Highest wattage headlights for Viper/Venom?

Venom

Venom

Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2004
Messages
277
Location
Holyrood, Newfoundland, Canada
Hi,
I'm planning on replacing my headlight bulbs and wanted something brighter. I know that HID is out there, but I don't want to get into big money.

What's the brightest 'affordable' bulb I can put in my sled? I heard that I could get 130 watt high-beam/100 watt lo-beam, ...but would this be too much and cause problems? The 100 watt lo-beam would be pointing to the ground so it shouldn't blind other riders coming towards me, correct?

FYI, I don't have any headlight covers, since I heard that some high wattage bulbs could melt them.

Cheers.
 
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IMHO, forget the high wattage bulb and go with a better whiter light like the Silverstar. Better for you and the riders coming in the opposite direction.

Jim
 
I tried the 100/130 watt bulbs in my Viper. Even on low beam they caused the brake light to dim. I heard that if I used LED tail lamps bulbs it would solve the problem. I decided to return the 100/130 watt bulbs and go back to stock and spend money elsewhere. G.B.
 
ViperTom said:
I thought The stock bulbs throw out plenty of light!!! Why do you need more light?
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After throwing a couple of SilverStars in my Rav4 and seeing a noticeable difference, I was going to do the same for my motorcycle and sled. Especially in my sled since 1/3 of my riding is in the dark.

Cheers.
 
You do know that Yamaha has had the brightest lights available for some time now. You got a 360 watt ignition system in your sled and all I know is that everyone that has put aftermarket bulbs in the Yammies end up being dimmer then stock. Just my 2 pennies.
 
Allvipedup said:
You do know that Yamaha has had the brightest lights available for some time now. You got a 360 watt ignition system in your sled and all I know is that everyone that has put aftermarket bulbs in the Yammies end up being dimmer then stock. Just my 2 pennies.
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True, ..they have the brightest lights compared to other sleds, but the stock bulbs are just standard halogen bulbs. The SilverStar bulbs are proven to give more viewing distance and better contrast. I can't see them being dimmer if they are the same wattage with a filter coating (i.e. whiter light). Then again I could be wrong, lol.

I seen a difference in my Rav4 when going from standard halogen to SilverStar, so I can't see that it wouldn't be the same for my sled.

Cheers.
 
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I've never been happy with my low beam, I actually use my high beam and adjust it down just a bit to not blind the on-coming sleds, it's the only way to get good light from it. If I'm not leading our group I will use the low beam while in line.
 
vipersj said:
I've never been happy with my low beam, I actually use my high beam and adjust it down just a bit to not blind the on-coming sleds, it's the only way to get good light from it. If I'm not leading our group I will use the low beam while in line.
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I am unhappy with my low beam also....when my high beam is adjusted correctly, the low beam seems to just light up infront of my ski loops....if I raise it up to make the low beam even half decent, the high beam is shining way up in the trees. Doesn't seem to be a real happy medium for me.
 
Im running a PIAA GT-X Super Plasma and it is much better than the stock bulb. I also tried the Zenon bulb before this one at stock power, and the PIAA is still better. Never had any dimming on my sled anywhere, besides the headlight dimming very little when on the brakes.
 
Yamahammer485 said:
Im running a PIAA GT-X Super Plasma and it is much better than the stock bulb.
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I'm interested, please tell me more. Are these better than the SilverStar? How much are they each? Do they require an upgrade to the wiring?

Cheers.
 
For different alternatives, google Bhlume Enterprises, or Brite lights.
In my 98 Pol. I ran the lights that they recommended that threw a yellow and blue color. They were not the best at dusk, but at night they were awesome. As for my Viper, I never felt the need to replace the stockers.
2datrl.
 
Venom said:
I'm interested, please tell me more. Are these better than the SilverStar? How much are they each? Do they require an upgrade to the wiring?

Cheers.
Click to expand...

This is a link to the catologue which I purchased the bulb from. Couldnt get an exact link, so just follow these steps. Click the snowmobile catolgue in the far right hand side, then go to page 141, and there is some more bulbs on the pages that follow. Id say they are better than the silver star, due to the silver stars not using higher than stock power which the PIAA bulbs do.

They do not require any alterations whatsoever to the wiring or anything else for that matter, and it even says in your manual how to change the bulb, and just to let you know, the type of bulb you need is the H4 type.

http://motovan.com/catalogs_en.html
 
Many thanks Yamahammer. I'll check into it. I need two of them so it'll be costly ($120 + tax).

Now that I think of it, ...I should get one for my motorcycle too.

Cheers.
 
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No problem, Talking about sleds in Early september rocks.

Just a little story... The night I put the bulb in, I went riding with all my freinds, and they had no idea I had purchased and instaled a new bulb, and they were saying how bright and blue it was, but couldnt figure out why, until I told them. Now this is after years of riding with an aftermarket Zenon bulb, which was brighter than the stock one was.
 
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