Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

[Ajay Krishna]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

Hello, I am planning to install auxiliary lights on my KTM Duke 200. So, I have heard that those lamps might affect the motorcycle battery and stator coil. So those of you who are using them, please suggest me the best solution and also best light for the KTM Duke.

Thanks in advance.

[arya809]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

I was quite satisfied with the LED H4 bulb in my Karizma ZMR but I got tempted while browsing aliexpress upon seeing the 3 color changing LED bulb. I bought this bulb by Stella, it has got 5 color modes for the low beam only (high beam is always cool white): cool white>3000k yellow>4300k slight yellow>flashing yellow and white>yellow and white strobe :

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-3-color-changing-led-headlight-bulb-fog-light-3000k-yellow-4300k-6000k-white-led-headlamp/32931530782.html

I had planned to remove my old (plain white) LED H4 bulb and put it in my brother's Unicorn 160. So I first opened Unicorn's headlight (which is a lot easier) then put this stella H4 bulb in it to try, it was working properly, slight flickering at idle rpms but it gets constant by raising the throttle a little say around 1700 rpms.

Then I opened up my ZMR's complete fairing to remove the the old plain white LED bulb. At this point I tried the new Stella LED bulb in the ZMR but it JUST DOESN'T WORK! Nothing happens with any combination of switches. It still works in unicorn but not in ZMR! One would think the LED bulb would not work in a dynamo/AC based headlight setup but it's just the opposite, it doesn't work in the full DC setup (ZMR)!?

I have kept it installed in the unicorn for now. It's not a problem as such, just that my first priority was to put it in the ZMR.

I am curious as hell, what could be the problem guys?

[vijaycool]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

The output is massive, cutoff is sharp and accurately parallel to ground. Job done is also very neat and professional. Please share the projector make, HID bulb type and ballast and price.


All the very best with your project.
btw, IMO, you should focus on BI-LED projectors. LED bulbs are not that good in reflector based headlights. I am using proper Bi-Xenon Hella G3 projector in my bike.

Its not HID its LED with 3 color options Golden yellow, warm yellow (halogen) and pure white

[Toshar Deven]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

New projector for my R15S. As of now one projector is firing, need to add wiring harness.

]

The output is massive, cutoff is sharp and accurately parallel to ground. Job done is also very neat and professional. Please share the projector make, HID bulb type and ballast and price.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

After spending a lot of time having to choose between spot beam LEDs to avoid blinding oncoming traffic and using wide beam LEDs that end up blinding others, I have started working on an LED light with a well defined cutoff line and lateral spread. I've already selected a CREE LED running at 10W and a DC-DC converter supply to handle 12-28V DC input. I hope to start selling it in India by mid-2019 with 5 years warranty. The only step that remains is to machine a heatsink+enclosure. If there is anyone here who has experience in designing and manufacturing aluminium enclosures for LED lights using a CNC or Lathe, I would be very obliged if you could lend me a hand. Here are a few pics of the prototype in testing showing the beam pattern:

Pic is rotated CCW, LED beam pattern is above and halogen beam is below with both lights at the same distance from the wall:

A closeup look showing the beam pattern's flat cutoff at the top:
]

I am an aeronautical engineer and have worked in a firm where we use to machine AL alloy to make aircraft parts. Hope you are familier with CAD softwares like CATIA or Solidworks. You need to make your own design for your LED bulb.
I advice you to study different two wheeler headlights, Dimension of H4, H7 socket where the bulb sits, gap between dust cap and bulb, exact longitudinal and lateral gap between bulb base and filaments, etc (use a digital vernier caliper, google, headlight from a bike, reference halogen bulb). Make multiple rough design using pencil on paper of your imagined design and then draw engineering drawing consisting bottom + top + side view.
Then find a mechanical B.tech student in your area (you will find dozens) who is good at designing software, invite him for a cofee and explain what you want by showing him your drawn designs.
It may take an hour or so for him to draw a 3-D body of the bulb, get that file and give credits to him ( this will help that student in his resume).
Once you are sure, Google some companies and put your quires that you want them to machine AL or Copper in such and such way. They will machine a sample product to you. Fit your LED chip inside that sample product using good thermal compound and DC fan, and check outputs. If everything seems okay then you can give orders to that company.
Prices for CNC products usually depends on time taken by machine and labor to machine that part. Product Size doesn't matter here. LOL
Design your warranty card, cardboard box, etc. Contact govt. for subsidy funds for Make in India project for small business.
DO a little marketing and Give reason to Indian people why they should buy your product instead of Aliexpress products. After some time, give employment to some engineers for further research on automotive lights, look further for BI-LED products, liquid radiator cooling for LED just like liquid cooling for CPU processors, make robust AC- DC converters to stabalize voltage for your LED chip, etc.

All the very best with your project.
btw, IMO, you should focus on BI-LED projectors. LED bulbs are not that good in reflector based headlights. I am using proper Bi-Xenon Hella G3 projector in my bike.

[vijaycool]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

New projector for my R15S. As of now one projector is firing, need to add wiring harness.

