LED Headlight

I tried an LED replacement taillight bulb,in a 2 bulb car kit that cost $50 and it didn't last a day. Went back to standard. No idea why it failed
 
There is another type you can get for standard lamp replacement, have a look on their site and you will find it. I chose those as they will fit best in head lamps
 
I'm going to give this mob a try. Had to buy two - twin headlights. Free shipping in Oz helps. Am thinking about the stop/tail kits - not sure why yours woulda dudded out, Vince - did you claim warranty?? For that sort of dough.

https://www.stedi.com.au/motorcyle-h4-led-head-light-conversion-kit-stedi-night-pilots.html

 
No I just put the old bulb back in, I blew both bulbs in the kit, I was hoping for a brighter light. It was for a few hours. No issue blowing std bulbs, replaced one for maybe the second time in 30 years a month back.It was annoying.It was a Philips so reasonable quality
 
Here in NZ we aren?t allowed to use aftermarket LED lamps in headlights unless specified by the factory. Too many lamps don?t focus correctly in reflectors designed for halogen.
Definitely put LED everywhere else though!
 
Vince said:
I tried an LED replacement taillight bulb,in a 2 bulb car kit that cost $50 and it didn't last a day. Went back to standard. No idea why it failed
Click to expand...

Maybe your voltage regulator wasn't controlling the system voltage as well as it should. Over-voltage will kill LEDs pretty quickly. Incandescent globes are a little more tolerant of excess voltage.

Or the $50 LEDs you bought were cheap ($2) crap with an exorbitant mark-up as well as poor heat sinking and rubbish vibration protection.
 
martymoose said:
You trying to outshine brett?  Who rides in the dark anyway?
Click to expand...


Occasionally I do. The standard lights are so poor I figure if it's not complex it might be worth doing.


Yep, I recall some talk of Bretts shining light, must follow him up
 
Cosi said:
I think they need a resistor , or a relay diode bridge rectifier , or something...
Click to expand...

The new ones come with that, or at least the ones I have been dealing with, they are pretty much plug and play, The H3 ones fom Ledperf are really good, I will have space inside my fairing for the two little boxes. I am investigating that I actually need the bxes as with the motogadget gear you normally dont, but for someone running a normal set up they are needed but come as plug and play
 
Yep, the ones I bought have a lead going to a small box (about the size of a matchbox - I emailed and checked before ordering) that can be attached inside my fairing and the H4 connector plugs into a lead coming from that.

You're probably right about Vince's tail lights, Cam. They don't like excessive voltage (what the 'matchboxes' are for) but the tail lights don't seem to have them - you can get inline resistors for them.
 
The ones I bought had a stepped 2 pin style combination brake and taillight and just plugged right in.
 
An LED replacement bulb for the standard Laverda 750 or 1000 headlight will not project the light produced as effectively as the original H4 bulbs. LED headlights require a totally different reflector and glass lense, it may be brighter but it will not shine(focus) where it needs to/  Look at automobile or even motorcycles that come with LED headlights standard, the reflector is totally built for an LED and the lense is nearly always simply clear wothout complicated cuts and angles in the lense. HTH save your money.
 
78jotadave said:
LED headlights require a totally different reflector and glass lense, it may be brighter but it will not shine(focus) where it needs to/ .
Click to expand...


I sent an enquiry off to ledperf.eu and amongst their response questions they asked Do you want to replace the complete optic or just the halogen bulb- I wondered what optic referred to - the whole headlamp reflector and all, or simply the bulb plus the holder for it.  Maybe Paul Marx can help out with what they might be referring to if its a literal translation from the French?  I'll see what comes back my response to them.

To date my only experience of lights with LEDs has been replacing an warning light on an MHR and indicators on a dirt bike, where the latter required resistors to avoid 'hyper flashing'...
 
I don't ride at night so headlights are of little concern to me except for legal requirements. I fitted 2 HID projector lens units on the Motodd. They're 50mm in dia which was the main reason that I brought them for. Pretty sure they're not legal here so that's a concern if I ever get harassed for them. They do light up the road but as said I don't ride at night. Probably would if I lived in the city but then headlights are not as near as important as if riding in the country. I also don't ride with daytime lights so they never get used.
When out traveling with my mates we have a saying, if you not at where your suppose to be by 4:30 with beer in hand something is seriously wrong.
 
ngiles said:
I sent an enquiry off to ledperf.eu and amongst their response questions they asked Do you want to replace the complete optic or just the halogen bulb- I wondered what optic referred to - the whole headlamp reflector and all, or simply the bulb plus the holder for it.  Maybe Paul Marx can help out with what they might be referring to if its a literal translation from the French?  I'll see what comes back my response to them.

To date my only experience of lights with LEDs has been replacing an warning light on an MHR and indicators on a dirt bike, where the latter required resistors to avoid 'hyper flashing'...
Click to expand...

You can always send me the text if you like but by "optic", I think they mean the headlight unit.

Paul
 
If you need more light on the front, the first thing to do is to measure the voltage that comes to the bulb-plug for the H4 bulb. Every % less than on the battery makes a difference. The cure is very easy: a fat new cable from plus (with a fuse in between, please) to the front and a 5? relay gives you back a very bright light. This is road legal, cheap, easy to install and makes a hell of a difference! There are even complete sets with everything preconfigured that are just plugged in between the bulb-plug and the bulb (plus the plus cable to the battery) available if you do not want to configure it yourself. Really easy to install, even I can do it.

if that is not enough, look for a H4 "night braker". They emit up to 30% more brightness and still fit your headlights glas to distribute the light correctly.

For everything else, LED is a great replacement. HID is forbidden in Germany - for a good reason... Light can't be controlled with a HID bulb and therefore shines where it should not: into the eyes of the car/bike coming front to front to you... Not good... makes you see more and them potentially being blinded by your light...

if you definitely want to go LED for the headlight, buy a LED complete headlight and replace yours. See f.e. JLO's bike that had one. Advantage: full light with the right light distribution, road legal. Disadvantage: it does not really fit a classic bike I would say...

We had the same discussion on a classic car forum. It is amazing how much more you can get just with relays and better/new bulbs. try it, doesn't cost a fortune...  ;)
 
The only real test of my improved headlight happens years ago. We were heading to Doug Rs place for a Christmas Party via Oberon and Goulbane and there was a few bike issues that had me delayed and heading there on a moonless night on a back road at appox 9pm. I while before I had added a relay and a somewhat illegal H4 bulb ratted at 90watts low beam and 130watts high beam, appaenenty made for rally racing and not strictly legal. Before fitting it my light was very poor and you could nearly do 80ks and you where overrunning what you could see. That night I was doing 120plus riding with Crispen and CJ and could have easily gone way faster. It was as good as daylight. Never seen any heat damage either. Its careful aimed and rarely used around town
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top