Author Topic: Recommended H4 bulbs?  (Read 4660 times)

Offline Streak

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Recommended H4 bulbs?
« on: June 02, 2015, 09:28:00 PM »
Gday team,

I want to upgrade my 45/45 head light bulbs in the ST1300,  to something with a little more punch on low beam especially,  what do we all suggest?

55/60? Stronger? Halogen?  Blue bulbs? The ebay ones seem to lack strength

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Online ST2UP

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Re: Recommended H4 bulbs?
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2015, 09:37:55 PM »
Phillips Crystal Vision H4 in 4300k colour......set you back about $55 on evil bay for the pair.

But any German made globe is better than the OEM......Osram, even Narva plus anything, just aim for 4000K to 5000k colour rating  :like



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« Last Edit: June 02, 2015, 10:23:08 PM by ST2UP »
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Re: Recommended H4 bulbs?
« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2015, 09:38:22 PM »
I recently fitted 55/60 extra whatsis in the 1100, (it took 5yrs+ to lose the first one)  They seem a bit better.Much stronger may be too hot for the housing.
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Offline DavidP

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Re: Recommended H4 bulbs?
« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2015, 09:39:50 PM »
I used the osram silverstar 2's about $30 for a pair delivered from the UK.  Look for my review in the forum.  Much brighter, and a bit whiter.
Ps: tinsnips do an excellent/clean job of removing the 2 tabs.
« Last Edit: June 02, 2015, 09:45:01 PM by DavidP »
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Offline alans1100

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Re: Recommended H4 bulbs?
« Reply #4 on: June 02, 2015, 10:03:21 PM »
I bought the Osram Night Breaker 60/55w just over a week ago http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/191426124831?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT so I should get them sometime soon.


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Offline StinkyPete

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Re: Recommended H4 bulbs?
« Reply #5 on: June 02, 2015, 10:38:01 PM »
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Offline Piet

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Re: Recommended H4 bulbs?
« Reply #6 on: June 02, 2015, 10:58:19 PM »
I remember Saaz's trying the LED H4's.
I quote
"I am trying out these http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Super-bright-3200lm-h4-led-headlight-hi-lo-beam-car-led-h4-Headlamp-Bulb-35w-12V/32221003713.html after some positive feedback on them by Trophy owners in the US. 
Compared to other variations, they are as easy to install as normal H4 bulbs, due to the fan assembly screwing on after fitting the bulb. The rubber boots can also be used. 
I have some fitted to the Trophy, and put some in Lionel's FJR1300 the other day. In both cases the lights are much brighter than H4s (I was running plus 90 H4s), beam pattern seems to be the same as the H4s (so low beam has a good cutoff), lo and hi LEDs stay on when on hi beam. The LEDs are CREE ones, so not a no name knock off.  Beam colour is the same as the Erica and Jaycar driving lights, so around the 5K to 6K mark, and no more little yellow lights when the driving lights can't be used.  If you can fit H4 bulbs, you can easily fit these.
On road performance yet to be properly tested, and hopefully life will be way more than high powered H4s.  Stay tuned."

Well I was pretty impressed and that seemed like something I should try.  Lower power consumption, and temperatures, better light etc.  I ordered a set and they have arrived.  I just need to find the time to fit them.  So like Saaz put it ... Stay tuned.
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Re: Recommended H4 bulbs?
« Reply #7 on: June 03, 2015, 11:25:07 AM »
This is what I am using....

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/Narva-Headlight-Globe-Plus-120-H4-12V-60-55W.aspx?pid=324484#Recommendations

You will find them cheaper on ebay.


Me too.  $40 delivered on eBay.

I still don't know why the left bulbs only last half as long as the right ones.
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Offline saaz

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Re: Recommended H4 bulbs?
« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2015, 12:15:24 PM »
STroppy has put the LEDs in his ST1300, and they seem to work well in it. The tabs need to be modified as usual for the STs.

I now have 13,000kms on them, so they have well outlasted the plus 90 bulbs which cost the same.
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Offline cravenhaven

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Re: Recommended H4 bulbs?
« Reply #9 on: June 03, 2015, 04:56:18 PM »
I put the Osram nightbreakers in my 4WD a couple of months ago. They are significantly whiter than the Plus 100's that I had put in a couple of years back, but I remember at the time of installing the plus 100's thinking how much whiter they were than the previous set.
This makes me think that these whiter than white bulbs actually yellow off quite quickly, so maybe the LED's might be a better bet in the long run.
Of course there is always the HID projectors, but they're a bit out of my price range.
 

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Re: Recommended H4 bulbs?
« Reply #10 on: June 03, 2015, 06:07:00 PM »
I wonder how the LEDs compare for the conspicuity.  I note they cast a "glow" rather than a beam.
I know I've mentioned it here before, but there's evidence 4500K reflects back the details in the landscape better than 6000 and upwards.  And I think it was OX who mentioned HIDs give roo fur a distinctive olive hue which stands out better than the natural grey.
Then there's FLIR that makes roos stand out like neon signs.

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Re: Recommended H4 bulbs?
« Reply #11 on: June 03, 2015, 08:14:24 PM »
STroppy has put the LEDs in his ST1300, and they seem to work well in it. The tabs need to be modified as usual for the STs.

I now have 13,000kms on them, so they have well outlasted the plus 90 bulbs which cost the same.
I installed my LED's the other week, but I just haven't ridden at night since, other than between garages. Great to know that Saaz has done 13000k's on them, as I was a bit concerned that they wouldn't last long, so I'll have to pull  my finger out and do some KM's. ++

I ran the power lead from the LED down between the reflector and the rubber boot, rather than back where the boot fits over the globe holder thingy. Had to pull most of the Tupperware off to do it though, so I hope I don't have to do it again too soon.

On the subject of light colour, I always understood that a yellowish light gives better definition and is the best colour, but we often seem to try for the whiter lights, if not bluish ones. The LED's I have are very white, but I don't think they make them or anything like them with a yellower tint. They aren't your everyday Cree star led, that's for sure.
 

Offline martinc

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Re: Recommended H4 bulbs?
« Reply #12 on: August 05, 2015, 05:05:31 PM »
I have tried an HID system and it burnt the reflector as they can run at 300'C Then I got some LEDs from D2D Accessories and they were brilliant. Full plug and play and they run cool with no fitting hassles. I was riding my bike through remote Australian Queensland farmland at dusk the other night and these saved me hitting Kangaroos on four occasions in about 10 minutes, and believe me hitting a roo on a bike is like hitting a mid-sized deer!!!!!!! Have a look at http://d2d-accessories.myshopify.com/collections/d2d-led-headlight-replacement-kits, as mentioned in another post their service is great.   :like
 

Offline alans1100

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Re: Recommended H4 bulbs?
« Reply #13 on: August 05, 2015, 05:47:32 PM »
I bought the Osram Night Breaker 60/55w just over a week ago http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/191426124831?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT so I should get them sometime soon.
I had some night riding when doing the border ride last week end and got to use these for the first time since I fitted them.

Out on the open road high beam gave more than enough light to see up the road for our 110 K/H limits and in some sections was good enough alone. But with our active wildlife at night we need a little more so the driving lights add to it.

Low beam had more light to the left (than standard globe) where needed with oncoming traffic so that to was an improvement. With the flat low beam the same would be for the right side but that's for those who drive on the wrong side of the rode; not us.

So another set to be ordered in the near future and kept for spares.
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