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Does anyone know whether I can purchase the high/low beam bulb at an auto parts dealer?

I wouldn't mind missing the dealership.

Thanks.

Yes you can buy it in any autoparts store , the bulb you need is an H4.
Even better go online and get a Phillips X-Treme Power or Osram Night Breaker, whiter light and 80% brighter.

I have been using an X-Treme power to illuminate my late night commutes, often in foul weather for the last 2 years. They are well worth the extra cost.

Hank.

Thanks for the quick reply, Hank.

That's exactly the bulb I'll use--better light and visibility are certainly worth paying more for.

The Velvet Monkey wrote:Thanks for the quick reply, Hank.

That's exactly the bulb I'll use--better light and visibility are certainly worth paying more for.

I also drive a lot at night and a few months ago switched to the Phillips +50. The X-Treme +80 would be even better, but even with the +50 the improvement was vast. I think I would recommend changing the headlight bulb every couple of years as they seem to lose power, and mine seemed to have shifted it's pattern in a weird way. Anyone else have that experience ?

+1 on the Osram night breaker. I installed one earlier this year after running a 90/100 watt bulb for a while. The higher wattage bulbs, used with a relay, are the best way to get more light, but bulb life is shorter.

The 55/60 watt Osram is not quite as bright as a 90/100, but it should last longer, and it does a great job. It is much better than a Wagner, or Wal-Mart or other inexpensive H4 bulb.

rdsmith3 wrote:+1 on the Osram night breaker. I installed one earlier this year after running a 90/100 watt bulb for a while. The higher wattage bulbs, used with a relay, are the best way to get more light, but bulb life is shorter.

The 55/60 watt Osram is not quite as bright as a 90/100, but it should last longer, and it does a great job. It is much better than a Wagner, or Wal-Mart or other inexpensive H4 bulb.

I found a Hella 100/80W bulb locally, but it seems to be listed for off-road use. Do you know if these are legal for on-road use? The same shop has the 60/55W bulbs.

DMM wrote:

rdsmith3 wrote:+1 on the Osram night breaker. I installed one earlier this year after running a 90/100 watt bulb for a while. The higher wattage bulbs, used with a relay, are the best way to get more light, but bulb life is shorter.

The 55/60 watt Osram is not quite as bright as a 90/100, but it should last longer, and it does a great job. It is much better than a Wagner, or Wal-Mart or other inexpensive H4 bulb.

I found a Hella 100/80W bulb locally, but it seems to be listed for off-road use. Do you know if these are legal for on-road use? The same shop has the 60/55W bulbs.

I plead the fifth amendment on that one.

If you are not using relays (which the stock headlight circuit lacks) then I would not recommend using an 80/100 bulb. You would be drawing a lot more current through the headlight switch and the stock wiring.

rdsmith3 wrote:

DMM wrote: I found a Hella 100/80W bulb locally, but it seems to be listed for off-road use. Do you know if these are legal for on-road use? The same shop has the 60/55W bulbs.

I plead the fifth amendment on that one.

If you are not using relays (which the stock headlight circuit lacks) then I would not recommend using an 80/100 bulb. You would be drawing a lot more current through the headlight switch and the stock wiring.

So the 60/55W bulbs should work without issue? My headlight is stock; no relays were added.
Any thoughts on the HID kits? Like the other guys here, I am interested in seeing and being seen much better at night; however, I am also concerned about doing the job properly. Do you know if adding the HID kit might be simpler than or about the same as adding a relay to the headlight circuit?

The 60/55 watt bulb should be fine as far as the current draw. I don't know which particular bulb it is, so it is not necessarily the best H4 bulb with regard to quality and quantity of light.

I have not really researched HID as a replacement for a headlight bulb.

This is just personal opinion ...

If you only have your headlight, I suggest sticking with an H4 bulb. (In fact, you should always carry a spare -- it is your only light.) They are simple, and you can buy the bulbs at many places.

If you need more light, add some auxiliary lights. There are lots of threads here on what people have done. Do a search.

I ride at night fairly often. There are lots of deer in my area. Therefore, I have lots of light.

HID looks like a PITA mounting the ballasts and whatnot. I think you could safely go to 70 or 80w bulb to get more light. I'd hate to think that its engineered to the ragged edge and wont handle another amp. Who cares if its legal, some LEO isn't going to put a wattmeter on your headlamp circuit. Check this out for more headlight info http://www.danielsternlighting.com/

DMM wrote:

rdsmith3 wrote:+1 on the Osram night breaker. I installed one earlier this year after running a 90/100 watt bulb for a while. The higher wattage bulbs, used with a relay, are the best way to get more light, but bulb life is shorter.

The 55/60 watt Osram is not quite as bright as a 90/100, but it should last longer, and it does a great job. It is much better than a Wagner, or Wal-Mart or other inexpensive H4 bulb.

I found a Hella 100/80W bulb locally, but it seems to be listed for off-road use. Do you know if these are legal for on-road use? The same shop has the 60/55W bulbs.

Legality depends on where you are, which you don't mention. When I was planning to install the PIAA 910s, (Still planning) I did a little research on aux lights here in Washington state and found no restrictions on power. There are minimums, like sign reflection at 400', and installation height restrictions, but nothing that limited candelpower. No doubt if I flipped them on and blinded the Highway Patrol, I would get a ticket for something, but I thought it interesting that it was not specifically covered.

I am kind of inclined, like some others here, to suggest the use of a moderate bulb in the headlight and additional driving lights. My intent with the 910s is to see that deer by the roadside at 1000 yards when I take those road trips. The Phillips +50 works pretty well for me at normal highway speeds. Normal is relative I guess. 70-80 or so in your regular freeway traffic. I don't know what would work well in the rain. Fog lights maybe ? Visability in heavy rain at night is a real problem for me in the winter.