Daymaker v. Reflector LED Headlamp
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
I recently put the truck lite phase 7 LED head light, I am impressed on my 2102 SG
Was on the fence with going w/ HID, LED just plug in and go[ no ballasts/drivers] to suddenly burn out and be left with no headlight at some point.
Was on the fence with going w/ HID, LED just plug in and go[ no ballasts/drivers] to suddenly burn out and be left with no headlight at some point.
Stage II
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
LED Daymaker Spotlight (Aux Lights ) PROBLEMS
I have an 06 FLHRI, I recently upgraded the headlight and aux lights to the LED Daymakers. Cost almost $1,000 for the upgrade and now having issues with the Aux lights (Spot lights) only.
It takes about 2 minutes for the lights to warm up and then they start to flicker on and off and seem to dim drastically with the rev of the throttle. They are fine at idle, then they flicker when the engine revs up. I thought I may have a short but I hooked up the old light and they didnt do it. I exchanged the "flickering" lights for new ones and they did it as well!
PLEASE if anyone has had this problem or recommendations please share! It's driving me crazy!
It takes about 2 minutes for the lights to warm up and then they start to flicker on and off and seem to dim drastically with the rev of the throttle. They are fine at idle, then they flicker when the engine revs up. I thought I may have a short but I hooked up the old light and they didnt do it. I exchanged the "flickering" lights for new ones and they did it as well!
PLEASE if anyone has had this problem or recommendations please share! It's driving me crazy!
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 153
From: Fayetteville, NC
My reflective DayMakers must be defective. I've had them 3 weeks are they are absolutely GREAT! I read all the bad things about the projective style and chose the reflective. I have buddies who tell me I don't have daymakers because they are unaware of the reflective style.
Anyway...my low beam is waaaaaay better than the stock high beam. I'm not crazy about the high beam, but I have it aligned to where it gives me a bright spot light straight down the center of the road. Having said that--if I took my hands off the bars and held my arms straight out to the side like an airplane-----the light illuminates from one arm all the way around to the other arm. (sorry for the bad illustration).
With trial and error in alignment, you can get the high beam to where it is useful, but be careful before raising it too high or you will even blind ppl with your low beam. Even with the 'not so great' high beam....money well spent. I think I paid like $300 and some change...the new reflectives are cheaper and supposed to fix the issues the projectives had.
Anyway...my low beam is waaaaaay better than the stock high beam. I'm not crazy about the high beam, but I have it aligned to where it gives me a bright spot light straight down the center of the road. Having said that--if I took my hands off the bars and held my arms straight out to the side like an airplane-----the light illuminates from one arm all the way around to the other arm. (sorry for the bad illustration).
With trial and error in alignment, you can get the high beam to where it is useful, but be careful before raising it too high or you will even blind ppl with your low beam. Even with the 'not so great' high beam....money well spent. I think I paid like $300 and some change...the new reflectives are cheaper and supposed to fix the issues the projectives had.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 259
Likes: 5
From: Tomball Texas
I have have the DayMakers on my 2013 SG main and passing, and I love them. Much better visibility from cages in the day. I have not done a lot of night driving, but what I have done worked great (all 3)
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 516
Likes: 30
From: SoCal/Show Low, Az
I have a 14 Limited CVO with the projector Daymakers. Straigh line lighting is fantastic but 45*-90* cornering leaves dark spots. With birthday gift certificates I just ordered the Reflector Daymakers. Should be here by the end of the week and I'll post my impressions of the diffferences.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 410
Likes: 2
From: New Orleans, LA
Phase 7 is the newest technology. I have Trucklite Phase 7 (they make HD version). I do not know what the difference is, but with a quick google I found this....
http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=82567.0
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...headlight.html
I like my Phase 7, the look is ok......I like the look of the reflector better. When I say look, I mean how the bulb itself looks. I dont do much riding at night, so I cant tell you for sure how much better the halogen vs led is, but I can say the road is easier to see with LEd. However, the times I was caught riding at night with a tinted shield i still found it very hard to see. But with my clear shield, I really liked the LED lights.
You will get mixed reviews, some people sware by halogen bulbs, other by LED and others by HID. It comes down to a persoal preference, pulling the trigger on one and seeing how you like it.
