LED Headlights

[RickC]

Hi all,

I fitted a LED light to my bike today https://www.aliexpress.com/item/CNSUNNYLIGHT-H4-HB2-9003-Hi-Lo-Led-High-Power-40W-4000lm-3000K-4300K-6000K-Strong-Bright/32573163897.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.mII2H9.

It is an easy job to fit, remove the old bulb, plug in a small loom and new Led bulb, the only problem I had was that I had to unscrew the bulb attaching clip on the original bulb holder, then slide it over the Led bulb and screw it back down.

This Led works different to halogen and HID in that Low Beam is always on and High Beam brings on a High Beam Led as well, pass light works normally.

The picture is not that good but it is a nice crisp light and feels good. Mine came with a glass lens to make it warm white but I have tried that yet.

[VladTepes]

And how would you say it comparess to the OEM light?

[RickC]

I tried Phillips Xtreme and  HID, I liked the HID but the reliability from the Chinese ones that I was using was not that good.

This is much brighter than OEM, similar to HID.

[gsxbarmy]

A lot of guys are fitting these to their Explorers - it should fit the 14 I think. Cyclops have just released a 7000 lumen version as well apparently

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Car-Lights-Bulbs-Indicators/CYCLOPS-H4-LED-BULB-CONVERSION-COOLING-FAN/B01LDAKEEM/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1491611803&sr=1-1&keywords=cyclops+led

Am seriously thinking of doing my Explorer but with twin headlights it works out a bit expensive!

[RickC]

I went for this light after seeing Blubber's post on the old org about Cyclops LED, The one I've got looks to me
to be identical to the Cyclops one but under half the price without the Cyclop's sticker.

[gsxbarmy]

.....which makes it a more attractive proposition to me Rick!

[Notty]

A lot of guys are fitting these to their Explorers - it should fit the 14 I think. Cyclops have just released a 7000 lumen version as well apparently

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Car-Lights-Bulbs-Indicators/CYCLOPS-H4-LED-BULB-CONVERSION-COOLING-FAN/B01LDAKEEM/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1491611803&sr=1-1&keywords=cyclops+led

Am seriously thinking of doing my Explorer but with twin headlights it works out a bit expensive!

seems a lot of bulb and wiring to squeeze in tho ! 

[gsxbarmy]

I think it might be in a 14 - you have a bit more room to play with on the Trumpets

[RickC]

It fitted in quite easily Notty and a how lot less hassle than the HID being basically plug and play.

[Celtic32]

What's the range like with the LEDs? I seem to remember reading a thing on different lights a while back and seem to recall reading that the effective range with LEDs isn't as good as with other lighting. That being said, a bloke near me has an LED bar on his pickup and the thing could light up a football field so maybe I've just answered my own question. In which case, I do like the look of this.

One of the similar products (techmax) under the Cyclops one uses Cree LEDs and is only £36, which is appealing. What's the power draw like for them in comparison to OEM?

[RickC]

Power draw on the one I fitted is @40watts on high beam so a lot less than the standard bulb.

Led throws a good distance, I think Led technology has evolved quite a bit in recent years.

[Celtic32]

Ah yes of course it's less. Think my aftermarket bulb is 110W and that's without low beam. Cheers, that's good to know. Very tempting.

[Proteous]

I was looking at which one of these to go for here in the UK.. There are so many god damn options i gave in looking.. Didnt want to get the wrong one lol.. So anyone in the UK who has any advice on LED, shout up now lol

[VladTepes]

It's a minefield.  There is a lot of confusion out there around watts vs lumens vs lux vs brightness etc
That, and the fact that a lot of LED's claim ratings they don't actually meet.

Another issue being that the standard headlight reflectors and lenses are specifically designed for incandescent bulb use, not LEDs (obviously they weren't a thing at the time)

The design of the LED bulb is thus critical to how good it is - the closer to simulating an incandescent light source, the better.

Unfortunately there is no objective way I've found to establish this. 

It comes down to recommendations based on people's personal experience with the headlight in question.

Which is to say that a bulb that works well in a Triumph may be hopeless in a 1400, or excellent.
There's no way of knowing other than actually trying it in real life.

As such Proteous' request for recommendations couldn't be more appropriate !

[grog]

never used led headlight globe. last year i fitted led park light globe in headlight. looked good, lasted one month. sort of put me off them. stock one back in, still going. i dont need super powerful headlight, happy with mine. i have a repco plus 30 in, works fine. still standard current draw. as good as the phillips extreme i tried. they now have plus 120, still same draw. will get one soon.