adaptive headlight warning

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Dec 27, 2018 | 09:56 AM

#11

FurryOne

Road Master

Joined: Jun 2013

Posts: 953

Likes: 127

From: Rome, NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by GalvTexGuy

That might work for a mechanical part, but here we're talking about getting the BCM setting correct, which requires a procedure using the turn signal and flash-to-pass button. If set incorrectly, the headlight could potentially lose power while leaning into a curve on a dark, moonless night. The outcome of this happening would probably not end well for the OP.

Let me put it this way - It's unlikely that the Adaptive headlight draws more power than the halogen headlights that Harley installs at the factory, and the difference in current draw over the LED headlights that come on some Harleys will be in the low percentages. The BCM should automatically learn and adjust to this small percentage, just like it does with the turn signals. That statement in the instructions is a "cover your ***" inclusion, and a court would not look too kindly on H-D if someone's headlight "lost power" because of the BCM. Do you think J.W.Speaker, who makes Harley's Adaptive headlight, wouldn't have included the same information in their own headlight's instructions if it was genuinely needed?

I've been running Speaker's Adaptive LED headlight since 2015 in my BCM equipped FXSB, and since 2017 in my BCM equipped FLHXS and never had to change any BCM settings. While my experience may be considered anecdotal to you, it's still my experience - YMMV!

Dec 27, 2018 | 11:45 AM

#12

dDavid

Tourer

Joined: Jul 2017

Posts: 413

Likes: 104

From: Detroit

Quote:

Originally Posted by FurryOne

Do you think J.W.Speaker, who makes Harley's Adaptive headlight, wouldn't have included the same information in their own headlight's instructions if it was genuinely needed?

Harly has a way of screwing up and complicating perfectly good products when they slap the SHIELD on them, for example, the Sena 20s not functioning properly while the H-D one will.

Dec 27, 2018 | 12:10 PM

#13

FurryOne

Road Master

Joined: Jun 2013

Posts: 953

Likes: 127

From: Rome, NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by dDavid

Harley has a way of screwing up and complicating perfectly good products when they slap the SHIELD on them, for example, the Sena 20s not functioning properly while the H-D one will.

That one is a case of Corporate greed. The WHiM and H-D branded 20S use the aptX Codec, while the Sena 20S uses the SBC Codec. Technically, the aptX Codec will fall back to fully support headsets containing the SBC Codec, but H-D uses the Bluetooth ID Protocol to query the headset, and if it doesn't reply with H-D, the WHiM intensionally cripples the audio stream. Buy an H-D headset or else!