Better Headlights By jaxrhapsody (Read 610 times)

[jaxrhapsody]

My 14 Quantum uses storefront sign bulbs called S2's light output is horrible, most of that I attest to the freeform reflector design. I almost considered HIDs, but I don't want to melt everything attatched to the handlebars, the led drls are brighter than the bulbs themselves. I have a few ideas:

-Using a shroud, can't remember what the type of headlight is called, but it has a shield iver the bulb, so that all the light is bounced back to the reflector for better usable lighting, and switching to the S2 halogen bulbs.

-Using halogen projectors, but I'm not sure how well the scoots with the halogen projectors put out light

-Thinking about trying to retrofit some leds for headlights, shrouded.

Can't for the life of me remember what those types of halogen housings are called, and it's really irratating me, the kind with the shroud over the bulb.

[Guitarman]

Halogens are HOT and LEDs are not. At least no where near Halogen heat.

[jaxrhapsody]

Sept 19, 2015 15:51:27 GMT -6 Guitarman said:

Halogens are HOT and LEDs are not. At least no where near Halogen heat.

Yeah, they are, but are they hotter than the regular S2's, and will they put out better light. Either way, to not have a lil blob of light just thrown about, to properly make use of the reflector, the bulbs need a front shroud if not a halogen projector. Both bulbs I believe are 35/35w.

www.amazon.com/Chinese-Scooter-Light-150cc-Jonway/dp/B008C8WDR0
These are what it came with...70s xmas lights

www.rockymountainatvmc.com/images/prod/275/s/sar_14_bul_s2_hal-35_35w-1446880001.jpg
These(random pic found) are the halogen replacements.

I would like to go LED, most of the led bulbs I've seen have horrible spread, that are for freeform housings. I'm not sure how well they work with a projector either, if I could go projector, I would need to make what wouod basically be a quad headlight system with two bulbs, where when highbeams are activated, another set of keds are turned on behind a differently shaped projector that gives a wider spanse of light.

But back on the halogen S2s, if I could rig up an on/off switch in line, because the drls are plenty bright themselves, even though I had thought about slightly brighter leds for those, I do no more than an hour of night riding anyway, and I was already thinking of running a relay conversion, and possibly a small capacitor, to keep the load off the switch, and to keep the light from dimming when rpms drop to idle.

static1.squarespace.com/static/533e0523e4b0fb7f79ff16da/5346d27ce4b0900bf649dd41/54f09e7ae4b0cf45047444b8/1425055359331/20150226_130906.jpg?format=500w
This is the bike I have.

[jct842]

I put an h4 led in my klx....100% better than stock h4. White light not yellow or blue tint. Bulb cost me around $55 and is not quite a perfect match for the reflector but I can live with it. It does have 2 distinct light patterns for high beam and low beam unlike the cheap chinese ones. on low beam is a little less power and it does have a pattern on each side on low beam and I have found out how to shield it so it is not objectionable.

In a few years all head lights will be LED and then the reflectors will be totally designed for them. They have been selling aircraft landing lights that are LED for about 5 years now and you better believe they are good and you might need a loan to buy a set. john

[jaxrhapsody]

Sept 19, 2015 19:05:01 GMT -6 jct842 said:

I put an h4 led in my klx....100% better than stock h4. White light not yellow or blue tint. Bulb cost me around $55 and is not quite a perfect match for the reflector but I can live with it. It does have 2 distinct light patterns for high beam and low beam unlike the cheap chinese ones. on low beam is a little less power and it does have a pattern on each side on low beam and I have found out how to shield it so it is not objectionable.

In a few years all head lights will be LED and then the reflectors will be totally designed for them. They have been selling aircraft landing lights that are LED for about 5 years now and you better believe they are good and you might need a loan to buy a set. john

yeah, I gotta figure something out.