[christianweisser]

Need a little help here. Want to replace stock bulb with one of the PIAA bulbs. The website offers two versions that seem good: Extreme White and Super Plasma.

http://www.piaa.com/Bulbs/Bulbs-H4.html


Any advice on which of these is better and brighter?

 

[pnut]

I have the super plasmas. The difference between the two is that the extreme white is more bluish while the super plasmas are more purple. Do yourself a favor and get the Sylvania SilverStars. They are cheaper and brighter.

 

[test-reg]

Do yourself a favor and get the Sylvania SilverStars

+1 on the SilverStar bulbs. New version is called SilverStar Ultra. You won't be disappointed.

 

[christianweisser]

Thanks for the info! Headed out to find SilverStars right now.

CW

 

[hitmaker]

Can I replace my stock headlight bulb on my s2r 800 with a Sylvania and is it much brighter? I would be very interested in anything that is brighter even though the stock one is pretty good.

 

[kopfjager]

Can I replace my stock headlight bulb on my s2r 800 with a Sylvania and is it much brighter? I would be very interested in anything that is brighter even though the stock one is pretty good.

Yes you can, and it is a brighter bulb than the stock one.

 

[415Local]

???Does any sylvania silverstar bulb work for an S2R???

 

[test-reg]

???Does any sylvania silverstar bulb work for an S2R???

If the headlight is stock you want an H4 bulb, be it a Silverstar, PIAA or whatever.

 

[2cati]

There is a lot of hype around the performaNce of "xenon" bulbs ....save your money...

If you are not into the "HID colour" and simply want the best performance out of your conventional system (non-HID) I'd suggest you contact:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/home.html

Reasonable prices and they import the top performing bulbs from around the world from the top OEM manufacturers Osram, Sylvainia, Philips..etc...no BS...The can get you the top performing bulbs that are not available locally..i.e. Osram/Sylvania Silverstars available locally are no where near the performance as the European versions...

Some good reading - this on the PIAA hype:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/superwhite/superwhite.html



http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/good/good.html


http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/bad/bad.html

 

[addysdaddy]

So which bulb would you recommend replacing on my S4Rs?

 

[ATOmemphis]

The headlight bulb.

 

[uclabiker66]

I love my PIAA Super Plasmas. There is a very subtle hint of purple which complements my bike really well. I say definately go w/ the Super Plasma's you wont be dissapointed.

 

[addysdaddy]

It's my understanding that the PIAA bulbs aren't putting out anymore light but rather changing the color temperature of the existing bulb - is that true or are they actually brighter?

 

[OLD SKooL]

Do yourself a favor and get the Sylvania SilverStars. They are cheaper and brighter.

Thing with PIAA's they burn out quick. I had a set in my car before i got HID's. There ok i guess. As for the Sylvania Silverstars, i see them as just another blue coated bulb (better than PIAA's at least). You guys want a bulb with really good output (for a bulb at least), try and find OSRAM SilverStars. There not marketed in the US, but you can find them on ebay from time to time. Europe has OSRAM SilverStars, the US has Sylvania (with the blue coating). A fellow Bimmerforums member got a whole bunch and was selling them to members i remember. Good bulb for the money imo.

 

[christianweisser]

Hey, I've got PIAA Extreme white on my bike. I was amazed at how much brighter it is than stock. Let's hit a night ride sometime soon, and you can check mine out.

Maybe Thursday for bike night in Stuart?

 

[T. J. Fejka]

There is a lot of hype around the performaNce of "xenon" bulbs ....save your money...

If you are not into the "HID colour" and simply want the best performance out of your conventional system (non-HID) I'd suggest you contact:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/home.html

Reasonable prices and they import the top performing bulbs from around the world from the top OEM manufacturers Osram, Sylvainia, Philips..etc...no BS...The can get you the top performing bulbs that are not available locally..i.e. Osram/Sylvania Silverstars available locally are no where near the performance as the European versions...

Some good reading - this on the PIAA hype:

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/superwhite/superwhite.html


http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/good/good.html


http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/bulbs/blue/bad/bad.html

If you guys actually go read these links from 2cati's post...this thread/discussion will be over!

Great links/site 2cati...Thanx!

 

[test-reg]

If you guys actually go read these links from 2cati's post...this thread/discussion will be over!

Great links/site 2cati...Thanx!

Those are all really good articles. It's refreshing to see a vendor focusing on reality, and not just perception of performance. I might have to give them a call.

 

[2cati]

Great links/site 2cati...Thanx!

No problem! It's an uphill battle on educating fellow riders on the hype however impressed that at least someone found my post of value!

try and find OSRAM SilverStars. There not marketed in the US, but you can find them on ebay from time to time. Europe has OSRAM SilverStars, the US has Sylvania (with the blue coating).

Bingo! All what I previously stated.....The Osram Silverstars are top notch...the Sylvania Silvertars pale by comparison here in North America.

PIAA is all hype and marketing for the "too fast too furiuous" types.. ;D

 

[2cati]

So which bulb would you recommend replacing on my S4Rs?

Osram Silverstar is a great choice (not the Sylvania Silverstar).

 

[addysdaddy]

Osram Silverstar is a great choice (not the Sylvania Silverstar).

Sounds great and thanks for the link - according to Daniel Sterns Lighting, there is functionally no difference between the endorsed brands (see * quote below) It also seems you can call them and order a lamp which I plan on doing tomorrow. Thanks gain 2cati for the help - love the scientific approach to things - especially when it comes to lighting (I have a photographic background)

*- About H4 +50 Bulb Brands:
The H4 +50 bulbs from the big four reputable European bulb makers (Philips VisionPlus, Osram SilverStar, Narva RangePower+50, Tungsram Megalicht) are functionally identical. When we pick ten samples of each and put each one through photometric, optical comparator and life tests, there's a very narrow range of performance and life differences, and those differences are randomized among the four brands.