Just checked online: the Sun's surface temperature is around 11k F, so the closer the bulbs temperature rating to 11k, the closer the spectrum of the bulb's light is to the Sun's light. The temperature refers to the color of the light, and not to the brightness.
The brightness is a different property of light (I think lumens). Whatever the specific bulb is rated for brightness, should be somewhere in tech specs of the bulb.
What you guys don't realize is that installing a brighter light is not as beneficial as you might think.
It is true that the bright light from your headlight is easier to notice. But that's where the benefit ends.
The brighter the light the more difficult (i.e. impossible) to estimate the speed of the bike. You could be doing 30 mph or 80 mph, your bright light will appear about the same to the viewer - and the problem is that your bright light will appear as if it is not moving. You can predict the outcome of such miscalculation.
When people are blinded they tend to freeze - also a bad thing.
It annoys the heck out of other people who are blinded. If the bulb is not adjusted, the light blinds others even more.
All-in-all, it just makes no sense to me.
Those who install HID's (both bikes and cars) to see better at night are pretty selfish because they achieve better lighting by blinding others.
I'm aware that it refers to the temp and not the color. I've also never had anyone flash their lights at me for my lowbeam being too bright. My headlight is also adjusted to where it's not aimed too high.
It's also not selfish to need to be able to see well at night. I'm constantly blinded by stock height 4x4 pickups, with or without HIDs in them, in a car or on a bike.
I ride at night, and stock headlights are almost useless. I need to be able to see too. I wasn't comfortable at 55mph at night with stock headlights.
I also live in critter country, you name it and it's ran out in front of me day and night. I've also hit a deer at night on a bike.
Can seeing better save you? Of course.
No one in a car, truck, bike, or whatever should be staring at the headlights of oncoming vehicless either. Look ahead or down to the right shoulder...yes, it really helps. Staring into oncoming headlight is a common mistake of many drivers.
If HIDs were so bad they would not be factory equipment on so many late model vehicles. Some people simply don't like them.
Try convincing everyone here with HIDs that they are a bad, selfish choice, good luck with that.
