Y'all Wanted to know how the new LED headlight works?

It's awesome.

First of all, it shines much brighter and whiter than stock, which is totally noticeable even during the late daytime on really dark wooded single track trails. It lights up an area ahead of the bike exactly where your eyes are looking for obstacles. And then, when you use the high beam, it doesn't turn off that spot on the trail, it simply adds to the top of that spot, further shining down the trail. Very nice for the kind of riding I like to do.

Second, one of the worries I always had was accidentally leaving the ignition and headlight on when I was taking a break and draining the battery (I use electric clothing and gloves, so I put a large load on the system). With the LED light, it uses a tiny fan for cooling, and you can just barely hear it when it's on and the engine is off, and it draws less power than a regular bulb, supposedly lasts longer too.

Third, it really stands out. I had two people ask me how the light was so white while I was out riding this weekend. It really cuts through the fog we had in the mountains. Maybe it's safer because of that, inasmuch as a rider coming the other way might see it a tiny bit sooner, who knows?

Here is a picture of me from this weekend, looks cool too (my turn signals are LED bulbs as well). I recommend it. But installation can be a tiny bit tricky...

Sweet.

Got a link the kit or whatever it is?

I think it's called a Cyron H4 replacement LED? Not sure where I got it now! It's the one with the built in fan...

https://www.cyron.com/p-209-headlight-bulb-led-retrofit-kit-motorcycles-abh4k.aspx

This is the one, right?

It sounds cool, but there's a couple of things that worry me. This things is probably illegally powerful, but I'm fine with that as long as it's not too crazy when the light is dimmed. So the question is; exactly how bright is it really on low beam? If it's anywhere near high beam with a regular bulb, it's going to raise some eyebrows, not to mention it could be dangerous when riding at night.

The other thing I'm wondering about is the light pattern. Regular H4 bulbs have two filaments, and the light pattern changes as you switch between low beam and high beam. You said that when turned up the juice, the light simply added to what was already there. Does that mean that the pattern is that of high beam, even when dimmed? Or is it more like you get low beam and high beam at the same time?
If the pattern is that of high beam even when it's on low beam, it's even more crucial that it's not so bright that I blind oncoming traffic.

Yes, that's the one.

Yes, makes sense. No, it's not too bright for others. If anything, the low beam has a much better defined cutoff so as not to shine into oncoming traffic. The high beam is two additional LED's on top of the bulb which come on in addition to the low beam LED and if you can imagine the low beam as a well defined triangle of light in front of your bike, the high beam adds a big rectangle on top of that, without taking away the triangle. That's something I didn't like about the old setup, when you used the high beam, you lost some of the light right in front of the bike, which you really really really need off roading in the dark. So the light pattern of this bulb is just better, brighter and whiter all around.

That said, you are in Norway, and if they are as strict as I know the German TUV to be, they will not approve of this bulb! So make sure before you buy it that it is approved for your country...

any chance you can take a few photos at night with Low and High beam? Very interested in this bulb.

GusinCA:

Excellent reply. That answered all my questions.

I know exactly what you mean about the stock light. I've found myself constantly changing back and forth depending on the surface and whatnot. It's such a pain.

As for the how strict it is here, I'd say it's fairly strict. I'm not 100% sure about the laws, but at the very least, light bulbs have to be e-marked, which this isn't. However, from what you're saying the product in question doesn't seem dangerous, nor particularly suspicious. While cars need to undergo regular vehicle inspection, motorcycles do not. The only exception is if the authorities stop you and notice something wrong with the vehicle, in which case they've got three options. 1, they deem the vehicle unsafe for use, they take your license plate, and you're not allowed to ride on. 2, you might be fined, but you're allowed to keep riding. You then have to fix the problems and undergo a vehicle inspection within a certain time, or you'll loose your license plate, and you'll have to re-register the vehicle, which is costly. 3, if it's something minor, they'll usually let you off with a warning.

Again; I believe that's how it works for the most time, but don't quote me on it.

Bill, Sorry to hear you have it strict over there. Hopefully the police won't say anything.

As for me, I don't think I'd go for this bulb as it's only "2,500 Lumens Output".

