I think this problem is easy to solve! The bulbs in your headlamp are standard auto headlamp bulbs, so you can fit any suitable bulb as an alternative. If you want improved performance it is easy to find bulbs with a higher temperature than a standard halogen bulb. The higher the temperature the brighter will be the light. There are several brands available and you could simply visit a local store, or find a website that specialises in auto bulbs.

I have had them in both my current Buell and the previous one for about three years and 20,000 miles, with better light and no failures to date. I have an HID in my dresser.

There is a limit to how much we can help you here on HDF. You are in danger of spending more time agonising over the right decision on how to spend 20 bucks than that expense is worth agonising over!

 

I have looked at those online, but all the ones I've seen that claim to be better than a stock bulb all say they have some sort of blue tint that I don't want...maybe that's just me

 

Well, I understand your point, but at the same time, the devil's usually in the details, which a lot of people rarely care to investigate. For all I know, people that claim to have problems w/ a certain product, may not even be using the right product per the mfg, but took the advice of the guy at the parts counter who said 'it should work fine'

While it may seem like a $20 decision to you, and I can appreciate that, it's also a safety decision for me, after just having someone pull out in front of me, injuring me and totaling my bike in Sep.

So, while the weather is still not ideal, I'm trying to take the time to review all options, be they $20 or $200, and also weigh my time involved to install things I won't end up liking, which is more frustrating to me than doing extra research up front to ensure a higher percentage chance that I will like what ever I buy.


Plus, this is just one part of several things I'm looking at, through research on here and other places, including other threads, including modulators, additional fog lights, different options for enhancing rear run/brake lights, etc.

Thanks for your post though, it is easy to get wrapped up in little things.

 

You can't have any of the modern high performance bulbs without also having a blue one! It goes with the technology. The bulb is burning at extremely high temperatures, which requires high performance glass and I suspect the blue colour is there to correct the colour of the light to make it look white, when the bulb is lit.

 

I used the H4 silver star bulbs in my Honda 1100 spirit for something like 3-4 years, and maybe 60-70 THOUSAND miles.... I didn't have any problem
The standard silverstars are whiter, so they APPEAR brighter to the eye. Your headlight hasn't changed, so they won't throw light where the standard bulbs didn't... same lens, same refraction...

I've seen them on other bikes in the daylight, and they appear bright... you might have to adjust YOUR headlight... I'd suggest that be your first move... make sure your headlight is in the proper adjustment, THEN screw around with bulbs.

And to confuse you further... I read they've come out with a new bulb.. "nightbreaker"
You don't have to mess around with increased wattage with any of the silver star/nightbreaker family just the stock 55/60 works for me

edited to add..... for added visibility.... add fog lamps... I used the HD ones... if you have hard lowers, you can use "P-clamps" and mount the lights below highway pegs...I saw one like that on the forum... was a pretty good idea

 

Karz,

I think you and I were writing our last posts at the same time!

As scootchnc says, changing your bulb will not improve your visibility to other drivers, just make your light brighter to those who can see you.

I have seen good comments here on HDF for the twin bulb headlamp fitted to some modern Harleys. They may give a better light pattern.

I have a genuine Harley HID kit in my FLHS. It is not a good night light, but the dip beam is remarkably wide and bright, an excellent daytime light! Very expensive for what it is and I would not normally recommend it, except for daytime.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/membe...rn-lights.html

 

I understand the white light thing, but some of those piaa lights I looked at specifically stated that the light coming off the bulb will look blue, I don't mind the white light, but I don't want blue light. I've seen blueish lights on bikes, and imo they aren't as bright and wouldn't look right on my RKC, so unless I see one that proves otherwise, I have to go by what the mfg says about their product.

 

I have an 05 Ultra, and I tried the PIAA bulb and the Silverstar H4-ST. The H4-ST was definitely brighter than the PIAA bulb to me. I tried a few other bulbs but always came back to the H4-ST. I also took time to aim my headlight properly, which helped alot. I put Silverstar H3 bulbs in my spotlights after switching the sealed beams for the shell that takes halogens. Got them from JPCycles. They are much brighter than stock, and make a difference at night, especially along the sides of the road. My next step would be HID from Motorcycle Metal, but I also use the Kisan Modulator, which won't work with HID. The modulator is worth its weight in gold. I can't tell you how many times people have stopped short of pulling out in front of me when they saw the modulating headlight. That is the first thing I recommend to new riders.

Just my two cents. :>)

 

Hi, thanks for the post. I mentioned it earlier, but I understand it's a lot to read. My motivation here is increasing visibility over stock. I had an 03 RKC that was totaled because a driver pulled out in front of me, despite my 3 bright stock lights on the front, and already adjusting them for optimum viewing/being seen, etc.

As for your other comment about p clamps and mounting fog lights under the highway pegs, I'm very interested in seeing this set up, and have searched the forum for this rumored option, but have not found it. Anyone w/ pics of lights mounted under the highway pegs, I'd appreciate a look at that. I don't have hard lowers now, but I do have the air deflectors, and would like the option to add hard or soft lowers. I posted a whole separate thread about the best running/fog lights to use in this situation here:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...-or-ideas.html

And someone mentioned something like that, but I never got to see it.

 

So, on the 05, you have the smooth lens on the headlight, and it took the H4ST, or PIAA, but the spotlights had to be switched to a different housing?

I have the old 03 glass one all my lights in front, and H4 bulb, what's to say I can't run H4ST or comparable spots in the housings I have? That's one of my original questions here, trying to clear that up.

I kind of like the idea of a modulator too, which is one reason I'm leary of going HID.