03-30-2015, 09:55 AM
(08-13-2013, 02:12 AM)Mike Bee_imp Wrote: Hmm, I've previously had good luck using a PIAA bulb on my Harley. Used the Sylvania Silver Lights on my car which was a modest improvement too. An LED bulb sounds like an interesting idea as well. When I ride during daylight hours, I use the high beam so Fred & Ethel Grope can better see me. When that filament burns out, I still have a functioning low beam as a back up. Sorry to hear of your bad experience with PIAA...
The Bee
VERY interesting - but don't pull the trigger yet. LED aftermarket bulbs are more "show" lights than they are usable light.
Someone over at the ADV board bought several and compared them on an aiming wall, against stock halogen H4s. While the good ones throw more light, it's not aimed as well. Partly because of the position of the diodes to the reflectors, which are not the same as the filaments in the OEM bulbs; and also because of the nature of the light source - not one filament but a bank of diodes.
I bought one for a different reason - my BMW R1100RT would overheat at our long in-town stoplights here on hot days. The simple solution is to kill the engine while the light makes its way through the five-minute cycle (no joke) - but the headlight on, after doing this many times, would knock the battery down. Turning the key off is both a pain and also kills turn signals and brake light.
SO...since I seldom ride after dark...I bought a Chinese 4 watt H4 base LED. Now, as an indicator; a display of the headlight being on...it was fine. As actual light at night, it was about as effective as a scooter headlight. And not aimed. It had the three-prong H4 base; but it shows no difference, HI and LO beam. The only thing that changes is the hi-beam indicator goes on.
On the BMW, replacing the headlight bulb was easy. So I just took the regular halogen bulb with me, wrapped in bubble wrap...figured if I got caught out after sundown, I could change it out.
Since then, I sold the BMW and bought my in-town scoot, the Eliminator 125. Put that halogen bulb in there; and for some of the same reasons. In this case, it's because the charging system is marginal and it's sometimes hard to start...no point in drawing down the battery with a high-current headlamp.
Popping it in the Kawasaki housing, exact same thing. It's fine as a running light; not so good as light to run by. It's adequate for up to about 35 mph but no faster. BUT it throws bright glare into oncoming drivers' vision.
So, my advice would be to stay away from the LED stuff for the time being - unless it's OEM and designed in.