HID vs LED?

[jsyzdek]

This might have been discussed in the past, but I couldn't find anything useful...

In short - I started replacing my lightbulbs with LEDs and I'm very happy with them. Now the time has come for my headlight. There are many options. All sorts of HID kits (I found this website for example: http://www.wholesalehid.com/ and there is more on Amazon and Ebay.

I have also found a number of good LED bulbs (at least they seem to be good based on specs and/or reviews):
http://www.amazon.com/7-5W-Lens-Build-In-White-Headlights/dp/B00EJACY7Y/ref=pd_sbs_auto_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1YTYYCVE0J4909AVZ8A6
http://www.amazon.com/Newsun-Motorcycle-Universal-Headlight-Shipping/dp/B00KJBLG6M/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=AJM9X8XCXRL6F
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090E4RN8
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D2LHYQ2/ref=s9_simh_co_p60_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=typ-top-left-1&pf_rd_r=00GP66JCJ77SA7C1JCSR&pf_rd_t=3201&pf_rd_p=1780082482&pf_rd_i=typ01
http://www.amazon.com/Newsun-Bright-Headlight-1800lm-Cree-1512/dp/B00FJ003F8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_auto_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1WKF416E709HQVFC0E0N

My hopes are that LED is a direct replacement and should produce even less heat than an HID while giving similar brightness. It should also work pretty much forever.
Does anybody have experience with either one? (or both?) Any recommendations or warnings?

[Big Rich]

I don't have experience with either, but have been looking at this H4 led replacement from ADVMonster :

http://stores.advmonster.com/h4-led-headlight/

Seems to be getting pretty good reviews on ADVRider.

[jsyzdek]

can't find a search box on that forum. No reviews on vendor's site. The bulb looks good, I'm wondering whether or not it supports low/high beam?

[Big Rich]

Yeah, ADVMonster is just the official site to buy from. Here's the specific thread on ADVRider :

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=976505

[jsyzdek]

Thx! it looks like a good buy! I'll do a little more research, but this one looks really promising.

I'm wondering if other people here have tried anything else that is worth recommendation?

[rexpepper651]

i wonder how both these bulbs look in a standard F housing. i have a feeling its going to have bad light scatter

[jsyzdek]

true. But the OEM 55/60W bulb doesn't really give much light. And I'm afraid of putting a much larger halogen bulb in, not to melt anything around (or kill my alternator).

I was hoping to get more replies in this thread from people dissatisfied with the brightness of the original lamp, who are not willing to completely rebuild the front of their Fs.

The forum Big Rich referred me to is full of people happy with that 2400lm LED bulb, which is about 2x more than the OEM. And it draws only 20W. Easier on your battery, alternator, and less heat in the housing.

[GS4me]

Looks like a few posts down in that thread suggests that you have to use a hole saw on the GS500E headlight bucket to allow enough room for the new LED setup. 

Not a huge job though I guess.  I'd like to see some more pics posted  (I've only gone through page 1 and the start of Page 2 though - maybe there is some more 500E info in that thread a little further down)..    Good reviews though.

[EdChen]

I ended up going through that entire thread - nothing else for the GS500 that I saw. Last I read was the hole saw for the back of the headlight bucket too.

Really does look like a good option though. I kind of wish it was more in the 3000K/4000K range though.

[jsyzdek]

I don't think I mind the 6000K, other than it might bring unwanted attention from 
I just want to see and be seen. And cut down on the energy consumption and heat.

For what the reviews say - it's worth the money. I checked DOT standars, they only talk about candelas, not lumens. I guess I need to pull out my high school physics and check whether or not I might get in trouble with this.

I don't know the specifics of the 500E headlight but it looks to me that for 500F it should be an easy job. I'll just need to cut the rubber seal a little to allow it go over the thicker part. That should be easy.

I'm surprised not that many people seem to have tried LED headlights on GS...

[jsyzdek]

ah well, just ordered it. Will post a review when I get it. Might be only in July, will be outta town for a few weeks starting Friday...

[Big Rich]

Good for you man!

I ordered a different led light from ADVMonster (the model 44 flood light) and was very impressed with it. I'm sure you'll like the H4.

[ohgood]

This might have been discussed in the past, but I couldn't find anything useful...

In short - I started replacing my lightbulbs with LEDs and I'm very happy with them. Now the time has come for my headlight. There are many options. All sorts of HID kits (I found this website for example: http://www.wholesalehid.com/ and there is more on Amazon and Ebay.

