Topic: LED headlight for 76 CB400F ?

[zturb0]

Is there anything available, out there ?   

Figured it would kill 2 birds with one stone.

Give better vision at night and, lighten the draw

on the barely big enough, charging system.   

Already have an led for the tail light,

[nicks2319]

Not sure if the buckets are the same size. But many people toss a trucklite LED enclosure into the bucket. For example for 7 inch buckets:

https://www.amazon.com/Truck-Lite-27270C-LED-Headlamp-High/dp/B013FX3YWO

This is what i'm running.

[Gibbit]

I was looking for the same a while back and ended up going with this one:

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/motorcycle-led-bulbs/motorcycle-h4-led-fanless-headlight-conversion-kit-with-compact-heat-sink-2000-lumens/3930/

Had it for 2+ years now I think.  No problems, very bright, fanless and definitely noticeably less draw when I turn on the headlight versus incandescent bulb.  Highly recommend if you’re just looking for a bulb versus whole housing replacement.


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[zturb0]

Not sure if the buckets are the same size. But many people toss a trucklite LED enclosure into the bucket. For example for 7 inch buckets:

https://www.amazon.com/Truck-Lite-27270C-LED-Headlamp-High/dp/B013FX3YWO

This is what i'm running.

Wow,,,,,,,,,  a hundred sixty bucks...   

[zturb0]

I was looking for the same a while back and ended up going with this one:

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/motorcycle-led-bulbs/motorcycle-h4-led-fanless-headlight-conversion-kit-with-compact-heat-sink-2000-lumens/3930/

Had it for 2+ years now I think.  No problems, very bright, fanless and definitely noticeably less draw when I turn on the headlight versus incandescent bulb.  Highly recommend if you’re just looking for a bulb versus whole housing replacement.


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 I guess I should have said, it's the old sealed beam style, of light. 

[Bankerdanny]

I installed this one on my 550 before a 2 week trip to Colorado and back that included about 15 hours of riding in very dark deserts and mountains: https://www.ebay.com/itm/7-Crystal-Headlight-LED-Projector-Fit-Honda-Shadow-VT-VT1100-VT750-VT600-VF750-/172710220212?vxp=mtr&hash=item283654d1b4

My review is mixed:

Pluses: very bright and visible to oncoming traffic in bright daylight, the light is very white and much more like natural daylight than the OEM sealed beam, the low beam is wide and allows you to see the shoulder as well as in front of you, very strong high beam.

Minuses: On very dark roads, like the Arizona desert with no highway lights and no houses for miles, low beam doesn't illuminate enough of the road in front of you. This isn't a big deal if you ride in a city or built out suburb with lots of lights, but if you live in a rural area it is definitely an issue. The assembly is very deep and won't work with a standard 550F/750F headlamp shell, which is shallower than the K shell. On my 550 I used a K shell, but still had to modify it by cutting out part of the back.

Overall I was pleased and will likely figure out a way to adapt one to my 750 because I ride mostly in urban areas and really like how visible the light is to oncoming drivers during the day.

[zturb0]

The 400 shell I D  measures right about 7'' 

The headlight, is closer to 6''. (then add the chrome ring n' mounting bits)

On the 4 into 1 web site, they sell a new sealed beam,

for the 400, that they say is 6 1/2 ''  ?

Hence my confusion in trying to fine one..   

[Bankerdanny]

I think the 400 does use a slightly different size headlamp than the 500/550/650/750. That said, you can swap in a 7" shell to get a better selection if the slight variance from stock isn't a big deal.

[Bodi]

I believe the original Stanley bulb is 162mm or 6 3/8" diameter.
This size was used on several midsize bikes (in 70's terminology... they would be beginner size bikes now): Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki models around 350-400cc.
There is not enough demand for anyone to make much in aftermarket lamps for the few bikes using them. There was a Candlepower H4 lamp for right hand traffic but it was made in Fukushima... 'nuff said I think. Emgo has H4 lamps but for left hand traffic, you can order them through Ebay etc but they are not sold in North America through Emgo distributors because of the backwards beam pattern.
I don't know of a dual beam full LED headlight that size. I think I've seen single beam, some cars used separate high and low beam lamps in that size. The H4 LED bulbs are getting better but fitting the heatsink inside a 400F shell will be quite a trick, if you have or can find find an H4 lamp.

[sixthwisconsin]

I used a Trucklite in my first 550 build in 2011 and like it very much but it was very expensive. Since then, I have built a 750f and another 550 and have used Cognito Moto's H4 housing and LED bulb. Their LED bulb is $65 and 4000 lumens and the housing is $26. You could probably find a comparable bulb from Superbright LED cheaper.

You would have to add the cost of a 7" bucket but I don't think you will find many options for the smaller one.

[PeWe]

If your bike has H4 bulb today. Replace it with a LED H4 with half wattage with a bright white light that make you more visible on the road. Maybe a little bit better night time, but worse light pattern.  There are several sellers selling cree LED's with various wattage very often exaggerated wattage claims.
I ordered LED H7 to my car where they claimed 250W. Wattage often written for a pair.
I could not resist to test. I measured 2.65A from a fresh battery. Real wattage around 30-35W

Good idea to not ride fast at dark when an animal can suddenly hit. My K2 build will get a LED H4 only for the amp reduction saving 2.5A on the only fuse and handle bar switches. My K6 has relays, 12V to lamp and ignition has own hanging fuse close to the battery. Thicker wiring too.

[Deltarider]

Forget about advertisements and go for technology that has proved it self and is street legal. Brightness has little to do with being seen. What's needed is just a 'dot' the size of a headlamp that stands out to the rest of the surroundings. A yellow headlamp like the French and the Swiss had for years is best to be noticed in all atmospherical conditions. Moreover you'll stand out as motorist especially in rear view mirrors. Stay away from overbright headlamps that can (and will) annoy oncoming drivers.

[Bankerdanny]

Forget about advertisements and go for technology that has proved it self and is street legal. Brightness has little to do with being seen.

Sorry, but I am going to disagree. Yes the yellow light helps with visibility to oncoming traffic, but it is inferior at night. Depending on the color temp LED's are often easier to see in the day by other drivers and provide higher quality illumination at night for the rider.

The bigger issue with inexpensive LED lamps like the one I used is that the beam pattern isn't always great and as I mentioned, on a very dark road low beam doesn't shine as far down the road as I would have liked.

[PeWe]

I have noticed how the other car drivers on the road behave. They see me before I pass them at daylight and LED H4 lit. Some slows down when they see me in the mirrors closing up on them from behind.
Very few that suddenly cross the road just before me as very often before. They wait until I have passed

Huge difference compared with all years before with a std H4 and daylight riding. So I'm convinced based what I have noticed while riding my bike.

[Tim2005]

DSS has a headlight unit with an H4 fitting - see link below- you could combine that with the LED bulb that Genessee suggested. The unknown question is whether or not this set-up would be too deep to fit inside the stock headlight bucket. 

https://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB400F-SUPER-SPORT-FOUR/part_195091/

[PeWe]

H4 was stock here on many bikes. You can use a std 7" car reflector. Jeep Wrangler use them among others. Bosch and Hella or good brands.

I bought this to my CB750 K2:  Hella 1A6 002 395-071
My K6 got one 3 years ago. It has parking light too.

[bryanj]

Most of these ideas only work if you fit a 500 or 750 shell so you can use a 7 inch light.