How many riders switched to LED headlights from halogen?

[Rtmac]

I've bought many sets of LED's since they were introduced 15+ years ago. They have gotten much better. The one's I'm running now are properly aimed (both vertical and horizontal). They greatly increase my forward visibility. The only time I ever get flashed by oncoming driver's is when I fail to cancel the hi beams. These are my results on my vehicles. That is all I know for sure.

 

[Holeshot]

I fail to see why anyone would want a continual stream of misinformation to be posted.

Me neither, but I usually ignore it and move on, unless I'm looking for an argument. There's so much bad information online and on BARF that it's easier to ignore it and keep friends with people.

 

[Rtmac]

Me neither, but I usually ignore it and move on, unless I'm looking for an argument. There's so much bad information online and on BARF that it's easier to ignore it and keep friends with people.

I couldn't disagree with you more and let me tell you why...

 

[moto-rama]

I'm sure this has been covered before, but the technology has probably evolved since the last thread on it.

What are people's experience?

Pro's?
Con's?

I switched a whole motorcycle to LED from Halogen.




The thing is, I rarely ride after dark anymore, so headlight intensity , focus and power are mainly for the purpose of being seen by other road users.

i wil also say this, the R21200R headlght never looked right to me, and they are NOT the best after dark headlights, either.

 

[moto-rama]

I couldn't disagree with you more and let me tell you why...

I had an LED in my Hyper for a while but it conflicted with my running lights and had the bike constantly running high beams. Didn't realize it for a while since I don't often ride at night, but it did eventually explain why drivers were so quick to let me pass threw that LED in the KTM and adjusted the aim a bit so it's not going to waste.

I find that burning a hole in the back of a driver's head with bright headlights works brilliantly to enlighten them to my desire to pass them.

 

[moto-rama]

Thanks, Enchanter.

There are many things that people simply don’t know about lights.

If they've been in the dark then they should be enlightened.

 

[DE ZALEZ]

Yes. I put Beamtech LED’s in my 2002 FZ1.
They are designed for direct halogen replacement and have a firm beam cutoff with no scatter like the old style front emitting ones.

I’ve never been flashed by oncoming drivers and I’ve asked coworkers if they are annoying and they said they don’t even notice them when following after dark. I’ve had them since Nov and they have been flawless…

Pros:
Much brighter than stock with a noticeable beam cut off. I ride backroads in the dark (to work and back) and they really light up the road, especially on high beam!
Uses less wattage.
Not too expensive…

Cons:
None

BEAMTECH H4 9003 LED Headlight Bulb 50W 6500K 8000Lumens Extremely Brigh HB3 CSP Chips Conversion Kit

H4 led headlight bulb, Newest Korean CSP LED chips Producing 8000 lumens output, Super bright with output 4000lm per light for safety driving at night

www.beamtechs.com

I have some different LEDs on my 2001 FZ1, and they blind the shit out of on coming traffic

 

[ST Guy]

If they've been in the dark then they should be enlightened.

I’m trying.

 

[ST Guy]

I have some different LEDs on my 2001 FZ1, and they blind the shit out of on coming traffic

Not good. Sometimes drivers who are blinded by oncoming lights will drive straight into them. You sure as shit don’t want to blind anyone who is driving towards you.

 

[mean dad]

Me neither, but I usually ignore it and move on, unless I'm looking for an argument.

I look to educate.

Different personalities obviously.




I upgraded to LED's on my Road King and it works amazingly well. Pattern seems to be the same or better than stock and the light is a much better quality (besides being brighter).
I also modified the wiring so I can run my (LED) driving lights with the highbeams on and that is nothing short of glorious.

 

[Rtmac]

I’m trying.

The Dunning-Kruger Effect: This cognitive bias explains that people with limited knowledge in an area frequently overestimate their own competence. Because they lack expertise, they also lack the very skills required to recognize their own mistakes. They "don't know what they don't know".

 

[ST Guy]

Irrelevant.

 

[Rtmac]

Well, I’m self trained with all its limitations.

Seems pretty relevant.

 

[Holeshot]

What a surprise.
ST attempts to dominate the conversation with false information even after explicitly being told he's incorrect.

What a surprise.

I look to educate.

Different personalities obviously.

Different indeed. Clearly you weren't educating Martin, right? What else could you be "educating" readers about? How to stop and publicly blast someone instead of keeping on trucking?

PM's exist. They're well used to not make one's point a public shaming. You know why I fight this shit.

 

[tzrider]

What a surprise.
ST attempts to dominate the conversation with false information even after explicitly being told he's incorrect.

What a surprise.

Except he hasn’t said anything that is incorrect, really. First, LED replacements for halogens are not NHTSA approved for use in on road vehicles. Second, halogen light housings are explicitly designed with the focal length from the filament to the reflector surface as a critical dimension. It is not physically possible to recreate that focal length with an LED bulb.

That said, how much does that matter? Probably more with some headlights than others. I got a set of low beams to have a decent cutoff and wasn’t getting indications from other drivers that I was pissing them off. Neither did any cop or inspection cause me to have to switch back to halogens. Even so, it is not possible to create the same light pattern with the LED bulb as the halogen.

 

[ST Guy]

Google Search

 

[Rtmac]

Except he hasn’t said anything that is incorrect

STguy said "And you are blinding on-coming drivers."
Incorrect, if set up properly.

I see where op asked "What are people's experience?" STguy clearly has no experience, unlike others here that do.

I don't see where op ever asked about the legalities.

 

[mean dad]

Different indeed. Clearly you weren't educating Martin, right? What else could you be "educating" readers about? How to stop and publicly blast someone instead of keeping on trucking?

PM's exist. They're well used to not make one's point a public shaming. You know why I fight this shit.

Educating the masses about opinions vs facts.
The fact is, it's no longer 100% a case of bulb swaps being verboten, so repeated claims that you can't do this, dilutes the truth which is that it is indeed possible.


Let this go.

 

[mean dad]

Except he hasn’t said anything that is incorrect, really. First, LED replacements for halogens are not NHTSA approved for use in on road vehicles. Second, halogen light housings are explicitly designed with the focal length from the filament to the reflector surface as a critical dimension. It is not physically possible to recreate that focal length with an LED bulb.

That said, how much does that matter? Probably more with some headlights than others. I got a set of low beams to have a decent cutoff and wasn’t getting indications from other drivers that I was pissing them off. Neither did any cop or inspection cause me to have to switch back to halogens. Even so, it is not possible to create the same light pattern with the LED bulb as the halogen.

As have others.
Real world examples in this very thread support the idea that yes Virginia, you can (possibly) upgrade bulbs.

Harmony has been reached

 

[Holeshot]

Educating the masses about opinions vs facts.
The fact is, it's no longer 100% a case of bulb swaps being verboten, so repeated claims that you can't do this, dilutes the truth which is that it is indeed possible.


Let this go.

You're gonna need to define the limits of "can do this" means. Screwing a bulb into a housing is one thing. People's goals and tolerances will be different, however. This is where I take issue with your self declared victory lap over ST.

As have others.
Real world examples in this very thread support the idea that yes Virginia, you can (possibly) upgrade bulbs.

Again, define "CAN". Martin talks about "properly working". You guys should be settling out on what language and limits you're going to use instead of fly swatting the other guy. Certainly riders can put LED bulbs in headlights designed for halogen bulbs. Are they "better"? Seems to be up to the riders themselves.