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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Iahawk on March 05, 2023, 08:46:24 PM

Title: took a ride today with new headlight bulb
Post by: Iahawk on March 05, 2023, 08:46:24 PM

finally joined the 'dark' side...and installed a brighter, whiter led bulb in my Helix. It was a pain to install as the bulb heat sink is much larger plus there is very little room between the steering stem and the headlight bulb. After about 90 minutes I had it in. Definitely whiter and brighter but not sure about the beam spread as I haven't seen it at night. I do have a pic here of both bulbs side by side with the old on the right side, new on the left.

I'm actually not concerned at all about beam spread and blinding others at night as I never ride at night and have no intention of doing so. My sole purpose is to increase my visibility to others.

Included a pic today when I stopped at my old fraternity house in downtown Iowa City. Can't tell much about bulb brightness in the pic..

Title: Re: took a ride today with new headlight bulb
Post by: Stig / Major Tom on March 05, 2023, 09:56:29 PM

Looks good Hawk,
Should make you more visible!

Lately after a few warmish days I'm seeing a lot of riders out at night.
One guy was blinding me in my rear view mirror with his poorly aimed double head-lights!
But - it seems far too many guys are riding around with a red Snicker's bar for a tail light - and a single round headlight, (not paired with two flanking amber lights - which always clearly indicates a motorcycle is coming!)

I do see those HD's which are lit heavily with a least 3 red lights on the rear -and headlights with auxiliary side-lights. If I'm going to spend big bucks on a bike - it is going to stay at the dealer getting a big light package before I ride it home!

Honestly - I see way too many guys riding in stealth mode after dark.

I gotta be pretty weird - because every one of my rides starts in the full dark. Every one. Rain often. Fog. Dark.

So, my scooters have headlights paired with flanking lights - (the pair of LED DRL's on the Liberty were a selling point) and of course I spent time and $ to light my rear-end up like a circus wagon! Shoot - that stock tail light on the LIKE is bigger than any on an HD in town - and it was actually a selling point.
Stig

Title: Re: took a ride today with new headlight bulb
Post by: Ruffus on March 05, 2023, 10:05:20 PM

hawk, looks good.
Usually I change on vintage and oldtimer motorcycles from H4 halogen to H4 LED bulbs due to lesser consumption using an adapter.

LEDs take appr 18W instead of halogens 35/55/60W.

But to save me complaints whatsoever, I don't take LEDs with 6000+K but 4500K, which tend a little bit into yellowish and fine festa.