Headlight

[Free to Ride]

After first night ride on my YVR 1300 87, found that the headlight not bright enough. any advise how to improve it will be appreciated. 

[saddlebum]

With my 1st Gen 89 MK2 I actually went back to a PIAA hi output Halogen bulb after trying three different LED's. Although the LED was brighter I found it lacked projection, proper focus and definition of road objects with 90% of the light cast being directly in front allowing for much less reaction time. It is my belief that the reflector and lens design is not well suited to the proper focusing of the LED bulb. On the other hand  if you can replace the entire headlight with a self contained LED sealed beam as you would be able too with the MK1 83-85 and other bikes that use a sealed beam or were the headlight can be replace with a complete sealed beam unit, it would be very effective since the LED  Lens and reflector are designed to work together.

PIAA extreme white halogen https://www.piaa.com/store/p/1003-H4-9003-Xtreme-White-Hybrid-Twin-Pack-Halogen-Bulbs.aspx

some examples of sealed beam LED headlights.

https://www.grote.com/white-light/forward-lighting/led-sealed-beam-headlights/

On the other hand recently some have tried the LED by super bright and have stated very satisfactory results. Here is the link

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/motorcycle-high-beam-and-low-beam-headlight-bulb/motorcycle-h4-led-fanless-headlight-conversion-kit-with-compact-heat-sink-2000-lumens/3930/8566/?make=105&model=3743&scc_id=1940&year=2009

 

 

Then others have gone to HID, but some have experienced issues such as stater overload or dropping out when you hit the starter, though the later can be overcome with a slight wiring modifications.

Edited August 17, 2021 by saddlebum

[BlueSky]

Here is a video link for a good explanation of possibilities.

 

[Patmac6075]

As was stated above, it’s all about the lens. You can install a 10x brighter bulb, but if the lens was designed for a dimmer bulb….the lens will still defuse the light in the pattern it was designed for….ie, 10x brighter right in front of you, it won’t reach out further than it was designed for. Not to mention….you’ll blind oncoming traffic as they approach you.