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 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.
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?
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
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?
i wonder how both these bulbs look in a standard F housing. i have a feeling its going to have bad light scatter
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.
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.
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.
I don't think I mind the 6000K, other than it might bring unwanted attention from :police: :police: :police:
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...
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...
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.
Quote from: jsyzdek on June 06, 2014, 11:26:19 PM
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
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
Anything detailed or important write it out first in Notepad then copy/paste where u want.
yeah, that's what I often do... :technical:
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.
Quote from: MARider on June 12, 2014, 07:31:16 AM
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
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
Quote from: MARider on June 12, 2014, 09:54:22 AM
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.
Quote from: MARider on June 12, 2014, 07:31:16 AM
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.
for the leds turn signals how did you wire up everything..and if you could send me a link to where you bought them..Thank you.
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=976505 - that's where I got the headlight, but as I said - it's a sucker to put in.
LEDs for indicator lights (T5) I got here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007G67JCS/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
LEDs for the clock backlight and the front parking light (T10): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EPA7CZC/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
but you can also go with these (although I haven't received them yet, I'm not sure how much brighter they are and how they fit): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006R34PB4/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I haven't received the turn signal bulbs, but I ordered these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006RFC60Y/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I will only change the back bulbs. They draw a lot less current so their effective resistance is much higher. So when you swap both, the blinker will be more of a strobe. If you swap only one on each side, it will only double the blinker speed.
I'm planning to leave the front turn signals and rear braking/riding lights stock for now. There are some decent 2-intensity bulbs for the braking/riding light, but they are really expensive. And cheapies have very little difference in intensity between the low and high intensity (and they also leak current to the other circuit). And I want to avoid changing the entire system for the turn signals, so the front will remain as is (for now). I'm not a purist, won't split hair over just a few extra watts that I could shave off.
Coming back to turn signal indicator: a regular polarized LED will either show you right, or left turn blinker, not both (the way the circuit is wired, makes the current go either one way or the other, depending whether it's right or left turn). You need to either get a non-poralized LED, or solder in a couple of diodes. I'll dig out a diagram posted by late Adidasguy (RIP) that shows how to do it. I'm actually going to do it right now, because I just got the diodes in mail today :)
There it is:
http://www.gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=60035.msg690197#msg690197
The diagram is in reply #1
I brought some LED bulbs from superbrightleds.com that work perfectly on GS500F 2005.
Speedo/Tach Background Lights: 194 LED Bulb - 5 LED Wide Angle Wedge Base - Cool White (https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/miniature-wedge-base/194-led-bulb-5-led-wide-angle-wedge-base/199/873/) - Fits perfectly no modification needed.
Turn Signal Indicator: 194 LED Bulb 1 LED Wedge Base- Green (https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/miniature-wedge-base/194-led-bulb-1-led-wedge-base/197/856/) - Just need to shave the base a little bit to fit snuggy in. Rewiring not needed.
Neutral/High-Beam/Oil Indicator: 74 LED Bulb 1 SMD LED Wedge Base - Green/Blue/Red (https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/miniature-wedge-base/194-led-bulb-1-led-wedge-base/197/856/) - Fits perfectly no modification needed.
The only difference is that I got a pack of 10 for <$10 (with shipping), superbrightleds would cost me 4-5x as much.
Coming back to the main topic - I took the bike for a night ride to test that LED bulb. It is significantly brighter than stock.
LOW BEAM: a nice, clear cut, good coverage of the sides of the lane and the narrow strip right in front of the bike. This is pretty much all you need to see, and all of that is well-covered.
HIGH BEAM: goes pretty high. The road still gets enough coverage, but the scenery around is well-lit, too.
For what I wanted it to do (decrease the power consumption and get some more light) - it is pretty damn good.
Does it make everything in front of you look like it does during a bright day? no. But it's a good balance between being bright and not blinding to other people (well-shaped beam helps). Didn't get a single flash from cars.
