do you know why i stoped you?

[newbCalChr]

the other evening i was out driving and i was passed by this sport bike that had the most brightest head lights well i turned my car around in the center of the road and started flying after him well i flashed my lights turned on my hazards and followed him well he pulled over and i got out and walked up to him and asked what kind of headlights he had he said they were piaa bulbs and drving lights or something like that so my question is this can i get that for my ninja ex250 and if there is anything better?

[Tod]

I think someone over on the 250 riderforum found both a sylvania silverstar and a piaa H2 that would work, but he had to beef up the relay or something to make it work.

[newbCalChr]

thanks

[xeon]

All you have to do is buy and install a 9003/H4 PIAA or SilverStar lamp. SilverStars are much cheaper than the PIAA and IMO give off almost the same light. PIAAs seem to not last as long as SilverStars and neither seem to last as long as regular halogens. I think the PIAAs overdrive themselves somehow, but I have never dug into it, but that would explain their shorter life. IME, overdriving a lamp is a function of the system not the lamp though... in short I'm not sure.

http://www.piaa.com/Bulbs/Bulbs-H4.html
http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProd...r/ProductLine/

The SilverStars are available in single packs for motorcycles. My Wal-Mart carries them.

[Tod]

I think the reason the guy upgraded his relay was to help with the bulb life.
Somethig about the stock relay didn't give the higher wattage bulb the right kick to start it off, making the bulb work harder at startup, which shortens the life.

[Sassy Chassis]

I had the SilverStar for the Ninja...was definitely very bright and noticeable.

[CatchMeIfYouCan]

Hi Tod..

Tod here..

The reason for adding relays is when you go to brighter bulbs, even if it is a simple switch to more wattage (without the new high tech ones, which give off better, brighter light at same wattage), you run the risk of doing expensive damage.

Years ago, I used to run twin 90/130 bulbs in the GSXR750G, in 1985. The upside was fantastic lights at night, the downside was the heat generated meant highway riding was fine. Sitting around in traffic without the additional cooling of the airflow meant regular burnt out bulbs.

If you are making a LARGE jump in wattage, ensure your source can cope with it (the alternator). You need to ensure it runs ALL your lighting, with spare to run the rest of the smaller things on the bike.

Then, relays will be needed as the actual headlight switch will burn out if you are drawing lots more power due to the lights. This can become expensive to replace regularly

So once you know you have the juice and you've had the relays wired in, fit the bulbs of choice in and enjoy the enhanced safety of better lighting!

Cheers all from Downunder. Tod.

[Idaho]

I run a PIAA bulb and of course it is much brighter, sort of a blue/purple light. But the current load pulls the same amount as a stock bulb. I've been very happy with it.

[Tod]

Yeah, that's what it was, his switch kept burning out, so he put in a different relay and a new switch and all was fine after that.

[zedx11]

if they are putting out that much heat when in traffic wouldn't it melt warp the headlight housing?

[CatchMeIfYouCan]

Enough heat to overheat the filament - which causes the bulb to go.. Not enough to melt a housing (as the heat is reflected), as designed.

When in traffic, the heat isn't dissipated, thus, the bulb goes.

Cheers, Tod. Aussie.

PS - The increase in wattage is not needed so much nowadays, with the new generation of bulbs.. See the links a few posts up.

[Tiger77]

sheesh - I'm just surprised that you managed to catch a sport bike in a cage. I didn't know that was possible.

[Tweek]

He was in the millenium falcon. it will do the Kessel run 3 parsecs.

[MR.S7]

PIAA are the best. i have them on my car..

[Pistobah]

I had 2 PIAA's on my ninja, but one burned out, so i've got one stocker(brights) and one PIAA(low beam).