LED headlight

[jimbyjimb]

So, because my XS utilizes it's factory electrical system and because I'm addicted to flashlights like crack I have scoured the internet on occasion for an LED headlight to replace the power-sucking, dangerously weak H4 my bike currently has. I disvovered the trucklite 7 inch round (sold through Kuryakyn) as an H4 replacement. Search youtube for Kuryakyn Phase 7 and you'll get nice beamshots.

Anyway, anybody on here try one? I LOVE LED technology and the power draw is drastically lower with this lamp pushing out 1350 lumens. It comes in between 220-270 bucks which is big chedda where an H4 is 20 bucks.

[DGXSER]

I have not tried the LED route. I have the HID upgrade installed and I do love it.

[natemoen]

If I could swing it I would but at nearly $300 I just can't justify it.

They also make one that would work for the standards too.

[clarkcortez]

$188 & Free Shipping

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRUCK-LITE-2...b09535&vxp=mtr

[Eveready1100]

It'd be interesting to hear any feedback about the light listed in the link posted by clarkcortez.
The specs for it claim a light output of 1300 lumens which sounds like it would struggle a bit, considering the "power-sucking, dangerously weak H4" halogen lights in 55watt form put out 1800 lumens of light.

Like DGXSER, I've gone the HID route and can't see any viable alternative (especially $$$$ wise) for a proper good headlight.

[natemoen]

Yeah, the lumen output is lower and I had always wondered about that too. It is really hard to compare incandescent and led, it sucks.

[Bigfoot]

I would love a set of these but just can't justify the cost.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/JW-Speaker-7...d70c69&vxp=mtr

[clarkcortez]

Pros & cons + other links

http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/ha...-daymaker.html

[b.walker5]

Its not just the Lumens you need to consider. The colour temperature is what actually matters. Lower lumens at a higher temp, 6k, will appear brighter and give better vision than higher lumens at a lower temp of 3 to 4k.
Incandescant has quite a low temp, so higher wattages are required to get good lumen output, Halogen temp is higher so less power for same lumens, HID is higher again, but LED can produce the best results with minimal power.
Still a ways to go with this technology, but its certainly on its way.

[jimbyjimb]

I'd like to see the H4 in my XS actually throw out 1800 lm on an ANSI test. My 277 lm, ANSI measured out the front Malkoff dropin in my 3d Maglite absolutely destroyed my old and my new H4 bulbs in spill and throw in the smaller head of a Maglite up close in my garage and in the pitch black of a Washington highway near Raymond. If I mounted my TK22 on the handlebars I'd have better visibility than my XS headlamp offers. It's so frighteningly weak I don't ride at night outside the city since I got stuck at night outside Raymond barely able to see anything. The standard sealed beam 7's in my Ford flood and throw much, much farther than any H4 my XS has held.

I'm shocked that the trucklite seems to be the only offering with tiny flashlights like the TM26 tossing out 3500 lm. A tri or quad cree XM** LED heatsinked and properly reflected would offer much more life and power per draw.

I wish somebody would get on it. The neutral color of an LED makes a huge difference too.

[Tat2demon]

All of the LED stuff Ive seen had very poor performance at distance. I really like the HID conversion. After having on my 78 Im also going to put it on my 79 this winter.

[Eveready1100]

Here's my current setup,

[IMG][/IMG]

The 8 inch headlight's got a 50w HID @4300k in it, supplemented by the 10 inch LED bar light which is the 20 x 3w 3D array

which I thought was having the best of both worlds, until I saw these - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/261251755...84.m1423.l2649

One of the guys at work has one on his ute, and it makes my little LEDs pale into insignificance compared to this weapon!
I'll give you a report on it once I receive it and fit it up.

Oh, and Jimby, how old is your H4 bulb, as they do lose intensity with age?

[jimbyjimb]

New this season. I've read threads before detailing how crappy our stock headlights are. I think HID is still the best solution, but LED's exist that could provide superior performance per draw over anything I'm aware of. If it can be put in a flashlight, it can go in a headlight. It's all in the reflector shape/size.

It's so disappointing to look at my killer flashlights, then at my XS and wonder why nobody put that together. Cree makes individual LED's capable of 1200+lm on their onesies. Make a headlight with four, knock them down to 800lm for lifespan/lower heat output and there would be a superior product. I still think the trucklight is interesting though.

I'll probably get an HID kit this year though. Any recommendations on solid HID's? I saw a Philips 35w for 80 bucks...

[IanDMacDonald]

Actual HID bulb kits, or the whole reflector lens, etc.? There are a few pros on the Triple forum against them, citing the danielsternlighting.com site. I have one on my Triple and GS and love them. I considered one on my XS11, and talked to Steve about it, and he convinced me that my headlight was great as it was. He's right! I ride with the brights on at night, and it provides plenty of good light on the road. Every day I consider switching.to a round headlight with HID, and always talk myself out of it.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Jimby and others,

Here's a megathread I started last year that you may find helpful, but there's a lot of info in it, take some time to read thru and digest.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...hid+conversion

Steve and a few others do NOT recommend just putting an HID bulb into a standard Halogen H4 style reflector due to incorrect projection patterns, excessive glare to oncoming drivers and such. The above thread shows how to put an actual proper HID projector into a headlight reflector.

T.C.