H4 LED conversions

[Guest]

I looked around the nets and found these conversion kits for H4's. Has anyone tried any of them?

http://www.highperformancebulbs.com/h4-cree-led-bulb-headlight-bulb-super-bright-motorcycle-kit.html


http://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Harley-Yamaha-Suzuki-Headlight/dp/B00LMEQWMI


http://www.headwinds.com/mm5/mercha...winds01&Product_Code=8-9030-H4&Category_Code=


https://www.cyron.com/p-209-headlight-bulb-led-retrofit-kit-motorcycles-abh4k.aspx


http://www.xenondepot.com/H4-LED-motorcycle-headlight-kit-p/h4-led-mhl.htm

 

[tom203]

Did you see this recent thread?

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?230241-Any-updates-on-the-ADVmonster-H4-LED

 

[Steve]

I would suggest reading through the thread that tom203 presented.

Brian (bwringer) got one last fall, installed it on his bike and loved it. I got one this spring, put it in my bike, I hated it. The biggest difference is that I was installing it in a Hella rectangular housing, he was putting it in a stock (Stanley?) GS housing. I took it out of my Hella, put it in my son's bike (stock housing), it's much better, but still not what I would call "good".

I would definitely avoid the unit from Headwinds that you linked to. It has a cooling fan, which really would not work in the confines of a GS headlight bucket. And, if it is depending on the fan to keep it cool, what happens when the fan fails? It is also rather expensive ($100) for a bulb replacement.

If you are considering dropping that much money into a headlight replacement, consider a Truck-Lite 7" LED headlight. I just got the rectangular version for my bike (for a little more money) and I LOVE it. Let's just say it's about as good as the headlight(s) on my Wing. :encouragement:

We have the earlier "Phase 6" Truck-Lite bulbs on my wife's 850L and my son's 650L (both were already upgraded to 7" lights), this newer "Phase 7" bulb puts the earlier one to shame. If you are looking for LOTS of useable light output and are willing to spend some money to get it, Truck-Lite.

.

 

[Dogma]

Steve,

I had opportunity to talk to my brother about these phase 7 lamps again this weekend, and he told me something I thought I should check in with you on. With older Truck-Lite LED headlamps, power consumption wasn't significantly less than incandescent. He said the phase 7 lamps definitely were more efficient than incandescent. That means a series regulator will be even more necessary to prevent cooking stators, and anyone who had heard that the older lamps weren't much more efficient may not be taking appropriate steps to protect their charging systems.

From the Truck-Lite data sheets:
Low beam / High beam
4.3A / 5.1A #9007 HB5
1.8A / 3.6A Phase 7 LED

He also explained switch-mode power supplies to me, because that's what's driving the LEDs in the phase 7. That explanation took quite a while. Very clever devices.

The older LED lamps were not more efficient because the optics wasted a lot of photons. Remember, those were designed for DOD applications requiring a 24V capable lamp that would last more than a couple weeks on rough road conditions. Efficiency apparently wasn't a design criteria. Functional with bullet holes was a bonus.

 

[Slycox]

I would suggest reading through the thread that tom203 presented.

Brian (bwringer) got one last fall, installed it on his bike and loved it. I got one this spring, put it in my bike, I hated it. The biggest difference is that I was installing it in a Hella rectangular housing, he was putting it in a stock (Stanley?) GS housing. I took it out of my Hella, put it in my son's bike (stock housing), it's much better, but still not what I would call "good".

I would definitely avoid the unit from Headwinds that you linked to. It has a cooling fan, which really would not work in the confines of a GS headlight bucket. And, if it is depending on the fan to keep it cool, what happens when the fan fails? It is also rather expensive ($100) for a bulb replacement.

If you are considering dropping that much money into a headlight replacement, consider a Truck-Lite 7" LED headlight. I just got the rectangular version for my bike (for a little more money) and I LOVE it. Let's just say it's about as good as the headlight(s) on my Wing. :encouragement:

We have the earlier "Phase 6" Truck-Lite bulbs on my wife's 850L and my son's 650L (both were already upgraded to 7" lights), this newer "Phase 7" bulb puts the earlier one to shame. If you are looking for LOTS of useable light output and are willing to spend some money to get it, Truck-Lite.

.

I would love to see comparisons of these lights if you have the time. Upgrading my lighting is on my (long) list.

