Brighter Headlight Bulb

[Torn]

umm you just said what the wattage is. 80/100 80 watts lows, 100 watt brights.

yeah....I was pointing out that it doesnt say it on the box..or at least the two I picked up from the napa store. just says BP 1210/h4 or vice versa...hell next Ill make sure to say it exactly right.

[Mercury]

good point rich, plus - the bulbs i bought are 10 bux at napa..... hids are much more, plus there is wiring involved...

people hate me enough as it is with the 80/100 HID's i think cars would aim towards me to try and kill me

just read the bulb to know the wattage - it should say


80 is low, 100 is high

[RichLockyer]

That's one of two problems with HID conversions.
At least on a cage you have two headlights... and the units installed in autos are MUCH higher quality than the imported units available for $100.

I do use HID for scuba... and I carry two backup lights at all times.

The other problem with the upgrades specifically is that the reflectors and lenses were not designed for them, and they dramatically increase glare.

Back in August of '04 or '05, the upgrade kits were outlawed from sale in the US. I see they are again available... but I don't know if they are actually legal to USE on the highway or not.

[tkuligowski]

The other problem with the upgrades specifically is that the reflectors and lenses were not designed for them, and they dramatically increase glare.

This is a good point. HID's are made to be used with projectors. With projectors not only is the light output great but they are designed not to create glair for oncoming vehicles. The good thing is that motorcylcle headlights are very basic in design and it would be really easy to fab a projector in it if you like DIY projects.

[Steve2242]

I was so impressed with the PIAA headlight bulb that I put them on the 2 side lamps in my light-bar & in both of my family vehicles. I think they're awesome.

[Biker Dad]

I just put the Wagner bulb in my bike tonight.. WOW.. It was bright.. The headlight did get warmer thatn before, so I will monitor this to make sure it does not create any problems..

[PackerBackerGA]

Hey..... Has anyone tried using the 80/100 watt headlight bulbs that Gadget mentions on one of his lighting pages.
Talking about the BP1210/H4 headlight bulb made by Wagner and the
Sylvania 2357LL bulb for the taillight.
Was going to get some of these bulbs from NAPA and was a little concerned about the headlight bulb being too hot and melting the headlight lense.

This headlight bulb should be a hell of a lot brighter than the stock bulb.

Anybody using these ???

+1 on the 1210
Best $11 I've spent on the bike yet! REALLY bright and REALLY cheap!
Check out my thread on cheap night mods for the 900.

[cowboy78642]

Think I'll have to try that Wagner Bulb....some mornings I count 20-30 deer on
the county rds, before I get to SH29. Really hard to see till your right up on them.

[robrider]

Ok, slightly different questions. When I added a cobra lightbar on my 1600 classic, I followed the instructions (I know, stupid of me) and just spliced into the existing power for the headlight low beam. Can I just upgrade to the Wagner 80/100, or will that draw too much power? I'll someday get around to putting in a relay to power the lightbar separately, but, can I use a higher wattage bulb in the meantime?

[RichLockyer]

You'll need a relay. The light bar is 70 watts, and the stock low beam is 55.
Even THAT is pushing it for the 10a circuit.

[robrider]

Once again, Rich, you the man! Thanks, I'll have to get the relay sooner rather than later, I guess. I was hoping to just get he brighter light in the meantime...

[artz]

just ordered the wagner from napa and it'll be here tomorrow. $10.99
Woo-Hoo !!!!

[djh3]

I got the NAPA 80/100 bulb. I also run a headlight modulator on high beam in daylight. I swear the low beam at night is as bright as the Hi was before. Love it one of the best saftey upgrades I've done. Might think about this tail light bulb next.

[MrClean]

I swear the low beam at night is as bright as the Hi was before.

I think it actually IS brighter. The old high beam was 60 watts? You now have 80 watts, if you aimed it higher it would more than exceed the old highbeam. But don't do it, leave it to the 100 watt highbeam.

[lguayante]

Just installed the Wagner 1210-h4 head light and 1157 tail light. Wow, the 1210 is wonderful at night--however, I'm a bit concerned about the head light lens (it's really hot to the touch). The 1157 tail light seems a tad brighter than the stock, but can't really tell.

[RichLockyer]

Been running that headlight for almost 30k... no problems with the lens or reflector.

[artz]

Installed the wagner bulb this afternoon, just got back from a supper run on a 120 mile round trip. You guys are so right ! Its a total shock to see the lowbeam as powerful as the stock highbeam, and the wagner highbeam just blows me away with its light output. You can easily identify deer, or whatever at a greater distance and prepare for the situation.
Next...I have 2 bullet lamps that I am gonna connect to the frame at floorboard level for a little more light ground level. I believe they are 35 watts. Anyone tried this out yet ???

[Mercury]

Installed the wagner bulb this afternoon, just got back from a supper run on a 120 mile round trip. You guys are so right ! Its a total shock to see the lowbeam as powerful as the stock highbeam, and the wagner highbeam just blows me away with its light output. You can easily identify deer, or whatever at a greater distance and prepare for the situation.
Next...I have 2 bullet lamps that I am gonna connect to the frame at floorboard level for a little more light ground level. I believe they are 35 watts. Anyone tried this out yet ???

do u have a light bar yet? I would say do a light bar first.... then the lower lamps - cause lower lights on tight turns may get in the way no?


kenny

[artz]

no light bar. The bullets would be mounted just above or the same height as the floorboard. They could get damaged if I mounted them under it though.

[djh3]

Artz, I bought some cheapo type driving lights from Autozone or Advance dont remember which one now. Anyways they are sort of an oval shape and maybe roughly 3"x1 to 1.5" I made a couple of brackets up and mounted them just forward of the floorboards. I used like 1/2 alum angle and mounted it to the forward bolts for the floorboards I think. I had to make visors for the top of the lights as to much wanted to shine up and reflect off the windshield for my likeing and I just used a couple of pieces of thin alum I had laying around. You could use a pop can if you wanted too, then I used a couple of worm type hose clamps to hold the visors on and painted them (visor & clamps) black to blend in. I would advise to either get lights that you can get replacable lens for or a cheap to replace, or find some what we used to call in the Air Force helicopter tape and cover the lenses. Stones rocks and who knows what else beat the crap out of these lights done there. I covered mine with helicopter tape but only after I was looking the bike over one day and discovered they were cracked.
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Oh yea and over 9000 miles with the NAPA1210 bulb and still glowing.