??Sylvania silverstars in a Bandit??

[02Tac]

  I have recently picked up an 02 Bandit 1200S (5400 miles!).  I have read on various sites that the stock headlights can be a bit lacking.  Last night was my first night ride.  While the Highbeam was fine, the low beam could be a little better.  

SO.... I was wondering if anyone out there has tried the Sylvania Silerstar lamps in their headlight?  I know they made a huge difference in my friends auto and thought it might be just what the Bandit needed. Just a bit more light would be good.  

[1moreroad]

I have them in my 6.  After running the stock halogens for 6 years they made a huge difference.  I had to adjust my low beam headlights down because I was being flashed by oncoming cars (never had been before).

They have an abrupt cut off at the top (lower tree branches are now darker than before), although I notice that more in my wife's car than on the bike.  High beam has no improvement over the stock light, but I can see farther on low beam -- at 55 mph, I can see a reflective road sign maybe 12 seconds ahead versus 9 seconds (going by memory -- I installed these 6 months ago and made sure I could see the same road sign sooner).  Beamwidth is unaffected, so you won't have a wider beam to help you look for deer.  That is probably a function of the headlamp design.  I have an H4 bulb (one bulb for low and high beam).

These are the US Silverstars.  There is a Euro Silverstar without the blue tint that emits more red light making it appear brighter.  They are illegal in the US, but there are companies that sell them.

Only downside -- they have maybe 1/4 or 1/3 the expected life compared to OEM replacement halogens.  This is a bigger deal on bikes with their headlights always on compared to cars which only use low beams at night.  I carry one of my (working) old OEM bulbs in case of a burnout.  Silverstars are also about 2x more expensive than OEM replacements.

[jschmidt]

Only downside -- they have maybe 1/4 or 1/3 the expected life compared to OEM replacement halogens.  This is a bigger deal on bikes with their headlights always on compared to cars which only use low beams at night.  I carry one of my (working) old OEM bulbs in case of a burnout.  Silverstars are also about 2x more expensive than OEM replacements.

They clearly don't last as long, but they seem to have solved the early problems with quick burnout. And they'll send you a replacement if it goes up really soon.

They solved a big light problem on my Superhawk and seem to be working fine on my two XS650s.

[Max Wedge]

Installed them on my FZ, made a pretty good difference, between "these suck" to "eh, they're okay" on low beam, high beam was not an issue. I did not do the dual low beam modification on mine (a common FZ mod).

[desert_rider]

When the stock bulb burnt out on my first gen Bandit I replaced it with a Silverstar and noticed an improvement.  It's been in the bike for almost a year now so only time will tell if it will burn out quicker.

[Yankee Dog]

......................Only downside -- they have maybe 1/4 or 1/3 the expected life compared to OEM replacement halogens.  .................

I wish I had known this before I stuck them in the Beemer.  The light bulbs are royal PIA  to change.  

Also, I really didnt notice a big change.  I wont spend the money next time.  

Yankee dog

[DredheadV2.0]

Another recommendation.  I don't have them in now because I had a lamp burn out when I had no access to a good auto parts store, but they're on the list with other improvements this spring.  I used them for many years and noticed a distinct improvement.

I'm one of those guys who rides around with the high beam on all the time, mostly because there's so much ambient light in the city, and too many other things to catch the eye of motorists to rely on a single headlight pointed 12 feet in front of me to be safe.

I may go a step further and get HIR lamps instead.  Newish technology, involves taking the IR radiation from the sides of the lamp and reflecting it back onto the filament, causing it to glow brighter per watt than a regular halogen lamp.  I think 30% brighter than Silverstars, and 70% as bright as HID lamps without having to do any rewiring.

[jschmidt]

Another recommendation.  I don't have them in now because I had a lamp burn out when I had no access to a good auto parts store, but they're on the list with other improvements this spring.  I used them for many years and noticed a distinct improvement.

