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After about 38k km of loyal service, I think it's about time to change my lowbeam bulbs preventively (esp. as I think they're not as bright anymore).

So ... I'm not going to go through the full undressing ceremony just to figure out what bulbs are in there, and if I have to believe the 2 sources I have at hand, I have

- 2x H3 (low) + 2x H1 (high) — manual that came with the bike (a 2006 model according to the frame, bought in 2007)
- 2x H7 (low) + 2x H9 (high; 65W!) — the (french) december 2006 shop manual

Now I'm sure I have only 4 bulbs in there (disregarding the parking lights), and I also will assume they're paired. So ... what to pick? I've tried to look in from the front, but with the lenses it's hard to see what's installed (a HUGE filament if you look under the right angle ), esp. as said lenses are slightly milky. But there indeed doesn't appear to be a metal cap as found on the H7 bulbs (would that make sense in a condenser-style projector?)

So, what have you found? And, what kind of make/model choice will I have if it's H3? As far as I see, the Philips Motovisions don't come in that type...

German Motorrad performed a test on headlight lamps a few issues ago.
Only H4 in the thest, but I think you may find it informative anyway.

http://www.motorradonline.de/de/zubehoe ... pen/283833

- and the winner was......... Philips XP Moto.

The interesting part - or the moral if you wish - is: stay to the well known brands, ie (in Europe, at least) Philips or Osram.

Thx, but that isn't going to help much if indeed I need H3 bulbs...

The XP Moto bulb is a regular XTreme Power in a different packaging (and thus probably more expensive).

Rene,

You could go really bright with these: http://www.futurevisionhid.com/products ... -kits.html

Thanks John. That'd be interesting, but they're not road-legal here. And brightness is good, but it should hinder others (an increasing problem, nowadays, making night riding with oncomers an act of faith...).

RJVB wrote:Thx, but that isn't going to help much if indeed I need H3 bulbs...

The XP Moto bulb is a regular XTreme Power in a different packaging (and thus probably more expensive).

I noticed that. Seems like H3 is outbound, not much to choose from.
Philips Premium and Osram Nightbreaker seems to be your alternatives. The later probably the better.
At least according to Osram...

H3 outbound? Seems confirmed given the scarcity of choice in this "flavour", but on what timeline? Are we going to have to stock up, or shell out for a new optic array (provided they use different bulbs now)?!

RJVB wrote:- 2x H3 (low) + 2x H1 (high) — manual that came with the bike (a 2006 model according to the frame, bought in 2007)
- 2x H7 (low) + 2x H9 (high; 65W!) — the (french) december 2006 shop manual

I can tell you that Breva has H7 and H9. I think H3s are used on fog lights, not on low beams. My low beam H7 failed after about 35k km, of course in a middle of a trip. I found that you can't get by with high beam alone even on empty roads, it only illuminates far ahead.

Hmmm, yet someone on the French forum tells me he's put in H3 bulbs, confirming what Pete Roper found on the parts list...

H3 and H7 are very different from bulb or socket sides. You shouldn't have trouble identifying them just by looking
H3

H7