I think that concludes my oddysey with LEDs for now.
Next project - repainting the fairings. PO(s) had no mercy on the left side...
The LED bulb sounds pretty good! Easy to install and have pretty good results. I think I will place an order on one as well!
Need that clear vision at night :) Thanks for sharing your experience, jsyzdek!
Welcome. As far as easy installation goes - it took me 4h, resizing the bulb's own reflector. I didn't want to modify the entrance of the motorcycle's reflector (even though it's a faster and easier job), just in case I ever need to put a stock (or stock-like) bulb in. If you have time at hand - by all means go for it.
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Quote from: jsyzdek on June 15, 2014, 03:48:05 PM
Welcome. As far as easy installation goes - it took me 4h, resizing the bulb's own reflector. I didn't want to modify the entrance of the motorcycle's reflector (even though it's a faster and easier job), just in case I ever need to out a stock (or stock-like) bulb in. If you have time at hand - by all means go for it.
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Yah, I think I am going to do the same thing as you too. Just resize the bulb reflector so it will fit snuggy and keep the old bulb.
I will probably make the swap and put back the old bulb I ever sell the bike. Good LED bulb!
jsyzdek thanks for all the info. My bike is once again taken apart for hopfully the last time so I will ordered the LEDs for the turn signals.
welcome!
I'll have to seriously consider doing this to my bike. Every now and again, I'd turn on the ignition and I'd get no headlight. I'd switch off the ignition then back on and it would come on.
I've never had the headlight apart (and really don't do any night driving). I always guessed that the previous owner installed an updated H4 because my light always had a blueish tint to it.
Turns out, this weekend, I go to switch on and get no headlight. Try a few more times - nothing - I do hear a short high pitched whine..... What the heck was that??? . Finally, it comes on and just for the heck of it, I switch it to high beam. The beam does "rise" as shown on my garage door, but it didn't really get any brighter ! :dunno_black: Although - my low beam is pretty darn bright.
I take it apart and find a fairly large black box, some modified wiring and an HID bulb / ballast etc. No wonder my low beam was always so bright. :icon_eek:
When the light is on and you select the High Beam, the bulb itself just "pivots up" - essentially just shifting the beam higher. I do admit that my low beam was always pretty darn bright and "blueish" but I've never gotten flashed by other cars (the few times I drive at night).
Obviously something was going on with the ballast. (The P.O. only used wire nuts and cut the original H4 plug off the factory wiring).
I didn't want to take a chance on it (who knows if it's been shutting off while I've been driving during the day). I had a few old harnesses around so I wired up a new H4 plug and installed a factory bulb for now. Now I have low and high beam. Although It's not as "crisp" as the other bulb, I wouldn't say it's that much different as far as light output (on high beam).
I'm glad I've been following this thread. I've been leaning toward the LED (Just for some power saving - not so much for night driving). I've gotten so used to the blueish tint to my light, I may have to pick up a blueish H4 in the meantime though . My headlight looks so weird without that blue tint that I'm used to now :D
Glad to see the LED is doing well.
yeah, you get 2x as much light with 1/3rd the power. The front shield doesn't get warm at all, the radiator in the back gets hand-warm, but not hot. Even if I didn't look for extra light at night, I'd still put it in, just for the energy saving and making it easier on switches, wires and battery. If I left my lights on I could walk away from the bike and the battery wouldn't go dry until 7h later...
If you don't do any night riding, you can always put in a cheap LED, use it for daytime riding, and have a real H4 under your seat. The swap takes 10 seconds.
Quote from: jsyzdek on June 24, 2014, 02:32:23 PM
If you don't do any night riding, you can always put in a cheap LED, use it for daytime riding, and have a real H4 under your seat. The swap takes 10 seconds.
That's exactly what I was considering when I ran across your post here. I've looked at a few lower priced LED's and figured I could just keep a stock H4 under the seat for a quick swap....