Everyone knows just how handy a headlight is to his motorcycle – “to see” or “to be seen”. Whether riding in darkness or foggy conditions, you will ride safely, provided your bike has a working headlight with the brightest bulb. Choosing one is not easy, with many brands claiming to offer the most powerful light. However, after deep dissection, we’ve got a list of the best motorcycle headlight bulbs, as presented hereunder.
Best Overall – Philips Racing Vision H7 or Bosch Plus 90 H7
Premium – HIKARI UltraFocus H4
Brightest Bulb (150% Extra) – Philips Racing Vision
Best For Harley Davidson – AUXITO H4
Best Halogen – PHILIPS Diamond Vision H7 or Sylvania H4
Best LED – AoLEAD H4 or MZS H7
Best Xenon – SeaLight H4
Best Budget – DayWalker H4 or DZG H4
Best For BMW Moto – HIKARI HyperStar or HIKARI VisionPlus
Types of Motorcycle Headlight Bulbs
Halogen
Most bikes have Halogen bulbs on them straight from the factory. Some competitor manufacturers claim the bulbs are not as bright as said. Never fall for the lie! Halogen bulbs are bright and most riders never have issues riding on dark roads.
Xenon
The bulb is similar to halogen bulbs, but the Xenon ones use a combination of Halogen and Xenon gases. However, unlike the halogen ones, Xenon bulbs emit crisper, brighter, and blue-like light.
LED
LED bulbs boast exceptional durability when compared to halogen or Xenon bulbs. The bulbs are also famous for emitting brighter beams since they can use more power than most common bulbs. However, these bulbs are not regularly used on motorbikes making them rare to find.
HID
Since HID is the latest headlight using the latest headlight technology, they are super bright and clear. Such lights are popular on newer vehicle models and bikes. They emit blue-whitish beams, making them brighter than other bulbs.
What Size Bulb Fits Motorcycles?
H1
H1 are halogen bulbs with a single filament. They use 55 watts at 12 volts. If your bike needs two single filament bulbs, this is the size to go for. Every bulb comes with a reflector, and a rider will need two of those – one bulb to use on a full beam and the other with a dipped beam.
H4
These are dual filament halogen bulbs and emit brighter beams. The bulbs use 60 or 55 watts at 12 volts. Any rider can use the dual filament to alternate between full and dipped light.
H7
Unlike H4 bulbs, this bulb comes with two divided attachments and can fit into various bulb sockets. Also, they come as a single filament bulb.
Motorcycle Bulb: Brightness Levels
Typically, halogen bulbs produce yellow-like light at around 2400K. On the other hand, some other bulbs emit over 6000K. LED bulbs usually emit brighter beams at about 4000K. Such brightness on all bike bulbs can easily penetrate the darkness. A brighter bulb offers the extra night vision you need most while on the road.
However, different bulbs come with various brightness levels. With that in mind, choose any depending on your brightness requirement. Whether you choose an LED, HID, Xenon, or even a Halogen headlight, you will find your perfect match.
Best Motorbike Headlight Bulbs – Top Table
Are All Motorcycle Headlight Bulbs the Same?
Every bike has different lights and so they need varying bulbs. Along with different bulbs come various bulb fittings depending on the bike model. Fitting refers to the shape and size of the bulb base to fit well on the bike. For that reason, make sure the headlight bulb you choose will fit into your bike since they do not fit universally.
How to Fit a Bulb on Your Motorcycle Headlight?
Ensuring the headlight bulb fits well is crucial in ensuring your motorbike remains legal on the road. If unsure of how to fit them, ask an expert’s help. For a DIY, grab a screwdriver and follow the following steps:
- Secure the bike- Make sure your bike remains in a stable position by propping it up with a kickstand. Alternatively, you can ask someone to hold the bike firmly as you work on it.
- Loosen the screws securing the headlight- The best way to determine the correct ones is by consulting the bikes manufacturer manual. Place all the screws in a tray to avoid losing any of them.
- Disconnecting the bulb- Once you remove the covers, disconnect the previous bulb. You can do so by holding the base and applying some pressure. Avoid grabbing the glass since it can break.
- Fit the new bulb- Hold the base of the new bulb and place it on the previous bulb slot. Put back the screws to make sure the bulb is secure in place.
Avoid These Type of Headlight for Your Bulb
We always ask you to avoid buying a headlight bulb that is not ECE certified. We love it when people use products that are safe and tested.
Headlights are not different. Other than uncertified headlight bulbs, avoid using LED bulbs as halogen replacement since they may not offer the required light.
Things can be thought of in reverse. While halogen bulbs work well, they are not universal. Using them as a replacement for an LED bulb may not yield a better fit.
One also needs to avoid buying headlight bulbs from questionable brands, check user reviews to know what other consumers think of the product.
Is Xenon Brighter than LED?
The Xenon headlight bulb emits brighter beams than LED and delivers white-blue light, which is three times brighter than LED bulbs. The headlights use more energy and are hotter than LED BULBS but become dimmer over time.
In Xenon bulbs, electric currents go via the Xenon gas-producing an arc between two electrodes. The arc created produces intense white-blue light, which is usually brighter than LEDs. We know one good thing about LEDs. Even though they are not as bright, their light lasts longer than Xenon ones.
Is HID the same as Xenon?
No, they are not the same. HID is a form of light fixture creating brighter and long-lasting beams. On the other hand, Xenon is an HID subtype containing Xenon gas rather than other alternatives. Xenon bulbs do not need to warm up like HID lights. However, HID is the better one since they are the latest headlight technology. They yield brighter beams compared to all other bulbs.
How to adjust the brightness of headlight bulbs?
- Consult the manual- Before adjusting the headlight brightness, consult the manufacturer manual. Some brands do not allow headlight adjustments.
- Secure the bike- Place the bike on level ground for a better experience.
- Creating a center axis- Place the motorbike six feet far from the wall
- Headlight distance measurement– measure and know the difference between the headlights to make sure they match.
- Prepare for adjustment- Adjust the vertical field and the horizontal field. After that, fine-tune the adjustment before testing the headlights.
Concluding Remarks
Motorcycle headlights are a crucial component of a bike for the rider’s safety. It does not matter how far you wish to ride at night. The most important thing is to have fun with protection. Just make sure the bulb in the headlight lights up your trail brightly.
Leave a Reply