylvania I think. Which is better. And how is true HID... Worth converting over.... Not the bikes, my Truck.
Cool.
Srinath.

True HID headlights are awesome.  I've got a Saab 9-5 with them, when I get into my old Saturn or the wife's Civic after driving the Saab, it's like there's no headlights at all.  The light is so white, bright, and full, it's absurd.  I'm really glad to see this feature trickling down to "regular" cars, because I'll definitely get 'em if I can on every car from here on out.

Fake HID suck.  They're blue tinted ricer lights, and often actually cast less light than regular bulbs.  A real HID light conversion costs several hundred dollars, there's a lot more than needs changing than just the bulbs.  

The Silverstars and similar ones are legit upgrades over standard lights.  They ain't HID but they do cast a brighter, whiter light than the regular halogens.  Here's a pic somebody posted at a Saturn website, Silverstars on top, regulars on bottom:



jeff

do they got em out for motorcycles. that is one hell of a difference.

I think it's been discussed here before.  I believe the GS500 uses an "H4" style bulb, and Sylvania does make a Silverstar H4.  

I've got the regular crappo bulb in my GS, and don't ride at night because it sucks so bad.  I'm gonna pick up a Silverstar to see if it helps.  It can't possibly be any worse than what's in there now.

jeff

I have silverstars in my GS. Make sure you buy a 9003 silver star. Not a H4, not one that says for motorcycle only, not one that is rated 65/45, do not buy H4 silverstars. The H4 silverstars are 65/45. 9003 silverstars are 65/55. 9003 is the same as H4 except its targeted at cars. I bought them by mistake. Anyway I was asking about xenon ones. Walmart has some and there is a ton of it cheaper than walmart on ebay.
Cool.
Srinath.

i'd recommend the sylvania silverstars or piaa's for good non-hid bulbs.  they are the only ones that actually put out more light than standard bulbs.

A true Xenon bulb setup has a separate ballast much like a flourescent lighting system and uses completely different bulbs than a typical halogen system.  The silverstars are definately better bulbs over the stock ones but a true HID setup on the GS would run around $400 at least and would have to be custom made since I have yet to see a kit for it.

im not denying the benefits of hid for the driver/rider., but they often blind the hell out of the oncoming motorist, cant tell whether they are running highbeams or not :x i often ask myself if you need that much light ....., i wish these manufacturers would have some consideration for the oncoming motorist. sure the equipped vehicle is visible, but sometimes that is all the other car/truck/bike can see, on a side note, these vehicles with driving/fog lights, they do have a switch on them i wish people would shut them off when not needed, cause they are often mal-adjusted, and create a glare worse than hid

Quote from: jiggersplati'd recommend the sylvania silverstars or piaa's for good non-hid bulbs.  they are the only ones that actually put out more light than standard bulbs.

I second that. I'm running PIAA's Superbrights on my car and they're much brighter and much whiter than stock. I was running PIAA 80/80W h4 in my GS until I burned it out and partially melted the connection! I do not recommend running [much] higher than stock bulbs based soley on my single experience. Sylvania Silverstars are on my list for upgrading soon.

Quote from: yamahonkawazukiim not denying the benefits of hid for the driver/rider., but they often blind the hell out of the oncoming motorist, cant tell whether they are running highbeams or not :x i often ask myself if you need that much light ....., i wish these manufacturers would have some consideration for the oncoming motorist. sure the equipped vehicle is visible, but sometimes that is all the other car/truck/bike can see, on a side note, these vehicles with driving/fog lights, they do have a switch on them i wish people would shut them off when not needed, cause they are often mal-adjusted, and create a glare worse than hid

most of the problem can be corrected by aiming the headlights properly.  the rest is due to poor design and bad beam pattern.  try focusing on the line on the pavement to your right when passing oncoming cars with bright headlights.

Quote from: pantablo

Quote from: jiggersplati'd recommend the sylvania silverstars or piaa's for good non-hid bulbs.  they are the only ones that actually put out more light than standard bulbs.

