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Headlight Bulbs.......halogen or led ?

LED if you need to ration power to run other things like heated gear or other electrical accessories. Halogen lights use to be better/ brighter for riding at night but LEDs have just about caught up on that metric. I run LED for all my lighting on my Gen 1.
 
Isleoman said:
LED if you need to ration power to run other things like heated gear or other electrical accessories. Halogen lights use to be better/ brighter for riding at night but LEDs have just about caught up on that metric. I run LED for all my lighting on my Gen 1.
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I have some generic Amazon/eBay LEDs (headlights) on mine, and they're pretty good, but what are you running?
 
I'm about being seen in the daytime and also being able to see at night. I swapped to LED bulbs in my FZ1, FJR1300 and VFR800 many years ago.
Before that, I liked the Sylvania SilverStar halogen bulbs but they seemed not to last very long in motorcycles. Suppose the extra vibration and such kills them early.
 
I have the BeamTech LEDs in my Gen II. They are MUCH brighter than the OEM bulbs.
I used to run the Sylvania SilverStars in my car, and they were nice, but they don't last long and cost more. I think they are good for about 800 hours or something like that. LEDs are the way to go.
 
Blue Flash said:
I used to run the Sylvania SilverStars in my car, and they were nice, but they don't last long and cost more. I think they are good for about 800 hours or something like that. LEDs are the way to go.
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Grrrrrr So you were the one blinding me at night. :)

Seriously, I find it hard to even drive a car at night due to the oncoming headlights. I don't have a clue whats beyond them as they approach. I'll be convinced they are using high beams only to find out they still have three Suns ready to melt my retinas. I have the Superbright LED headlight bulbs, I'd say they are equal to OEM but not much better.
 
Isleoman said:
Grrrrrr So you were the one blinding me at night. :)

Seriously, I find it hard to even drive a car at night due to the oncoming headlights. I don't have a clue whats beyond them as they approach. I'll be convinced they are using high beams only to find out they still have three Suns ready to melt my retinas. I have the Superbright LED headlight bulbs, I'd say they are equal to OEM but not much better.
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Putting LED bulbs into a Halogen Designed housing does the same thing. You are probably blinding others with the LED's you installed on your bike......



I bought my Gen 1 with 37k on the clock and almost have 100k on it. The bulbs still both work in regular and high beam. I am shocked I have not had to replace them yet - but I think I have to be close.
 
Been very happy with the SuperBrite brand of LED's for the Gen2. Good pattern, low amperage draw and great warranty (if ever needed). They are not as cheap as the FleaBay or Jamazon selection, but in this case I think it's worth it.
 
Neanderthal said:
Been very happy with the SuperBrite brand of LED's for the Gen2. Good pattern, low amperage draw and great warranty (if ever needed). They are not as cheap as the FleaBay or Jamazon selection, but in this case I think it's worth it.
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That's where I am with the BeamTechs. A couple of the FZ1OA guys in Suches, GA use them and love them!
So I bit the bullet as well. The pattern is a great match with the OEM, but with a lot more light and more light to the sides.
Some of the bulbs out there spray light all over and blind people. These don't do that.
 
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Klurejr said:
Putting LED bulbs into a Halogen Designed housing does the same thing. You are probably blinding others with the LED's you installed on your bike......



I bought my Gen 1 with 37k on the clock and almost have 100k on it. The bulbs still both work in regular and high beam. I am shocked I have not had to replace them yet - but I think I have to be close.
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The well designed ones mimic the pattern of halogens pretty well.
 
killer5280 said:
The well designed ones mimic the pattern of halogens pretty well.
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I spent a bit more for "good" bulbs that allegedly mimic the halogen, with the LED modules in the same locations as the filaments in a halogen bulb, but immediately returned them. There was no crisp cutoff and lots of scattering. So back to power hungry halogens for now until I can find a good LED bulb or ever get to doing a LED projector retrofit.
 
I'm pretty happy with the ones in my FZ. Never have been able to get a really good beam in my Superhawk.
 
There are a number of LED manufacturers that do well matching up with the patterns that the halogens provide. The issue is the design of the reflector in the headlight housing. Some of them just don't play well with LEDs. I am impressed with my LEDs on the Gen II.

I also have a Honda Ridgeline, and I put the BeamTech bulbs in as well. The beam patterns are really good, but I did have to readjust the beam height a little bit.

I'm hoping that the good experience with the Ridgeline will carry over to the Accord. One Honda worked, so maybe the other one will? I hope so. The Accord lights could be substantially improved by mounting candles on the hood. Unfortunately, changing bulbs in the Accord will not be a cake-walk. Everything I see says you have to pull the inner fender to get to the bulbs. I don't see an easy way to change them, so if I have to go through all that, it had better work!

I'll get there soon...
 
I thought I took some, but I guess not. I did tape a line on the shop wall to outline the top of the pattern with the OEMs, and the BeamTech bulbs matched up nicely. I just apparently didn't get pics.
Sorry about that!
 
Klurejr said:
I would be curious to see photos of the pattern on a standard bulb compared to the beam Techs.
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I have some shop time scheduled this week, working on a bicycle for my nephew's little girl. I'll have to shoot a pic of my BeamTech pattern. I still have the tape on the wall that I used to adjust the beams on the truck. The top of the low beams should sit at at about the height of the headlight centers at 25 feet. The truck headlights are only slightly higher than the bike, so it should be a good reference. You can get a comparison with your OEMs vs the BeamTech bulbs with that.

I didn't adjust the headlight aim at all after installing. They were pretty much spot on, but adjusting the lights only takes a minute or two if you think you need to tweak. The pattern looks good, though. Pics coming!
 
Blue Flash said:
I have some shop time scheduled this week, working on a bicycle for my nephew's little girl. I'll have to shoot a pic of my BeamTech pattern. I still have the tape on the wall that I used to adjust the beams on the truck. The top of the low beams should sit at at about the height of the headlight centers at 25 feet. The truck headlights are only slightly higher than the bike, so it should be a good reference. You can get a comparison with your OEMs vs the BeamTech bulbs with that.

I didn't adjust the headlight aim at all after installing. They were pretty much spot on, but adjusting the lights only takes a minute or two if you think you need to tweak. The pattern looks good, though. Pics coming!
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My headlights were way low after beamtech install. Had to pick them up a good bit. FYI.
 
I have two gen.1, FZ1's. The low mileage blue one, has led bulbs with fans keeping them cool. Picked those up from a member on the FZ1OA forum, four or five years ago. Still work fine.
The high mileage bike has PIAA, Etreme White plus, halogen bulbs. 60/55, but equal to 110/100 powered bulbs. Friend of mine gave them to me, as he stopped riding his B.M.W., and never installed them. They are good lights, but the led bulbs, are better/brighter lights.
Just my opinion.
You all have a nice weekend.
Adios
 
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