So after looking at the wiki and some of the older posts about it. It seems the Silverstars and Phillips Xtreme are popular choices. Which bulb do guys recommend as a replacement? How long do these last typically? Also what about LED headlights or LED replacement bulbs like the ones on superbrightleds?
Sorry for all the questions :icon_lol: I was just wondering what you all do to get the extra brightness on your bike.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-headlight-bulbs-conversion-kits/led-headlight-kit-h4-led-headlight-bulbs-conversion-kit-with-flexible-tinned-copper-braid/2221/4993/
It's sold as a pair, so find someone to go in on it with you and it's only $40/ea. Hell, you could probably even sell the second one here, I'm sure someone else want's an LED headlight as well.
Incredibly bright, and works well with the factory reflector. They list it as a "cool white" color, but in my opinion it was more of a pure white.
The whole in-line ballast or whatever that box thing is would NOT fit in the headlight assembly no matter which way I tried to run it, but the cord was long enough to feed in either end through the two holes at the back of the bucket. So the bulb connector and plug were both inside the assembly while the box thingy was outside. It's all waterproof so it worked fine like that. Being that I didn't have a car for most of my ownership of that GS I rode rain or shine. It got well tested, and passed flawlessly.
If you want to keep the stock look but get an upgraded headlight that will last "forever", I think this is your best option.
Looks like SBLEDS has some "open box" ones for sale for cheaper, so now is a good time to order if these look good to you.
Thank you for the reply! I believe this is the same bulb as that one: https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/motorcycle-led-bulbs/motorcycle-led-headlight-conversion-kit-h4-led-headlight-bulb-conversion-kit-with-flexible-tinned-copper-braid/2781/6195/
Just that it's a single bulb rather than a pair. I'm more inclined towards the LED than getting a powerful halogen bulb. I recently upgraded all my dash lights to LED so it's got me thinking about the headlight as well.
I bought my bulb from Opt7 and I've loved it. I use to have Sylvaner halogens, but some guy pulled out in front of me one night. I asked him why he did that at the next light and he said he didn't notice by headlight. So I wanted to make sure my lights are bright. They're $100 but totally worth it and have a 2 year warranty as well! I use these on all my cars too. 10/10.
I doubt you'll get a better result with LED's in a headlamp designed and lensed for incandescent. I recently installed these http://www.powerbulbs.com/us/store/category/philips-x-treme-vision-130 I would also suggest aiming theme at 2" above rather than the recommended 2" below the centreline of the headlamp. I've done some extensive testing and it will light up street signs during the day! while not being glaring to look at but still provide a good pinpoint light. On hi beam it will burn your retinas out. The light is less yellow than standard but still yellow rather than white which is less visible and unpleasant to look at.
For tail lights http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BFDIN0K/?tag=2402507-20 these are the go, they are 43/3 candlepower instead of 32/3 so brighter brake light and larger difference between brake and tail.
EDIT: just went to the garage to take a shot of the philips in a GS500 headlamp. 7400º colour temperature of the superbright led is ridiculously blue.
(http://s18.postimg.org/pde21qx15/image.jpg)
Having been through this on my STi, trust me when I say you're better off sticking with halogen. You may have marginally better results since the reflector on the GS is round, but still, I found the LED headlights to downright suck. There is a TON of off-center glare that will, at minimum, aggravate people around you. At worst it might get you a ticket.
I tried 3 different brands and configurations: single, double, and quad LED bulbs. All suffered from the same glare issue and, honestly, were pretty sketchy in terms of actual color temperature. Unless you're buying something made by a reputable brand (like Sylvania, Philips, etc.), count on the color temperature being +/- ~1000K.
To do it right right, replace the stock headlight with an HID housing. There's lots of "retrofit" options out there.
I looked at the SBLED website and noticed their pictures actually prove my point about off-center glare and lack of overall performance.
I'm fairly certain they're using a Jeep Wrangler for the test vehicle in these pictures, which has round headlights/reflectors like the GS. Take a look at the side-by-side comparison of the two (click for bigger):
(http://i.imgur.com/0jPTzNO.jpg)
Notice how the cut-off of the beam is uniform and flat for the halogens (right) and has a sharp curve upwards for the LED (left)? That translates into blinding drivers and wasted light (unless you need to see squirrels and birds in trees 45° off-center). If you look closely, you'll see the cutoff for the LEDs is already above the halogens at 12 feet.
Furthermore, see how the halogens have a nice focused beam in the center and the LEDs...don't? The factory reflectors for this vehicle were designed to culminate about half the light into a beam. The beam is "thrown" further down the road to give you medium-long distance illumination. That completely goes away with the LEDs.