The one I'm looking at buying is this one which is rated at "3800 Lumen with Hi/Low" although "Lumen Rating 4400 (RAW)" so it should be very bright. I normally ride with my high beam on, on the street, so I piss people off (that way they see me).

Oooh, that one looks even better!

But yes, the LED puts out better, cleaner, sharper defined light than the stock H4.

I just want to see where I'm going at night....

GusinCA wrote:

I think it's called a Cyron H4 replacement LED? Not sure where I got it now! It's the one with the built in fan...

Evol wrote:

The one I'm looking at buying is this one

So are these just direct replacement bulbs for the stock head light? Plug-n go installation?

GusinCA wrote:

(I use electric clothing and gloves

in Cali ?!?

When it's barely above freezing in the mountains above 6,000 feet, yes, in Cali... :)

That explains it!

Can you post pics of it lighting up the road in the dark?

Some guys have put these in their atvs and then took em back out. They look very bright when you look at the light but they dont light up the trail worth a dam in the atv lights, the wrrs reflector may be a little different and make them work better tho.

I'll try next time I'm out in the dark...

Or even just turn it on tonight in your driveway or on the side of the road in front of your place.
Just so we can see what you're able to see with that bulb.
I'm very curious since it looks bright as hell in the pic above.
Thanks

motokid wrote:

GusinCA wrote:

I think it's called a Cyron H4 replacement LED? Not sure where I got it now! It's the one with the built in fan...

Evol wrote:

The one I'm looking at buying is this one

So are these just direct replacement bulbs for the stock head light?  Plug-n go installation?  

As far as I know, yes. they are designed to be replacement bulbs, although they appear to have an additional controller unit which looks small and easy to mount on the backside of the headlight.

GusinCA wrote:

I'll try next time I'm out in the dark...

Knowing that there are more powerful options out there (such as the unit I linked to), if you were to "do it again", would you get the same one or the more powerful one?
Basically, is the model you got bright enough, or would you like to have more light?

I have installed this one on my bike

Hi-Power-H4-24W-CREE-COB-LED-Motorcycle-Headlight-Hi-Low-Beam-2000-2500LM-6-36V on ebay

And let me tell you 2500 lumens is freaking bright I cannot imagine what 3800 would be!

the light pattern is great but I am in Canada and its not legal to have those kind of lights.. but I like it so much I am not scared anymore riding during night

meo250r wrote:

I have installed this one on my bike

Hi-Power-H4-24W-CREE-COB-LED-Motorcycle-Headlight-Hi-Low-Beam-2000-2500LM-6-36V on ebay

And let me tell you 2500 lumens is freaking bright I cannot imagine what 3800 would be!

the light pattern is great but I am in Canada and its not legal to have those kind of lights.. but I like it so much I am not scared anymore riding during night

Seeing how we live very close to each other, have you ever been hassled by the police for your light? Is there a built-in fan like the other models?

Yes there is a built in fan and the installation was pretty easy. I put it on at the end of the season so I didnt had problem with police yet but you know the SQ.. Can you believe we will be riding in 15 days its like -1000 degrees outside!!

I tried the HID route as I was not happy with the stock output and the beam pattern. While the HID was MUCH brighter (55 watt) the beam pattern still had the same "holes" in the light dispersion.

I think the stock reflector design is the fly in the ointment.

TKO wrote:

I tried the HID route as I was not happy with the stock output and the beam pattern.  While the HID was MUCH brighter (55 watt) the beam pattern still had the same "holes" in the light dispersion.

I think the stock reflector design is the fly in the ointment.

Same issue that I have. Except that I have two LED spots mounted on the bike that I use to fill in those holes when on high beam.

That being said I will be taking off the LED light for another reason.

We were riding up in the mountains of N. GA and ran out of daylight. I did not have an issue riding at night with my LED setup until the fog set in. I turned off the LED spot lights and put the stock headlight on low but that bright white light would bounce right back off the fog. I had a really hard time seeing the trail/road. Meanwhile the girlfriend was doing just fine with her stock H4 bulb (more of a yellow light) on her Super Sherpa. She took the lead I pretty much followed her tail light home.

So I am going back to the standard H4 bulb. With my LED spots that should be more than enough for riding at night.

Would some yellow tint on the lens help for the fog?