LED Headlight Bulbs

[MichaelDee]

Does anyone have experience with the LED bulbs (like the ones Headwinds sell for around $100) that replace stock headlight bulbs? How well do they light up the road ahead? Do they cause radio interference?  Contemplating putting one in my Ultra.  Thanks

[mrmike]

Lots of info and comparisons here...

http://www.bogiesreviews.webs.com/


Mike

[MichaelDee]

Thanks much.

[MichaelDee]

Good reviews of MoCo and Truck Light headlight assemblies, but not what I was looking for.  Interested in info on LED "bulbs" used as direct replacement for stock bulb.  Any information would be helpful.  Thanks again

[Dan]

Here is another link: http://www.electricalconnection.com/other-lighting/led-hl-h4.htm

Looks like the same light. I added some 2" bullet LED 10W lights that I bought from SuperBright LED's and they are amazing. The light they throw out makes a huge difference at night and adds safety during the day. Still researching as you an H4 LED replacement hi/lo bulb.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/mini-auxiliary-lights/
http://www.amazon.com/New-Brights-LED-Headlight-Conversion/dp/B00HFK2RAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410404597&sr=8-1&keywords=led+h4+motorcycle

[MichaelDee]

Thanks Dan.  This is the "bulb" set-up I am looking for feedback on.  Anyone?

[MichaelDee]

Well I bit the bullet and ordered the H4 replacement LED set-up through Amazon.  At $100 for a set of two it works out to be about half the price of a single replacement set-up from a typical motorcycle parts supplier.  If it all works out, looks like I will have a spare, or one to sell.  I will submit my findings and review at this post once received, installed, and evaluated.  Expect results to be better than halogen, but maybe not as good as the Truck Light P7 assembly (I imagine it will be sort of a "get what you pay for" result).

[Dan]

Thanks Michael and please let us know how these work, I am most interested!!!!!

[tomcat64]

i'd like to hear too!!!

[jmb79]

I too look forward to a review.  Seems as though the replacement bulbs have to rely on the existing reflectors/projectors.  I wonder whether a reflector/projector designed for a halogen bulb is also suited for an LED. 

[MichaelDee]

Received LED "bulbs" when promised (ordered through Amazon) and installed the same day.  Although not required, I removed outer fairing to perform install.  This gave me more options for mounting the control unit than just removing the headlight bucket and I recommend this approach to anyone doing this install.  Installation was simple and easily accomplished in a little over 40-minutes.  Instructions that accompany LED set-up are more for entertainment than instructional.

LED set-up is immensely more bright than halogen bulb I was using.  Although I don't do much riding there, it really lit-up my garage!  Did not detect any radio interference and cannot hear cooling fan, even when bike is not running.  Will have to see how LED set-up works on a night ride and try to do a side-by-side comparison with a friend who has the H-D LED headlight. 

[Leed]

Cool!

Thanks for the update.  I'd like to hear what you think of it once you try it out at night.

[mrmike]

Yes I'd be interested in your observations after some nite riding as well. 


Mike

[Dan]

Excellent, please share your review after a night ride.

[MichaelDee]

After two "0-dark-thirty" morning rides to work, I have been impressed with the increased brightness of this LED "light bulb" over the halogen and xenon bulbs I had been using.  Reflective road signs and lane markers seem to "pop" out of the darkness.  I suspect distance performance will be somewhat better after I spend some time correctly aiming the headlight.  Somewhat hard to evaluate high beam given the need for alignment (lowered rear shocks and never gave thought to headlight alignment... oops!).

Last night I had the opportunity to do a side-by-side parking lot comparison with a buddy's H-D LED headlight equipped Road King and he was not very happy when I told him my set-up cost me ~$52 compared to what he paid for his headlight.  I suspect the H-D light may provide better distance due to the projector-type lens, but not by much and definitely not enough to justify the cost difference IMHO.  Another extremely noticeable difference was the increased visibility to on-coming traffic of the LED "light bulb" over the H-D headlight.  Then again, that may be either an adjustment issue, a reflector issue, or a light temperature issue.

So far my subjective opinion, based on observations and peer feedback, is that this LED "light bulb" is a worthwhile investment (especially at two for $104!).  There are a few motorcycle aftermarket vendors out there selling the exact same set-up at ~$95 for a single bulb, still a bargain compared to cost of a H-D or Trucklite headlight, but I suggest buying the pair through Amazon and splitting the cost with a like-minded buddy.  Or keep one as a spare, even though it might outlast the bike.

I will give this set-up some more time and make another side-by-side comparison (after I do proper headlight alignment) and report back at this thread in a couple of weeks.  In the mean-time, I am liking it a lot.

[joe_lyons]

How far back doe the bulb go past where the stock bulb sits?  Did you take any pics of the install?  Just wondering if it would fit in a 5 3/4 bucket?

[MichaelDee]

I was anxious to get install done and didn't think about photos until I was done
Here is photo of assembled LED bulb complete with "fan" and it is just a hair shy of four-inches.  Plus there is a small controller box (2" x 2 1/2" x 1/2" thick) that you will need to attach somewhere.  Since I was working inside the fairing on my Ultra, space was not a big concern.

[skunk]

MichaelDee,
  do you have an amazon link to the bulb set you bought

[boooby1744]

   You said the signs really pop,sounds like a lot of errant light.I would like to see what it looks like in fog or rain.

[sfmichael]

 

[MichaelDee]

Skunk,
here is link
http://www.amazon.com/New-Brights-LED-Headlight-Conversion/dp/B00HFK2RAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410404597&sr=8-1&keywords=led+h4+motorcycle
Originally sent to me by Dan earlier in this thread
Michael

[Clayster]

This is good info!  Thanks for the write up and sharing your results.   

[skunk]

Michael, thank you for your review and the link. have added them to my wish list.

[76shuvlinoff]

I have no dog in this fight but read the reviews on Amazon, not all are favorable.

Mark

[MichaelDee]

I have no dog in this fight but read the reviews on Amazon, not all are favorable.

Mark

Mark,
Most of those reviews were from cagers.  If you hunt through all the reviews, you will find those written by motorcyclists were favorable.  Those favorable reviews helped sway me into giving the bulb a try.  At this point, I still have no regrets, a very bright headlight, and a couple hundred bucks to spend on something else.
Michael