jimdeforge Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 I am thinking of putting a LED Headlamp on my bike. Can anyone provide any input on them? I am curious on where to find one for an inexpensive price and what kind to get that is good.
Moderator drewpy Posted June 16, 2011 Moderator Posted June 16, 2011 I usually put them on me head didn't think they were bright enough to use as a main beam?
jimdeforge Posted June 16, 2011 Author Posted June 16, 2011 Harley Davidson makes a sweet one. Check it out here: http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524448777102&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374309406522&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374309406522&locale=en_US&bmUID=1308250888116&bmLocale=en_US Click on the Play Video link under the picture.
Moderator drewpy Posted June 16, 2011 Moderator Posted June 16, 2011 wow, cool but so expensive I think you need to wait for them to catch on for the price to come down!
jimdeforge Posted June 16, 2011 Author Posted June 16, 2011 Kuryakyn makes one also (much cheaper), but it doesn't look like it would be as bright. http://www.mmleatheronline.com/kuryakyn-l-e-d-headlamp-and-passing-lamps-free-shipping-to-lower-48-states
jimdeforge Posted June 17, 2011 Author Posted June 17, 2011 Found a nice alternative if I don't get any good feedback on the LED one: http://www.kuryakyn.com/Products/1541/Wave-Cut-Tri-Bar-Custom-Headlamps-with-Black-Dot
petercnm Posted June 17, 2011 Posted June 17, 2011 if we can believe the HD video...impressive. But yes, quite expensive
Moderator Cynic Posted June 17, 2011 Moderator Posted June 17, 2011 Do you not think its hypocrytical, Harley Davidson admitting in their own brochure that the OE headlight is rubbish compared to this fantastic one, then want you to pay through the nose for something i feel they should fit on the bloody bike. Cheeky b'stewards. As to the light its too bright, that lamp will be incredibly bright for oncoming traffic. Cars will all think your on main beam and blind you with theirs. I would, there is an apprila that comes at me on the way to work, he didn't bother to dip his addmitadly bright headlights and got 450watts of H4 for his troubles. Hasn't done it to me since.
Kelum Posted June 20, 2011 Posted June 20, 2011 Well buddy, if you can browse on the internet u can find more than enough LED circuits where a large number of LEDs have combined together to focus light to a particular target..having read ur post hear with the video, am thinking of making my own LED headlamp for the bike..LEDs consume less electricity so it is possible to have a large number of them connected together to be powered up by the headlamp light power lead. Small LEDs wont be bright enough so u should go for bigger ones that can be found in flashlights etc, or can purchase bigger LEDs..possibilities are endless that by altering the number of LEDs powered at once, u can switch between different brightness levels..plus there are 3 color LEDs so can have a very nice headlamp...I am going to work on it..u could use ur OLD mercury cup of the headlight.. Do not stare at high brightness LEDs, because doing so may cause permanent damage to your eyes. The optics of our eyes focus visible light onto the retina, which is the light sensitive part of our eyes, similar to the way a magnifying glass can focus an image of the sun onto a piece of paper. Just as the piece of paper might smolder and catch fire, a light that is brightly focused on your retina can cook and thus permanently damage your eye. Exposure to bright white and blue LEDs can also cause permanent damage to your eyes through photochemical action. Here is a link to an article about the particular hazards of blue LEDs: http://www.mdsupport.org/library/hazard.html#blue If yo could find bigger ones like this links show u...u can achieve a greater brightness.. http://www.elecfree.com/led-car-headlights/ http://www.jedc.org/forms/LED%20Circuits%20and%20Headlights%20for%20the%20SeaPerch%20ROV.pdf This will give u the idea..but be creative to have the best beam by using brighter bigger LEDs..avoid smaller ones.. http://www.resurgentsoftware.com/perfect_led_light.html am making one..will make a thread here..
Moderator Cynic Posted June 20, 2011 Moderator Posted June 20, 2011 Exactly my point they are too bright, more and more cars now have incredibly bright dipped bean, why. Cities are lit like a bloody football pitch anyway. Dip beam should gently light the road, its more to be seen than see anyhow, then we would all be more comfortable riding/driving at night as we would not have to cope with the bright/dark changeover that leaves some (me) temp blinded on some occations.
Kelum Posted June 21, 2011 Posted June 21, 2011 Yes Cynic you have a point..but the brightness can be reduced by lowering or reducing the number of LEDs being lit..over those there are several advantages in buying some bigger LEDs and using them in your bike..I bought 15 such LEDs today but they dont have a bigger reflector in them like those u see in LED headlamps... They last very long consume less electricity. No ordinary filaments so shock resistant Brighter Light is similar to daylight so very great on eyes..
jimdeforge Posted July 16, 2011 Author Posted July 16, 2011 I ended up getting a PIAA H4 Super Plasma GT-X Bulb to see if that would resolve the issue I had my old bulb (low light) and it worked fine. I'm not going to spend the money to get a LED Headlamp now.
Moderator drewpy Posted July 16, 2011 Moderator Posted July 16, 2011 I ended up getting a PIAA H4 Super Plasma GT-X Bulb to see if that would resolve the issue I had my old bulb (low light) and it worked fine. I'm not going to spend the money to get a LED Headlamp now. so that was a waste of a thread then
midnight61 Posted July 20, 2011 Posted July 20, 2011 I ended up getting a PIAA H4 Super Plasma GT-X Bulb to see if that would resolve the issue I had my old bulb (low light) and it worked fine. I'm not going to spend the money to get a LED Headlamp now. wow , those PIAA H4 Super Plasma GT-X Bulbs look pretty expensive, hope they are long life, every 'fancy' bulb i have ever fitted in my car and van never seem to last more than a year, wereas standard bulbs last years, ...thats just my experience (and no, i didnt touch em wuth my fingers)
jimdeforge Posted July 20, 2011 Author Posted July 20, 2011 It did cost $40, but it is worth it since the visibility improved so much.
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