Replacement high performance headlight bulbs

**Blackbird** · 25th July 2006, 13:11

I made a post a while back (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=26322) about the benefits of fitting Xenon bulbs particularly for being seen in daylight by dozy cage drivers.

A friend recently bought some aftermarket 100W Xenon headlight bulbs for his Hayabusa through Trademe. They were Asian-made and upon fitting, he was bitterly disappointed with their performance. They were worse than his stock bulbs and it looks like he was ripped off so fair warning!

I sourced my 100W Xenon bulbs 18 months ago from the UK and they’ve been superb. I’ve just bought some more as spares from another UK source and the service is outstanding. The price quoted on their website includes airmail to NZ and they arrived within 5 days of ordering on line. They even tossed in a couple of little blue freebie bulbs. Their purpose is currently lost on me but might have something to do with those blue lights on Boy Racer cages!

Anyway, if anyone wants to buy 100W H7 Xenon bulbs, HID headlight kits and a whole lot more stuff from a company with great customer service, here’s their URL: http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/home.php

**Zapf** · 25th July 2006, 14:33

This looks interesting... http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/pro...cat=255&page=1

$30 bucks each!

**sAsLEX** · 25th July 2006, 14:41

Originally Posted by Blackbird

They even tossed in a couple of little blue freebie bulbs. Their purpose is currently lost on me but might have something to do with those blue lights on Boy Racer cages!

Could of got a air pressure metre that you might of actually used! http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/pro...cat=705&page=1

**98tls** · 25th July 2006, 14:46

nice....think i will get some,anything that helps me be seen by cars has to be good.

**The Stranger:Me** · 25th July 2006, 15:00

Ok, the lights on the GSXR are SHIT!
Worst lights of any bike I have had.

What I don't know is are they all the same fitment?
Like I don't see any options, so can I safely assume these will fit the GSXR?
and now for the next dumb question.

Are they replacement for both the high and low beam? i.e. do I need one or two bulbs?

**WickedOne** · 25th July 2006, 15:05

Originally Posted by Blackbird

I made a post a while back (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=26322) about the benefits of fitting Xenon bulbs particularly for being seen in daylight by dozy cage drivers.

A friend recently bought some aftermarket 100W Xenon headlight bulbs for his Hayabusa through Trademe. They were Asian-made and upon fitting, he was bitterly disappointed with their performance. They were worse than his stock bulbs and it looks like he was ripped off so fair warning!

I sourced my 100W Xenon bulbs 18 months ago from the UK and they’ve been superb. I’ve just bought some more as spares from another UK source and the service is outstanding. The price quoted on their website includes airmail to NZ and they arrived within 5 days of ordering on line. They even tossed in a couple of little blue freebie bulbs. Their purpose is currently lost on me but might have something to do with those blue lights on Boy Racer cages!

Anyway, if anyone wants to buy 100W H7 Xenon bulbs, HID headlight kits and a whole lot more stuff from a company with great customer service, here’s their URL: http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/home.php

Cheers for the info, how do you find them at night when it is raining?

**GR81** · 25th July 2006, 15:29

yea, im in the market for some better bulbs... the ATNR's are proving this point to me every time! haha

CaN: http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/home.php?cat=266 <- i guess you need to work out which ones are which. workshop manul?

**Blackbird** · 25th July 2006, 16:38

Originally Posted by WickedOne

Cheers for the info, how do you find them at night when it is raining?

No problem at all, have done heaps of night riding in the wet. The raindrops do reflect the glare back a bit more, but not excessively so.

CaN - can't help you with your fitment size on the Gixxer. My mate's Busa has an H7 for dip and some weird right-angled thing for main beam. Maybe yours is the same. 100W upgrades are fine for the 'bird and 'busa but not necessarily for all bikes. A halogen bulb is marginally better in the dark, but nowhere as good as Xenon for being seen in daylight.

Geoff

**WickedOne** · 25th July 2006, 16:47

Originally Posted by Blackbird

No problem at all, have done heaps of night riding in the wet. The raindrops do reflect the glare back a bit more, but not excessively so.

CaN - can't help you with your fitment size on the Gixxer. My mate's Busa has an H7 for dip and some weird right-angled thing for main beam. Maybe yours is the same. 100W upgrades are fine for the 'bird and 'busa but not necessarily for all bikes. A halogen bulb is marginally better in the dark, but nowhere as good as Xenon for being seen in daylight.

Geoff

Cheers for that...

**Kendog** · 25th July 2006, 18:07

Originally Posted by WickedOne

Cheers for that...

If you do get one, I would be very interested in how it fits and turns out.

Cheers

**Blackbird** · 25th July 2006, 19:48

Originally Posted by Kendog

If you do get one, I would be very interested in how it fits and turns out.

Cheers

Is it an H7 on the Hornet? On the Blackbird, there's a big plastic block which the wires go into and the block locates precisely into the headlamp opening. The bulb itself presses into the plastic block - all very easy to replace. The only no-no is to touch the bulb with your fingers as the oil and salt will reduce its life to single digit hours!

**Kendog** · 25th July 2006, 20:11

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Is it an H7 on the Hornet?

No idea really.

I have not looked seriously at replacing the bulb, but anything to make me more visible on the road gets my vote.

**Blackbird** · 25th July 2006, 20:26

Originally Posted by Kendog

No idea really.

I have not looked seriously at replacing the bulb, but anything to make me more visible on the road gets my vote.

Your manual will tell you what spec it is. Even a Phillips Xenon 55W bulb from your local Repco store will make you more visible in daylight. A 100W bulb is incredible at night but illegal of course. And who is going to check????

**Ixion** · 25th July 2006, 20:46

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Your manual will tell you what spec it is. Even a Phillips Xenon 55W bulb from your local Repco store will make you more visible in daylight. A 100W bulb is incredible at night but illegal of course. And who is going to check????

Why? Nothing about it in the 2004 Road Rule. Only a problem if it dazzles.

Some countries do have maximum wattage limits, but I'm not aware of any in NZ. Correction as always is welcomed. (von Klunken has a 130/100 headlamp bulb)

**Kendog** · 25th July 2006, 22:29

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Your manual will tell you what spec it is. Even a Phillips Xenon 55W bulb from your local Repco store will make you more visible in daylight. A 100W bulb is incredible at night but illegal of course. And who is going to check????

The manual has this very help full description:

Headlight 12v 60/55W

So I am not much wiser