[Discussion] Technical - Lighting

[ResmeN]

The company I bought them from had 4300 then went up to 6000. From 6000 onwards the light becomes blueish which I didn't want. Other motorcyclists that had 6000K put on their bikes wish they'd put 4300 due to the tinge of blue. 4300K is plenty.

[Kevs]

Hi Kev's, thanks for asking because if one doesn't ask then you will never find out. Where I live in Australia we don't encounter many thick misty fogs. We have heavy downpours which during the day are fine but at night time the improved light beam of the hid will help. I am a part of a social riding group in Melbourne and we go on regular night time, all day, weekend, overnight rides to various parts of the country. What I found by doing the night time rides whether in a group or by myself is that the stock CB400 light is very weak to the extent I think it's dangerous to ride with in very dark conditions. Initially I upgraded the stock bulb with a Philips X-treme power but it wasn't enough. My main reason for getting a HID conversion is to see better while riding at night, for other road users to see me and me see them better riding at night, to be able to see corners better in unlit dark country areas but most importantly to be able to see any wildlife (kangaroos, koalas, wombats etc) crossing my path as that can be nasty.

 

Here are some comparison pics to make it easier for people to decide how many K to go for. I went with the weakest at 4300K which doesn't cause any glare towards oncoming traffic, if anything makes them notice me more and most importantly improves my night time vision.

http://www.hidxenonkits.co.uk/images/color-temp-hid.jpg

http://www.optionimports.com/item_images/hid_photos_compare.jpg

 

Rode thru some twisty country roads last night where in some places I would normally use hi beam with the hids didn't even think about it as they were never required.

 

With a single retro style H4 headlight the CB400 using 4300K HID conversion will never cause glare towards other road users. Some cars have these hid lights in 6000 or 8000K and not to mention 2 of them. Now that might affect oncoming traffic. All I can say is the difference is like day and night.

 

The laws here are as long as it is not too bright it will be okay as the police are too busy doing other stuff to worry about what a motorcycle is doing unless you ride very fast or run a red light. From my readings on this forum it would seem there are very strict rules and regulations in Singapore which they make you adhere to.

 

for you then.

 

Kinda miss the outback roads there whilst Im serving my nation there..

Dont think will have another chance to go again.

 

& yes, the laws here are pretty stringent on almost everything.

So, any uncertified modification not done by the OEMs, are deem illegal.

 

As mine's a Bol d'Or model, the headlight beam thrown is not as bright as the round ones, so, for my case, other than using the All Season, I compliment it with a couple of Hella F500 fog lamps.

Thou gona change it to Micro DE soon as I myself deem its too damn blinding.. to other road users..

 

oya.. just for laughs, we'll have cows, chickens, bats, birds and maybe buffalos encounters on the road further up north...

 

http://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/img/forums/hwz/smilies/biggrin.gif;pve55dbb92b154d7ad

[zhang jin]

hi all bros & sista,

anybody knows where to get the above?had tried chong aik but no stock.a shop asking for $60 a pair.any other info is great.thanks.

[zell_teo]

hey all, my spec2 currrently using stock headlight (those blur blur headlight glass lens )... im planning to change my stock lightbulb to nightbreaker, my concern is will my old blur blur glasslens affect the light output?? affect in a way that i cant find any different ... any spec1 ,2 rider changed their bulb, do help me in this .thank u in advance

[Fazli]

hey all, my spec2 currrently using stock headlight (those blur blur headlight glass lens )... im planning to change my stock lightbulb to nightbreaker, my concern is will my old blur blur glasslens affect the light output?? affect in a way that i cant find any different ... any spec1 ,2 rider changed their bulb, do help me in this .thank u in advance

 

You might wanna get the Spec III lens or headlight assembly. Its bright even with stock bulbs. Gd investment in my opinion.

[LoudnessFz]

guys..just wanna ask...have any of u ever thought of just putting one reasonably small fog/spot light at ur tail?the purpose is to ward of and tailgaters..

 

thought of doing it..if theres any tailgaters..warn them first by flashing on off..if not..then just on all the way n maybe partially blind em..haha:sweat:

[sihan0110]

You might wanna get the Spec III lens or headlight assembly. Its bright even with stock bulbs. Gd investment in my opinion.

 

spec 1 and 2 lens will focus the light to the floor and wont cause glare to other road user . spec 3 lens will cause glare when using hid . the beam is not focus

[tiku]

guys..just wanna ask...have any of u ever thought of just putting one reasonably small fog/spot light at ur tail?the purpose is to ward of and tailgaters..

 

thought of doing it..if theres any tailgaters..warn them first by flashing on off..if not..then just on all the way n maybe partially blind em..haha:sweat:

 

nice idea.....

[thrasher]

i got a question. im currently on philips diamond vision. it was installed by the previous owner. the prob now is, my low beam is not emitting any light at all. When i checked the filament, its there, not split or broken. I know sometimes, the low beam won't light up, and the trick is just to pull a lil bit at the ignition button, but now, nothing comes up at all. Any ideas anyone?

[Qrisx]

Bros, any of you have digital voltmeter installed?

 

I want to know what is the reading when riding WITH lights on.

 

Mine stays at 13.4v while riding... like stays really stays not up or down a little also...

 

What about you guys?

[Fazli]

Sometimes you might not be able to see the split of the filament. Check with multimeter bro.

[Kevs]

i got a question. im currently on philips diamond vision. it was installed by the previous owner. the prob now is, my low beam is not emitting any light at all. When i checked the filament, its there, not split or broken. I know sometimes, the low beam won't light up, and the trick is just to pull a lil bit at the ignition button, but now, nothing comes up at all. Any ideas anyone?

 

hokay, try by opening up the right hand side(RHS) ignition console, see if there's any soldered wire that's loose or came off from the contact point.

