Upgrading the lights on ZX9R

[cowboyz]

currently have halogen 45/45W in there.

not good enough.

looking at better lights.

rung bike shop and said could go 55/55W but warned that with plastic light cover the extra heat might melt the front headlight cover.

so 2 questions.

1. is going from 45 to 55 going to make a shitload of difference or just a minor difference?
2. threat of melting front headlight. how viable is this?

[vifferman]

It should be no problem going from 45W bulbs to 55/60, and they will make a noticeable difference. I've had a 90/130W bulb in a plastic-lensed headlight, with the only problem being overheating of the connector because the pins weren't clean enough (thus causing too much resistance = plug got hot).

[Kflasher]

I upgraded my bulbs on me ZX7, I had to cut a lug off, but was better, a whiter rather than tint of yellow light.
No issues with the electrics, but did check with bike shop.

[cowboyz]

thats what we wanted to hear. thanks guys

[Kflasher]

I have heard of drilling out the vent hole a little bigger to assist in cooling with the higher watts... but I would definitely run that one past a mech.

[Gremlin]

Look for Hella +50% bulbs, they are stock wattages usually, but brighter, and make a huuuuuge difference... been running them on my last 3 bikes basically... and they work real well. I believe philips may also make something similar...

[Pancakes]

I have been looking at light posts, just posted this in another thread.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...93&postcount=7

[Pancakes]

Made the relay,

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...15#post1120515

[ZeroIndex]

55W Halogens are good mate... got them on my bike (Acerbis headlight)... After my last bin, I broke the glass lense on the highbeam, and made a replacement lense out of one of my old helmet clear visors, and it hasn't melted yet...

[cowboyz]

ah ha. right over the top of my head there.

Godo news is the blue lights I did end up putting in are good. Still would like it better but have to pay someone to get it right I think.

[Pancakes]

I had always thought slightly yellow lights would be best as light things would have a yellow tinge and black things would stay black (at night). But a mechanic I was talking to today said that blue light has a higher perceived brightness and you see it "faster" if that makes sense, looks a bit silly bright blue though, a 6000 - 8000 kelvin colour temperature HID seems to be the bizzo! 3600 lumens at 35w for HID vs. 2400 lumens at 130w for a halogen/xenon bulb that is yellower light. The other side of the coin is $170 for a single HID setup against $20 for a loom to save your switches from a 130w load and $35 for a Narva 130/100 super white from Repco.

Man there's no confidence like a clear view of whats ahead tho a!

[cowboyz]

Man there's no confidence like a clear view of whats ahead tho a!

I hear that.

There was a recent expedition where a whole group of sportsbikes got the big learn from a mighty meanstreak VN1500 criuser in the twisties in the dark.

My ego will not let me acknowledge if I was one of those sportsbikes or not.