H4 headlight
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 874
Likes: 2
From: Southern Arizona
Save up and get a LED light. I got one for my '09 Street Glide. Super bright, in fact I saw a dead deer in my lane early one morning, just before sun-up. I would never have seen it in time with my old halogen headlight.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 299
Likes: 51
From: Northwest, Arkansas
There is absolutely a difference in bulbs. In my 01 Sportster I use a Wagner Britelite and In my 14 Road King I use Sunpie LEDs.
The Wagner product didn't use to have a blue tint but does now. It does nothing for light output and can negatively affect how you see. It is however a light tint so it might be ok.
Here is an article that talks about different bulbs.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...good/good.html
If it was me I'd get some kind of LED replacement for all 3 lamps and really have a modern set up. You may have to modify the bucket and or trim rings.
Barring that the Britelite would be worth a try.
I get em here.
https://www.brandsport.com/wagl-9003bl.html
I hope this helps
The Wagner product didn't use to have a blue tint but does now. It does nothing for light output and can negatively affect how you see. It is however a light tint so it might be ok.
Here is an article that talks about different bulbs.
http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...good/good.html
If it was me I'd get some kind of LED replacement for all 3 lamps and really have a modern set up. You may have to modify the bucket and or trim rings.
Barring that the Britelite would be worth a try.
I get em here.
https://www.brandsport.com/wagl-9003bl.html
I hope this helps
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 419
Likes: 60
From: Central IL
Beware of an LED bulb in a housing made for a halogen bulb. My limited experience with a couple that I have tried has been that it looks great in the daytime but light pattern at night is often inconsistent with hot spots and dim spots-not nearly as predictable as with a halogen bulb. Not real important if you rarely ride at night but something to be aware of. There are some youtube videos that test various led bulbs.
A purpose made led headlight would be a better option if you're thinking about switching to led.
A purpose made led headlight would be a better option if you're thinking about switching to led.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,081
Likes: 1,127
From:
My opinion:
If you have a factory stock Road King with passing lamps then just consider replacement with the same head light bulb.
The original bulb is reliable and lasts a long time.
It is visible in daylight and at night.
The original head light bulb will not have blind spots that make it look OFF to others when viewed at certain angles in DAYLIGHT as it sometimes happens with LED replacement bulbs.
The light color will also match your passing lamps.. having a blueish headlight and yellowish passing lamps looks weird to me.
Caution with using higher power bulbs as the plug at rear of lamp assembly can become over heated and melt causing a short.
If you have a factory set-up and require more light at night then consider the simple splice inside head light bucket that permits passing lamps to stay ON with high beam (very inexpensive fix).
Do clean the inside of head light bucket..It is easy and almost free to clean..If you are changing bulb then now would be a good time..Inside of bucket gets cloudy.
If you have a factory stock Road King with passing lamps then just consider replacement with the same head light bulb.
The original bulb is reliable and lasts a long time.
It is visible in daylight and at night.
The original head light bulb will not have blind spots that make it look OFF to others when viewed at certain angles in DAYLIGHT as it sometimes happens with LED replacement bulbs.
The light color will also match your passing lamps.. having a blueish headlight and yellowish passing lamps looks weird to me.
Caution with using higher power bulbs as the plug at rear of lamp assembly can become over heated and melt causing a short.
If you have a factory set-up and require more light at night then consider the simple splice inside head light bucket that permits passing lamps to stay ON with high beam (very inexpensive fix).
Do clean the inside of head light bucket..It is easy and almost free to clean..If you are changing bulb then now would be a good time..Inside of bucket gets cloudy.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 1,281
From: Ky
100 can melt the connector on the light.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 269
Likes: 59
From: Akron ohio
My opinion:
If you have a factory stock Road King with passing lamps then just consider replacement with the same head light bulb.
The original bulb is reliable and lasts a long time.
It is visible in daylight and at night.
The original head light bulb will not have blind spots that make it look OFF to others when viewed at certain angles in DAYLIGHT as it sometimes happens with LED replacement bulbs.
The light color will also match your passing lamps.. having a blueish headlight and yellowish passing lamps looks weird to me.
Caution with using higher power bulbs as the plug at rear of lamp assembly can become over heated and melt causing a short.
If you have a factory set-up and require more light at night then consider the simple splice inside head light bucket that permits passing lamps to stay ON with high beam (very inexpensive fix).
Do clean the inside of head light bucket..It is easy and almost free to clean..If you are changing bulb then now would be a good time..Inside of bucket gets cloudy.
If you have a factory stock Road King with passing lamps then just consider replacement with the same head light bulb.
The original bulb is reliable and lasts a long time.
It is visible in daylight and at night.
The original head light bulb will not have blind spots that make it look OFF to others when viewed at certain angles in DAYLIGHT as it sometimes happens with LED replacement bulbs.
The light color will also match your passing lamps.. having a blueish headlight and yellowish passing lamps looks weird to me.
Caution with using higher power bulbs as the plug at rear of lamp assembly can become over heated and melt causing a short.
If you have a factory set-up and require more light at night then consider the simple splice inside head light bucket that permits passing lamps to stay ON with high beam (very inexpensive fix).
Do clean the inside of head light bucket..It is easy and almost free to clean..If you are changing bulb then now would be a good time..Inside of bucket gets cloudy.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
If the lens and assembly is good and you just want to change the bulb, the OEM is fine. An LED replacement bulb don't always work well because they don't have the same light pattern as a regular bulb and don't reflect in the assembly and through the lens the same. The beam at the end won't be the same and is usually worse than the H4. You also have to be careful of the color. LED's are nice at night but the head light is on all the time to make you more visible to others during the day. Some have a similar color as daylight and can hardly be seen during the day.
Personally I go through a lenses like crazy. I commute in Houston traffic and my headlight has been taken out many times by rocks and road debris. I got tired of paying big bucks to replace the lens assembly and switched to an old school 7" round halogen headlight. Fits perfect. Can be found at any auto parts store for about $25 Plenty of light for me.
Personally I go through a lenses like crazy. I commute in Houston traffic and my headlight has been taken out many times by rocks and road debris. I got tired of paying big bucks to replace the lens assembly and switched to an old school 7" round halogen headlight. Fits perfect. Can be found at any auto parts store for about $25 Plenty of light for me.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jurob
Sportster Models
11
Apr 4, 2008 06:06 PM