TL;DR: You shouldn't put LEDs in housings designed for halogens.
I'll stand by my experience with that particular LED replacement bulb. I got very good results.
Was there more "wash"? Yes. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing as it filled more of the road in front and to the sides of me. Riding through the forest preserves at night was a lot more comfortable.
There wasn't much if any loss of focus, either.
I got a higher lumen and candella output than the stock bulb, and the color temperature was a lot more visible.
I wish I had a picture of the headlight in action, but I don't and I no longer own the motorcycle...
Now my friend with a 2015 Yamaha FZ-07 had issues with his. The reflector is very geometric and causes a lot of artifacts with the way the LEDs output, so he went back to a halogen. It's too bad, too, because all of his other lights are LEDs.
But the smooth "dish" reflector that the GS uses seems to work quite well.
The sample vehicle they use does not seem to be a wrangler, to me. The hood is too curvy. But they do have a motorcycle example in the form of a Yamaha XT250 which has a round reflector.
(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/923/gEU4Xa.jpg) (https://imageshack.com/i/pngEU4Xaj)
I really do appreciate all the feedback. I grabbed a Silverstar from an auto store earlier tonight. Wanted something to compare an LED to if I end up grabbing one. They seem pretty bright, but I haven't taken the bike out again yet (local dark farm roads later maybe). Hopefully this thread at least helped out a few other people as well.
Quote from: Watcher on April 19, 2016, 04:37:05 PM
I'll stand by my experience with that particular LED replacement bulb. I got very good results.
Was there more "wash"? Yes. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing as it filled more of the road in front and to the sides of me. Riding through the forest preserves at night was a lot more comfortable.
There wasn't much if any loss of focus, either.
I got a higher lumen and candella output than the stock bulb, and the color temperature was a lot more visible.
I wish I had a picture of the headlight in action, but I don't and I no longer own the motorcycle...
Now my friend with a 2015 Yamaha FZ-07 had issues with his. The reflector is very geometric and causes a lot of artifacts with the way the LEDs output, so he went back to a halogen. It's too bad, too, because all of his other lights are LEDs.
But the smooth "dish" reflector that the GS uses seems to work quite well.
The sample vehicle they use does not seem to be a wrangler, to me. The hood is too curvy. But they do have a motorcycle example in the form of a Yamaha XT250 which has a round reflector.
I would be very surprised if a good halogen didn't out perform the LED on your bike. The boost in brightness could easily be attributed to old bulb vs new bulb syndrome. I mean no offense of course, but people really should not be doing this. Even if you somehow magically did gain something over halogen, you're still a nuisance to other drivers. Point the headlamp at a wall, 15' away, and look at the beam. If it has anything other than a flat cutoff, it's blinding oncoming drivers.
Quote from: Kijona on April 20, 2016, 04:57:22 AMPoint the headlamp at a wall, 15' away, and look at the beam. If it has anything other than a flat cutoff, it's blinding oncoming drivers.
This will always be good advice, no matter the bulb type.
@Watcher, I got a higher lumen and candella output than the stock bulb
Measured how?
Go to the candlepower.com forums and tell them this and they will crucify you and explain why. An LED will not give you a brighter light than the best incandescent in the GS headlamp housing. End of story.
Let me toss out a related question here. I am building a GS to travel on and I have read that the alternator on the GS is adequate, but does not have alot of surplus power. So with that in mind I am wondering what would be the best choice for the headlight bulb and how much power could be used for it.
I know there are 35W Halogen bulbs and the normal 55/65W bulbs.
Then there are other types, HID and LED for example.
So can you all give me some help here?
Also I have seen a 2 lamp setup with 35W each and possibly 65W each. Would that be a real option? I do like the dual headlights, but not enough to give up lighting at night.
Thanks in advance.
Greg, if you're looking for more light output I'd stick with the stock single headlight housing. I have one of the "Dominator" headlights on my GR and the light output is dismal. I have a led fog light as a backup, and it burnt up recently. I took a ride around my neighborhood with a 55w bulb in the Dominator housing, and it was scary dark.
If one was dead set on having twin headlights, then the pre 2010 triumph speed triple units are good output! Properly setup internally!
