Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Triumph Lightbar Bulb

Dealer found the part number and has the bulb on order. Disregard.

Lee

Try these....big improvement!!

http://www.newspeedmaster.com/html/xenon_headlights.html

$3.30 per bulb at Rally Lights.com plus shipping of course.

Thanks Shutterbug and Al. If the dealer doesn't come through, I'll order from Rally Lights.

Lee

eAutoworks.com has them for $4.81 after S&H when buying 5.

You guys are amazing. I searched all over and didn't find these two sources.

Thanks,

Lee

Mind you that these are the 35W version of the H3 pigtailed halogen bulbs. Although I haven't, other members use the 55W version found everywhere. A suggestion has been made that the light bar be turned off before starting the motorsickle. Why? Seems to help with a possible bulb killing power surge. Take it for what it's worth. Just like oil choices and "Should I replace the sprockets when I replace a chain".

Thanks Moe.

Yes, the OEM bulbs are 35 watt. I never turn off the lights prior to starting up nor turn off the lightbar lights during the day. I'm estimating this first bulb blew after 200 hours of use which isn't exactly a great mean time between failure.

But it's only one bulb.

Lee

I turn mine off the start the bike. The PIAA H3 replacements I put in after the stocks burned out in 2 months are almost a year old and still good. 35 watt.

I have tried *lots* of bulbs, to find the whitest (not necessarily the best at putting light on the road). The best so far, Philips CrystalVision. A ****** site cheaper than PIAA (Though, I have yet to try their Xtreme white). I recently put the Philips 55W H3s in my Triumph light bar without any issues. It seems that the stock fuse in my 2008 America was 10A (more than enough for the 9A required by the 2 bulbs.

Coming back to the point about light on the road. I find the CrystalVision H4 light a little vague on dip, but more than adequate on main beam. I think this is more to do with having to turn off the driving lights, to check the main light, depriving me of the extra light I am used to.

One thing I haven't checked yet, is whether the alternator can provide enough juice to charge the battery and keep all the bulbs running all the time. I did have an awkward moment where the bike battery was flat when I came to start it one morning - This may have been due to extended testing the night before, but my memory is crap to remember that far back

Ebay source for Philips H4 bulbs

Ebay source for Philips H3 bulbs

I have the PIAA Xtream white on my H4 headlight and it is super. Have not yet tried the H3's on the driving lights yet as have not had the need to but want to do a comparrison between stock and PIAA.

One thing I found is over the counter auto lights don't seem to last long at all in motorcycle application. I believe the difference is the antivibration characteristics of the motorcycle rated bulbs, no matter what the brand.

I noticed on the website listed at Rally Lights, the brighter the light the shorter the life. Seems consistant with laws of physics.

I had a stock light bar bulb burn out about 2 months after installation. I then went with the 55w version, mostly because it was the only bulb available at my friendly supplier (Bent Bike). Be aware the bulb will burn hotter than the 35w bulb. I had some problems with insulation melting, leading to a ground (earth as they say overseas) which blew a fuse as I was on my way to work north of Seattle.

So, if you use the 55w bulb in the light bar, be careful how your wiring lays in the light "bucket". Be careful it cannot come into contact with the bulb or anywhere near the bulb.

I do have some of those replacement bulbs. from NewSpeedmaster.com as well as SS headlight visors . Now I just need to get another bike to use them on.

Agree with Eddy her. PIAA are $$ but they work and they LAST. Snowmobiles are MUCH harder than bikes on bulbs and the PIAA anti-vibration are the only ones that last. The PIAA setup on my bike (H4 60/55 watt and 2 H3 35 watt) and it's like daylight.

I have the same setup as KingOfFleece. A little pricey but a HUGE improvement. I no longer feel as if I'm outrunning my headlights at 70mph.