HID Light upgrade

[1olbull]

I have yet to see any technical data on the Daymakers, I can't even find a lumen rating. The JW ones have 1200 (less than that effective). If the Daymakers have that too then they can't be all that different. If they have more, well, then they are.

My information that the Daymakers are stronger than the 8630 JW Speaker was from an email I sent to JW Speaker.
See attached regarding the 8630s which have 4 elements. The Daymaker 67700144 has 6 elements.
Hope this clears it up.

 

[Robm422]

I just ordered the following from amazon, cheap, hope it doesn't suck.
JDM ASTAR 4TH Generation All in one High-low Beam H4 9003 Cree XM-L2 LED Headlight, Xenon White(3000 lumen for each bulb)

 

[1olbull]

They may be a tad better than stock; however they are still 9000 series H4 lights and I'd expect little measurable improvement.

Had to Edit!
Didn't notice the Cree. If you bought the CREE 9003/HB2/H4 High Low Beam LED Headlight Conversion Kit - 2 pcs H4 LED Headlight Bulbs w/ 2 Installation Cables - 20W 2400LM Each - Daylight 6000K Waterproof IP-68 for Replacing Halogen & HID Bulbs for $119 these should be a distinct improvement! How much is unknown until we get started measuring.

 

[Ygransom]

H

I just ordered the following from amazon, cheap, hope it doesn't suck.
JDM ASTAR 4TH Generation All in one High-low Beam H4 9003 Cree XM-L2 LED Headlight, Xenon White(3000 lumen for each bulb)

The problem with most (maybe all) non-filament H4 replacement bulbs is location of light source. It has to be the right spot in relation to reflector or despite the amount of light bulb produces it is wasted.

And if it matters they are not street legal.

 

[Robm422]

I wonder why these aren't street legal? Will these work with the signal dynamics headlight modulator?

 

[cr0ft]

In order to be street legal the entire combo - reflector and bulb - has to be tested and certified to put the light where it's supposed to go. That's why all HID conversions and projector conversions are illegal even if by some miracle they wind up actually conforming to regulations (that are in place to make sure the other motorists don't get their retinas fried which is also what makes brights-on-at-all-times illegal.) And rarely, I believe, do such conversions conform to the regulations.

LED reflector inserts to replace the entire reflector does, since that unit is tested and certified to work right.

In a reflector where you change the bulb, where the light goes down the road is very sensitive to the position and composition of the light source. The light comes from the bulb and bounces off the reflector in a specific pattern to put the light in the right place in front of the bike. If the size, shape or position of the light source changes in the slightest, light will bounce way wrong and not where it's supposed to go, including into the eyes of the other motorists more often than not.

 

[Robm422]

Interesting, i just want to be more visible, not fry peoples retinas! Maybe I'll just return the led bulbs and save up for the daymakers...

 

[cr0ft]

Well, aside from staying legal, you'd also get hugely better light output. It's a shame Truck-lite doesn't make 5.75 inch options, we R3 Touring owners can buy a whole three-reflector set of one 7 inch LED and two 4.5 inch driving light LED's for under $400 total off eBay.

 

[Joesmoe]

In previous bikes, it depends on where I ride, and similar to the horsepower adage "there's no replacement for displacement", it's not nice to fool Mother Nature and while one can be clever with a given source of photons, there's no replacement for total photons thanks to (Mother Nature again, darn her) the R to the 4th rolloff in returned energy -- where I ride drives the requirement for photons.

In a practical sense, when riding around my large metro area I don't need more than stock, and more would have a much higher probability of irritating folks I can't afford to upset, particularly on the bike, and it's just not nice.

Get out in the country though, and different story. My last bike had a pair of 110W PIA lights, and driving through the back roads of Pennsylvania and Texas after dark, and it's really dark, and I need all the photons I can afford.

I used these lights routinely without problem for years. Then I had a hiatus in touring for a number of years, and never turned them on.

I'm not advocating anything or anything for anyone but me. Just throwing out this little bit of experience (and science).

 

[1olbull]

In order to be street legal the entire combo - reflector and bulb - has to be tested and certified to put the light where it's supposed to go. That's why all HID conversions and projector conversions are illegal even if by some miracle they wind up actually conforming to regulations (that are in place to make sure the other motorists don't get their retinas fried which is also what makes brights-on-at-all-times illegal.) And rarely, I believe, do such conversions conform to the regulations.

LED reflector inserts to replace the entire reflector does, since that unit is tested and certified to work right.

In a reflector where you change the bulb, where the light goes down the road is very sensitive to the position and composition of the light source. The light comes from the bulb and bounces off the reflector in a specific pattern to put the light in the right place in front of the bike. If the size, shape or position of the light source changes in the slightest, light will bounce way wrong and not where it's supposed to go, including into the eyes of the other motorists more often than not.

cr0ft is correct about this. I ordered and ran the Susquehahha MotorSports Low Beam Headlamps for a year or so prior to going with the LED Daymakers. They were a noticeable improvement, but not nearly as good as the LED. It is a cheaper way to go for some brighter lighting improvement. For comparison, I felt the difference was greater than that from the EB wiring kit. Even these are European spec and technically not legal in the US. I felt since they are only reflectors and NOT bulbs, twas a pretty safe risk.
If interested, here is my order info: BTW be SURE to order right hand drive and NOT left hand drive if you be in the US.
HL79564 5-3/4' Round ECE High/Low Beam Headlamp, No Bulb.
Susquehanna MotorSports
16994 Kutztown Rd.
Fleetwood, PA 19522
P 610-944-3233
F 610-944-3234
www.rallylights.com
wil@rallylights.com