Why replacing the headlight bulb with an LED, or HID is a bad idea.

siciliano said:

I hope the explanation below helps! If the light source(H4) is replaced by something else(HID,LED,B-Xenon HID) out of the precise focal point of the parabola reflector will hardly work efficient.
The problem with LEDs is that they typically have multiple light sources and multiple reflectors. The highest performance comes from a single light source in the precise focus of the reflector. High beam H4 has a single filament at the exact focus of the parabolic reflector:
Low beam H4 uses the internal light shield, and the filament is forward of the reflector focus:
Once you understand HOW THEY WORK, you understand why H4 E-code reflectors (which have been steadily improved since the 1970's) outperform more efficient light sources like LEDs or HIDs. You can immediately see why anything other than an H4 bulb is a bad idea. See video below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zRlklsD4mI

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Absolutely. Here is an excellent source on the plug and play HID fiascoes and he will even point you to the laws that in some counties make them illegal. A lot of the logic applies directly to LED as well.

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

If you want more light in the stock housing, the only way is a true retrofit of a projector in. Or install a housing made for the light source. I have retrofit HID projectors in my truck, just haven't taken that one on for the bike yet.

Señor Gar said:

Interesting point. IDK where HID or B-Xenon HID focus but I have some LEDs for my Daytime Running Lights which definitely do not focus and for DRL that's a good thing since they are not for lighting up the road but the scattered light is quite bright and visible without bothering the eyes of oncoming drivers and make my car easy to be seen.

No focal point here ...

and no way to provide high and low beam

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I had one of those multi LED lights, including hi and lo beam on the Fury. What a disaster. Light went all over the place. Indeed, would be great for daylight running lights. Not much else . . . . . . . . .

H4 LED Motorcycle Headlight Kit | H4 LED Motorcycle Upgrade
Well engineered product.

With a 50,000 hour lifespan, I don't expect looking at it again. Perhaps a newly purchased one could be measured?

paul13131313 said:

H4 LED Motorcycle Headlight Kit | H4 LED Motorcycle Upgrade
Well engineered product.

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Was it plug n play??

Yes. See LED headlight? thread,last post for, install particulars.

paul13131313 said:

With a 50,000 hour lifespan, I don't expect looking at it again. Perhaps a newly purchased one could be measured?

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50,000 hours , shit that like 1000 years in motorcycle years ,

My commute round-trip is one hour, six days a week, 49 weeks a year, equalling 294 days a year.
50,000 divided by 294 is 170 years.

Too many people "unqualified" disturb their OEM headlights on motorcycles and cars thinking they are better illuminating their path or because they want to look cool with their white lights that they are creating an "unsafe' situation by blinding all oncoming vehicles. :[email protected]: The authorities in the US do nothing about it or they are not trained to do so. When riding at the slightest hint of headlights bothering me from oncoming vehicles I turn my high beam on and don't shut them off until they are well past me. I will also not ride in front of anyone in our group with the same problem, I rather be at the back.

On my 500 mile/day rides into midnight I did just fine with my stock headlamp :skellie:
One time I didn't remove my dark visor (admittedly foolish) and managed surprisingly well >

siciliano said:

Too many people "unqualified" disturb their OEM headlights on motorcycles and cars thinking they are better illuminating their path or because they want to look cool with their white lights that they are creating an "unsafe' situation by blinding all oncoming vehicles. :[email protected]: The authorities in the US do nothing about it or they are not trained to do so. When riding at the slightest hint of headlights bothering me from oncoming vehicles I turn my high beam on and don't shut them off until they are well past me. I will also not ride in front of anyone in our group with the same problem, I rather be at the back.

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I do the same thing .and 90% of the time I like to ride in the back of the pack ,if its a small group but if its a big event I like to be as close to the front as possible,i don't like to be behind touring bikes , there notorious for there bags falling off, no mentioning any particular motorcycle brands .

paul13131313 said:

My commute round-trip is one hour, six days a week, 49 weeks a year, equalling 294 days a year.
50,000 divided by 294 is 170 years.

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did you get any spares light bulbs , you never know if the company is going to be around in 170 years ,

No spare. I'm pretty sure it won't be necessary, but I could be wrong! I'm going to see risk a failure!
The suggested gold visor on my helmets, years ago, solves that clear/dark tinted visor dilemma for me. The blue visor works the same. Street lights on the freeways and major streets create just enough light for it not to be too dark. I just have to open it up to see on really dark side streets.
That said, the HID bulb, non DOT, bulb retrofit was blinding and now the LED retrofit, non DOT and OEM, is making my commute a blinding experience, morning and afternoon. It's really bad if they're blinding you in daytime!
They used to be $299.95 and now are down to $59.95, on the aftermarket. The OEM's will have them on their least expensive models very soon if not already.

Deleted. The bulbs would not even fire up.

lifer99 said:

These guys seem to do it right - reflector and LED bulb as a kit. Using 2 for 1948 Buick

7" H6006/6006 Crystal Glass/Metal Headlight 6V 6-Volt 26/40w LED Light Bulb Each

Octane LightingONE NEW - 7" INCH ROUND CRYSTAL CLEAR GLASS LENS / METAL HOUSING HEADLAMPINCLUDES (1) HIGH INTENSITY 3RD GENERATION 6V LED H4 INTENSE WHITE LIGHT BULB! - ONE HEADLIGHT WITH LED BULB - ONE New LED Headlight SAE/DOT Approved - Street Legal2600 Lumen Low Beam / 4000 Lumen...

www.octanelighting.com

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No, it's not done right. It's an LED in a reflector housing. You are going to get scattered light, no cutoff, and it's going to go right into drivers eyes. Unless the reflector is engineered for that bulb, then it's the same as the other crap out there. But it's not. There aren't even many vehicle manufacturers designing reflectors for their own LED bulbs.

Hi, welcome to the forum.

As a note, that seems to be a 6V LED; Furys have a 12V electrical system, so there might be an issue... Also, it's in a halogen fixture, so what @krashDH is saying is accurate.

That's how we learn... Again, welcome!