Headlight bulb improvement?

[ronjr009]

One bulb I can highly recommend is the OSRAM Nightbreaker. I've used them on my Silverwing, V-Strom, and will soon pick up a bulb for the CBR. Certainly no H.I.D but brighter than standard halogen and seems to reflect better as well. They are a European bulb but you can find them online. They are a little more expensive than most but have had good reviews and mine have been in the V-Strom for a year and a half with 15,000 miles on them and they are still burning strong. I also installed a switch bypass which sends a little extra current to the bulb as well and also protects the switch. A lot of people think my brights are on when my beam is on low. They get quite a surprise when I show them what the brights really look like. When riding on curves in the mountains at night, I can ride quite a bit more confidently with them.

[ross350]

Originally Posted by ronjr009

I also installed a switch bypass which sends a little extra current to the bulb as well and also protects the switch.

can please you explain how you did this or point to a how to?

[ronjr009]

Originally Posted by ross350

can please you explain how you did this or point to a how to?

Ross, go to comagination.com for the headlight modulator and built in bypass circuit. My V-strom has one that was made by a guy from Japan which is currently what I have in the Strom. The one from Comagination is integrated into the modulator and easy to hook up, although a little more expensive if you choose the switch bypass option with the modulator. The basic function of the bypass is to send a little extra voltage to the bulb by bypassing the hi/lo switch thus making it a little brighter. Here is a video of my bike with the comagination unit.

2012 CBR 250R Mods Video Number 1 - YouTube

One thing to note, I took a nice long 2 hour night ride last week with the CBR to see how it compares at night to the V-Strom. While the CBR is definitely a good bit better than it was with the stock bulb, my V-strom blows it off the map. With the twin bulb configuration and better reflectors, the V-strom is a much more confident bike to ride at night. The light pattern on the CBR is pretty good going straight but the peripheal vision could be better which is where the V-strom shines. Maybe not a big difference on straight roads but here in the mountains of northeast, TN, peripheal vision when riding in the curves really adds to the confidence factor of riding at night.

[Joeboo]

Narva.com.au has some h4 globes that are standard wattage but put out 120% more light.