ADVmonster H4 R3 LED Headlight

[olekzap_imp]

Just installed this LED headlight. It was a little tough to fit it in the headlight bucket with the heatsink and the external driver but I managed to get it in there. First impression is wow, much brighter and more intense white light, even more so than my high end bicycle LED headlight.

There is still a sharp cutoff as was with the old bulb, although this seems to shoot light up higher on low beam. I moved it behind a car in my garage and it didn't seem to go much higher than the back window so I think it will be ok and not blind others. Other reviews have said it was too low and needed to be adjusted so I'll have to see on my ride in to work tomorrow morning. Luckily most of my ride is in the city with plenty of ambient light so even if the adjustment is off it won't be dangerous. I should add that although it looks blinding in these photos, it's really not. The garage is fairly dark so the phone's exposure was long.

Flash to pass still does work FYI, I saw on a forum someone mentioned it didn't on their Yamaha.

Let me know if there are any questions; I'd be happy to answer. (photos in link below)

https://imgur.com/a/hLsL8

 

[Jim21680_imp]

Cool! Glad to see it worked out. I'm still thrilled with mine, the R2 version, but this R3 is a completely different design. From the looks of it, I'm guessing you didn't have to modify the retention spring like I had to, which is a huge benefit. That little modification wasn't the easiest thing to do, and although I wasn't too worried about messing up at the time...I should've been; replacements are hard to come by. The flexible heat-sink definitely has it's advantages over the bulky segmented design of the R2.

Were you able to use the rubber dust cap? I couldn't, but it doesn't seem to be necessary anyway...these things are apparently 100% dust and water proof. No problems so far.

I also noticed the R3's high-beam LED is on the bottom, whereas both of mine are on top. It'll interesting to see how that works in the weeks to come.
Anyway, I hope you have great luck with it...keep us posted.

 

[olekzap_imp]

Cool! Glad to see it worked out. I'm still thrilled with mine, the R2 version, but this R3 is a completely different design. From the looks of it, I'm guessing you didn't have to modify the retention spring like I had to, which is a huge benefit. That little modification wasn't the easiest thing to do, and although I wasn't too worried about messing up at the time...I should've been; replacements are hard to come by. The flexible heat-sink definitely has it's advantages over the bulky segmented design of the R2.

Were you able to use the rubber dust cap? I couldn't, but it doesn't seem to be necessary anyway...these things are apparently 100% dust and water proof. No problems so far.

I also noticed the R3's high-beam LED is on the bottom, whereas both of mine are on top. It'll interesting to see how that works in the weeks to come.
Anyway, I hope you have great luck with it...keep us posted.

Correct, no modification of the spring required. It was literally plug and play. I could revert to a standard H4 bulb in 5 minutes if needed (I will still keep a spare one under the seat until I know the reliability of the LED).

To be honest, I completely forgot to try and install the dust cap. I know the unit itself is waterproof but it would be nice to have on there just because I commute to work daily rain or shine. This being Seattle, it's rain most of the year. When I have some time I'll probably pop it back open and try and fit it on.

I think the reasoning behind putting the LEDs on opposite sides is to more closely mimmic a standard bulb. The top LED is low beam which coincides with the low beam filament on a standard bulb with the little dish beneath it. The high beam on the bottom goes along with the lack of the dish beneath the filament on a standard bulb.

I'll update tomorrow after my commute in the dark and let you guys know how it worked. Taking some allen wrenches to work with me in case I really need to adjust angle at all.

 

[olekzap_imp]

Preliminary update: this thing is awesome. Everything lights up. Reflectors in the street are like lights themselves. Reflectors on vehicles make them more visible. Street signs glow. Low beam is definitely an improvement over stock but holy cuss the high beam is crazy. I think I do need to adjust it down a little because I could see a lot of light above me although nobody flashed their high beams at me. I'll update again after I make some adjustments this weekend.

 

[the Ferret]

Cool.. Its nice when you can light up the night. Back in the 70s we were putting 80/100 H4 bulbs in our bikes. Years later we found out they were illegal ( then why did they make them?) and that technically our bikes shouldn't have been able to handle them. I don't know... We just did it and they worked. But high beam would set dry leaves in the tress on fire lol

 

[Bob Sdaman_imp]

Well I'm sorry to say, mine is still in the box (thanks to an unusually hectic week at work), but I'm excited to hear this works well.
This job will definitely be done as soon as I get home today!

I was a bit uneasy about the aforementioned spring modification, yet from the looks of it, I was almost certain no changes would be needed. That's a relief.