I'm one of those guys who rides around with the high beam on all the time, mostly because there's so much ambient light in the city, and too many other things to catch the eye of motorists to rely on a single headlight pointed 12 feet in front of me to be safe.

I may go a step further and get HIR lamps instead.  Newish technology, involves taking the IR radiation from the sides of the lamp and reflecting it back onto the filament, causing it to glow brighter per watt than a regular halogen lamp.  I think 30% brighter than Silverstars, and 70% as bright as HID lamps without having to do any rewiring.

Get that and let me know how it works out, OK? Looks like a great innovation.

[Bjorn Toulouse]

I may go a step further and get HIR lamps instead.  Newish technology, involves taking the IR radiation from the sides of the lamp and reflecting it back onto the filament, causing it to glow brighter per watt than a regular halogen lamp.  I think 30% brighter than Silverstars, and 70% as bright as HID lamps without having to do any rewiring.

Those look interesting, but there is not much of a selection.
I need H4s for my truck and my SR500s, an H7 and an H9 for my Tiger.


Rex

[DredheadV2.0]

Get that and let me know how it works out, OK? Looks like a great innovation.

Which was the admonition from all y'all back in '04 when I first came across them - no one wanted to be first.  But this time, I'll be the guinea pig.  

[02Tac]

Well.. I picked up a low beam lamp (HB4 / 9006) today so we will see how it does the next time I go out at night. If that works well I will pop in a 9005 in the high beam side.

[DredheadV2.0]

Sweet!

Start a new thread here when you test it out, if you don't mind.  Make sure HIR is in the title somewhere so people in the future can search for it.  Much appreciated.  

[02Tac]

 I picked up silverstars, not HIRs.  At $25 plus shipping I will hold off on the HIR until I can buy them locally.

[DredheadV2.0]

Oh, OK.  Thanks for the clarification.  Looks like it's still on me.

[Doug Just Doug]

They're no HID, but a worthwhile and cheap improvement: http://tiltedhorizons.blogspot.com/2007/11/sylvania-silverstar-headlight-bulb.html

They don't last as long by Sylvania's own admission: http://tiltedhorizons.blogspot.com/2008/02/update-sylvania-silverstar-bulb.html

[desert_rider]

Dread - those HIR look intersting, definitely post up when you try them.  I'd be willing to give 'em a go the next time I need one.

[r2t2]

Another worthwhile consideration are Phillips or Osram +80 and/or +90 Halogens. They draw the same current as the standard halogens, but due to some filament voodoo they produce a lot more light. I have 'em on the C14 and the KLR. They are just  short of HIDs in light output and don't create the glare problems that many of us experience with the HIDs in certain headlight assemblies. I'm seriously considering pulling the HIDs out of my F250 and slapping a set of +90's in the truck. Here's where i got 'em...

http://www.candlepowerinc.com/products.html

BTW, this site/store is recommended by Daniel Stern and the guys there have been real helpful.

[MuddDawg]

I put a Silverstar in my 1st Gen Bandit and it was much better than stock.  Apparently there is a newer version that will last longer.  Mine (old version)lasted about a year.

When I used to paruse Banditalley.com a few people modded the headlight on the 2nd Gen Bandits.  I don't think Bandit alley is around anymore.  Try MaxSuzuki (spelling)  Basiclally they would mod it to take out the divider between hi and low beam bulbs if I remember correctly.

Oh... duh.. Google search...

http://forums.banditalley.net/index.php?PHPSESSID=d561f37b78f4810425d29ad2480be771&action=forum

[02Tac]

 Another thing I have been wondering is if the stock wiring could handle dual element bulbs in both locations?  That is assuming 2 things; 1- I can find bent housing dual element bulbs.  2- the stock reflectors will actually work with dual element bulbs.  I am not sure if a low beam in the right and a high in the left will reflect properly.

[DredheadV2.0]

I don't get it: why would you want to replace your single-filament lamps with dual?  Are you trying to change the headlights entirely, to two low-beams switchable to to high-beams?