update on LED tail lights;question on headlights

[scottyintex]

Changed out the regular tail light on my R65 for a LED light............ does make a difference! I could stand there and compare the standard tail light in the sidecar to the LED light on the cycle................big difference in brightness.  Also dropped from 29 watts, brake light and running light, down to about 4.5 watts; made me rethink all my lights. I am going to redo the lighting on the sidecar.......move the turn signal out of the taillight where I had it,  back to a standard turn signal and replace the tail light with a LED.  That will make another drop in watts and easy the power need.  Chris, thanks for pointing out I am going to need a no load flasher on the LED turn signals.  My next question is what can I do to tweak the highlight? Is anyone out there running a Xenon bulb? Do they put out too much heat or does the heat shorten their life span? Any ideas out there?

[Bob_Roller]

I don't know what kind of wattage rating you're talking about, but if you stray too far from stock values, you may want to think about installing a relay directly wired to the battery, and use the 'stock ' wiring to activate the relay. I don't think the original wiring nor the switch is up to the task of a high wattage headlamp.

[Justin B.]

Wonder how much juice those HID conversions take...  Where in TX are you at?

[Mumford]

I recently put in a PIAA 'Super White' headlight bulb, and WOW. The bulb has the same power draw as OEM, but throws a Lot more light. PIAA claims 100+ watts apparent from the 55 watt draw, and I'm inclined to believe them. Heat doesn't seem to be an issue, but I've  only had a few rides since putting it in, so I'm not yet sure about durability. For what it's worth, I believe the HID conversions actually take less power than an OEM bulb, but it may or may not be possible to get them properly aimed in the housing.

[Chris_in_BC]

Wonder how much juice those HID conversions take...  Where in TX are you at?

When running HID take less juice than a stock headlight, something like 35 watts. BUT they take considerable juice to start up which is why they use an igniter (similar to fluorescents)

This site has some interesting products  - http://www.cqlight.ca/index.php
And 'yes' if you had a buddy you could buy the automobile kit and each use one headlight to save a few bucks. (I already asked   )

Chris

[Ed Miller]

They have a motorcycle kit:

http://www.cqlight.ca/product_info.php?cPath=31_65&products_id=113

Those are way better prices than I paid for the HID low beams for my CRX.  My R65 uses a 7" sealed headlight bulb in the Windjammer, so I can't convert it to HID.  

[Chris_in_BC]

They have a motorcycle kit:

http://www.cqlight.ca/product_info.php?cPath=31_65&products_id=113

Those are way better prices than I paid for the HID low beams for my CRX.  My R65 uses a 7� sealed headlight bulb in the Windjammer, so I can't convert it to HID.  

I knew about the motorcycle kit, just commented that the automobile kit is just the M/C kit x 2 so people could save some money buying with a friend.

If you want to spend the money, Ed, you can get Sealed Beam HID's too.. in 7"

http://www.brightheadlights-hid.com/Headlights-sealed-beams.htm

[Joan]

Nice pic, Scotty! Cool to see a side by side comparison in actual darkness!

(I do not need a sidecar, I do not need  sidecar, I do not need a sidecar....)

[Ed Miller]

I knew about the motorcycle kit, just commented that the automobile kit is just the M/C kit x 2 so people could save some money buying with a friend.

If you want to spend the money, Ed, you can get Sealed Beam HID's too.. in 7"

[/quote]

OH, saving money.  Yeah, but that would be smart!  

I think I better pay off my tranny repair before I spring $420 for one headlight.  

[Baffo]

Just bought me a H4-2 4300K kit from this seller, http://search.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_W0QQsassZturelyyoursQQhtZ-1, came from HongKong, manufacturer is Chinese, haven't tested it yet

[Chris_in_BC]

Just bought me a H4-2 4300K kit from this seller, http://search.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_W0QQsassZturelyyoursQQhtZ-1, came from HongKong, manufacturer is Chinese, haven't tested it yet

Can't say I could find the H4-2 4300K you mentioned in this vendors list. Are you getting the getting the double Xenon, ie both hi/lo beams?  Is that around $129 plus the $39 shipping?
What is the switching method in the light, some sort of mechanical movement or electrical?
So for that price you will get two, so you can convert 2 bikes?

Interesting how the prices are coming down so fast.

[Baffo]

Look inside the 79.99 ads there you can choose

H1/H3/H3C(short)/H4-2/H7/H8/H9/H10/H11/H13/9004-2/9005/9006/9007-2/880/D2S,D2R(D2C) 4300K/5000K/6000K/8000K/10000K/12000K All bulb size and color temperatures are available in our ebay store, This price is not for 3000k,H4-3, H4-4(Bi-xenon,dual beam)and other dual beam or in-out xenon at low price, please check in our ebay store.

And yes you get a car kit, so 2 of each. H4-2 is LO bulb xenon and HI bulb halo. The bi-xenon has a thicker foot and will not fit everywhere and has a mechanical movement, and I like having a spare halo bulb in there. Living in NL I paid 79,99+43,99 shipping, had it within a week of paypal payment.

[Justin B.]

Chris, I was wondering the same thing, about price.  I keep thinking of the old addage, "If it looks too good to be true..."

[scottyintex]

Hey Mumford.......when you put that PIAA super white in....it didn’t require any modifications right?       No ignitor, no rewiring just replacing the bulb and about twice the light......or at least more than the old bulb?  And do you happen to remember the number on that bulb?      Thanks Scotty

[Mumford]

The PIAA Star White (my mistake calling it Super White) was a straight H4 replacement, fit the socket and the harness plug without touching a thing, same rated draw as stock. The part# on it was 13913, check out http://piaa.com/Bulbs/Bulbs-H4.html for more info. . .Not my style to be a salesman, but this impressed me.