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2. Comparing Beamcast:
PIAA 910 beamcast:
Below is my FJR with 55-watt H3 bulbs in a set of 910s hung on the bike as usually seen, the lens exactly 20 ft from a vertical garage door, the FJR up on the centerstand in the middle of the driveway which slopes gently downward, right to left. Only the PIAA 910s are lit... stock headlamps are not. Note how the pencil-beam is narrowly focused on the second row up of garage-door "panels" (four rows in all), and note how you can't really see much of anything else besides 3-4 panels along that second row of door panels.
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PHIDs Driving Lamps beamcast:
Same orientation/position as above photo. Obviously, the PHIDs are putting out a HELLEVA lot more useable light! In true HID fashion, you see not just the second row of door panels, but the one row below it, and *both* rows above it! Note how you can even see the Xmas lights still hanging above garage door that were not discernable with the 910s. This is a *classic* example of the increased usable amount of light available with HID technology!
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| Unfortunately when I took the above photo, I did not quite have the PHIDs aimed properly. As this photo shows, the PHID beams were focused a touch on the high side (vertically), and the lamps were not quite pointed "outboard" enough, either (they overlap a fair amount in this photo, sadly enough). Nowadays, the hot white center covers over four (horizontal) garage door "panels", and the beam is centered about a half foot lower than what you see here. |
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Quick Factoids for PIAA 910s vs. PHIDs Driving Lamps:
| Issue | PIAA910s | Philips HIDs |
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| Availability: | No longer manufactured. | In production |
| Costs: | $250-$295, while supplies last | $699 - complete kit |
| Bulb Technology: | 55/85/110-w H3 halogen bulb offers familiar incandescent yellow light | True High Intensity Discharge (HID) technology; ultra-clear white light; extreme life; no element to burn out. |
| Light Technology: | 55w/85w versions common.
110w H3 offer bright/harsh light. | HID's brighter, whiter light offers superior contrast at greater distances. |
| Lamp Housing: | Aluminum with glass lens: 2.0 lb | Aluminum with glass lens: 15 7/8 ounces |
| Power consumption: | Minimum: 110-watts (55-w H3s)
Maximum: 220 watts(110w H3s) | 42-watts per lamp, inclusive of ballast/ignitor/bulb
84-watts total consumption |
| PIAA Lens Type: | PIAA 910:
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| PHIDs Lens Type: | Philips HID:  |
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Warchild's personal PIAA vs PHID observations:
- To me, personally, HID lighting has demonstrated it's superior performance over halogen technology. I have seen the difference in my own use of retro-fitted HID technology in several previous/current sport-touring machines over the past several years.
- Not only is HID superior in lighting performance to my eyes in actual use, it does so while further reducing power requirements! The latter is a keenly motivating factor for the Endurance-Riding FJR pilot.
- Once a main advantange over it's competitors, the PIAA 910 ability to focus it's powerful pencil-beamed light now serves as a disadvantage for my needs. Nowadays for me, it far more important to have outstanding contrast and be able to discern movement waaaaaay to the sides of the road as well as in front of the bike.
- By their design, the PIAAs contribute little to lighting the far sides of the road. My night-riding needs have changed. I now want the roadsides lit up as well.
- So far, the performance of these Philips Driving Lamps have far exceeded what my PIAA 910 lamps with 55-watts halogen was ever capable of producing!
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| This is page 2 of 6 3) Ignitor "Flip" Go to PHID Pulldown Menu |
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