Topic: LED headlamp upgrade questions

[V_for_Vermont]

I wasn't sure what thread to post this in, so I stuck it here.

I've been wanting to upgrade my headlamp on my '76 Cb550 to a brighter setup and came across this LED lamp: http://www.amazon.com/Truck-Lite-27270C-Headlamp/dp/B007K8AA7I

Reviews say that it is very bright and good for motorcycles, though I am concerned about the power that it uses. I'm no electrical genius or anything, so I am not sure how well this would work with the standard wiring setup. Would this lamp work with the stock electronics without causing my battery to drain too quickly?? I do a bit of stop and go riding, and sometimes just cruising. So what do you guys think?? Is it worth the money, and would it be significantly brighter?

Eric

[Duanob]

Your watts draw will be less than the stock bulb but not sure what it will take as far as other electronics to make it work. Low beam draw will be ~23 watts, high beam is roughly 46 watts, OEM bulb is ~50/60.

[calj737]

As a replacement, it's less draw on your system (as mentioned above). That unit is much heavier physically than the stock element, so if your headlight bucket is the fiberglass type, be aware.

There is another option, an H4 LED bulb that plugs in place of your stock bulb, and it's less money too.
http://cognitomoto.com/collections/lighting/products/h7-led

[V_for_Vermont]

The headlight on there now is a sealed halogen. So I would need to get a new lens, would that also require getting a new bucket or do you know of any that would fit the stock bucket?

[Gman]

VT,
Check out this thread.  My reply is #10.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,146885.msg1671763.html#msg1671763

Peace,
G

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

As a replacement, it's less draw on your system (as mentioned above). That unit is much heavier physically than the stock element, so if your headlight bucket is the fiberglass type, be aware.

There is another option, an H4 LED bulb that plugs in place of your stock bulb, and it's less money too.
http://cognitomoto.com/collections/lighting/products/h7-led

I have the Truck Lite housing on my 750. Cal is right about it being MUCH heavier. It broke my stock headlight bucket. I had to swap to a metal headlight bucket. The bulb Cognitomoto sells is brighter and adds no weight. And costs about 1/4.

[Powderman]

There is something in my mind that is far more important than how bright the bulb is and that is the projection distance. I have yet to see an LED headlight that is equally comparable in brightness and distance to an H4 bulb. The sealed beam can be replaced with a H4 unit. It looks like a sealed beam but has a hole in the back to install the bulbs.

[calj737]

There is something in my mind that is far more important than how bright the bulb is and that is the projection distance. I have yet to see an LED headlight that is equally comparable in brightness and distance to an H4 bulb. The sealed beam can be replaced with a H4 unit. It looks like a sealed beam but has a hole in the back to install the bulbs.

With respect, you need to get out of the house a bit more frequently. Virtually every new automobile has LED lights for the very reasons you list, and, they're a more natural light.

[FunJimmy]

There is something in my mind that is far more important than how bright the bulb is and that is the projection distance. I have yet to see an LED headlight that is equally comparable in brightness and distance to an H4 bulb. The sealed beam can be replaced with a H4 unit. It looks like a sealed beam but has a hole in the back to install the bulbs.

With respect, you need to get out of the house a bit more frequently. Virtually every new automobile has LED lights for the very reasons you list, and, they're a more natural light.

I tend to agree with Powderman on this one Cal. The OP wasn't asking what every NEW automobile comes equipt with and it's irrelevant considering an H4 LED bulb is a retrofit and not optimized for the reflector. My H4 LED (similar to Cognito moto) is no where near as capable as the halogen H4.

[flybox1]

I would love to swap in a nice H4 bulb, but the only ones that put out the lumens to be benificial, both in brightness and visibility, have that large circuitry housing, and I'm already low on space inside the bucket. 
Going to go with a 35w slim ballast HID instead. . .

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

There is something in my mind that is far more important than how bright the bulb is and that is the projection distance. I have yet to see an LED headlight that is equally comparable in brightness and distance to an H4 bulb. The sealed beam can be replaced with a H4 unit. It looks like a sealed beam but has a hole in the back to install the bulbs.

With respect, you need to get out of the house a bit more frequently. Virtually every new automobile has LED lights for the very reasons you list, and, they're a more natural light.

I tend to agree with Powderman on this one Cal. The OP wasn't asking what every NEW automobile comes equipt with and it's irrelevant considering an H4 LED bulb is a retrofit and not optimized for the reflector. My H4 LED (similar to Cognito moto) is no where near as capable as the halogen H4.

I wonder if it's a design thing as to individual bulbs.  My Cognitomoto "bulb" is brighter than the halogen H4 I had in the same housing.