[Swami OH Gere]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

After spending a lot of time having to choose between spot beam LEDs to avoid blinding oncoming traffic and using wide beam LEDs that end up blinding others, I have started working on an LED light with a well defined cutoff line and lateral spread. I've already selected a CREE LED running at 10W and a DC-DC converter supply to handle 12-28V DC input. I hope to start selling it in India by mid-2019 with 5 years warranty. The only step that remains is to machine a heatsink+enclosure. If there is anyone here who has experience in designing and manufacturing aluminium enclosures for LED lights using a CNC or Lathe, I would be very obliged if you could lend me a hand. Here are a few pics of the prototype in testing showing the beam pattern:

Pic is rotated CCW, LED beam pattern is above and halogen beam is below with both lights at the same distance from the wall:



A closeup look showing the beam pattern's flat cutoff at the top:

[Siddhartha.S]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

Okay, to all the people who are thinking of buying an LED replacement bulb for the stock reflector, please be careful. Because the reflector is specially designed to accommodate a halogen bulb, which has a point source light getting emitted from the filament. So even if the source of light raises or lowers a teeny bit, the whole reflector reflects the light in totally different way. That is why even when you buy a LED bulb from a good company, the beam pattern is totally changed, and some places there'll be bright light and another place it'll be dull light. No uniform throw of light will be visible. That's why, some well designed LED bulbs have a single led on top on a wafer thin board, which tries to mimic the halogen filament. But unfortunately not all the bulbs are designed that way, and hence causes a non-uniform beam pattern. Which is of no use to anyone.
I'm no expert, but it would be wise to just invest in a good aux lights, rather than waste money on wrong led bulbs.


Ok, now my question is, are the autofy aux lights good? Have anybody used it? Please share your experiences. And please suggest a good budget aux lights, flood pattern preferable.
Thank you.

[swiftnfurious]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

Hello guys, am thinking of changing my CBR 250's headlight to something better (bulb). A Philips Extreme vision 60w is fine?? Also, does anyone know of a good shop in Chennai who deals with accessories and installation?

If not for this, I'd love to check on aux lamps.

[Bismaya]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

Hey guys, I would like to change my Splendor Pro's 35W bulb. I hate the fact that the light intensity is dependent on engine rpm. My brother's Honda Unicorn has a much better light and visibility. I've been advised time and again to install pilot lights on the leg guard for additional visibility but I would like my stock headlamp to work better. How long does the stock reflector last? Also, will it be advisable to install LED light bulb? Will it require any additional modification?

[utkarsh17]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

Hi All,

I have changed my headlight of gixxer sf with another halogen and it really did wonders compared to stock one.

There were 2 issues because of which headlight of gixxer sucks-

1) The position of reflector is not good and high beam points upwards and brighten up trees and second floors.

2) Stock halonix sucks.

Solution:
Ask you mechanic to tilt the reflector downwords and you'll see noticable difference with stock bulb too.

Second, no need to spend thousands for just a fraction of better light (illegal too if you are using LED's which blinds the oncoming traffic).
Just go with the "Osram Silverstar" halogen bulb, it's really good when it comes to halogens.

Note: You can also search for Osram Night breaker too but I believe it doesn't come in 35/35w or hs1.

Results in pictures after using Osram Silverstar.
I don't have pictures of stock bulb please compare with previously uploaded results of some other person.

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

Hi All,

I have changed my headlight of gixxer sf with another halogen and it really did wonders compared to stock one.

There were 2 issues because of which headlight of gixxer sucks-

1) The position of reflector is not good and high beam points upwards and brighten up trees and second floors.

2) Stock halonix sucks.

Solution:
Ask you mechanic to tilt the reflector downwords and you'll see noticable difference with stock bulb too.

Second, no need to spend thousands for just a fraction of better light (illegal too if you are using LED's which blinds the oncoming traffic).
Just go with the "Osram Silverstar" halogen bulb, it's really good when it comes to halogens.

Note: You can also search for Osram Night breaker too but I believe it doesn't come in 35/35w or hs1.

Results in pictures after using Osram Silverstar.
I don't have pictures of stock bulb please compare with previously uploaded results of some other person.

Posted images for the first time on this forum so no idea how they got in that position or how to rotate them. Just bear with it this time...

[faysal_khan]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

Hello guys. A little off topic question. As you all must be awared of that dominar has full LED lights... My question is the headlight never get hot nor the tail lamp. Why is it so? Because i have seen the after market LEDs comes with a motor/fan at the end with it and also gets pretty hot.

Than why dominar's light never get hot? Expert please enlighten me. Thank you.
And sorry for off topic question. But am curious.

[Tanzing Sherpa]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

Anyone got any idea with NightEye ultra white 4500 lumen led headlamp?

[tremonade]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

Philips xtreme vision, but any 60W bulb should do.

Oh alright, I thought you used an LED.

[Shashank K R]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

Which 60/55W bulb did you use?

Philips xtreme vision, but any 60W bulb should do.

[tremonade]

Re: Let there be Light : Bike Lighting, HID etc

Have you changed your bulbs?
I also own gixxer and need to change bulb. Please suggest if you have come up with any good alternatives to the stock one.

I got an LED from Amazon called AXT. Its very good in the dark, but sucks when you're driving on a highway.

On a carb non-AHO Gixxer, you can change to a 60/55W bulb, it improves the lighting. Visibility was quite good in foggy and dark conditions. In addition to this, you can change the pilot lamp and number plate illumination lamp to 1W LEDs.

I used it for almost 2 years with no damage to the battery or reflector.

There's no guarantee (or rather I have no experience) that it'll work properly on an AHO or FI Gixxer without affecting the battery negatively.

Which 60/55W bulb did you use?