Author Topic: LED Headlight conversion (Read 10453 times)

kac3177 · « **on:** January 30, 2017, 08:55:16 AM »

Has anybody done an LED Headlight conversion? If you have, was there issues with space and fitment of an aftermarket headlight bucket? I'd like to maintain a stock look however I want to be able to see while night riding... Any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

flybox1 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2017, 09:17:44 AM »

Why not opt for a new H4 lense, use your existing bucket, and an aftermarket H4 LED bulb? There are some really bright ones out there.
The pros/cons have been debated here, and yes, its been done.

nicks2319 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2017, 09:23:20 AM »

Buncha people toss the trucklite thing in the stock housing. It's bolt on.

SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2017, 01:47:06 PM »

I've used both the Trucklite and the LED bulb (like the one sold by Cognitomoto). The bulb itself was brighter and cheaper.

itsahonda4 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2017, 02:04:26 PM »

Ok, ill open it up....
I have a 71 cb750 and want to keep stock appearance, what parts do I need to convert to newer H4.....my bike has a sealed lens at the moment?

flybox1 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2017, 02:17:23 PM »

Buy a (DOT) 7" H4 lense...like this one I'm using.

http://rimiusa.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=11&zenid=03a0b9db913da1ca6671554ff0224f38

Remove the sealed beam lense from your headlight brackets.
Insert the new and remount.
Get a 35w/35w H4 bulb. $9 online, JP Cycles, etc.

Plug it in.
Ride.

theslayedsaint · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2017, 05:58:35 PM »

I went with the H4 LED kinda like this one
https://cognitomoto.com/collections/lighting/products/h7-led

I was having issues with blowing bulbs anytime I rev to high and i tried EVERYTHING to fix it and nothing worked, so tried this setup and have had no issues sense. also its bright as #$%*...

DH · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2017, 05:56:22 AM »

Quote from: flybox1 on January 30, 2017, 02:17:23 PM

Buy a (DOT) 7" H4 lense...like this one I'm using.

http://rimiusa.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=11&zenid=03a0b9db913da1ca6671554ff0224f38

Remove the sealed beam lense from your headlight brackets.
Insert the new and remount.
Get a 35w/35w H4 bulb. $9 online, JP Cycles, etc.

Plug it in.
Ride.

Flybox, does that light you gave the link to include 2 lense assemblies with bulbs? or am I reading that correctly? That looks like a heck of a good deal... And if you wouldn't mind, what does the bulb you're running look like? Google images shows a bunch, not sure which is correct. thx.

flybox1 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 31, 2017, 06:32:04 AM »

Quote from: DH on January 31, 2017, 05:56:22 AM

Quote from: flybox1 on January 30, 2017, 02:17:23 PM
Buy a (DOT) 7" H4 lense...like this one I'm using.

http://rimiusa.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=11&zenid=03a0b9db913da1ca6671554ff0224f38

Remove the sealed beam lense from your headlight brackets.
Insert the new and remount.
Get a 35w/35w H4 bulb. $9 online, JP Cycles, etc.

Plug it in.
Ride.

Flybox, does that light you gave the link to include 2 lense assemblies with bulbs? or am I reading that correctly? That looks like a heck of a good deal...

Yes, it came with two.
The seller didnt offer just one lense in the DOT approved type. I did not use the included 65W bulbs for current draw reasons. I went with a 35W/35W for a short while before switching to HID.

flybox1 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 31, 2017, 06:43:17 AM »

For a standard H4 bulb, sylvania silverstar ultra.
If your wiring harness and charging system are well sorted, it should handle the 60W just fine.
To be honest, the lense upgrade with the 35/35w bulb I used was a HUGE improvement over the sealed beam.

If you want a lower draw, the H4 LED sold by cognitomoto, listed above, is a bright option.

