LED/H4 replacment bulb

[Geezer]

Forgive me if this subject has been beaten to death, I've been away for awhile. Anyway the new LED headlight bulbs look amazing. I'm thinking I'll put one in my 79 when I get it back on the road hopefully around spring... Any one here tried them yet?

Tony

[3Phase]

Some folks seem to love them and they are a lot brighter.

I bought a rectangular one for my '80G/Yamaha Vetter fairing to check it out but it's been sitting on a shelf for a few years now after a couple of short daytime and nighttime rides, nothing long distance.

I may sell it because I like and want the RLU function (its brother unit saved my life one night on my Kawasaki) and there's no way I'm yanking it out or stickin' a stonkin' 'headlight' resistor in circuit just to use the RLU with an LED headlight.

[cajun31]

Tony, I researched those bulbs to ad nauseum and never could settle on one. I would read a few good reviews and then way too many negative reviews. I do know that you have to be really careful about what and who you buy from. Too much Chinese junk out there. I finally settled on a JW Speaker Adaptive 2 headlight. Like Scott I initially did not want to give up my RLU but with DiverRay's advice I finally gave up on it. The resistors needed to fool the RLU are way too big and get way too hot in use. Couldn't figure out a good way to employ it into the system. The Headlight I decided on is not cheap and is American made. I now own 4 of them. Have them on all my bikes now. Really good headlight. Really lights up the road at night. I am the same age as you and really started to be a challenge to ride at night. Too many deer and reduced reaction time scared me. You need to do your homework. There are some good LED bulbs out there but the problem with most of them is that although they light the road up well they also blind oncoming traffic. You also need to check the laws where you live. You don't want to invest in something only to find out that you are breaking the law. That is one of the main reasons I went ahead and bit the bullet and just went with a full led headlight replacement. The one I chose fit in the original housing fine. I only had to replace a few screws with longer ones that I found readily available in stainless at my local Lowes. Good luck with your venture.

[Geezer]

The ones I was looking at were on Amazon. I'm not sure where they're made but the plan was to try them in one of my pickup's before putting one in my bike. I also plan to add some LED running lights on it so I'm not dependent on just one light. With my aches and pains, long distance riding is out of the question for me but I'm hoping to still be able to run around the local area on my XS11...

Tony

[cajun31]

When you are looking at those on Amazon click on the Sold by link on the lower right. I was just looking out there ... clicked on ten different one and all were from China. Most were ... and this is just my opinion .... overpriced junk. Do a search ..TC made a few posts concerning these bulbs and made quite a few good observations. Might be worth your time to avoid buying something before being well informed. His posts are what started me on my search.

[DiverRay]

I'm running a bulb from superbrightleds. As it is in a Windjammer fairing, I had to do a little cutting to the plastic so it would fit. There is a heat sink on the back of the bulb, and the bulb holder assembly on the fairing isn't much larger than a stock bulb.
I like the light output and it seems to work a lot better than the stock halogen that was in the light. I think in a stock light bucket the bulb will fit without mods.

[3Phase]

I went out to the garage and looked at the one I have, then checked the Truck-Lite site and re-read Crazy Steve's headlight mod post for using automotive headlights in a your Yamaha:-

Install an Off-The-Shelf Headlight in a Standard
by Crazy Steve

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?p=332175



Truck-Lite 27450C
Complex Reflector, 5"x7" LED Rectangular, 2 Diodes Headlight, Polycarbonate Lens, E-Coat Aluminum, 12-24V


http://www.truck-lite.com/27450c-2.html

[Geezer]

That's pretty cool but for $260, I'd expect to do more than just light my way...

Tony

[3Phase]

I know, right? There were no singing bears or dancing dolphins.

[Geezer]

I did some searching and there are other brands for a better price. I found some round ones for under a C note for a pair and when I get all the bike projects sold so I can get to my old VW bug in the back of my garage, I'm thinking a pair of those were the lights I always hoped for in that little car...

BTW, 90% or more of LED lights come from China. The quality is all up to the company selling them if they insist on quality or just the usual crap... I bought a bunch of LED panel lights a few years ago direct from China and they have been remarkably reliable. I've been putting them in turn signals with very good results.

Tony

[3Phase]

I'm pretty sure Truck-Lite is made in the USA, not that it means anything any more like it used to but it's some pretty sturdy stuff or truckers wouldn't use it or peer upon it if it on fire.

I was thinking about going to the boneyard and adapting someone's active lighting LED headlight but then went for a ride and got over it.

[DiverRay]

Superbright stands behind the LEDs they sell. I think it was about $50 for the bulb, and as I said it should fit a standard bucket with no mods. Light output is like a 100W bulb without the amps!

[SteveO]

I put a "Day Maker" LED light on my 79' XS11 a couple of years ago. I found it on eBay, very reasonably priced.

At first I got a "very slight" flicker as well as a slight glow on my Headlight Idiot Light, both only at a low idle. The bike must think that the light is going out because the LED requires so much less electricity. As soon as the RPMs are up, there is no issue. I don't notice the flicker anymore.

The headlight difference is amazing during night riding; I see things way sooner and way clearer then with the stock headlight (and since I am getting up there in years, good night vision is critical). My riding buddy (on his 71' CB750) says that I light up the road really well for him too when we ride together.

The Day Maker also has a halo on the headlight, that I wired separately to the fuse box (which I also upgraded, but that is a different story), so that lights up with just the key. The Day Maker has another feature which I did not hook-up that would make the Halo change to amber with the turn signals.

There are probably better LEDs out there (and also more expensive ones), but this one was easy and is such an amazing improvement.

[cajun31]

I put a "Day Maker" LED light on my 79' XS11 a couple of years ago. I found it on eBay, very reasonably priced.

At first I got a "very slight" flicker as well as a slight glow on my Headlight Idiot Light, both only at a low idle. The bike must think that the light is going out because the LED requires so much less electricity. As soon as the RPMs are up, there is no issue. I don't notice the flicker anymore.

The headlight difference is amazing during night riding; I see things way sooner and way clearer then with the stock headlight (and since I am getting up there in years, good night vision is critical). My riding buddy (on his 71' CB750) says that I light up the road really well for him too when we ride together.

The Day Maker also has a halo on the headlight, that I wired separately to the fuse box (which I also upgraded, but that is a different story), so that lights up with just the key. The Day Maker has another feature which I did not hook-up that would make the Halo change to amber with the turn signals.

There are probably better LEDs out there (and also more expensive ones), but this one was easy and is such an amazing improvement.

Bypass the RLU and your flicker and idiot light will go away.

[Geezer]

I'm not sure if or when I'll get to working on my bike this year so I put a set of these LED headlight replacement bulbs in my truck and holly cow are they bright. My first drive after installing them was new dusk and I could see the difference mostly in the reflections from road signs. They're working on the bridge a little ways from my home and the reflections from the barriers was stunning. On the drive home in the dark I can honestly say I've never driven behind brighter lights.

I'll probably have to give up bike riding this year but if not, my bike will have a LED headlight...

Tony