I have also found a number of good LED bulbs (at least they seem to be good based on specs and/or reviews):
http://www.amazon.com/7-5W-Lens-Build-In-White-Headlights/dp/B00EJACY7Y/ref=pd_sbs_auto_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1YTYYCVE0J4909AVZ8A6
http://www.amazon.com/Newsun-Motorcycle-Universal-Headlight-Shipping/dp/B00KJBLG6M/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=AJM9X8XCXRL6F
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090E4RN8
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D2LHYQ2/ref=s9_simh_co_p60_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=typ-top-left-1&pf_rd_r=00GP66JCJ77SA7C1JCSR&pf_rd_t=3201&pf_rd_p=1780082482&pf_rd_i=typ01
http://www.amazon.com/Newsun-Bright-Headlight-1800lm-Cree-1512/dp/B00FJ003F8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_auto_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1WKF416E709HQVFC0E0N

My hopes are that LED is a direct replacement and should produce even less heat than an HID while giving similar brightness. It should also work pretty much forever.
Does anybody have experience with either one? (or both?) Any recommendations or warnings?

i've been running two 18watt light bars in place of my drz's stock headlight for 1 1/2 years now. it's been in creeks, bounced off trees (with me attached), left on for hours when i forgot about it, and no issues at all.

these bars are not focused as tightly as the options you have now. get a projector type headlight and replace the hid/incandescant with a 20+ watt led. the results i've seen are -incredible-. super sharp cutoff lines (no dazzle) and complete utter saturation of your surroundings, with 1/2 the draw of a normal stock headlight.

here's the difference, i think you'll see why i rave about led's:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq8tw7gerQc

[jsyzdek]

I wrote a nice, long review of that LED H4 bulb I got and then my browser crashed. I don't have time or energy now to repeat it all, so this time short:

it draws only 17W and is brighter than the stock bulb. How much brighter? hard to tell.
Low/high beam works fine, the beam of light is nicely shaped. Nothing gets hot or anything like that. It has a radiator, no fans or moving parts.
The light temperature is around 5500K. It's cool white, but no blue in it as far as I can tell.

What pissed me off it that it measures 28mm in dia, while the reflector entrance is only 25mm (or 1"). Rather than taking the front assembly off and enlarging the hole in the reflector - I resized bulb's own reflector, just in case I ever want to put a real H4 bulb in, that is made to specs.
The whole business took me 4h (did I even mention I'm anal about getting things right? and preicse?) and I'm satisfied with the results. But after spending almost $50 on this bulb, I'd rather have the evening to ride the bike, not to play around with dremel, epoxy and spray paint...

If you have time on hand - go for it. Otherwise look for an alternative. I'm just afraid there aren't any good LEDs out there that don't have electrical/thermal/optical problems, like this for example:
http://www.amazon.com/Vktech-White-Headlight-Brake-Taillight/dp/B00C9S0BE6/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1402552628&sr=8-5&keywords=12V+H4+LED

[fetor56]

Anything detailed or important write it out first in Notepad then copy/paste where u want.

[jsyzdek]

yeah, that's what I often do... 

[MARider]

I would say unless your putting a projector in the with the HID bulb do not do it. As seen on cars it maybe brighter for you to see but when you reflect an hid bulb you are blinding others on the road which last time I checked is also very unsafe for them and the person riding. I would honestly say go with a xenon bulb..yes it draws more but honestly I dont think its that big of a deal. 

[ohgood]

I would say unless your putting a projector in the with the HID bulb do not do it. As seen on cars it maybe brighter for you to see but when you reflect an hid bulb you are blinding others on the road which last time I checked is also very unsafe for them and the person riding. I would honestly say go with a xenon bulb..yes it draws more but honestly I dont think its that big of a deal.

mmm, projector plus led us so much better. easy to tune the cutoff, and complete saturation of the area

[MARider]

Is there a right up on it by any chance..I am all for a brighter head light but not at the cost of mine and others safety

[jsyzdek]

I am all for a brighter head light but not at the cost of mine and others safety

As I said - I didn't take it on a test ride, but I looked at the shape of the beam on the wall and it looks just like stock bulb, I'd even say that the top cut-off is even clearer. As I walked around I wasn't blinded by the beam unless I was right in front of the bike (and ducked down) so it should be all good. What blinds other people is not the total brightness of your bulb. It's the light that is not efficiencly focused on the road and just goes to the sides and up. What you benefit from is not the total brightness of the bulb either. It's just the light that is focused on the road, the rest is just lost. So making sure you have a bulb that is close to a point source is good for you and it's good for other drivers. And this bulb is great for it. I was just pissed that it took me 4h to fit it in, making sure that the geometry of the bulb's own reflector is still correct.

yes it draws more but honestly I dont think its that big of a deal. 

After swapping my indicator/backlight/headlight into LEDs I'm drawing only 2.4A from the battery, as opposed to 6.4A that stock lights draw. And everything is brighter. I can either enjoy lower power draw (and longer life of my battery, and easier cold start, which really is not going to change much in my case, my battery gives 1100A cranking current at 20C), or think about putting extra lights on if I ever feel a need for it.