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SV headlight bulb replacement suggestion

keeprocking

keeprocking

New member
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Location
San Jose
Moto(s)
Suzuki SV650
Name
DrJ
I am thinking of replacing the stock bulb of my bike (2003 SV 650 N) with a better and brighter bulb. Which make and model do you guys recommend?
 
Replace with any Sylvania Silverstar or Osram or vanilla 55watt bulb.

Stay away from the 100watt bulbs as they can overwhelm and melt the stock wiring.

Also stay away from the pretend HID blue tint bulbs that flimflam you with promises of higher visibility.
 
I've had good luck with the Osram 70/65 H4 (p/n 64205). It's supposed to be just fine with stock wiring. I've always used them with a relay kit however. While there are improvements to be made moving up to a premium standard wattage bulb, I've only seen big improvements by adding wattage or going HID. A relay kit helps as well, you'll lose the voltage drop in the standard system in addition to being able to run higher wattages without worrying about turning your wiring into smoking goo. I use this guys kits; they're awesome.
 
mototireguy said:
Replace with any Sylvania Silverstar or Osram or vanilla 55watt bulb.

Stay away from the 100watt bulbs as they can overwhelm and melt the stock wiring.

Also stay away from the pretend HID blue tint bulbs that flimflam you with promises of higher visibility.
Click to expand...

:thumbup SilverStar or SilverStar Ultra will make a BIG difference for very little $$.
 
Osram and Sylvania are the same company. At one time, the Osram Silverstar was the one to buy and the Sylvania branded Silverstar was definately not the bulb to use. This is because the Sylvania version was tinted which robs the bulb of light output. 'Don't know if it's the case still. In any case, do NOT buy a bulb with any tinting. It does nothing for your ability to see and simply robs the bulb of light output.

Get a clear, untinted bulb. Other candidates besides the Osram Silverstar are Phillips Vision Plus and some of the bulbs from Narva.

If you really want to get educated on bulbs, read the various pages that can be found here:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/bulbs.html
 
Thanks all for the suggestions.Now off to the shop I go to get some Silverstar bulbs :)
 
ST Guy said:
Osram and Sylvania are the same company. At one time, the Osram Silverstar was the one to buy and the Sylvania branded Silverstar was definately not the bulb to use. This is because the Sylvania version was tinted which robs the bulb of light output. 'Don't know if it's the case still. In any case, do NOT buy a bulb with any tinting. It does nothing for your ability to see and simply robs the bulb of light output.

Get a clear, untinted bulb. Other candidates besides the Osram Silverstar are Phillips Vision Plus and some of the bulbs from Narva.

If you really want to get educated on bulbs, read the various pages that can be found here:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/bulbs.html
Click to expand...

Did not know that about Osram. :thumbup

None of the Sylvania SilverStars I have used or installed for customers have come tinted. Dark tips maybe, but no tinting. However, that said, I have had issues with short lifespans on SilverStar H7 bulbs, and SilverStar Ultra supposedly are more durable.
 
OP, here's a rebate coupon for your Silverstars. It's good for 30 days after printing.

I've had mixed results with the Osram Night Breakers. On the SV the bulb lasted 8 months -- the high beam pooped out. On the DRZ the bulb is still working after nearly 3 years of use.
 
Chim Chim said:
I've had good luck with the Osram 70/65 H4 (p/n 64205). It's supposed to be just fine with stock wiring. I've always used them with a relay kit however. While there are improvements to be made moving up to a premium standard wattage bulb, I've only seen big improvements by adding wattage or going HID. A relay kit helps as well, you'll lose the voltage drop in the standard system in addition to being able to run higher wattages without worrying about turning your wiring into smoking goo. I use this guys kits; they're awesome.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah. This right here. That nice bulb won't do a lot without the proper amount of juice. I really don't know why MC manufacturers make the wiring so whimpy but they do. The relay kit in conjunction with a little more watts has worked great for me.
 
Yea, I should have also mentioned rewiring the headlight circuit to avoid voltage drops. Stock motorcycle wiring is notoriously inadequate or barely adequate.

As for bulb life, nothing is free. In order to get higher output/more light from the same wattage bulb, the tradeoff is shorter life. No free lunch.
 
Over on the GSXR forum there is talk of an HIR bulb...HIR, not HID. They're only made for the 9005 and 9006. They do not make any other base on these bulbs, hence the bases need to be modified in order to fit most common MC headlights. Supposedly, their light output is superior to standard halogen bulbs and HID's, and they don't require bulky ballasts or special wiring.

I'll see if I can find that thread. ;)

EDIT: Found it: http://www.gixxer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217887
 
If your bike uses H7 bulbs, here's the one to get:

http://store.candlepower.com/osraulhiouh7.html

It's only 10 more watts than a normal H7 bulb but puts out600 to 700 more lumens than the best 55 watt H7's. Technically illegal, but.......

If you use dual filament H4's, then this is the bulb for you:

http://store.candlepower.com/64205.html

Again, 10 more watts on both low and high beam. Stock wiring and housing should be able to handle it. Lots more light than the best 55/60 watt H4's.

I don't know about the H4 Osram Rallye bulb, but their H7 is basically an H9 bulb/filament on an H7 base.

Either of these bulbs will blow the doors off any standard H7 or H4 bulb, regardless of manufacturer or claims.
 
Oh and two more things. They're only 20 bucks each. And since they get most of their higher lumen output from increased watts, their life is much better than the +30 and +50 regular versions of the same bulbs.
 
masameet said:
OP, here's a rebate coupon for your Silverstars. It's good for 30 days after printing.

I've had mixed results with the Osram Night Breakers. On the SV the bulb lasted 8 months -- the high beam pooped out. On the DRZ the bulb is still working after nearly 3 years of use.
Click to expand...
Same here, barely 6 months, high beam gone.
 
Unfortunately, there's no free lunch. Higher output with the same wattage translates to shorter life. That's one reason the blue bulbs that do have halfway decent output have such short lifespans. In order for them to compensate for the reduction in light output due to the tint, they have to start with a much higher clear bulb to begin with.

Often the best thing way to do it is with a higher wattage clear bulb. Then you'll get decent life and still have your brighter light. Of course, you need to make sure that the wiring and the housing can handle the watts and heat.
 
Hooli said:
Over on the GSXR forum there is talk of an HIR bulb...HIR, not HID. They're only made for the 9005 and 9006. They do not make any other base on these bulbs, hence the bases need to be modified in order to fit most common MC headlights. Supposedly, their light output is superior to standard halogen bulbs and HID's, and they don't require bulky ballasts or special wiring.

I'll see if I can find that thread. ;)

EDIT: Found it: http://www.gixxer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=217887
Click to expand...

Finally got around to checking those out. They look pretty darn good. Unfortunately, they only come in one or two base types. :( Also, I've heard that Toshiba is no longer making them, but that Phillips does:

http://store.candlepower.com/ph3rdge90h.html
 
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