I "upgraded" my 2005 Softail Springer's headlight to an LED bulb a while ago. I dig the "whiter" light, but I'm thinking of going back to an H4 that is rated higher than the OEM unit. I'll add a relay, fuse, and all the trappings that one would suggest in a thread such as this. That's not why I'm here.

The reason for this thread is to share what I'm thinking. Perhaps there may be a solution I've not considered or a cool alternative I've not yet seen. But, here we go:

The facts:
1. My high-beam indicator (blue light on dash) is burned out.
2. My LED "upgrade" is also burning out (not high quality)
3. I thought the black Crossbones headlight might look pretty cool on my bike.
4. I had considered adding a blue, high-beam indicator to the top of the X-bones light (instead of buying the $150 H-D replacement for my dash).
5. I've got the turn signals wired into my current amber passing lights. They are wired with a relay so they are lit constantly, and then the necessary side flashes when I hit the turn signal for that side. only needed one wire, just like the OEM spots.
Here's a link to a thread I did here explaining why, and what I did: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/elect...n-signals.html

So, I got looking around, and instead of buying an X-bones headlight (which are ALL black), I could get this headlight and matching spots that are black and chrome. The headlight also has a blue high-beam indicator already! Cool!

Headlight - 5 3/4-inch, H4 bulb, w/blue HB indicator in top.

4 1/2-inch spots, w/sealed beam bulbs.

I'm thinking the black and chrome would compliment the black springer with a few shiny bits. And, I'd get the HB indicator back, ditch the dimming LED for a higher-wattage bulb, and have a way cool addition to my "vintage-vibe" bike. Perhaps, for less than I'd need to shell out for just the X-bones headlight assembly that would need to be modified for what I'd want. Again, relays are my friends, so there will be LESS current through the switches than the OEM setup since the headlight switch will only throw the relay.

Thoughts? Maybe something cool and different for a change? Am I nuts?

I'm not looking for validation, or permission to do anything. Just including you in with the voices I'm hearing in my head. Thought maybe it might be fun.

 

As a 2005 Softail owner who has tried numerous headlight "upgrades", including LED bulbs, cheap chinese LED headlights, and even a high wattage Hella H4 halogen bulb (80W low beam/100W high beam, which melted the headlight plug ), over the years, let me save you some time and expense. Buy a JW Speaker Adaptive II LED headlight. It's brighter on low beam than the high beam of the high wattage bulb, and the light pattern is correct, so you actually have usable light, and can see the road at night. Plus, the adaptive feature is a game changer on dark curvy roads. It's not cheap, but it is SO worth the cost, and should be the last headlight you ever buy. It will fit in your stock headlight shell (I actually run a Springer shell on Reaper ), as well as a Crossbones shell.

Cheers!

 

He's not wrong...

 

Buy once cry once. Get a top quality like JW speaker or Custom Dynamics and never look back

 

+1 on JW Speaker or Custom Dynamics.

 

Well,



Time to re-think this. I'm all for more light. And, TBH, the current LED isn't spittin' out the sunshine like I'd expected. I've had bikes follow me with some of these new headlights and they are bright! No issues for seein' better, that's for sure. Cost, is what it is.

My ONLY beef with these is the look of the bulb. Wanting to keep with that vintage vibe and trying to figure out if chrome or black would hide the multiple LEDs better? And, staying with my chrome housing might help as well? Looking at every angle now.

And, then I'd need to replace the OEM HB indicator in the dash. I know, first-world problems.

I just need to take a step back, reassess the situation, and build another bridge. LoL.... Thanks for the input. I'm open to any other suggestions (or +1s for the Custom Dynamics or JW Speaker) as I noodle this out in my head. I want to do this once (properly), so it clicks all the boxes in the form and function rows. Thanks again!

 

I had the same concern regarding the look, and went with the black in the chrome housing. This is what it looks like from a few angles:






Here are a couple of examples of the lighting itself. First one is low beam, second one is high beam:





Cheers!

 

You Sumbitches need more light for night driving. Period. Tabarnak.

 

Wow! Thanks for taking the time to post those. Black doesn't stand out too much, and I'm diggin' the result.

I'm with @Notgrownup, I DO need more light at night. Too many critters down here!
I'll be noodling on some solutions for a bit. Figuring out how to get the best of both worlds. And, to be clear, these lights do "shift" the light pattern when you lean around turns? Definitely more than what my half-worn-out LED bulb, or even any H4 will do...

Thanks again!

 

The one I have has a row of extra LEDs which light up on the side I lean into (this is the "adaptive" feature, and it works on both low and high beam), and it makes a HUGE difference. Also, I find the darker it is, the better the lighting, if that makes sense. For sure it's the brightest, most useful, headlight I've ever had. Before I got it, I always felt like "I need more light". Not anymore. This thing lights up the world, and because it's a projector, it doesn't blind oncoming traffic, as long as you aim it correctly (high beam WILL, mind you).

cheers!