Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Inexpensive H4 / 9003 / HB2 LED headlights ($32)

Cycle · 06-12-2015, 12:52 PM

I looked at that when I was converting my bike to all-LED, but found it wouldn't work.

First, the space behind the headlight housing was too shallow to fit the heat sink.

Second, I have a headlight modulator, and it'd burn out the LED driver.

So, I bought this one, instead:
Amazon.com: 2x High Low Beam H4 9003 HB2 720LM Xenon White 6000K XBD CREE 6-LED Headlight For Car: Automotive

It's a direct drop-in replacement for a standard H4 bulb. It's not as bright as my old Silverstar Ultra (which you could see flashing off the reflective signs two blocks away), but the higher color temperature matches the two position lamps to either side of the headlight (those are 5 watt Cree LEDs that throw their light through focusing lenses, so it's like the bike's got 3 headlights), the higher color temperature makes the bike more conspicuous (there's some research out there as to why 6000K seems so bright to human eyes, even when it's not as bright as lower color temperature bulbs... has something to do with the sensitivity to different colors of the rods and cones in our eyes), and it's bright enough that you can see far enough down the highway at night.

I like this LED bulb because it attempts to mimic an incandescent bulb. It places three LEDs facing backward, and they reflect off a round concave surface to mimic the light coming off a filament. The other three LEDs throw their light forward through a focusing lens.

So it throws a bright arc of light out about 50 feet ahead of the bike, then everything beyond that is flood-lit. There are no dark spots or light going into oncoming traffic's eyes.

06-12-2015, 12:52 PM	#47 (permalink)
Cycle EcoModding Lurker Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: California Posts: 92 Thanks: 10 Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts	I looked at that when I was converting my bike to all-LED, but found it wouldn't work. First, the space behind the headlight housing was too shallow to fit the heat sink. Second, I have a headlight modulator, and it'd burn out the LED driver. So, I bought this one, instead: Amazon.com: 2x High Low Beam H4 9003 HB2 720LM Xenon White 6000K XBD CREE 6-LED Headlight For Car: Automotive It's a direct drop-in replacement for a standard H4 bulb. It's not as bright as my old Silverstar Ultra (which you could see flashing off the reflective signs two blocks away), but the higher color temperature matches the two position lamps to either side of the headlight (those are 5 watt Cree LEDs that throw their light through focusing lenses, so it's like the bike's got 3 headlights), the higher color temperature makes the bike more conspicuous (there's some research out there as to why 6000K seems so bright to human eyes, even when it's not as bright as lower color temperature bulbs... has something to do with the sensitivity to different colors of the rods and cones in our eyes), and it's bright enough that you can see far enough down the highway at night. I like this LED bulb because it attempts to mimic an incandescent bulb. It places three LEDs facing backward, and they reflect off a round concave surface to mimic the light coming off a filament. The other three LEDs throw their light forward through a focusing lens. So it throws a bright arc of light out about 50 feet ahead of the bike, then everything beyond that is flood-lit. There are no dark spots or light going into oncoming traffic's eyes. Last edited by Cycle; 06-12-2015 at 01:04 PM..