Headlights

Has anyone purchased a nice set of xenon headlights for their bike anytime recently? I cannot seem to find a good site that will give me the luminosity of the lights so that I can make sure that the ones I purchase will be brighter than the ones currently in my bike.

Just bought one for the 9. I reckon its brighter on the reflective stuff but no great difference. Its not rocket science, a few lumens either way is going to make bugger all difference. Its more for looks, the blue tinge looks better with my colour scheme than a brown tinge.

They're cheap as chips, give one a go.

Yeah I reckon the Xenons are the way to go. I don't know if its just me or not, but they don't seem to be as blinding when the approaching vehicle has them fitted.

I am trying to order them now, but I don't know what the H means.. They say that the lights are available in H1, H2, H4 etc.. anyone knows what that means?

The H... refers to the shape of the bulb. Your 1998-model ZX9 takes an H4 headlight bulb, which is the same as most other vehicles.

Pop your own bulb out and read the markings etched into the base of the glass. It'll say something like 12V60/55WH4...

H1, H2, H3 etc refer to the bulb style- e.g. H1 is a single filament bulb usually used in driving lights. The most common style of bulb for headlights is the H4- a dual filament bulb with three connectors on the rear, and three locating tangs around the periphery. All my bikes with Halogen lamps have used this style of bulb.

Thanks heaps, is there anything else I should know? how many watts should I try to get? is the 100w what I am trying to get?

Be careful upping the wattage on headlight bulbs if you have a plastic (polycarbonate) headlight on your bike- they can melt the headlight with the increase in heat they put out. Better off getting bright 55/60W bulbs, and/or adding heavy wiring and relay from the battery to increase light output. I did it to my ZZR1100 and it improved the light output heaps!

And be sure not to touch the glass of the globe when you put the new ones in.

And be sure not to touch the glass of the globe when you put the new ones in.

OH? is there something special about the glass?

And be sure not to touch the glass of the globe when you put the new ones in.

OH? is there something special about the glass?

I dunno. Something about thin glass, heat and oil from your fingers causing glass to crack. I've never had to change a front globe so haven't had a problem yet.

guy i work with just put xeon gas ones in his zx12r and wifeys 6 Ill get the specs on the ones they installed toomorrow if ya want, f-off brighter then the other ones and they were supadupa ones too.

And be sure not to touch the glass of the globe when you put the new ones in.

OH? is there something special about the glass?

If you do touch it, or think you did you can clean it with metho or nail poish remover. It's just that halogen lamps run so hot, if there's any oil on it from your fingers etc it will cause a hot spot and it will melt and blow out at that point.

See what you make of this, seems to me a proper Xeon Hid system(super expensive) is totally different kettle of fish to the so called aftermarket (cheaper) ones you are talking about. So beware, the extra coloring of the bulbs may decrease the actuall light being emmitted.

Read all the posts by jeff718
http://www.zx-12r.org/Motorcycle_info/Information%20Pages/For%20the%20people%20looking%20for%20faq%20about%20Xenon%20HID%20bulbs%20-%20L_A_%20Busa's.htm

The facts
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

I think just standard halogens will work better, although Iam wary of increasing the bulbs to higher wattages mainly for heat on the plastic headlight lens. As someone told me they are fine at speed as the air rushing past helps cool them on high beam, so at slower or stopped just remember to have them on low beam! The other point to make is you will have to run heavier wiring direct from the battery to a relay if you want to use higher wattage bulbs.

Do it on the cheap! http://www.angelfire.com/nc2/mycoffeecan/light.html

Yep
I have xeon blue H4's in my zx6r '01 and they're great but I kept the same Wattage as original
$20 odd from AutoBarn


mario