Led Headlight and passing lights
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4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Led Headlight and passing lights
I have a 07 Ultra Classic and have been thinking of changing the head and passing lights to LED. The more I look into them the more confused I get. I've found bulbs that claim to be a bright as Harley's new OME daylights and I have found knock offs from $189.00 on up. then of course there is Harley's lights that cost about the same as my first born child. The bottom line is I'm looking for input and advise.
Thank you in advance
Thank you in advance
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
they don;t make it easy- or cheap.
my first stop on my 09 was a HD dual halogen headlight, this was much better than the stock headlight ( which was much better than the stock on the '95...)
I then upgraded my high beam with a piaa extreme H9 and altered the low beam to take a higher wattage H9 bulb in place of teh H11.
this gives pretty good light and it is well focused and directed.
there are LED "bulb" kits which can be used - they produce MUCH more light and use much less power- but the light is unfocused.
there is a thread here, where we decide who likes them, who doesn;t- with pics:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...headlight.html
then there are complete replacement leds- trucklite TL7 seems to be a favorite- pricing varies on the web so look around. wiring and mounting has been discussed as well- there are threads.
one thing with these is I ( me) don;t think the light spread is wide enough- for the rider through corners, or in traffic- I know that I see Motorcycle conventional headlights better in traffic at a side angle, and further away than I do LEDS.
I am back to halogens on my dual halogen light and after trying leds, glad for what i have.
Mike
my first stop on my 09 was a HD dual halogen headlight, this was much better than the stock headlight ( which was much better than the stock on the '95...)
I then upgraded my high beam with a piaa extreme H9 and altered the low beam to take a higher wattage H9 bulb in place of teh H11.
this gives pretty good light and it is well focused and directed.
there are LED "bulb" kits which can be used - they produce MUCH more light and use much less power- but the light is unfocused.
there is a thread here, where we decide who likes them, who doesn;t- with pics:
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...headlight.html
then there are complete replacement leds- trucklite TL7 seems to be a favorite- pricing varies on the web so look around. wiring and mounting has been discussed as well- there are threads.
one thing with these is I ( me) don;t think the light spread is wide enough- for the rider through corners, or in traffic- I know that I see Motorcycle conventional headlights better in traffic at a side angle, and further away than I do LEDS.
I am back to halogens on my dual halogen light and after trying leds, glad for what i have.
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Jan 10, 2016 at 11:18 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 125
Likes: 3
From: Claremont, NC
I traded an'08 RK Classic with all the lights for a'13 Street Glide. Installed the day maker headlight. Was great going straight, couldn't ask for more on a bike, but I hated it in curves. Imagine folding a paper plate in half then hold the plate with the flat side pointing up. Now tilt the plate as the bike will lean in curves and you will see there is no light projected where you want to look. I then bought and added led driving lights. They helped some but just made a wider flat light. Tried running them cross eyed and everything and never could correct it. This CVO I have now came with LED headlight and I have added the engine guard reflective LED lights Harley has come out with. I'm very happy with this setup. Just set the bar lights to run on hi and lo beam, you'll want it that way
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 190
Likes: 2
From: Magnolia, DE
Custom Dymanic has/is coming out with a new LED headlight. I has 5 LEDs (3 for low beam and 2 for hi beam). It expensive but equal to the Harley prices. Might want to look into it. I am waiting for some reviews and examples (photos) of what the beams look like.
Rick
Rick
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
I traded an'08 RK Classic with all the lights for a'13 Street Glide. Installed the day maker headlight. Was great going straight, couldn't ask for more on a bike, but I hated it in curves. Imagine folding a paper plate in half then hold the plate with the flat side pointing up. Now tilt the plate as the bike will lean in curves and you will see there is no light projected where you want to look. I then bought and added led driving lights. They helped some but just made a wider flat light. Tried running them cross eyed and everything and never could correct it. This CVO I have now came with LED headlight and I have added the engine guard reflective LED lights Harley has come out with. I'm very happy with this setup. Just set the bar lights to run on hi and lo beam, you'll want it that way
Last edited by grbrown; Jan 11, 2016 at 03:56 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 705
Likes: 18
From: Huber Heights,Oh
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 25,295
Likes: 2,429
From: Eastern NE
^^^I have the same on my 9 FLHX^^^
Awesome set-up and you can get both (HL + PL) cheaper than one HD DM HL.
Awesome set-up and you can get both (HL + PL) cheaper than one HD DM HL.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,456
Likes: 2,859
From: SW FL-Jersey Shore Emigre
For the CBR, I used Cree OPT7 LED bulbs in the existing headlight reflectore in the fairing housing, and the light was completely unfocused because the "point source" of the light was different in the LEDs vs. the stock H7 incandescents, and I had to dick around with the adjustments to get an acceptable pattern to match stock. I'm still not happy with it, but I almost never drive the CBR after dark, and the LEDs ARE scary bright, so at least I can be seen-the difference is remarkable.
Don't take my word for it! Look at bikes on the street and see which are more visible to you. LEDs are money well spent, and a lot less expensive than a hospital bill.
