Joined
·
692 Posts
I have read a lot about quartz-halogen bulbs that are brighter than the standard original equipment manufacturers (OEM) bulbs. The Philips X-Treme Power and the Osram Night Breaker are the most popular based on my research. Philips X-Treme Power claims to be 80% brighter and Osram Night Breaker 90% brighter. Based on reading many web tests, owners opinions etc. on the internet, I decided that the Philips product was my personal choice.
Both these bulbs are the same 60/55 watt as OEM bulbs but are optimixed for a brighter light, and as you will see, also better light distribution in my test. There are higher wattage bulbs available, but they create more heat (bad for your plastics and lenses), don't last as long (due to the excess heat) and are illegal in the U.S.A.
Yes, I know that xenon lights will be better still, but I decided to stay with my stock lighting and just improve it as much as I could with a minimal outlay of money.
I bought one pair of H4 Philips X-Treme Power bulbs from www.motorbulbs.com in England (they had the lowest cost in my search). They cost 21.27 pounds which translated to U.S. $31.53. The exchange rate was 1 pound = $1.48 when I ordered. The pound has fallen more since so the bulbs would be slightly cheaper now. Shipping was free.
I ordered on the internet on Jan. 6, 2009. They were out of stock for a few days so the bulbs were shipped from England on Jan 13 and received, undamaged, on Jan. 22, 2009 at my home in Florida, U.S.A. The Philips bulb is slighter smaller in diameter than the OEM bulb and has a slight blue color on the tip.
The bulbs were installed in a 1999 Triumph Daytona 1200 Special Edition. This motorcycle has two H4 headlight bulbs. Access to the headlights is made by removing the windscreen. Then remove the two allen screws that hold the instruments in place, and unscrew the speedometer cable. This will allow you to move the instruments aside sufficently to access the headlights. Remove the plugs from the back of the headlight bulbs, remove the rubber boot, swing to the side the wire that holds the bulbs in place. Remove the OEM bulbs and replace with Philips X-Treme Power (or your bulb of choice).
NEVER touch the bulb glass as skin acid will shorten service life. If you touch them by accident, clean with methylated spirit and dry before installing.
To test the OEM versus Philips X-Treme Power I pointed the motorcycle across my lawn. I placed two white stakes 10 yards (9.144 meters) apart and 50 yards (45.72 m) in front of the motorcycle. There is a small tree between the white stakes and another 12 yards (10.97m) beyond them. The small tree is therefore 62 yards (56.69m) from the motorcycle. This tree can only be seen in the high beam photos as it is beyond the reach of the low beams.
Now for the photo results. The 1st photo is the OEM low beams. The 2nd photo is the OEM high beams. The 3rd photo is the Philips low beams. The 4th, and last, photo is the Philips high beams.
My observations - Low Beams:
The Philips is noticeably brighter. They reach about 5 yards (4.57m) further. They have a wider dispersion of light both close in front of the bike and at 50 yards. Notice how the white stake on the right is in the dark with the OEM bulbs, but is brightly lit with the Philips.
My observations - High Beams:
The OEM high beams have a hot spot about 30 yards (27.43m) out, but the ground closer to the bike is relatively dark. The Philips is again brighter, particularly close to the bike. The Philips is broader - note the left and right is better lit. Finally the Philips is going futher - note that even my neighbor's trees across the street, estimated at about 140 yards (128m), are illuminated.
In summary, I feel that the Philips X-Treme Power bulbs are a significant improvement over the OEM bulbs, and well worth the relatively minor expense.
I hope that this analysis will help those who have been wondering, as I was, if Philips X-treme Power would provide better lighting.
Finally, I add below a similar and interesting experiment with bulb replacements that was done with tractors (I guess farmers plow by night). Philips did well here too, and this site was instrumental in my choice of the Philips X-Treme Power.
http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/02/13/109339/tractor-headlight-bulbs-on-test.html
Both these bulbs are the same 60/55 watt as OEM bulbs but are optimixed for a brighter light, and as you will see, also better light distribution in my test. There are higher wattage bulbs available, but they create more heat (bad for your plastics and lenses), don't last as long (due to the excess heat) and are illegal in the U.S.A.
Yes, I know that xenon lights will be better still, but I decided to stay with my stock lighting and just improve it as much as I could with a minimal outlay of money.
I bought one pair of H4 Philips X-Treme Power bulbs from www.motorbulbs.com in England (they had the lowest cost in my search). They cost 21.27 pounds which translated to U.S. $31.53. The exchange rate was 1 pound = $1.48 when I ordered. The pound has fallen more since so the bulbs would be slightly cheaper now. Shipping was free.
I ordered on the internet on Jan. 6, 2009. They were out of stock for a few days so the bulbs were shipped from England on Jan 13 and received, undamaged, on Jan. 22, 2009 at my home in Florida, U.S.A. The Philips bulb is slighter smaller in diameter than the OEM bulb and has a slight blue color on the tip.
The bulbs were installed in a 1999 Triumph Daytona 1200 Special Edition. This motorcycle has two H4 headlight bulbs. Access to the headlights is made by removing the windscreen. Then remove the two allen screws that hold the instruments in place, and unscrew the speedometer cable. This will allow you to move the instruments aside sufficently to access the headlights. Remove the plugs from the back of the headlight bulbs, remove the rubber boot, swing to the side the wire that holds the bulbs in place. Remove the OEM bulbs and replace with Philips X-Treme Power (or your bulb of choice).
NEVER touch the bulb glass as skin acid will shorten service life. If you touch them by accident, clean with methylated spirit and dry before installing.
To test the OEM versus Philips X-Treme Power I pointed the motorcycle across my lawn. I placed two white stakes 10 yards (9.144 meters) apart and 50 yards (45.72 m) in front of the motorcycle. There is a small tree between the white stakes and another 12 yards (10.97m) beyond them. The small tree is therefore 62 yards (56.69m) from the motorcycle. This tree can only be seen in the high beam photos as it is beyond the reach of the low beams.
Now for the photo results. The 1st photo is the OEM low beams. The 2nd photo is the OEM high beams. The 3rd photo is the Philips low beams. The 4th, and last, photo is the Philips high beams.
My observations - Low Beams:
The Philips is noticeably brighter. They reach about 5 yards (4.57m) further. They have a wider dispersion of light both close in front of the bike and at 50 yards. Notice how the white stake on the right is in the dark with the OEM bulbs, but is brightly lit with the Philips.
My observations - High Beams:
The OEM high beams have a hot spot about 30 yards (27.43m) out, but the ground closer to the bike is relatively dark. The Philips is again brighter, particularly close to the bike. The Philips is broader - note the left and right is better lit. Finally the Philips is going futher - note that even my neighbor's trees across the street, estimated at about 140 yards (128m), are illuminated.
In summary, I feel that the Philips X-Treme Power bulbs are a significant improvement over the OEM bulbs, and well worth the relatively minor expense.
I hope that this analysis will help those who have been wondering, as I was, if Philips X-treme Power would provide better lighting.
Finally, I add below a similar and interesting experiment with bulb replacements that was done with tractors (I guess farmers plow by night). Philips did well here too, and this site was instrumental in my choice of the Philips X-Treme Power.
http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2008/02/13/109339/tractor-headlight-bulbs-on-test.html