Deltarider · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2017, 06:56:15 AM »

Best is to buy the Philips X-treme Vision Moto or Osram Nightbreaker H4 55/60 Watts if you want the best light on the road performance. These bulbs were designed for the demanding German market and have always come out first in tests.
The 'draw' problem only exists in the US where people are used to pick a motor for even the shortest distances, often going stop and go from one traffic light to the next and seldomly going over 3000 rpm. In other SOHC Four sites (German, French, UK, Italian) the 'draw' problem doesn't exist.
If you want to have less draw however, go for the specially designed Philips Ecovision that offers the performance of a conventional 55/60 Watts H4 but draws 20% less and so consumes only 44/48 Watts.

kac3177 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2017, 06:58:02 AM »

Does the 65w bulb it comes with draw too much power? Any issues with the heat a Halogen bulb produces? I was considering LED because of the low draw rate and virtually no heat output that I am aware of...

flybox1 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2017, 07:55:34 AM »

Quote from: kac3177 on January 31, 2017, 06:58:02 AM

Does the 65w bulb it comes with draw too much power? Any issues with the heat a Halogen bulb produces? I was considering LED because of the low draw rate and virtually no heat output that I am aware of...

65w certainly is more than the 35w sealed beams. It will work if your riding habits, harness and charging system are adequate.

MessnerMoto · « **Reply #13 on:** January 31, 2017, 08:17:25 AM »

I will use this thread to ask if somebody can recommend a mini Led headlight projector ?

DH · « **Reply #14 on:** January 31, 2017, 10:53:09 AM »

Quote from: CB750 Cafe Racer Fan on January 30, 2017, 01:47:06 PM

I've used both the Trucklite and the LED bulb (like the one sold by Cognitomoto). The bulb itself was brighter and cheaper.

How well did the led fit in the headlight housing? Did the Small electronic box (?) attached to it
fit in housing or is it mounted elsewhere? I'd like it if I was able to retain stock appearance
with that much lighting and low current draw.

Chachi · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2017, 05:18:59 PM »

I got a Hella H4 reflector... tried the stock Hella H4 bulb and a Philips MotoVision H4 bulb... then changed to a Cyclops Adventure Sports LED bulb (plug and play with H4 reflector). That is the brand that Cognito sells, but Cyclops makes another one with a cut-off for on road use. Probably not DOT compliant, but definitely bright.

Hella has two reflectors to choose from -- 002395301 and 002395991. The 301 is SAE/DOT and the 991 is ECE. The rep I talked to said both are fine -- and they are universal left or right lights -- but go ECE for motorcycle application as it has better dispersion than the SAE/DOT.

http://www.myhellalights.com/index.php/products/auxiliary-lamps/sealed-beam-conversion-headlamps/

http://www.myhellalights.com/index.php/products/auxiliary-lamps/sealed-beam-conversion-headlamps/vision-plus-7in-conversion-headlamp/

Cyclops:
https://www.cyclopsadventuresports.com/

They have LED H4 compatible bulbs as well as all-in-one units like TruckLite, etc.
P.S... good lord they have a 7000 Lumen now... mine is the 3800 version.
P.S.S... if you get a H4 reflector and then an expensive bulb like the Cyclops... you might as well get a nice all-in-one LED unit like TruckLite. There are some other brands too that aren't as expensive.

scottly · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2017, 07:01:22 PM »

Quote from: flybox1 on January 31, 2017, 06:32:04 AM

Quote from: DH on January 31, 2017, 05:56:22 AM
Quote from: flybox1 on January 30, 2017, 02:17:23 PM
Buy a (DOT) 7" H4 lense...like this one I'm using.

http://rimiusa.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=11&zenid=03a0b9db913da1ca6671554ff0224f38

Remove the sealed beam lense from your headlight brackets.
Insert the new and remount.
Get a 35w/35w H4 bulb. $9 online, JP Cycles, etc.

Plug it in.
Ride.

Flybox, does that light you gave the link to include 2 lense assemblies with bulbs? or am I reading that correctly? That looks like a heck of a good deal...
Yes, it came with two.
The seller didnt offer just one lense in the DOT approved type. I did not use the included 65W bulbs for current draw reasons. I went with a 35W/35W for a short while before switching to HID.