[Deltarider]

Brightness isn't necessarily the same as a good projected beam. There's a lot more to headlights. The French had yellow bulbs in their headlights for decades. Was it brighter? Probably not. Was it better in fog and snow? You bet. I always had them in my Peugeots and Citroëns and I found contrasts were more natural. Locomotives still use yellow headlights. Some bikeriders prefer them so they'll stand out and are recognized as motorcycles.
White or yellow, personally I find that with a good 55/60 Watts halogen and a good lens there's little left to be desired.

[PeWe]

I feel better respect from the cars after I have installed the LED H4. Probably more visible.
That's a very important point for me.  I will drive as fast I can see in the darkness.

[strynboen]

i had used the surviving yelov bolb from my Peugeot in the 550 for some years..it gives more" attension" vith yellov ligh  on a mc...but nov im aut of them..im heavy smog and snov they are better...must on e bay and find some...have not seem them in led...?

[calj737]

Virtually every new automobile has LED lights for the very reasons you list, and, they're a more natural light.

I tend to agree with Powderman on this one Cal. The OP wasn't asking what every NEW automobile comes equipt with and it's irrelevant considering an H4 LED bulb is a retrofit and not optimized for the reflector. My H4 LED (similar to Cognito moto) is no where near as capable as the halogen H4.
[/quote]
FJ, you missed the point of my reply. It was a response to the characteristics of LEDs being subordinate to an H4, which they're not. Agree that the reflector design is extremely important to the effectiveness of any bulb, but I can assure you from personal experience, that LED headlights for motorcycles are far, far brighter and cast a much better beam than an H4 halogen. I've seen th LED bulb Cognito sells compared side-by-side with an H4, and an LSL LED headlight (similar to the TruckLite) and the H4 loses in all departments. The LSL is hands down the winner, but the LED H4 is much better than the H4 halogen. And they're much better than the stock units.

Beam focus, spread and projection are all important elements, and a function of the reflector. Illumination is the function of the bulb. So a better bulb in a better reflector gets you a better headlight. Pure science.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I abhor it when a car with superbright HID lights is behind me blinding my rearview, but that is more a function of where they are aiming the beam(s).

I found that my Truck Lite LED housing is brighter than a stock halogen bulb and that the beam is contained so that it does not blind the car in front of me.  In comparison, my H4 bulb from Cognitomoto is MUCH brighter and casts a larger focused pool of light on the road while still not blinding the car in front of me or on-coming traffic.  Yes, I've checked by following friends or having them drive from opposite directions.

[calj737]

Is that the H4 Halogen or H4 LED bulb, Don?

[turboed13b]

We don't have the technology yet for led lights to take over. I have the most up to date led projectors and it is still far behind HID technology. The best setup is a proper HID retrofit.

[Muckinfuss]

I have the Speedmetal LED H4 replacement from the local Cycle Gear store paired up with a pathBlazer head light modulator that projects further than my Benz and the oscillating daytime light keeps me as visible as I can be.  No complaints here.

[Chachi]

Muckinfuss... that Speedmetal bulb swaps out an existing H4? Meaning, if I have an H4 headlight (Hella), I could try this one too? The Speedmetal is the same thing (basically) as the Cognito one?

http://cognitomoto.com/collections/lighting/products/h7-led

[PeWe]

One fat reason for my LED H4 was to decrease the power consumption when my bike just was able to charge battery with LO light ON.
We must have the light on daytime too here. My battery level LED indicator is mostly green which is OK.

[PeWe]

Muckinfuss... that Speedmetal bulb swaps out an existing H4? Meaning, if I have an H4 headlight (Hella), I could try this one too?

Hella is known for really good reflectors. H4 bulb is a standard. It will fit if it is specified as H4. My LED lamp is deeper when it has a fan plus an adaptor and a small box hanging in its harness.

[helltaco]

I have the Trucklite unit in one of my bikes and it is a vast improvement in beam and brightness over the sealed bulb the bike came with. It is a little brighter on low beam, and incredibly bright on high beam. When I'm on a country road with the high beam on I can see everything around me well down the road. Because it is a sealed unit, it has a reflector designed for the LED lamp. The H4 replacement bulbs don't.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Is that the H4 Halogen or H4 LED bulb, Don?

The Cognitomoto bulb is an H4 LED bulb.  The housing I have has a reflector (tri bar with reflector bouncing the light onto the mirrored concave surface and focusing it into a beam.

[xtravbx]

I have the same exact unit on my 550. I absolutely love it.

I have an H4 LED that I installed on a project 550 that I have yet to run. It will be functional this weekend.

Anyways - the unit you linked to has been a great investment. Zero issues with it for about a year and a half.