Haven't had the pleasure of taking the bucket apart yet, but you say the external driver fit without a major issue. I'm sure my fingers will figure something out.
In other posts related to the subject, I've noticed a few people have mentioned rotating their buckets up slightly, but you're thinking of going the other way? That's interesting, I guess every bike is different. Well all, let's hope for good weather this weekend, I need me some riding time. Some very well-it riding time.

 

[olekzap_imp]

Well I'm sorry to say, mine is still in the box (thanks to an unusually hectic week at work), but I'm excited to hear this works well.
This job will definitely be done as soon as I get home today!

I was a bit uneasy about the aforementioned spring modification, yet from the looks of it, I was almost certain no changes would be needed. That's a relief.

Haven't had the pleasure of taking the bucket apart yet, but you say the external driver fit without a major issue. I'm sure my fingers will figure something out.
In other posts related to the subject, I've noticed a few people have mentioned rotating their buckets up slightly, but you're thinking of going the other way? That's interesting, I guess every bike is different. Well all, let's hope for good weather this weekend, I need me some riding time. Some very well-it riding time.

I bought my CB used so the previous owner could have adjusted the headlight, not really sure. All I know is that with the conventional bulb it was adjusted perfectly. It could honestly just be that the LED throws so much more light in general that it's making me think it's angled too high. I'll have to mess with it aimed at a wall. I had a friend stand across the parking lot today with it on and it wasn't blinding, but it is definitely brighter. He also mentioned that it makes the retro looking CB look a lot more modern, which I like.

 

[the Ferret]

Aiming at a wall is practically useless. Ok for a car, but not for a motorcycle. Take the allen, ride out to a straight flat road in the dark, stop in your lane, and adjust your bucket for high beam.

 

[kmoney_imp]

Aiming at a wall is practically useless. Ok for a car, but not for a motorcycle. Take the allen, ride out to a straight flat road in the dark, stop in your lane, and adjust your bucket for high beam.

Yup. This is the only way I've ever managed to get it right.

 

[jedd_imp]

Preliminary update: this thing is awesome. Everything lights up. Reflectors in the street are like lights themselves. Reflectors on vehicles make them more visible. Street signs glow. Low beam is definitely an improvement over stock but holy cuss the high beam is crazy. I think I do need to adjust it down a little because I could see a lot of light above me although nobody flashed their high beams at me. I'll update again after I make some adjustments this weekend.

Readjusting won't get rid of all that unwanted uplight.

Preliminary update: this thing is awesome. Everything lights up. Reflectors in the street are like lights themselves. Reflectors on vehicles make them more visible. Street signs glow. Low beam is definitely an improvement over stock but holy cuss the high beam is crazy. I think I do need to adjust it down a little because I could see a lot of light above me although nobody flashed their high beams at me. I'll update again after I make some adjustments this weekend.

That little dish that's absent from the LED lamp.... wanna guess what that cryptic looking thing does?

 

[olekzap_imp]

Aiming at a wall is practically useless. Ok for a car, but not for a motorcycle. Take the allen, ride out to a straight flat road in the dark, stop in your lane, and adjust your bucket for high beam.

I hardly ever use high beam because I'm always riding in the city with ambient light. It's more important for me to have the low beam adjusted it's best. Mostly use the high beam to make people get out of the passing lane lol.

 

[the Ferret]

That makes sense. A lot of us ride out in the country with deer and other critters and no ambient light (no light poles out in the country and homes well back off the road). Being able to see clearly 100 yards down the road is important when you are running 45-55 mph in the dark, hence the high beam use.

 

[olekzap_imp]

Here's a picture of the cutoff at a wall after adjustment.

https://imgur.com/y1xy5Qs

 

[Bob Sdaman_imp]

Glad to report that my fingers have thawed out enough to type this, and I think I'll be reading the grip heater thread shortly hereafter.

For now, I'll go ahead and confirm that this new H4 is a pretty good product. I'm astonished, actually. The light is so much brighter than the stock bulb, that I don't think I could ever go back to the normal H4 again. As others have done, I'll wrap this up and tuck it somewhere under the seat for backup, but if these things have anywhere near the expected lifespan as advertised, I don't foresee the need to ever replace it. It really is neat to see how much light reflects back from stop signs and speed limit posts, etc. It's incredible that so much light can come from that little tiny diode, no larger than the O on our keyboards.