 

for money savers with nifty fingers, can tk the RHS console out & get it re-soldered.

But be prepared for it to drop out again.

Dont know why, it happened to me, have to re-solder for 3 times before I changed it to a new RHS console.

 

Otherwise, hearsay frm my mech, tk WD40 or maybe contact spray, & spray @ that contact points in the RHS console.

 

Hope it helps.

 

Bros, any of you have digital voltmeter installed?

 

I want to know what is the reading when riding WITH lights on.

 

Mine stays at 13.4v while riding... like stays really stays not up or down a little also...

 

What about you guys?

 

gota see where u tap yr voltmeter to.

 

Now, correct me if Im wrong.

ideally would be somewhere near and after the battery, before to load, as it'll read the charge w/o any disturbance.(IIRC)

 

mine is tapped to the ignition, so when i turn on the key with the headlight & front pilot lights off, it'll read 12.2~12.6V.

after igniting the bike to idle, it'll rise to 14.4v, still w/o the lights on.

 

only when moving off, this time with the lights on, it'll read 12.6~12.8V, until throttle it'll go up to 13V and remains there throughout.

 

I tap mine @ the ignition is bcos to read what is consuming how much.

so it'll be up to own's preference.

[Qrisx]

i tapped it at the headlight and ignition wire.

 

Switched On : 11.8v

Ignition On : 14.4v

Lights On : 12.8v

Moving & Lights on: 13.4V

 

I think my rectifier and magneto coil is ok??? but what puzzles me is when riding the voltage is constant at 13.4v - is this normal? Even if i rev up or down still constant... hmmm

 

[Fazli]

I believe is that there is a max limit output to charge your batt. Or else too high voltage may cause a surge.

[thrasher]

hi, yeah i changed my bulb. the low beam was blown... but now im not satisfied with the beam it discharges. its barely visible during riding, what more yesterday night was raining all the way and my trip to jb in the rain... was scary with barely visible lighting. i need a recommendation for the brightest all weather lightbulb. limbat got anything better than what philips can offer?

[Fazli]

All weather bulbs are usually yellowish in tint. You can source @ powerbulbs.com for brighter all weather bulbs.

[Kevs]

i tapped it at the headlight and ignition wire.

 

Switched On : 11.8v

Ignition On : 14.4v

Lights On : 12.8v

Moving & Lights on: 13.4V

 

I think my rectifier and magneto coil is ok??? but what puzzles me is when riding the voltage is constant at 13.4v - is this normal? Even if i rev up or down still constant... hmmm

 

 

I believe is that there is a max limit output to charge your batt. Or else too high voltage may cause a surge.

 

hmm, now, im no electrical inclined.

 

hv u checked yr batt's charge rating?

correct me if im wrong, cos if wat bro Faz says, maybe due to the limit of output to charge of yr batt.

 

gt a multimeter, start yr bike, & with an additional pair of hands, slowly rev the bike whilst tapping the meter to the positive & negative of the batt to see the reading.

 

then counter check with yr voltmeter?

if +/- abit shld be negligible, but if the difference is high, hv to also see whats the max limit of the resistor in yr voltmeter, + if all the wirings are tapped correctly.

 

conclusion, batt charge rate plays a part; voltmeter resistor plays a part; tapped wiring & points also plays a part.

 

hope it helps, & do correct me if im wrong..

 

hi, yeah i changed my bulb. the low beam was blown... but now im not satisfied with the beam it discharges. its barely visible during riding, what more yesterday night was raining all the way and my trip to jb in the rain... was scary with barely visible lighting. i need a recommendation for the brightest all weather lightbulb. limbat got anything better than what philips can offer?

 

All weather bulbs are usually yellowish in tint. You can source @ powerbulbs.com for brighter all weather bulbs.

 

If you're looking at yellowish bulbs, how about Osram All Season?

 

http://tsikot.yehey.com/classifieds/data/48/Osram_Allseason_H4_100_80Wa1.jpg

 

FJT selling a pair abt $10+/-

but not inspection compliant thou.

 

or Osram Nightbreaker Plus?

 

http://www.powerbulbs.com/images/osram-nbp-visual.jpg

 

Should be costlier thou..

[thrasher]

how come the osram all season not compliant?

[Kevs]

how come the osram all season not compliant?

 

if im nt wrong, its because of the colour.

3000K(IIRC)

too yellow.

 

but so far TP/LTA bypass me ok, only when go inspection(which hvnt yet), change to Nightbreaker(NB) or stock.

 

Ive used NB, not bad consider that it throws the light far & still maintain its brightness.

But Im content with the All Season even thou it doesnt throw far as the NB does, its ability to permit thru the usual local crazy downpour and the occasional thick & heavy fogs up north.

[heskeydal]

any one know wat is the bulb size/model for the plate light ah?

[Fazli]

Its T10 bro...

[heskeydal]

Its T10 bro...

 

Thanks bro~!!

[ifourdesign]

So if i want the best light and is compliant with inspection and is yellow in color, i should get the nighbreaker? help? haha. Regretted changing to RXZ head. but i think its nicer than the stock Spec 1 lights.

[Kevs]

So if i want the best light and is compliant with inspection and is yellow in color, i should get the nighbreaker? help? haha. Regretted changing to RXZ head. but i think its nicer than the stock Spec 1 lights.

 

I dont think NB or NB+ is yellow in colour as its kelvin is more than 3000.

its just that NB or NB+ is able to shine further than normal bulbs.

 

In fact, stock S4 headlamps are purposely designed so that it actually does shine properly & efficiently for this bike.

Any aftermarket replacements, thou maybe cosmetically nicer & due to personal's preference, does not, or will not be able to replicate what the stock is providing.

[ifourdesign]

where to get nb n how much?