Need a brighter headlight
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 203
Likes: 2
From: Boulder County, Colorado
People say the Osram/Sylvania bulbs are brighter and don't have the heat issues that halogens have.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,968
Likes: 54
You need to add the bulb and ballast. $32 for two of them on ebay. Or, you can get the harley LED bulb for $400. I almost forgot you need to enlarge the hole in teh back of the headlight for the connectors to fit through for the bulb as well. Where is Joe Knapp when I need him. He turned me on to this.
Last edited by Hogpro; Jan 30, 2013 at 05:09 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 602
Likes: 0
From: Durban South Africa
I have heard there is a white light LED bulb available that is fantastic without the heat build up.
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I have the HD LED "Daymaker" and like it. It is very bright, but it did cost over $400.
A buddy just did the HID kit on his Wide Glide and it is bright as hell. Both have value. Read the other posts on the subject and decide, but essentially, here is a summary. Both are far better than the stock lighting.
HD LED
HID
A third option is the Truck-Lite LED, but I don't know much about it. Apparently is is also very bright and may have a more favorable pattern compared to the HD light. It seems to need a replacement bucket or a, eyebrow shield due to the size. maybe someone can check in and describe this option better.
A buddy just did the HID kit on his Wide Glide and it is bright as hell. Both have value. Read the other posts on the subject and decide, but essentially, here is a summary. Both are far better than the stock lighting.
HD LED
- Very bright.
- Has a strange beam pattern that people either like or dislike. I got used to it quickly and don't regret the choice. others dislike the sharp contrast between the beam and the unlighted areas at the edge.
- Very little heat.
- Plug-n-play.
- $400+
HID
- Bright as hell.
- Less of a sharp pattern and more of a "shock and aw" spray of light. (not a criticism, just an observation. A lot of light is a good thing when the drunk guy coming at you is texting and eating a burrito while fondling the barfly he just picked up!)
- Some manageable heat.
- Minor mod to headlight bucket (enlarging the hole at the back.)
- Added wiring and stashing of the ballast.
- $35-$50 all-in.
A third option is the Truck-Lite LED, but I don't know much about it. Apparently is is also very bright and may have a more favorable pattern compared to the HD light. It seems to need a replacement bucket or a, eyebrow shield due to the size. maybe someone can check in and describe this option better.
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Former Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,968
Likes: 54
I just got more HID's and am going to put one in my softail and the other in my sporty. I will get some pics of the install this time so people can see how simplet he install is. In my softail I can put the ballast and such inside the 7" headlight bucket and run it off the existing relay that my passing lamps run on so that will be very simple. On the sporty I am not sure where I will put the ballast yet and if i will need a relay but I'll be doing this on Saturday.
Last edited by Hogpro; Jan 31, 2013 at 02:44 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 537
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Just added the HD LED daymaker, like it so far but need to do some night riding to know for sure + less current and heat and plug and play
FYI LSHD1 has them for $320 I think today is the last day of free shipping
FYI LSHD1 has them for $320 I think today is the last day of free shipping
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