I was looking at the stock H4 lamp, and I'm beginning to see why they designed this new R3 so differently from the others. As with the stock, most common H4s have the low beam placed directly above the aforementioned reflector cup, which would seem to direct the light upwards into the bucket. For the high beam, the filament is below, which is just where they moved to secondary LED. This seems to mimic an incandescent bulb as much as possible, with the only difference being a much brighter, whiter light. It really is a phenomenal difference.

I'm a bit surprised that others have recommended to go out to an empty road and adjust for the "high" beam. I would think this would be a better time to adjust for the "low" beam, as that's what seems to matters most. Once the regular beam is adjusted properly, who cares how high the secondary beam shines; the higher and further-ahead, the better it would seem. My main concern on the low beam is to extend every courtesy to other, oncoming drivers. If the directed beam is shining no higher than the bottom of their necks, I think the low beam is adjusted quite properly. I'm still fiddling with it a bit, but I think I have it just about right, and it still gives me about 50 feet of well-lit area beyond my front wheel. I'm not sure what the previous owner did, if anything, but I've actually had to rotate the bucket oh-so-slightly upwards to achieve this.

I'll likely report again as time goes on, but for now, I am one happy, rosy-cheeked cold customer.

 

[the Ferret]

Bob, see post 12 for an explanation of why some of us adjust to high beam. Out where I live there is very little oncoming traffic, if there is you hit low beam until they pass, but as soon as you can get back on high beam so you can see.

Low beam is only used in town where there is plenty of ambient light to see by. I don't have much use for low beam. High beam is the beam I need and I need it to be adjusted the best it can be.

 

[Elipten_imp]

Can the LED utilize a headlight modulator?


2014 CB1100 DLX
2013 CB1100 Std
1990 BMW K75 RT

 

[kmoney_imp]

It's good to adjust the high-beam if you ever ride out of town or on the highway with few streetlamps. If the beam is too high you will find that you light up signs, but the light won't illuminate the cat eyes, lines, or really any of the road ahead. You need the beam to reach far ahead as possible , but still have to make sure it "looks down" on the road.

 

[Olyrider]

Cool! Glad to see it worked out. I'm still thrilled with mine, the R2 version, but this R3 is a completely different design. From the looks of it, I'm guessing you didn't have to modify the retention spring like I had to, which is a huge benefit. That little modification wasn't the easiest thing to do, and although I wasn't too worried about messing up at the time...I should've been; replacements are hard to come by. The flexible heat-sink definitely has it's advantages over the bulky segmented design of the R2.

Were you able to use the rubber dust cap? I couldn't, but it doesn't seem to be necessary anyway...these things are apparently 100% dust and water proof. No problems so far.

I also noticed the R3's high-beam LED is on the bottom, whereas both of mine are on top. It'll interesting to see how that works in the weeks to come.
Anyway, I hope you have great luck with it...keep us posted.

I'm confused. I don't see an R4 version on the ADVmonster website, and their literature seems to indicate the R3 is the latest.

 

[Randy B]

Cool! Glad to see it worked out. I'm still thrilled with mine, the R2 version, but this R3 is a completely different design. From the looks of it, I'm guessing you didn't have to modify the retention spring like I had to, which is a huge benefit. That little modification wasn't the easiest thing to do, and although I wasn't too worried about messing up at the time...I should've been; replacements are hard to come by. The flexible heat-sink definitely has it's advantages over the bulky segmented design of the R2.

Were you able to use the rubber dust cap? I couldn't, but it doesn't seem to be necessary anyway...these things are apparently 100% dust and water proof. No problems so far.

I also noticed the R3's high-beam LED is on the bottom, whereas both of mine are on top. It'll interesting to see how that works in the weeks to come.
Anyway, I hope you have great luck with it...keep us posted.

I'm confused. I don't see an R4 version on the ADVmonster website, and their literature seems to indicate the R3 is the latest.

I'm confused. I don't see an R4 version on the ADVmonster website, and their literature seems to indicate the R3 is the latest.
I think you are correct on this. I checked out the website and the R3 is what matches his pictures and description.

My major concern would be that mesh heat sink melting the wiring inside the bucket.
Also in their description is says that both LED's are illuminated for high beam operation. I would find that a bit odd because as far as I know the high and low beams are on different circuits.

 

[treytexag_imp]

Good question Elipten, I too have a modulator on my headlight - I LOVE it BTW. It really get's peoples attention - I see it everytime I ride.

But I like the sounds of this new H4, so I too am curious if it will work with our modulators . . . .

Can the LED utilize a headlight modulator?


2014 CB1100 DLX
2013 CB1100 Std
1990 BMW K75 RT