Those appear to be for cars; the same site lists motorcycle lenses which have a different cut-off.
One of the first things I did after I bought my 750 in '79 was to upgrade the stock sealed beam 40/50 watt to a H4 55/60 watt with a Bosch reflector.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 31, 2017, 07:16:36 PM »

Quote from: theslayedsaint on January 30, 2017, 05:58:35 PM

I went with the H4 LED kinda like this one
https://cognitomoto.com/collections/lighting/products/h7-led

I was having issues with blowing bulbs anytime I rev to high and i tried EVERYTHING to fix it and nothing worked, so tried this setup and have had no issues sense. also its bright as #$%*...

How was the fit w/ the little electronic box,etc. inside your stock headlight bucket along w/ all the other wires & does it need plenty of air to cool it ?

Dunk · « **Reply #18 on:** January 31, 2017, 07:35:13 PM »

Don't buy a cheap crappy DOT H4 reflector. Cibie (Valeo) is the best, Hella ECE is pretty good but has a goofy vertical spacing in the light pattern for high and low beam. So when you try to aim it your low beam will be low/short or your high beam will be in the trees. Hella DOT is a typical mediocre DOT reflector from my understanding. Go with a Cibie housing, $43 on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Cibie-082440-82440-Light-Unit/dp/B008DQV88Q

easternbeaver.com for compact panasonic relays. A few more details in my build thread (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=125385.200). I'm thrilled with teh light frmo this setup, it's amazin and I have no idea how I rode with the original sealed beam.

RAFster122s · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2017, 12:55:19 AM »

Dunk,

That Cibie is a FOG light...not a high/low beam H4...fwiw
Not a headlamp...totally different pattern

Deltarider · « **Reply #20 on:** February 01, 2017, 03:57:10 AM »

Quote

Hella DOT is a typical mediocre DOT reflector from my understanding.

Could you inform us on that a bit more?

Dunk · « **Reply #21 on:** February 01, 2017, 05:11:28 AM »

That light is most definitely not a fog light. I own two of them, trust me. If you don't believe me, just look at the pattern in the glass on the image and you'll see it's not a fog light.

Regarding the Hella DOT reflector, and DOT lighting in general... US DOT mandates approximately 20% of the light be shined up into oncoming drivers eyes and the trees, allegedly to illuminate overhead road signs. It's wasted light and unsafe compared to a reflector with a clean cut off that puts more light out to the sides such as the Cibie ECE reflector or even most cheaper ECE reflectors.

theslayedsaint · « **Reply #22 on:** February 01, 2017, 08:33:15 AM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on January 31, 2017, 07:16:36 PM

Quote from: theslayedsaint on January 30, 2017, 05:58:35 PM
I went with the H4 LED kinda like this one
https://cognitomoto.com/collections/lighting/products/h7-led

I was having issues with blowing bulbs anytime I rev to high and i tried EVERYTHING to fix it and nothing worked, so tried this setup and have had no issues sense. also its bright as #$%*...

How was the fit w/ the little electronic box,etc. inside your stock headlight bucket along w/ all the other wires & does it need plenty of air to cool it ?

Sorry should have clarified its not a stock headlight, however it is a small headlight so it should work fine with the stock setup. I'll try to measure latter and see the difference.

Chachi · « **Reply #23 on:** February 01, 2017, 02:25:01 PM »

I have the Hella ECE. Hella rep (on phone) told me it was better for moto than their DOT version. They also said both their ECE and DOT (part #'s listed above) were universal left or right and suitable for moto.

The Cognito/Cyclops bulb fits fine in reflector. It has a small built-in fan that cools it.

Upside to separate reflector and bulb is you can experiment to find a bulb you like. Downside is cost adds up and you could argue that the H4 reflectors weren't designed for LED light and you would be better off with a total LED replacement unit... probably all true, but I'll still take my Hella reflector with Cyclops LED bulb over my sealed beam any day.

There's also Candlepower and Bosch brand reflectors in addition to Hella...

bigjeff · « **Reply #24 on:** February 02, 2017, 11:14:01 AM »

my led lights:

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Author Topic: LED Headlight conversion (Read 10453 times)

DH

DH