 

[posplayr]

I would love to see comparisons of these lights if you have the time. Upgrading my lighting is on my (long) list.

The comparison means little, the performance of the LED is largely dependent on the match to the reflector. YMMV

 

[Steve]

The comparison means little, the performance of the LED is largely dependent on the match to the reflector. YMMV

I think he is meaning a comparison of the Phase 6 and Phase 7 lights from Truck-Lite. :-k

If that is what you mean, Slycox, click HERE.

I can also get some pictures of the ADV Monster bulb to add to the comparison, if you wish.

.

 

[06-8-ball]

I just put the ADV monster bulb in my Round 1980 light on my gs1000e. It made a big difference and I like it over the stock bulb, keep in mind, my stock style bulb was old, I have no Idea how old, it was in the bike when I picked it up last September 2014 and the bike had been sitting for 5-8 years in a garage untouched.

 

[Slycox]

I think he is meaning a comparison of the Phase 6 and Phase 7 lights from Truck-Lite. :-k

If that is what you mean, Slycox, click HERE.

I can also get some pictures of the ADV Monster bulb to add to the comparison, if you wish.

.

I was thinking a comparison of the ADV and phase 7 but I think the Truck-Lite is the way to go

 

[Steve]

I was thinking a comparison of the ADV and phase 7 but I think the Truck-Lite is the way to go

I will try to get some pictures for you. All bikes involved are road-ready, so will take them to the park across the street to see how dark the parking lot gets.

.

 

[Steve]

OK, as threatened, I have some pictures of the different headlights. Sorry if any of you are still on dial-up, there are a LOT of pictures.

Background: There are FOUR lights shown here:
1. stock Stanley with H4 bulb,
2. H4 LED conversion from ADV Monster,
3. Truck-Lite Phase 6 light
4. Truck-Lite Phase 7 light

Each of these lights was photographed in three locations:
1. in my side yard, shining toward my new shop (about 75 feet)
2. in the park across the street, shining on a white-ish gravel roadway
3. inside my shop, shining on white walls

The lights are adjusted pretty close to the way they would be shining on the road.
Shining toward the shop, the upper edge of the low beam is just above the bottom edge of the door.
"Straight-ahead" is the two right-most panels on the door.

Stock H4 low beam
Decently-sharp "bow-tie" pattern

Stock H4 high beam
Note the abundance of darkness between the shop and the light. That's 75 feet of not seeing what's there.

ADV Monster low beam
Plenty of light in the immediate foreground, but barely reaches the shop.

ADV Monster high beam
A bit more light, but no real "pattern" to project light down the road

Truck-Lite Phase 6 low beam
Light could have been up a bit more. There is a bright spot that is hitting the ground just in front of the shop. That should have been on the lower edge of the door.

Truck-Lite Phase 6 high beam
Definitely a spot to light the way

Truck-Lite Phase 7 low beam
That spot shines down the right lane and on the white line and into the shoulder just a bit.

Truck-Lite Phase 7 high beam
It's like having a quality "pencil-beam" light shining ahead. Really great projection for maximum distance.

.

 

[Steve]

Moving to the gravel road in the park:
The road drops away a bit just past the large rocks, making it difficult for good comparisons

Stock H4 low beam
You can almost see the large rocks at the top of the beam

Stock H4 high beam
You can see the large rocks and tree trunks beyond

ADV Monster low beam
"what rocks?"

ADV Monster high beam
Still can't really see the rocks

Truck-Lite Phase 6 low beam
Yes, there is a rock on the right.

Truck-Lite Phase 6 high beam
Oh, there are some on the left, too.

Truck-Lite Phase 7 low beam
Doesn't look much different than the Phase 6, but that's mainly due to the road dropping out of sight.

Truck-Lite Phase 7 high beam
Again, not much difference

.

 

[Steve]

Now to move inside:

Stock H4 low beam
Note the 'notch' in the center of the beam, I call this the standard motorcycle "bow tie" pattern.

Stock H4 high beam
The bottom of the beam is basically at the same height as the top of the low beam, so there is not much light close-up.

ADV Monster low beam
Note the "blob" of light with no real pattern

ADV Monster high beam
The low-beam "blob" is still there, the high-beam blob is CONSIDERABLY higher, really does not help on the road at all

Truck-Lite Phase 6 low beam
Nice spread of light, with a definite bright spot a bit to the right of straight-ahead

Truck-Lite Phase 6 high beam
The same bright spot is still there, but has additional light above it

Truck-Lite Phase 7 low beam
The bright spot here is brighter and more sharply defined, and so is the cut-off at the top of the side 'wings'.

