Topic: Bulb type Headlight

[faux fiddy]

I'm such cheapo that I've been in limp mode with headlight working only on high. After I open up the bucket (again) I'm relatively sure what  I will find is that I need a bulb.  And, that it might be a real bummer if I get caught out without a spare when the hi beam burns out.


Anyone  here have one of these headlights you change the bulb in?   Are they any better alternative to the sealed globes?  Does a regular $10 round headlight from oreily not work?




http://www.ebay.com/itm/Honda-New-CB750-750-650-450-500-Headlight-33120-431-505-CX500-CB650C-CB750A-/221655281809?

[Mr Freeze]

I think most on here will agree that switching to a headlight where you can change the bulb is considered an upgrade since it opens up the possibilities for different types of bulbs including LEDs and H4's. Both improve visibility significantly.

[faux fiddy]

I think most on here will agree that switching to a headlight where you can change the bulb is considered an upgrade since it opens up the possibilities for different types of bulbs including LEDs and H4's. Both improve visibility significantly.

Yeah, who knows about the H4 drain considerations and don't the LED's require a ballast resistor in parallel?  I like the idea of  more light. At the same time it's kinda neat that driving with high beam all the time no one seems to notice, it's so weak it's not blinding anyone. 

[dave500]

yeah run a H4 bulb type,the old sealed beam will be yellow by now?you can get nice bright H4 globes(bulbs) in 60/55 watt,wont over load your charging system,like from here with free shipping,i have the osram silver star and street signs glow during the day as I go past them,i never ride at night though.

http://www.powerbulbs.com/au

[dave500]

a good head light reflector helps a lot,those cheap ones have poor focus and scatter the light,find a bosch/hella not some crap thing,you wont be happy,forget those with that honey comb looking reflector crap aswell.

[PeWe]

This is standard for me.
I did not know about anything else before reading about a strange sealed complete lamp on this forum a couple if years ago.
Bulb is of type H4. Very common in cars and motorcycles. Available as stronger ones with much more wattage (    100/90W), but will drain the battery.
I have a LED version lamp that I will fit into my bike, maybe today. My headlamp is full of extra stuff and the lamp need additional space when its longer (fan) and additional electronics in a box. It will fit when I have placed relays outside the lamp.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301375731172?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
This will use less W (20/30W instead of 60/55W) Charging system will like that. We have daylight law here. The bike is more visible then, my safety.

Better brand of bulbs comes from Philips, General Electrics, Osram. Too cheap and the low beam will be very bad, not focused as it shall. I got H4 lamp and parking light (W5W) with my reflector. They were both very bad, got short circuit and stopped work causing a general power failure. Never happened before, lamp stop work one thing, but not causing a general shortage. Must have been cheap China lamps. Bought new from Philips.

These reflectors are less common today. 20-30 years ago it was easy to visit nearest car shop and buy a standard 7" (170mm) reflector. Hella and Bosch good brands.
I bought a reflector with parking light bulb on its side when my bike has parking light on the right handle bar switch.

Photo show the mess. Most of the connectors are replaced by thicker ones (std cheap crimp sockets/pins)

[Grinnin]

A couple of my bikes, including my SOHC, have the reflector made by Candlepower.

https://www.denniskirk.com/candlepower/7-in-quartz-round-light.p2235.prd/2235.sku

I like the pattern from the Candlepower reflector.  I tried another reflector (don't recall the mfr) that had the low beam and high beam too far apart;  the high beam lit only the trees or adjust it down and the low beam didn't show very far ahead.  The reflector by Candlepower makes both high and low very usable.

[MrGardman]

I have to agree with Grinnin. I believe I have that same Candlepower unit and I do some riding at night. The difference between the old sealed beam and this light is amazing.

If this style of upgrade was available years ago when these bikes came out, it would have been the first change any owner would have made.

[70CB750]

H4 bulb from Phillips for motorcycles, got it at Pep Boys. Not only it gives you lot of light it also last longer than those cheap generic Sylvanias I was using before.

Bosch makes nice 7" headlight for H4.

[Schnell]

I pretty much avoid night driving because of the weak original sealed beam headlight on my 750K5.

On my round the US trip last summer, there were only 2 times that I thought I might die on my bike.

 Once was in Texarkana when I pulled back onto the highway after checking my map: the highway was busy and the right lane was clear when I went to enter the lane, but a car behind another car quickly switched lanes into the right lane at the same time, and missed my left leg by a couple of inches.

