I have a 1996 m900.
Here are 3 choices (I'm assuming these will work on my bike, but let me know if they won't).
PIAA H4 Xtreme White Bulb 60/55W = 110/100W Anti-Vib
$39.99
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/217G7VQ33GL._SL500_AA200_.jpg)
PIAA Xtreme White Plus Bulb- H4 Single Pack (H4 60/55w=135/125w Xtreme White Plus)
$28.99
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PR2EZVFTL._SL500_AA280_.jpg)
PIAA H4 60/55=110/100 XTRM WHT 70456
$47.99
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31RBKP02mwL._SL500_AA280_.jpg)
Pretty sure the H4 will be fine but be careful of going to these extreme white bulbs. The whiter they are (cooler or blue-like), the less light they will throw down the road. I know there's a thread about this somewhere.
Quote from: DucAtomic on August 12, 2009, 02:13:50 PM
Pretty sure the H4 will be fine but be careful of going to these extreme white bulbs. The whiter they are (cooler or blue-like), the less light they will throw down the road. I know there's a thread about this somewhere.
Its not that significant until you start going into a color that isnt white. pure white or a bit yellow i sthe way to go. unless you like blue.
Im on sylviana star (the $20 pepboys one) people say they dont last that long though... ive heard great reviews on the phillips H4 bulbs though.
Great stuff on this site...start here:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/good/good.html (http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/good/good.html)
silver stars are amazing ...used in all my vehicles and bikes
but as stated a short life span
Quote from: Old_and_slow on August 13, 2009, 09:01:07 AM
Great stuff on this site...start here:
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/good/good.html (http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/good/good.html)
That was very helpful. Thank you. :)
I like Hella 80w100s myself.
I've been using Phillips VisionPlus bulbs on all my vehicles since 2002 and have yet to have one fail, including the one on my F650 which has been ridden off-road a lot.
I get them from www.powerbulbs.com (//http://) ~$30/pr IIRC>
My suggestion is the Osram Silverstar H4 bulb. Here's an Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Silverstar-64193SVS-OSRAM-H4/dp/B001HF2IR0 (http://www.amazon.com/Silverstar-64193SVS-OSRAM-H4/dp/B001HF2IR0)
Follow up ....
I still haven't bought a new bulb, but I'm about to. The Ducati dealer said that I should have an H7, is that right?
I don't think he realized I had the older (1996) M900.
Either way, should I get a H7 or H4? And what wattage?
Quote from: 64duc on August 17, 2009, 12:08:32 PM
I like Hella 80w100s myself.
I've been running one for 7 years and 28K.
i am not 100% positive but it must be a H4
as for wattage go with stock wattage 60/55 and a sylvania silver star bulb
A few months ago I lost my service manual, but I got a new one this afternoon (or rather, I checked one out from the local library), and OEM is H4 halogen 60/55w.
:)
Your library had Duc tech manuals? Mines not that cool...
The Hella lights DP and 64duc mentioned are a whopping $8 - less than a third of the cheapest one you listed originally. Can't hurt to try. Or maybe one of the +50 lights discussed on that Daniel Stern site
I was thinking about those extreme white bulbs, and I realized that I never use my headlight -- not for seeing anyway (I live in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country; there are streetlights wherever I go).
I realized that the only thing I use it for is to be seen by other people on the road.
So why not go extreme white?
The person that doesn't see the stock light won't see you regardless of what bulb you run.
Quote from: ute on August 13, 2009, 04:39:53 PM
silver stars are amazing ...used in all my vehicles and bikes
but as stated a short life span
One thing the seriously shortens the life span of these bulbs is touching the glass with your fingers.
Don't do that, and they last a long time.
Quote from: ducpainter on December 30, 2009, 08:11:40 AM
The person that doesn't see the stock light won't see you regardless of what bulb you run.
I agree that the brightness of the light doesn't matter if a driver doesn't even look in your direction.
However, I think the brighter light will help catch the eye of someone who at least glances in your direction. And I think it would also help distinguish your light from the light of the car in the lane next to you.
[moto]
Quote from: Michael on December 30, 2009, 09:03:30 AM
I agree that the brightness of the light doesn't matter if a driver doesn't even look in your direction.
However, I think the brighter light will help catch the eye of someone who at least glances in your direction.
Yeah, that's true and all, but I have a Personal Moto Philosophy that makes the point moot (for me at least).
NorDog's Personal Moto Philosophy: I am completely invisible to everyone else on the road. If by chance or some sort of miracle someone else on the road actually sees me, I must remember that they hate me and want to kill me with their vehicle.
Hey, that's just the way I roll.