Topic: Maybe time to re-look at: LED lights?

[carnivorous chicken]

Been following this, but have also been wondering: why doesn't someone make a plug-and-play complete headlight bucket with LED? There is a ton of guesswork and back and forth and trying stuff only to find out it doesn't work. And there are plenty of people with crappy headlight buckets. Seems like someone could do it for $200 or less...

[Don R]

My non-Honda bike doesn't like the LED. It now thinks the rear bulbs are burned out and illuminated the warning lights.  I'll look for a 2057, I think that's the conventional bright bulb.

Which can probably be cured with a resistor, thus negating the low power draw benefit of LED's. Can you disable the warning light?

I probably could but I'm not in love with the LED, it's an old rejected test bulb that wasn't an improvement for my CB, I just want to be seen from behind and it seemed to be an improvement in the GS1100. I may just need to clean a lot of wiring connectors. The 2057 was sold as an 1157 replacement bright bulb when they came out, the Hot rod gods were getting mega bucks for them then we realized they were available everywhere as a 2057.

[seanbarney41]

Here is my philosophy on the matter...if you are riding like you are invisible, and you should be, no one is gonna see your lights of any kind, so relying on your favorite form of illumination to save your bacon is futile anyway.  Basically, it's just like when you were a kid playing in the road.  If you were not too dumb, you know you can't be where the car is gonna go or it's gonna hurt bad...so don't be where the car is gonna go.  Pretty simple. 

[Don R]

 I am invisible but am also going to do everything else that I can to avoid being run the F over. If that means something that looks different on the back of my bike, I'll make that choice for me.

[PeWe]

Been following this, but have also been wondering: why doesn't someone make a plug-and-play complete headlight bucket with LED? There is a ton of guesswork and back and forth and trying stuff only to find out it doesn't work. And there are plenty of people with crappy headlight buckets. Seems like someone could do it for $200 or less...

There are guys that have bought complete LED headlights. The insert only  or the entire headlight complete with bucket.
Some has even blinkers.

But that will change the look from stock Honda.
Some Cafe bikes look really tough, though!

[M 750K6]

Just speak to the guy, details given in the 1st reply on page 1. He knows old bikes and LEDs. Takes the guess work away.

[carnivorous chicken]

Been following this, but have also been wondering: why doesn't someone make a plug-and-play complete headlight bucket with LED? There is a ton of guesswork and back and forth and trying stuff only to find out it doesn't work. And there are plenty of people with crappy headlight buckets. Seems like someone could do it for $200 or less...

There are guys that have bought complete LED headlights. The insert only  or the entire headlight complete with bucket.
Some has even blinkers.

But that will change the look from stock Honda.
Some Cafe bikes look really tough, though!

I forgot to add in my original post: why  not copy the exact look of a stock headlight? Black bucket, chrome ring, room for wiring inside, same connectors -- just better lighting? 

[MauiK3]

I think some of the new bulbs actually work well, they do on my 21 Wrangler Rubi and my 18 Colorado ZR2, and my 96 Acty (Honda) They all came with halogens. Time will tell how long they hold up.
I also like the idea of way less heat

[PeWe]

Chinese bulbs are not expensive, worth a try.

[RAFster122s]

COB type LEDs do have an issue with the LED intensity fading after a time with lower light output. Which means they are fine up to that fade point then, do you replace them? If so, that means they are poor value.

[HondaMan]

Here is my philosophy on the matter...if you are riding like you are invisible, and you should be, no one is gonna see your lights of any kind, so relying on your favorite form of illumination to save your bacon is futile anyway.  Basically, it's just like when you were a kid playing in the road.  If you were not too dumb, you know you can't be where the car is gonna go or it's gonna hurt bad...so don't be where the car is gonna go.  Pretty simple. 

Truer words of wisdom are seldom seen here!
+1
Maybe +2, too.

