LED vs Normal lighting.

[barbagris]

Do these act like normal projector lenses with a sharp cut-off line, in that if you are leaned over hard into a corner, you have no illumination in the corner?

Yes and no.

There is a very sharp cut off - But it's basically 4 different lenses in each unit - each designed to put light somewhere different. No cut off plate as in some projectors - It refracts all the light it can (except optical losses) out. So it's not as bad as a simple projector (like the Triumph fogs).

But yes there is room for improvement. I'm really fussy about lighting and Optics in general - always have been. I'd make my own adaptive arrays ( a bit like the new Audi lights) but they'd never get past the cops at road checks. If we had 7" lights - and in the US - I'd look at the Trucklite Gen2 lights. But 5&3/4" and e-marked limits MY options.

READ http://bogiesreviews.webs.com/Review - Phase 7 LED Headlights & Passing Lamps.pdf

Actually you'd probably get more light on the tarmac with 35w 5&3/4" sealed beams than a 5&3/4" with a 60/55W H4. The filament position is simply not deep enough into the parabola of the reflector.

But then again any GOOD normal reflector/refractor light has a sharp cutoff too these days. Here anyway.

They are fussy to set up. 1º makes a HUGE difference

All in all I'd rather use these at night than the Triumph lights, Wayne. In fact I was reluctant to use the original lights at night even with relays etc. Nasty dark patches at mid distance in front of the bike and masses of scatter. Worrying even on motorways. I can take my local alpine roads now at over the legal limit (which is 60mph) with no problems. I'd not go much above 85mph on them in bright sunlight. With the OEM's - 50mph tops.

 

[Pres10]

Chris sent me a link to a Harley PDF, the part number is 69623-99a I have ordered them thru a Harley dealer $41.95 each. Before I had the part number I had rung the dealer and the spare parts guy said he did not think they existed, had never heard of them.
Like Ponters I had gone down the better bulb road in fact I paid $165 for a set of IPF off road bulbs that were heaps brighter than std but they have caused the reflector material to blister

Hanso, are those trim rings needed to mount the LED lights?

John

 

[barbagris]

Hanso, are those trim rings needed to mount the LED lights?
John

John - There are basically 4 solutions.

1) The PONTERS SOLUTION - Move the brackets on the headlight shell to the outside and remove a bit of the light unit heat sink so it fits using the original clamp ring. Ponters painted his buckets black.
2) The JIM/MAINE SOLUTION - Move the brackets on the headlight shell to the outside. Use the Harley rings as is. I know Jim re chromed the shells and brackets.
3) The BARBAGRIS SOLUTION - Leave the triumph buckets alone and Cut/modify the Harley rings to accommodate the depth difference. I DO NOT LIKE MODIFYING STOCK PARTS - UNLESS I HAVE A SPARE.

Uncut


Fitting after cutting about 1/2" of the inner lip of the ring





That's a CEE BAILEY glass protector on there too.

4) And I looked at this but never got very far as nobody here keeps stock. Find a different set of Buckets that fit the R3 and accept the J.W.Speakers. Drag Specialities have some that SHOULD do the job well. But nobody had any to show me (it's Spain)

HEAD LT.5-3/4"CLR SMTH | Products | Drag Specialties®

The position of the mounting brackets retaliative to the centreline of the lights is key - or the buckets WILL hit the forks especially if you have the screen clamps on. They need to be towards the rear.

I did even consider upping to twin 7" lights - photoshop

 

[HansO]

just got home from Canberra picking up the Rims and The Package with the lights was there YeeeHaaaa

Also got a Michelin Commander II fitted up there and Wow It is even better that the Shinko's (Shinko gave much better feed back than the Cobra) were for good sure footed carving down the Mtn

 

[barbagris]

just got home from Canberra picking up the Rims and The Package with the lights was there YeeeHaaaa

Fun time

 

[Pres10]

Thanks Barbagris,

Am I correct in thinking that J.W. Speaker also makes the Harley LED headlights?
If so I wonder why they are so much cheaper?

John

 

[barbagris]

Thanks Barbagris,

Am I correct in thinking that J.W. Speaker also makes the Harley LED headlights?
If so I wonder why they are so much cheaper?

John

Yup The Harley lights are made by JW Speaker. They also have HARLEY DAVIDSON embossed in the front. My guess is HD gets a whopping discount for volume purchase. Some stuff has to be priced sensibly or it just wont sell. And in the USA - there is proper cheaper competition.

 

[Tripps]

I've been reading up on your links from the R3T thread. A $500 headlight bulb?

 

[barbagris]

A $500 headlight bulb?

Two actually! - I'm still thinking about J.W.Speaker Fog lights. They look a bit clumsy.

But - I'd rather spend the money on lights to see with than a lot of other stuff - like snazzy mirrors or custom paint or ...........

 

[Pres10]

It looks to me like these from Harley Davidson might be a more economical choice.

Daymaker LED Headlamp-67700145 | 883 Roadster | Official Harley-Davidson Online Store

$399.00 each.