Jap and Uk spec Headlight bulbs bulbs.

[cbr_veze]

im having a bit of trouble with my headlights. if i put them on dipped beam, or high beam, i think they may be draining the battery. it takes a good few hours of riding though so im going to get it checked out, it could be that by battery is a dud. i checked earlier with the lights on park, the dipped then high and revved the engine, and they did get a little brighter, not a massive amount but they did, which tells me that they are getting power from the alternator. but on dipped beam the bulbs are very dim, and realy quiet pointless beacuse they are that dim. i was wondering whether maybe someone has put the wrong bulbs in these lights, and they just cant draw enough power to make them work properly, im going to see about checking what bulbs are in there tommorow and see about ordering some. i was wondering what the difference is between the jap spec and uk spec bulbs. obviously the jap spec will fit strait in, but what about the uk spec? do they have to be modified in anyway? and are they a better bulb or are they best to go for because they are more readily available?
the other thing is i think someone had actualy wired the switch the wrong way round, because i set the lights up to the correct height on dipped beam, but when i put them on high beam, it shined straight at the floor!?. the light isnt in upside down or anything because the lettering on the front is the right way up. any suggestions? thanks for you time folks. josh.

[cbr400rrn]

The jap spec bulbs are 35/60w (off the top of my head.)
55/60w bulbs can be modified to fit a jap spec headlight or a slight modification needs to be made to the headlight housing to make the h4 bulbs fit and the switch needs to be modified to stop it melting because of the extra current needed. Try a search for headlight bulbs in the cbr workshop section should show you what needs to be done if you are going to go down this route

[CMSMJ1]

I'd be worried that your reg /rec is knackered. The lights should not be draining the battery so check out your generator, reg/rec and battery

35/65 is right for jap bulbs and they work OK..shouldn't be a very noticeable dimming or brightening so something else is up

[leopard_pagan]

"the other thing is i think someone had actualy wired the switch the wrong way round, because i set the lights up to the correct height on dipped beam, but when i put them on high beam, it shined straight at the floor!?"

> possibly. on my bike NC29 i have the side light bulb at the bottom of the headlight unit. if your s are upside down, the side light would be at the top.

if you fit any bulbs higher than what Honda intended in these bikes, i strongly suggest you also get the headlight relay/fuse mods done to stop your dip switch melting.

you now have 2 options on fitting UK spec bulbs..
option one is to bodge the bulbs them selves to fit
option two is to permanently mod the headlight units to always take standard UK spec bulbs

option one link
http://www.vsource.org/VFR-RVF_files/Je ... 20page.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

option two DIY how to for NC29s.. unknown if this also works on NC23s?

[cbr_veze]

rite ive been tinkering in the garage today, i pulled the bulbs out and they are as stated in the manual as the uk spec bulb, 35/60w that have been modified to fit. so i swapped them for the same size bulbs but the halogen ones that shine brighter, and it made a difference to full beam, it was a bit brighter. but dipped beam is still awefull, copared to the lights on my dads xjr13, they might aswell be candles, lol. so after much head scratching in the garage, weve thought that it could be the reg/rec, or the battery, so im going to change those and go from there. if that doesnt help, then i suppose i should test the alternator. does anyone else have the same problem with there lights being really rubbish?

[leopard_pagan]

yes.. for the last 7 years of winter/night time riding!
i have tried everything H4!
Ultra white bulbs = crap
Blue ice bulbs = looked cool, shite depth
Non-Ballast - HID = crap
100/80W "off road" bulbs = were better than the rest but still not great!
i NOW have HID Ballast kits, they emit far more light than any of the bulbs (bought ultra white), they show cats eye much further than other bulbs and cars see you coming/move out your way!
BUT.. i did have to pick which "beam" i wanted to set up right! ... which one do i use the most.. the Dip. so i have set up the dip beam just right for MOTs and right for me... my High beam lights up the tree tops! and my MOT man doesnt worry about it..

the only thing left for me to do on my search for better headlights.. is to change the headlight units them selves!... not an easy feat as you have to find modern units that fit...