Truck-Lite Phase 7 high beam
The bright spot is still there, but a LOT of light has been added around it, meaning that most of it is directed where you are headed

.

 

[Steve]

And now for a parting shot. As I was parking my bike, I noticed this, which illustrates rather nicely what you are likely to see on the road. This is shining back, opposite of the first shots. Bike was in the shop, shining back toward where I took the first set of pictures. Distance to Mrs. Steve's car is close to 100 feet.

Truck-Lite Phase 7 low beam

Truck-Lite Phase 7 high beam.

Hope this answers any questions about the quality of the various lights.

If I didn't have so much "stuff" piled up behind the Wing in the garage, I would have tossed it into the mix, too, but this was mainly aimed at GS lights, so I chose to keep it somewhat "fair".

 

[Sandy]

So if the LED lights draw so much less current why not wire up the headlight circuit to leave the low beam on when you switch to high beam. That would fill in the area close in front. Probably easily done either with relays or a diode. Just a quick thought, you guys figure it out.

 

[Steve]

No need to "figure it out", Sandy, they already do that.

A couple pictures of the light in my bike will illustrate that nicely.
(This is the Truck-Lite Phase 7.)

Off:

Low beam:

High beam:

.

 

[Dogma]

Interesting comparison. I don't think the stock H4 in my 1000G was as good as the stock light you're testing. Granted that's a years' old memory of a subjective perception. Is that stock light on Brad's 1000G?

Too bad the optics don't work out better on that ADV Monster. As much light as that dumps on the foreground, it might be more useful off-road. Assuming the reflector behaves the same as this test.

 

[Slycox]

Thanks for the pictures, I was already pretty set on the truck-lite but this pretty much seals the deal when I am ready to install.

Also are you using the white lights in the turn signals for added visibility?

Thanks again for taking the time to do this!

 

[first timer]

I would suggest you give one of these a try in your stock lens setup. I believe the 80's+ GS's had lens assemblies with replaceable H4 bulbs.

http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.c...light-bulb-for-DirtbikesDual-Sports_p_97.html

I am running one in my CRF dirt bike and it was a 1000% improvement. Once I get back around to GS's I will being adding one on the bike.

 

[Steve]

Thanks for the pictures, I was already pretty set on the truck-lite but this pretty much seals the deal when I am ready to install.

Just be sure you are ready for the sticker shock. :-\\\

Also are you using the white lights in the turn signals for added visibility?

Yes, the visibility part helps, but they are my turn signals, too. :-k

They operate much like some of the newer cars, which helps bring this 35-year-old bike up to the modern age.

Normal running mode:

Turn the turn signal ON, one light goes OFF for a moment:

Then the turn signal flashes:

It continues the "yellow. OFF, yellow, OFF" pattern until the control unit stops it, then the white light comes back on.

Thanks again for taking the time to do this!

You are quite welcome. :encouragement:

It was a bit surprising how long it took to jockey three bikes around to three different locations, shoot all the pictures, upload them to Photobucket, insert the pictures in the thread and write the captions, but if it helps someone make an educated, informed purchase, it was worth it.

I would suggest you give one of these a try in your stock lens setup. I believe the 80's+ GS's had lens assemblies with replaceable H4 bulbs.

http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.c...light-bulb-for-DirtbikesDual-Sports_p_97.html

I am running one in my CRF dirt bike and it was a 1000% improvement. Once I get back around to GS's I will being adding one on the bike.

That is a slightly different version bulb than the one available from ADV Monster that I tested. That one might be a bit different, it might even actually work in your light, but the one from ADV Monster did not work so well for me. Brian Wringer (bwringer) installed one in his light and liked it, so I got one. It was absolutely HORRIBLE in the rectangular Hella light that I had in my AERO fairing on my 850, so I tried it in my son's 1000G. It was better, but the pictures above show that it's still a bit dismal, at best. Plenty bright, but no projection down the road.

Back to your Cyclops light, I would have some serious concerns about it being fan-cooled. In my headlight housings, there isn't much room for a fan, and even if there were, where would the cooling air come from? And where would the heated air go? Sorry, it just does not make sense to me.

.