The other time was at the end of a long day where I had a destination to reach in Memphis and I had to ride at night on the congested highway through the city. The headlight was so weak that it barely registered any illumination on the ground. My helmet visor is tinted so to see anything, I had to raise it up and expose my eyes to the blast from the wind. I was very happy to make my destination that day.

[PeWe]

H4 bulb from Phillips for motorcycles, got it at Pep Boys. Not only it gives you lot of light it also last longer than those cheap generic Sylvanias I was using before.

Bosch makes nice 7" headlight for H4.

I have heard from a colleague that had overcharging in his old car. Philips was the bulb that could cope with higher voltage.  The std Philips is very good relative others. I use Philips Extreme Vision in my car, short life (half or less) but brighter light. Probably better than Osrams Night Breaker that also is known to have a short life.

Today I made LED H4 lamp to fit in my bike. Much brighter light. I'll see how it works on the road later this year when the snow is gone.
Ordered more LED lamps, W5W (T10) to replace my small 5W parking light in headlight reflector. It might work as daylight alone and will enforce the beam when they are lit together.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151356050976?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161442143549?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
I'll see which I use in the bike and in the car.

I have to find a LED bulb for rear/brake that replace BAY15D 21W/5W. I suspect that many LED verions have only one mode, not normal rear + brake.

[70CB750]

Good to know, thanks. When i lost a bulb, it was on gravel road while it was hot - i think LED will not be sensitive to shaking.

Proly will go to LED eventually

[Garage_guy_chris]

You can also get lower wattage H4's like 35w/35w or 45w/45w. I have a cb450 that cant support a full power H4 and these work great to reduce load.

[PeWe]

Give this a try- http://cognitomoto.com/collections/lighting/products/h7-led

Data looks good to.
I wonder how the light pattern will look like. LO is not allowed blind oncoming drivers (If I have not decided to give them a flash in the eyes)
It should be restricted as 6cm under headlight center (2,5"), 5m from a wall. The pattern should be a a clear horisontal cut. I think that these LEDs can spread the light too much.

My reflector has no diffuser that shape the Lo, avoid blinding others. My old one had that. Modern H4 bulbs work very well and give a good light pattern. The LED bulbs might be different.

[SohRon]

Give this a try- http://cognitomoto.com/collections/lighting/products/h7-led

Wonder why they're not DOT approved? Too bright?

[oldhatt45]

When I bought my 750 K6 in 1976, one of the things that was put on it before leaving the dealer was a Marchal headlight. 
I never had any problem with being seen or being able to see. 
I just took a quick look via Google search and they are still made. 
Will have to go take a look at the bike but if I recall correctly it was an H4 type bulb and is still working 38 years later.  LOL
And I still have the spare bulb wrapped in paper towel in my little storage compartment on the bike.  LOL

Charlie

[bjbuchanan]

Give this a try- http://cognitomoto.com/collections/lighting/products/h7-led

Wonder why they're not DOT approved? Too bright?

They aren't DOT because US DOT is a joke. It took like 30 years for them to allow H4 and even then it had to be US spec h4 as compared to euro which is illegal. There is no rhyme or reason and they are horribly slow at changing anything.

I understand not jumping on the band wagon for new technologies with millions of cars on the road but it shouldn't take decades. Their reasoning for turning many things down is usually very weak

[70CB750]

And it is not like anybody in the US, police, car shops, inspection stations gives a flying fig about headlight setup.  I meet on the road every day so many cars that need headlight adjustment.

[flybox1]

My H4($20) lamp, with a 35/35W($12) bulb in it is quite a bit brighter than my old 35W sealed beam w no increase in current draw.

[bjbuchanan]

And it is not like anybody in the US, police, car shops, inspection stations gives a flying fig about headlight setup.  I meet on the road every day so many cars that need headlight adjustment.

That is what bothers me. They are less restrictive in Europe as far as tech advances and at the same time hold vehicles to a much higher standard to be roadworthy.

The US is backwards in a lot of ways. The idea that it is our god given right to be behind the wheel and not have to know anything about them or at least pay for their maintenance

[keithg78]

I have a headlamp made by Hella.  You can change the bulb to any H4 and the setup is much brighter than the stock old Honda headlamp.

Part info is HELLA 002395991 7" H4 Type Single High/Low Beam Headlamp

$37 on Amazon.com

[Johnie]

Good info. My 69 & 70 KO had the H4 in place when I got them in 07 & 14. Plan to replace the sealed on the others as they fail. Sure makes changing the H4 faster than removing the rings and changing out a sealed. Think I will check out that Candlepower unit. Thanks for the info...