I second that. I'm running PIAA's Superbrights on my car and they're much brighter and much whiter than stock. I was running PIAA 80/80W h4 in my GS until I burned it out and partially melted the connection! I do not recommend running [much] higher than stock bulbs based soley on my single experience. Sylvania Silverstars are on my list for upgrading soon.

yeah, if you compare same wattage bulbs, the piaa's and they sylvanias are the only ones that actually put out more lumens than the others.  always be careful when running higher-than-stock wattage bulbs.  you can use the stock wiring and a relay and run a bigger gauge wire to the lamp if you want a higher wattage bulb, or just replace the wires altogether.

The GS lights are so pathetic I doubt anyone will have glare. But silverstars in the 9003 is what I am thinking. I also saw on ebay someone selling 7000K some or other lights. They are ~$25 a pair. Now 7000K is the temperature inside the bulb, and the silverstars are ~4700K. So it would follow that the 7000K's are brighter... anyone tried those. And 80/80 regular halogen... well I once had 100/130's yes low beam was higher than high beam... and the bulb burnt out rather soon. About a month is all the damn thing lasted. And it cost ~$40. I said the hell with that and bought regular ones after that. Anyway the 7000K lights are going to be my next try. I dont think anyone will be blinded by these... 1/2 the time I cant see the road in front of me with the standard lights.
Cool.
Srinath.

WRONG.

sorry.

i get a bit overzealous when i see stuff like this.  i've been fighting this misconception for a couple years.  bulb temperature refers to color.  higher is more towards blue in the spectrum.  sunlight is ~5500K.  7000k bulbs will have a slight blue tint.  5500k bulbs will be white.  4700K bulbs will appear slightly yellowish.  standard halogen bulbs are around 3200K.

if you want to compare brightness you need to compare lumens.  reputable manufactures will have the information available.  if you email PIAA they will tell you, but they aren't published anywhere that i can find.

those 7000k bulbs will probably have significantly less light than stock.  basically what they do is take a stock bulb and coat it with something that filters out light to shift the color temperature.  any of the bulbs that have the blue coating are wasting wattage and will have fewer lumens (read: not as bright) than a bulb of the same wattage with no coating.

trust me.  get the silverstars or the PIAAs.

K gotcha... 9003 silverstars it is. Unfortunately 9003 are sold in pairs only... unlike H4's but Hey my bikes also come in pairs...
Cool.
Srinath.

I looked on Sylvania's website and they claim that the 9003 and the h4 are the same bulb.  They are both listed as "max 65/72 4000k" bulbs.  They also list the same light output.  For what it is worth......... http://www.sylvania.com/auto/silverstar.htm

Andy

Yes it does say that on the site... but in stores I have never seen the H4's for 65/55... forget 65/72... The H4's always are 65/45. The 9003's are 65/55's. Anyway I bought Xenon ones made by APC listed at 100/80 watts actual, and 135/125 equivalent in brightness... and its burning white and retina scorching bright.    > Cost 22.99 at napa for the 9003's and 2 in a box make it 12 bucks a bulb. Whoooo hoooo. 9007's for my truck are $16 a pair... making it cheaper than the street legal ones.
Cool.
Srinath.

there was an interesting read on ATOT with regards to teh life of the Silvania silver stars and other after market bulbs vs the regular stuff.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=38&threadid=1155438&FTVAR_MSGDBTABLE=

if your going from stock, you'll see all the difference in the world and then some... try the cheaper alternatives first, and if you like what you see you can invest in some HID, or other higher end lights.  If not, you've burned 30-40 bucks... but based on what I've personally seen, you'll be more than pleased with the results.

The 100/90's I got cost $23 a pair. So about 12 bucks a piece, and stock bulbs cost ~$7 each, any better than stock like sylvania silverstars cost like $15 each... The 100/90's seem to be the best upgrade there is... and if you have a blown bulb like my vulcan did... no question they are the best. BTW I keep the old bulbs in the box the new ones come in... so I use them in case they blow. Sometimes I switch to the dimmer ones in summer cos I mostly ride in daylight, no sense taxing the wiring and charging system etc as well as scorch the on comming drivers retinas for no added benefit.
Cool.
Srinath.

make sure you keep a close eye on your wiring harnesses.  that about double the stock wattage.  i wouldn't be suprised if they melt.

dan