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Jimustanguitar
Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2014 - 04:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I've seen a lot of discussion on this board about HID conversions, but I haven't seen anything about swapping the factory bulbs for LED. I've found some 5-700 lumen H8 LED bulbs, and was thinking about giving it a try. Any advice?
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Shawns
Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2014 - 07:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have used them at work in cars and plan to use them in my bike. The seem to work very well. Get a full kit, not just the bulbs.
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Reepicheep
Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2014 - 09:57 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I think there are two things holding them back right now...

The brightness is really close, but not quite there yet. So you need more than one emitter array, which complicates the second problem...

Even with HID's, they were cheating. You really need a custom reflector so all the light goes low and doesn't blind oncoming traffic or the car in front of you. The profile of a HID light emitter was pretty close to the profile of a bulb, so they could kind of get away with it (I run one) but you couldn't really add more light than a standard bulb.

LED's make it worse, You need a heat sink, and you have a flat face emitting light (instead of a bulb or capsule). So everything is different. And if you want to add light above stock levels, you definately need a projector setup. Heck, on my Saab, the projectors self level to make sure they always keep their cutoff line below the eyeballs of oncoming traffic.

So in short, like Jim says, we will need to replace the whole headlight assembly with emitter and projector lenses and also include an effective heatsink.

I'm keeping my eyes open looking for hacks, they are getting closer. The projector is the current hardest part.
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Figorvonbuellingham
Posted on Monday, January 20, 2014 - 11:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

maybe the leds from the rx will work with some help.
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Rogue_biker
Posted on Monday, January 20, 2014 - 03:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I honestly don't like the idea of having those tiny little electric fans behind the bulbs going and going all the time. Eventually something like that will fail.

For now I'm resigned to just upgrading my good old fashioned halogen bulbs. If I really NEED to upgrade my lighting I will just install auxiliary LED lights with their own housing and lenses.
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Figorvonbuellingham
Posted on Monday, January 20, 2014 - 05:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The lighting on my CR is the best I have ever seen. My S1000rr is dangerous to ride at night its light is so poor.
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Shawns
Posted on Monday, January 20, 2014 - 06:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I think the electric fans are not really needed. I Installed a set in a Corolla Friday and I let them sit for 1/2 an hr and they were not hot.
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Hughlysses
Posted on Monday, January 20, 2014 - 08:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Here are some interesting ones that will be available from a vendor at ADVrider:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94 8701
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