Midnight Posted April 13, 2018 #1 Posted April 13, 2018 I'm upgrading to a new LED headlight bulb. Bulb fits fine but I am unable to get the rubber boot over the heatsink on the LED bulb. Has anyone else had similar issues when upgrading? Reviews on the vendors website indicate this bulb has been installed on a Venture successfully. Is the boot necessary or can it be left off? Suppose I could cut it to make it slip over. Picture attached showing new bulb in housing, old one removed, boot in hand. Any help or opinions would be appreciated. Thanks JR https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/motorcycle-high-beam-and-low-beam-headlight-bulb/motorcycle-led-headlight-conversion-kit-h4-led-headlight-bulb-conversion-kit-with-compact-heat-sink/3930/8566/#/tab/Reviews
snyper316 Posted April 13, 2018 #3 Posted April 13, 2018 I cut a slit in the one on the Rebel to allow for me to put rubber boot on...
Zzyzx Posted April 13, 2018 #4 Posted April 13, 2018 Will be changing mine out today but will leave the rubber off since the LEDs can get hot around the heat sinc. Don’t want to have to smell hot rubber while riding
leo3wheel Posted April 13, 2018 #6 Posted April 13, 2018 Since you are using a bulb with a fan, it is probably best to just forget about the boot. In my case, bulb had heat sink and was smaller. I cut a slit in boot and then caulked it when in position. Rode 38 days in 114* heat out West last summer with no smell of rubber.
Midnight Posted April 13, 2018 Author #7 Posted April 13, 2018 Thanks for all the input. Lots of us doing this upgrade so I appreciate the feedback. I look forward being able to have better lighting at night. Seems superbright in the daylight so hopefully cagers will see us coming too. There is no fan on this bulb. So melting the rubber maybe a concern. Don't want water getting in there either. I will contact the company and check what they have to say and update the post with pics. JR
Flyinfool Posted April 13, 2018 #8 Posted April 13, 2018 If you cover the heatsink, where will the heat go? In order to work a heatsink needs good airflow to be able to get rid of the heat. Think of a heatsink like a bathroom sink, you can keep putting water (heat) in as long as the drain (airflow to take the heat away from the sink) is open to let it out , if the drain is closed (airflow cut off) the sink will get full, if you keep putting in more water (heat) the sink will overflow (overheat). When an LED over heats it life span will shorten.
Midnight Posted April 13, 2018 Author #9 Posted April 13, 2018 Agreed Jeff. Dont want to compromise the heatsink in any way. I just had a chat with the Superbright LED rep who really had no opinion. They say the heatsink will get to 100 F. So its a personal choice. I think I will try to modify the boot so it covers the bulb where it goes in the housing but does not comprimise the heatsink. Dont want water in the headlight housing. Time will tell.
wrscomncents Posted April 13, 2018 #10 Posted April 13, 2018 Midnight Could you reply back on what you think of this LED after you use it at night. I was thinking of switching out my headlight with a new full LED headlight but I like the cost of this better if it's a big improvement. Thanks
Pic Posted April 13, 2018 #11 Posted April 13, 2018 You will need to adjust your headlight once it's mounted on the bike. Mine was pointing much higher
bongobobny Posted April 14, 2018 #13 Posted April 14, 2018 The boot is there just to keep moisture and dust out! As long as you can MacGuyver something to accomplish this life is good! As FF mentioned, keep the heat sink free to do it's thing...
wrscomncents Posted April 17, 2018 #14 Posted April 17, 2018 Does anybody have any experience with different lighting such as the LED shown in this post compared to a new full LED headlight such as the one I linked to here. I'm thinking of changing mine out and would like to get some feedback from others who may have used different systems and their opinion on them. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks https://www.ebay.com/itm/162680341358?_trksid=p2380057.m570.l5999&_trkparms=gh1g%3DI162680341358.N36.S1.R2.TR3
cecdoo Posted April 17, 2018 #15 Posted April 17, 2018 Does anybody have any experience with different lighting such as the LED shown in this post compared to a new full LED headlight such as the one I linked to here. I'm thinking of changing mine out and would like to get some feedback from others who may have used different systems and their opinion on them. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks https://www.ebay.com/itm/162680341358?_trksid=p2380057.m570.l5999&_trkparms=gh1g%3DI162680341358.N36.S1.R2.TR3 Looks interesting, hopefully someone will have some exp. with this type replacement. Craig
videoarizona Posted April 17, 2018 #16 Posted April 17, 2018 (edited) Search. It looks like the same mounting the Daymaker might use. For the RSV, that would require some changes to the original mount in addition to buying another inside mount to attach to our bucket. It is doable as others have mounted the Daymaker type LED. Found one link... http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?120273-New-LED-passing-lamp-and-headlamp Edited April 17, 2018 by videoarizona add link
Flyinfool Posted April 18, 2018 #17 Posted April 18, 2018 A headlight designed to be LED will almost always way out perform stuffing a LED bulb into a Halogen housing. There are very few cases of stuffing a LED bulb in a halogen housing that will still have a proper beam pattern.
Sylvester Posted April 18, 2018 #18 Posted April 18, 2018 A headlight designed to be LED will almost always way out perform stuffing a LED bulb into a Halogen housing. There are very few cases of stuffing a LED bulb in a halogen housing that will still have a proper beam pattern. You are 100% correct Mr. Fool. I put a fan cooled one in my Venture and after all adjusting is done the low beam is OK but the high beam is just for squirrel hunting.
leo3wheel Posted April 18, 2018 #19 Posted April 18, 2018 Would be interesting to see pics of the low and high beam patterns for various LED headlight installations.
wrscomncents Posted April 23, 2018 #20 Posted April 23, 2018 A headlight designed to be LED will almost always way out perform stuffing a LED bulb into a Halogen housing. There are very few cases of stuffing a LED bulb in a halogen housing that will still have a proper beam pattern. Flyinfool I was thinking along those lines. Just curious if you have used one of the designed LED headlights? If so what your thoughts are?
wrscomncents Posted April 23, 2018 #21 Posted April 23, 2018 Search. It looks like the same mounting the Daymaker might use. For the RSV, that would require some changes to the original mount in addition to buying another inside mount to attach to our bucket. It is doable as others have mounted the Daymaker type LED. Found one link... http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?120273-New-LED-passing-lamp-and-headlamp Thanks for the link.
Flyinfool Posted April 23, 2018 #22 Posted April 23, 2018 Flyinfool I was thinking along those lines. Just curious if you have used one of the designed LED headlights? If so what your thoughts are? I have not owned a LED specific head light YET. But I have been around some that were. The lights designed to be LED are really great.
Statussymbol Posted April 24, 2018 #23 Posted April 24, 2018 Would be interesting to see pics of the low and high beam patterns for various LED headlight installations. http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?131924-Nighttime-road-shots-with-new-LED-bulb this is mine I cant find the thread where I mention the make of bulb, but most if not all the time I ride with just the low on. High beam is just too tunneled.
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