H4 Bulb - Any thoughts?

[AOD]

I second the SilverStar...it was hands down better than the bulb that came with my H4 conversion kit on my '550.

The 1100 has a yellowish H4 in it that's not terrible. I may change it to the Silverstar because you don't know what you're missing until you have it!

~Adam

 

[argonsagas]

I have seen lots of comments on the Silverstar, but none yet that say how well they stand up to normal vibration on the bike.

I looked at them then chose to stay away. due to price....CA$30 each.

The bluish Xenon bulbs work VERY well. Huge difference from H-4 standard, and also brighter than Silverstar, which is more yellow. I look for Kelvin temperatures of 5200-5800, which is closest to sunlight.

Higher K numbers are more blue, although this appears to be what is used for the discharge lamps.

My only complaint is that the ones I have encountered so far last a year or so, then die. That said, I think the last pair I got was $15 (for the pair) on e-bay.

 

[salty_monk]

Ordered from Amazon for 18 bucks. The bike specific one. I'll report back on the difference it makes. The one in there at the mo is very yellow. Be interesting to find out what it is when I pull it out....

Dan

 

[Planecrazy]

I have seen lots of comments on the Silverstar, but none yet that say how well they stand up to normal vibration on the bike.

Ron, you may want to re-read my last post on the Silverstar ... I DID say that I'm on my third season with the same bulb. No vibration related failures here. Also, with regard to your concern about price, I also stated that I buy the 9003 "twin-pack" which at least here in the states results in a price break per bulb, as well as giving you a spare to stow on the bike in case there IS a failure while you're on the road.

One thing I didn't mention before is that I always run my high beam during the day, both for better visibility and for better reliability of the low beam at night, since it isn't being worn out during the day when it makes no difference to other drivers which beam is on...

Regards,

 

[focus frenzy]

Osram owns Sylvania. Your bulb is a standard Osram H4 bulb. It's a very good bulb, but not as bright or the same as an Osram Silverstar H4.

it is a osram silverstar, blue tint glass, silver end

 

[Boondocks]

The Osram Silverstar is clear, not blue. The Sylvania Silverstar is blue, but doesn't put out the light intensity of the original clear high output Osram Silverstar.

 

[argonsagas]

Ron, you may want to re-read my last post on the Silverstar ... I DID say that I'm on my third season with the same bulb. No vibration related failures here. Also, with regard to your concern about price, I also stated that I buy the 9003 "twin-pack" which at least here in the states results in a price break per bulb, as well as giving you a spare to stow on the bike in case there IS a failure while you're on the road.

One thing I didn't mention before is that I always run my high beam during the day, both for better visibility and for better reliability of the low beam at night, since it isn't being worn out during the day when it makes no difference to other drivers which beam is on...

Regards,

Sorry, Steve, but I missed that.

The costs for many items, motorcycle or otherwise, are different in Canada than in USA, even for identical products.

Headlamp bulbs fit into this category, as do bike tires. I look at e-bay or other US suppliers for this reason, although buying from them entails shipping, currency exchange and, possibly, taxes to add into the total.
The vibration is a curious thing, as it may be peculiar to my bike. Bulbs purchased from the same supplier lasted in my car for more than two years, and it was on the road more than the bike.

BTW
With tires, what you might consider an expensive tire at US$95 is a true bargain here, where the cost for the same tire might be $235.
In fact, this was the actual difference with my last Metzeler purchase from Ron Ayers.