The new LED headlamp
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
OK, time for a mini review...
Even during the day, everyone who saw them commented on how bright they are. They are impressive. If you don't want to see how bad the road you are on looks at night, these are not for you... Where the light falls, it is like daylight. That 'where the light falls' part is important, though. The stock headlamp on the FLHR does a great job getting light to a huge area, even if it isn't as bright as the LED headlamp. The LED headlamp gets a little better spread than the HID unit, but it is pretty directional. The high beam is an impressive spear of light, getting out a long way ahead of you. The sides of the road are not lit as well as the stock reflector does it, though. The low beam (with the passing lamps on, I always have them on...) on the LED gets great coverage side to side as well as out front, with incredible brightness. No car, truck, van or semi I was near on the highway tonight (or rural highway after that) had anywhere near the coverage or brightness I did.
My conclusion so far; the low beam on the LED wins over stock hands down. Better, brighter coverage of the same area. The high beam part I'm reserving judgement on until I get used to it a little (I've gotten very used to the stock Road King headlamps as this has been my model of choice since 1994). It isn't that the side of the road doesn't get lit, it just doesn't get lit as widely with the LED high beam. Overall, I am feeling this was a good upgrade at this point.
Even during the day, everyone who saw them commented on how bright they are. They are impressive. If you don't want to see how bad the road you are on looks at night, these are not for you... Where the light falls, it is like daylight. That 'where the light falls' part is important, though. The stock headlamp on the FLHR does a great job getting light to a huge area, even if it isn't as bright as the LED headlamp. The LED headlamp gets a little better spread than the HID unit, but it is pretty directional. The high beam is an impressive spear of light, getting out a long way ahead of you. The sides of the road are not lit as well as the stock reflector does it, though. The low beam (with the passing lamps on, I always have them on...) on the LED gets great coverage side to side as well as out front, with incredible brightness. No car, truck, van or semi I was near on the highway tonight (or rural highway after that) had anywhere near the coverage or brightness I did.
My conclusion so far; the low beam on the LED wins over stock hands down. Better, brighter coverage of the same area. The high beam part I'm reserving judgement on until I get used to it a little (I've gotten very used to the stock Road King headlamps as this has been my model of choice since 1994). It isn't that the side of the road doesn't get lit, it just doesn't get lit as widely with the LED high beam. Overall, I am feeling this was a good upgrade at this point.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Glass LED headlight lens vs. Plastic LED headlight lens
Keep in mind that the Kuryakyn (TruckLite) has a lot of years of technology, and off-road use by the military and construction vehicles. What is the history and trackrecord behind the specific lens supplied to Harley?
For purposes of full disclosure, I am not a vendor for Kuryakyn, Harley or anyone else. I've just owned Harley's, BMW's, MV Agusta's and other bikes over the years and I too am interested in who makes the best LED headlight and LED Spots for my 2009 Ultra Classic. This is just my opinion and I hope it gives everyone several additional things to consider before spending their hard earned moola. Other opinions are welcomed and, in fact, encouraged.
Ken
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 277
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From: Central Ohio
Another reason for going with the plastic lens is that you won't have to replace it if you are unfortunate enough to catch a random rock from the truck in front of you. In that case, the Harley glass lens has no chance of surviving and you'll be forking over another 6 bills. The military grade optical lens of the Kuryakyn headlight (make by TruckLite) will take the lickin' and keep on trucking.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Central Ohio
Full again. I got distracted with a starter problem (last couple days of warranty, and got the chrome high torque starter inexpensively out of the deal, though) and didn't think to take photos. The video on the HD site gives an accurate view on the lighting from these, though. I don't know why they are calling the passing lamps fog lamps (and changed it from passing lamps to auxiliary lamps in the description) in the video, though. They added it as an option next to zoom under the picture here:
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
The video shows it better than I could at the moment. I am actually coming to like this headlight more the longer I have had it, though. More than a month in, with over an hour on the road (interstate highway, rural highway and back roads, about 75 miles) each night, I still have yet to find another vehicle of any type that has anywhere near the quantity or quality of light I do now. It really is like I have portable daylight in front of my bike now... I have been very vocal (well, written a lot on here...) about how great these headlamps (and the passing lamps) are.
I still am waiting for someone with the other one to be willing to do a side-by-side comparison...
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
The video shows it better than I could at the moment. I am actually coming to like this headlight more the longer I have had it, though. More than a month in, with over an hour on the road (interstate highway, rural highway and back roads, about 75 miles) each night, I still have yet to find another vehicle of any type that has anywhere near the quantity or quality of light I do now. It really is like I have portable daylight in front of my bike now... I have been very vocal (well, written a lot on here...) about how great these headlamps (and the passing lamps) are.
I still am waiting for someone with the other one to be willing to do a side-by-side comparison...
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
Hate to break the news to you, but that plastic lens wouldn't survive much of a tap without the polycarbonate coating. You can apply polycarbonate coating to glass, too... See where this is going? The J.W. Speaker Model 8700 (what the HD headlight is) is also in military use. Sorry, the cheaper light does not have an advantage in toughness. Until there is a side-by-side comparison, we won't know which has the light output advantage, but from the LED lights in cars and trucks that look like the Trucklite one that I have ridden by, my money is on the HD/Speaker unit.
CD/Kury/Truck Lite must feel pretty good about that plastic lens (with a polycarbonate coating) to offer a 3 year warranty on it. Likewise, I feel pretty good behind my non-glass windshield too. Edited to add: I'd be happy to do a comparison test between the Harley unit and the Custom Dynamics. Cheat Lake, WV is about midway between where I live and central Ohio.
Last edited by '05Train; Oct 22, 2010 at 08:47 AM.