The dominator units, which I have used also, are about good enough to meet legality for road use at night... but they are NOT primo by any measure!, no matter the bulb used inside.. :/
The best way to measure the color is the Kelvin scale and not what is on the box. I try to explain this to my clients all the time when they want to put in recessed lights and want a "white" light. Anything below 3000k is gonna be orangeish like the old time basic incandescent bulb. 3000k to 4600k is going to be white. They're typically sold in the 3000 to 4000 range. 5000 and above is gonna be blue, which on a vehicle doesn't look bad. People aren't used to seeing blue lights on vehicles which makes them stand out, which is what I would recommend on a bike. Blue/daylight/natural light/spectrum at 5000k is very light blue.
But yeah, don't base it off what it's called. Every company varies the name and it could be the same color.
Quote from: nuclearfenix on April 28, 2016, 08:39:53 PM
The best way to measure the color is the Kelvin scale and not what is on the box. I try to explain this to my clients all the time when they want to put in recessed lights and want a "white" light. Anything below 3000k is gonna be orangeish like the old time basic incandescent bulb. 3000k to 4600k is going to be white. They're typically sold in the 3000 to 4000 range. 5000 and above is gonna be blue, which on a vehicle doesn't look bad. People aren't used to seeing blue lights on vehicles which makes them stand out, which is what I would recommend on a bike. Blue/daylight/natural light/spectrum at 5000k is very light blue.
But yeah, don't base it off what it's called. Every company varies the name and it could be the same color.
Almost all factory HID headlights are in the 4200-4600K range which is daylight.
Quote from: gregoblv on April 28, 2016, 10:37:20 AM
Let me toss out a related question here. I am building a GS to travel on and I have read that the alternator on the GS is adequate, but does not have alot of surplus power. So with that in mind I am wondering what would be the best choice for the headlight bulb and how much power could be used for it.
I know there are 35W Halogen bulbs and the normal 55/65W bulbs.
Then there are other types, HID and LED for example.
So can you all give me some help here?
Also I have seen a 2 lamp setup with 35W each and possibly 65W each. Would that be a real option? I do like the dual headlights, but not enough to give up lighting at night.
Thanks in advance.
You basically have two options for more output without increasing wattage:
HID and LED
HID:
Uses a spherical lens to culminate light from a short-arc lamp. Available in 35w kits. Plenty of examples, but here's perhaps the most widely known site:
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/
LED:
Uses a diode to produce light. Usually uses a reflector that resembles halogen-type reflector. Example:
http://www.piaa.com/store/p/182-LP570-7-LED-Driving-Light-Kit-SAE-Compliant.aspx
The LED and HID "drop-in" bulbs that fit your halogen housing are not the way to go, as shown above. Specifically, in a lot of states, putting an HID bulb in a halogen housing is illegal (due to the blinding off-center glare they produce). LED is arguably better than HID due to the lack of power consumption. A 12W LED lamp is roughly equivalent to a 55W HID.
Quote from: Kijona on May 02, 2016, 01:15:06 AM
Quote from: nuclearfenix on April 28, 2016, 08:39:53 PM
The best way to measure the color is the Kelvin scale and not what is on the box. I try to explain this to my clients all the time when they want to put in recessed lights and want a "white" light. Anything below 3000k is gonna be orangeish like the old time basic incandescent bulb. 3000k to 4600k is going to be white. They're typically sold in the 3000 to 4000 range. 5000 and above is gonna be blue, which on a vehicle doesn't look bad. People aren't used to seeing blue lights on vehicles which makes them stand out, which is what I would recommend on a bike. Blue/daylight/natural light/spectrum at 5000k is very light blue.
But yeah, don't base it off what it's called. Every company varies the name and it could be the same color.
Almost all factory HID headlights are in the 4200-4600K range which is daylight.
You just said what I said. Don't follow what it's called, but by the kelvin scale. 4200-4600k is gonna be white. What companies call it is up to them, they can't change the kelvin scale though like Cree and Philips call their blue lights "Daylight".
Going into the blue range is great if you are around the cities and burbs and freeways with plenty of white lines and reflective signs and such.....
in a rural area with very few white lines, reflectors etc then bluish light is WORSE for driver/rider viewpoint. .. the blue light just doesn't come back to you on black roads and roadside greenery! , halogen around 3k wins out there!
Where you ride changes what is most useful!
Quote from: Janx101 on May 03, 2016, 01:46:36 PM
Going into the blue range is great if you are around the cities and burbs and freeways with plenty of white lines and reflective signs and such.....
in a rural area with very few white lines, reflectors etc then bluish light is WORSE for driver/rider viewpoint. .. the blue light just doesn't come back to you on black roads and roadside greenery! , halogen around 3k wins out there!
Where you ride changes what is most useful!
This is so very true. Alot of things about motorcycles are very dependant on where you live.