Anyone use white/bluish headlights?

[jasonzc]

Hi there,

So it all started when my mate gave me a white LED light to replace my parking light bulb. Because it is white, it doesnt match the main headlight, so i bought a NARVA ARTIC BLUE bulb.

What a Waste of money. Its meant to emit a purish white light. But it just ended up being a slightly lighter shade of yellow compared with the stock, and seemed slightly less brighter too. :nono: What a waste of time. So i have taken the bulb out and will try ask for a refund.


So i guess my question is, does anyone know a bulb that will emit a whitish/blueish light without going to the HID option? Or am I trying chase the uncatchable dragon?
Since i have taken my headlight apart, id like to get some decent bulbs that are better than stock, prefferably white.

Any suggestions?

[Gremlin]

Usually, a white/blue light isn't as strong as a normal bulb.

You can certainly get those sorts of bulbs, but my preference is for Hella +50% or +90% bulbs, colour is probably a little whiter, but more importantly, it is much brighter.

[gijoe1313]

Just beware any advice or assistance Gremlin gives you regarding bulbs. You usually end up with oil on your gear with it. And random working of bulbs.

And as I've said it before, I'll say it again ....

"Gremlin by name, gremlin by nature!" :bleh:

[jasonzc]

Usually, a white/blue light isn't as strong as a normal bulb.

You can certainly get those sorts of bulbs, but my preference is for Hella +50% or +90% bulbs, colour is probably a little whiter, but more importantly, it is much brighter.

Hmmm should i use those and potentialy risk stranded at midnight out in the middle of nowhere?:bleh:

jks jks.... ok ill look into those.. have to ask the local garages if the stock them. Ill go check out the Hellas site. Cheers gremlin!

[Gremlin]

hella.co.nz is where the part numbers and range are :D naturally you've seen that thread then. +50% gives a gain, with good bulb life. +90% doesn't last as long, but last one lasted a little under a year

[slofox]

hella.co.nz is where the part numbers and range are :D naturally you've seen that thread then. +50% gives a gain, with good bulb life. +90% doesn't last as long, but last one lasted a little under a year

What is the current draw of these bulbs compared to std?

EDIT: Don't worry - found the appropriate info on the Hella website...

[cheshirecat]

hella.co.nz is where the part numbers and range are :D naturally you've seen that thread then. +50% gives a gain, with good bulb life. +90% doesn't last as long, but last one lasted a little under a year
Wish Iknew that earlier - I've been through 4 plus 90's in 15 months.
They are good though.

[Dschubba]

Depending on your bike, bikes with metal/glass headlamp enclosures, ie me old gsx1200, triumph street triple could take a 100W bulb. I had 130/90W H4 in the GSX. Needed to be wired thru a relay of course. The lights on that sucker were as good as the ZX14.

Bikes with the plastic enclosures I am assuming would melt.

[rie]

goddamn those lights are annoying.

[jasonzc]

Hahaha not if you do heaps of open rd riding at night.

I live off hw17 so if I go home at night, I'd like to see afar and been seen I suppose. There are some munter boyracers who roam that stretch of rd.

[rie]

Hahaha not if you do heaps of open rd riding at night.

I live off hw17 so if I go home at night, I'd like to see afar and been seen I suppose.

lol i see your point. i am mere cityfolk with humble stock headlight. >_<

[Gremlin]

What is the current draw of these bulbs compared to std?
well, you found details. They shouldn't draw any more than stock, which is the big appeal, just more light.

Wish Iknew that earlier - I've been through 4 plus 90's in 15 months.
They are good though.
Ouch... that is a tad quick. I would estimate 6-12 months per bulb, no more, no less. As you say, they are good tho. I'll take less life for such great light (don't use extra spots or anything)

Depending on your bike, bikes with metal/glass headlamp enclosures, ie me old gsx1200, triumph street triple could take a 100W bulb. I had 130/90W H4 in the GSX. Needed to be wired thru a relay of course. The lights on that sucker were as good as the ZX14.

Bikes with the plastic enclosures I am assuming would melt.
Yeup, gotta be careful. If the bulb is too powerful, you can either melt your headlight or worse, fry your electrics.

goddamn those lights are annoying.
Well, you really do need to dip for other vehicles, but I don't just commute in dark (its not even needed for that). I cover hundreds of kilometres in the dark, in the country. Sometimes I ride from afternoon to following morning (or more), ie, an entire night in the country (other than gas in towns of course). The +90% bulbs give fantastic light, even mid corner, but my headlight is mounted higher than normal bikes, which aids lighting mid corner.

[jasonzc]

OHk, so its decided, give up on the white/blue light stuff..

And go for the +50 or the +90's.
Is there a big difference between the 50s and 90s? and how much of a difference between stock and 50s? Just making sure cause changing bulbs on my bike is a pain in the ass hahaha.

[avgas]

How long did you leave the artic ice bulb in for. Mine would go blue after being turned on for about 5 minutes.
If you want blue - get a bulb with an intensity over 7,000 lumens.

[imdying]

If you want blue - get a bulb with an intensity over 7,000 lumens.How does the output change the colour?

[yama]

I've heard of people getting police grief from those lights

[Gremlin]

OHk, so its decided, give up on the white/blue light stuff..

And go for the +50 or the +90's.
Is there a big difference between the 50s and 90s? and how much of a difference between stock and 50s? Just making sure cause changing bulbs on my bike is a pain in the ass hahaha.
It also depends on the effectiveness and shape of the reflector. Even with stock bulbs, some bikes can be awful, some can be very good. GSXR reflector designs are very good from memory, for example.

I can't quantify the difference, its just... better. I'd start with a +50% (what I use in the hornet) and see how you find it. If you still seek more light, then try a +90 (I think there are also +70 and other ones in the hella range). However, from experience, the +50 are probably the good balance between performance and life, with the +90 noticeably lasting less than +50.

[grusomhat]

How long did you leave the artic ice bulb in for. Mine would go blue after being turned on for about 5 minutes.
If you want blue - get a bulb with an intensity over 7,000 lumens.

Color Temperature of 7000 Kelvin**

[Bren]

So I am guessing it pays to have a spare +90 in your emergency kit if you want to go down that path.....or some black tape....

Last time I blew a bulb at night I still had high beam...so put black tape over the top half of my light to give the effect of a dipped light....got me home without every car flashing me

[Gremlin]

So I am guessing it pays to have a spare +90 in your emergency kit if you want to go down that path.....or some black tape....

Last time I blew a bulb at night I still had high beam...so put black tape over the top half of my light to give the effect of a dipped light....got me home without every car flashing me
I did about 80-90km on high beam... then that also blew. First time I have ever had both filaments blow in a bulb. Wished to high hell I had a twin lamp dual filament set up :eek:

I'd suggest a +50% as a spare, unless you really need the +90% performance. Little more reliable and all that.

[jasonzc]

thanks all for contributing.

I got some hella +50%s.. ill see how they go, i might need to get a whiter w5w parklights to match.

Ill let you guys know how it goes.

cheers