[newday777]

Here is my philosophy on the matter...if you are riding like you are invisible, and you should be, no one is gonna see your lights of any kind, so relying on your favorite form of illumination to save your bacon is futile anyway.  Basically, it's just like when you were a kid playing in the road.  If you were not too dumb, you know you can't be where the car is gonna go or it's gonna hurt bad...so don't be where the car is gonna go.  Pretty simple. 

Truer words of wisdom are seldom seen here!
+1
Maybe +2, too.

Very true 👍

[jwurbel]

Andy, 

What did you do to get them to flash on braking?

I had P3 lights on a bar for my BMW.  Worked well.  At least I was never hit from behind.

[andy750]

I really appreciate the flashing brake lights in the city especially when stopped and I see a car approaching from behind - a little brake tap and flash-flash gets you seen. I bought these particular bulbs from superleds.com and had a similar light on my VStrom DL1000 for years for the same reason. Its a particular 1157 bulb that you can buy - sorry I dont have a link as its been a fw years but search for "strobe 1157 superbrightleds" and you will get some updated options.

[newday777]

I really appreciate the flashing brake lights in the city especially when stopped and I see a car approaching from behind - a little brake tap and flash-flash gets you seen. I bought these particular bulbs from superleds.com and had a similar light on my VStrom DL1000 for years for the same reason. Its a particular 1157 bulb that you can buy.

As in superbriteleds.com?

[willbird]

I really appreciate the flashing brake lights in the city especially when stopped and I see a car approaching from behind - a little brake tap and flash-flash gets you seen. I bought these particular bulbs from superleds.com and had a similar light on my VStrom DL1000 for years for the same reason. Its a particular 1157 bulb that you can buy - sorry I dont have a link as its been a fw years but search for "strobe 1157 superbrightleds" and you will get some updated options.

I see they sell one on Amazon that has the flashing brake light portion.

[rotortiller]

Got tired of blowing 35 watt halogens in one of my coffee grinder Kawasaki Triples so I bought a 2 pack of 20 watt H4 LEDs for 60 buck, we shall see what that situation produces later lol. Since I had two and the Honda was handy I installed one into the H4 reflector expecting dung, just like with the aborted HID experiment I completed a few years ago. LED works great believe it or not, but the bulb has no cooling fins or fan, however it fits the bucket and H4 reflector easily plus has a 2 year warranty. Best thing is it's made in China and sold locally by CTC and Partsource. Good focus and coverage, better lighting than 55 watt H4 Silverstar ultra it replaces. I like it.

[HondaMan]

Got tired of blowing 35 watt halogens in one of my coffee grinder Kawasaki Triples so I bought a 2 pack of 20 watt H4 LEDs for 60 buck, we shall see what that situation produces later lol. Since I had two and the Honda was handy I installed one into the H4 reflector expecting dung, just like with the aborted HID experiment I completed a few years ago. LED works great believe it or not, but the bulb has no cooling fins or fan, however it fits the bucket and H4 reflector easily plus has a 2 year warranty. Best thing is it's made in China and sold locally by CTC and Partsource. Good focus and coverage, better lighting than 55 watt H4 Silverstar ultra it replaces. I like it.

Thanks, Rotor: I think I'll try some of those next. I have a 550 that needs some help, here.

Update: Partsource appears to be in Canada, are you there, too?

[RAFster122s]

I bought a couple of those Pewe linked to, not remembering the Mini has a one piece nail wire to secure the H4 bulb. Well the fan will not allow the bail wire to fit so the led with fan design will not work on the Mini. Couldn't figure out if there was enough room for the rear cap to fit on headlight housing... It has an encapsulated design instead of exposing the H4 wiring to enginebay it is fitted inside a housing that is attached to back of the headlamp assembly so electrical connector and attachment is in a controlled environment.
Oh well, the LED bulb will get used elsewhere...

[rotortiller]

Partsource appears to be in Canada, are you there, too?

Yup, https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/9003-ignite-led-headlights-6000k-cool-white-light-2-pk-1202271p.1202271.html

Reviews contain specific motorcycle applications and that was the only reason I took the leap.