If it was me, I would go with the newer technology and get the Phase 7 or reflector version.
http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=82567.0
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...headlight.html
I like my Phase 7, the look is ok......I like the look of the reflector better. When I say look, I mean how the bulb itself looks. I dont do much riding at night, so I cant tell you for sure how much better the halogen vs led is, but I can say the road is easier to see with LEd. However, the times I was caught riding at night with a tinted shield i still found it very hard to see. But with my clear shield, I really liked the LED lights.
You will get mixed reviews, some people sware by halogen bulbs, other by LED and others by HID. It comes down to a persoal preference, pulling the trigger on one and seeing how you like it.
If it was me, I would go with the newer technology and get the Phase 7 or reflector version.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 612
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
Installed the hd reflector version a few months back and really haven't had a good chance to try it out until last Saturday night. Rode around 350 miles that day and 2 hrs of it was at night. Had the dual halogen (stock) prior to the reflector lamp.
The low beam on the reflector lamp is awesome, it has a very broad beam up close and still shoots out a good distance. The high beam is the other half of the lamp and it shoots a narrower beam further out. Being an sgs without extra lamps this is a great option.
The low beam on the reflector lamp is awesome, it has a very broad beam up close and still shoots out a good distance. The high beam is the other half of the lamp and it shoots a narrower beam further out. Being an sgs without extra lamps this is a great option.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 362
Likes: 8
From: Tennessee
I have a 14 Limited CVO with the projector Daymakers. Straigh line lighting is fantastic but 45*-90* cornering leaves dark spots. With birthday gift certificates I just ordered the Reflector Daymakers. Should be here by the end of the week and I'll post my impressions of the diffferences.
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
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 153
From: Fayetteville, NC
I hope you bought the reflector set to give us your opinion of which is best for cornering. Dealer was pointing me towards the Daymaker but he did not have much feedback on the reflector. Looking straight at the daymaker and reflector (Kuryakyn) at dealer. The reflector blinded me while the daymaker with passing lights did not. There is a big difference in the body of the Kuryakyn/plastic and reflector/big body alloy. They tried to hook up the reflector to the Kuryakyn display but it would not work. I personally like the look of the reflector vs. daymaker but want the safest led for all round function.
A buddy told me that HD projectors were brighter than HD reflectors because our riding partner's blinded you when looking into them. I took a allen wrench out of my bag, cranked "up" my reflector and he said..."D*&*" ....I explained to him that the reason why some pp's daymakers look brighter than others is due to how high they have them aligned. I don't have mine aligned high--I want the road lit up and I don't want to blind traffic...many of my buddies pull up and you can't even look at them as they are riding up because they have their lights aimed so high.
Phase 7 is the newest technology. I have Trucklite Phase 7 (they make HD version). I do not know what the difference is, but with a quick google I found this....
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 988
Likes: 1
From: Ashevegas
I did allot of research before going with the H-D Reflector LED. I think it's the best all-around LED available right now. It puts out a wide bright light that allows me to see great at night. I had originally considered HID but they are illegal in most states without the proper projector lens. Compared to the H-D Projector LED, which may be a little brighter straight out at night, the Reflector is MUCH more visible during daylight when I do most of my riding.
The Reflector is designed similarly to the Truck-Lite 7, but it fits and looks allot better IMO. The H-D Reflector is also easily viewed from an angle unlike either the H-D Projector or TL-7. I have noticed when going through TIGHT 90ş turns on really dark back roads at night, the light can dip for a couple seconds until you've straightened out. It has not been a big deal for me and I'm sure running LED Aux lights would completely solve this. Another thing I would add is to take your time and carefully adjust the LED per instructions or more than likely you'll be disappointed because they're aimed incorrectly.
The Reflector is designed similarly to the Truck-Lite 7, but it fits and looks allot better IMO. The H-D Reflector is also easily viewed from an angle unlike either the H-D Projector or TL-7. I have noticed when going through TIGHT 90ş turns on really dark back roads at night, the light can dip for a couple seconds until you've straightened out. It has not been a big deal for me and I'm sure running LED Aux lights would completely solve this. Another thing I would add is to take your time and carefully adjust the LED per instructions or more than likely you'll be disappointed because they're aimed incorrectly.
Last edited by rbferg; May 14, 2014 at 06:27 PM. Reason: edit