LED Headlight

chasesa · Jul 17, 2011

Is a LED headlight available for the Commando anywhere?

There has to be something better to replace the tepid headlight (and taillight) without necessarily going 3 phase.

I am on a safety roll. Just got a PIAA horn for the old folks.
Stephen

swooshdave · Jul 17, 2011

chasesa said:
Is a LED headlight available for the Commando anywhere?

There has to be something better to replace the tepid headlight (and taillight) without necessarily going 3 phase.

I am on a safety roll. Just got a PIAA horn for the old folks.
Stephen

Yes, there was a recent discussion about this. They are very expensive.

bluto · Jul 17, 2011

yep, very expensive as yet and negative ground only.....FWIW I picked up a Bosch H4 headlamp for $21 http://store.candlepower.com/fco7h4mohebd.html and a 45W H4 bulb as an alternative after deciding against LED lighting for now but then found that my stock system would keep the battery charged OK w/ a 55W bulb (though not all will from what I've read here)....then upgraded to one of the uber bright Sylvania 55W H4 bulbs that are short lived in some vehicles but is lasting OK given the low average voltage of the stock system....my headlight works great with this combination and total cost was under $50 vs. $300 + for a LED unit

chasesa · Jul 18, 2011

Would a relay located closer to the headlight and supplied with heavier gauge wire reduce power loss and enhance brightness??

bluto · Jul 18, 2011

chasesa said:
Would a relay located closer to the headlight and supplied with heavier gauge wire reduce power loss and enhance brightness??

probably as there is likely a substantial voltage drop between the battery and the bulb, there is a good page on how to wire relays at http://www.ebbo.org/headlamp_relays.php and high quality mini relays or entire kits are are available at http://easternbeaver.com/Main/main.html

bwolfie · Jul 18, 2011

I have an ebay special HID light kit with the cycle harness, About $75 each bike, the bulbs come in a pair. It is very bright, and draws less than 15 amps on startup and less than 1 running, according to my meter. The relay has a 15A fuse. I have this currently installed on my Yamaha, it works well. Nice and bright, the HI/Lo is mechanically moving the bulb in the reflector and amazingly works well. It was a bit of a trick hiding the relay and power supply, but worth it.

steveyacht · Jul 18, 2011

First thing I did when I put mine together in 1973 was buy a Ciebe head lamp assembly and an h4 55/100 watt bulb. After I crashed and broke that one I bought a Carello with another 55/100w bulb. Every bike I ever bought since I have at least changed the regular 45/55 watt h4 bulb to a 55/100..... what a difference.

You can get a Hella, Bosch, Carello or Ciebe pretty easily. Easy to install, bulbs available everywhere and no need to worry about positive or negative ground.

pelican · Jul 18, 2011

bluto said:
chasesa said:

Would a relay located closer to the headlight and supplied with heavier gauge wire reduce power loss and enhance brightness??

Click to expand...

probably as there is likely a substantial voltage drop between the battery and the bulb, there is a good page on how to wire relays at http://www.ebbo.org/headlamp_relays.php and high quality mini relays or entire kits are are available at http://easternbeaver.com/Main/main.html

....which I happen to have for sale on the for sale page

Powereng03 · Jul 18, 2011

steveyacht said:
First thing I did when I put mine together in 1973 was buy a Ciebe head lamp assembly and an h4 55/100 watt bulb. After I crashed and broke that one I bought a Carello with another 55/100w bulb. Every bike I ever bought since I have at least changed the regular 45/55 watt h4 bulb to a 55/100..... what a difference.

You can get a Hella, Bosch, Carello or Ciebe pretty easily. Easy to install, bulbs available everywhere and no need to worry about positive or negative ground.

Any links to the above items for us to look at??

steveyacht · Jul 20, 2011

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133205

http://rb-aa.bosch.com/boaa-uk/Product. ... lication=1

http://www.vintage-headlamp-restoration ... rello.html

http://www.dimebank.com/Light-up.html

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=cibie

http://www.hella.com/hella-com/483.html

steveyacht · Jul 21, 2011

this is a very interesting read that is cogent to this thread.

http://www.torque.net/~dastern/Photomet ... mparo.html

bluto · Jul 21, 2011

steveyacht said:
this is a very interesting read that is cogent to this thread.

http://www.torque.net/~dastern/Photomet ... mparo.html

that link is dead, but was able to find the info from it elsewhere via Google since it was widely referenced and Daniel Stern is widely regarded as a lighting expert....however AFAIK he was comparing automotive H4 units, not motorcycle. Some say you should definitely use a motorcycle H4 lens and reflector on a bike but I don't know how important that really is. FWIW the Bosch H4 unit I linked to earlier is a motorcycle unit and is a bargain at $21, is working great in my bike but have only compared it to the stock Lucas non H4 unit it replaced...

http://store.candlepower.com/fco7h4mohebd.html

LED Headlight

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