LED Headlight Question

[JimH]

I am looking to replace my OEM headlights with LED headlights. I see one (Lamonster) that does not have a cooling fan and others (Slingmod) that do have a cooling fan. Are cooling fans necessary - do you have to worry about the fan breaking and causing heat issues and possible damage? The reviews report significant improvements when using LED's so (my) safety is my prime concern. Thanks in advance.
Jim

 

[Steve W.]

Personally, I would install the ones without the fan. If the light runs hot enough to need one and doesn't have one, it will likely fail. If the light has enough of a heat sink to not need a fan, there is nothing to fail. :dontknow:

There are two popular options here, the ones from LaMonster (which I just installed) and the 360° ones from TricLED. I don't know which one might be "better", but I am somewhat impressed with LaMonster's.

I generally don't have much faith in conversions, like putting LED sources into housings designed for tungsten filaments, but these seem to work quite well.

.

 

[MONK]

I would use LaMonsters. Here's the big reason why. LEDs are supposed to have a smooth cutoff in the pattern otherwise you'll blind oncoming traffic. The OEM halogen lights have that cutoff as do the LaMonster LEDs. The 360* Slingmods LEDs have just that pattern, 360*. There is no/very little cutoff. I want to be able to see but I'm not willing to blind other traffic to do so.

 

[RICZ]

While on the subject.....Is there a way to be able to turn the headlights on (2017 F3L) WITHOUT the engine running? I want to do it in my garage, so do not want the motor on.

 

[bluewoo]

Lamonster! Never had a problem with them..........

 

[Steve W.]

While on the subject.....Is there a way to be able to turn the headlights on (2017 F3L) WITHOUT the engine running? I want to do it in my garage, so do not want the motor on.

Not that I know of. As I understand it, the computer has to see that the engine is running at least 800 RPM before it tells the lights to turn on.

.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I would use LaMonsters. Here's the big reason why. LEDs are supposed to have a smooth cutoff in the pattern otherwise you'll blind oncoming traffic. The OEM halogen lights have that cutoff as do the LaMonster LEDs. The 360* Slingmods LEDs have just that pattern, 360*. There is no/very little cutoff. I want to be able to see but I'm not willing to blind other traffic to do so.

The bulb has very little, if anything, to do with the shape of the beam. That is handled by the projector bowl and lens design and the shutter. In fact as I see it, a 360° LED will more closely emit the light pattern that an incandescent bulb emits, i.e., 360° around the centerline of the bulb. Of course, this comment applies only to LED bulbs that are designed to replace incandescent bulbs, not LED headlight bulbs that are a complete light assembly in themselves.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

While on the subject.....Is there a way to be able to turn the headlights on (2017 F3L) WITHOUT the engine running? I want to do it in my garage, so do not want the motor on.

You probably could add some wiring and a switch to activate the headlight relay directly from battery power. You'd have to study the wiring diagram to see how to do it.

 

[jiffy]

I would use the Lamonster Bulbs. They come with an allen wrench to properly align the bulb. Headlight Revolution has a Video on alignment and why.

 

[MNBK]

Another vote here for Lamonsters lights. We put them in both my wife's and my Spyders. Unbelievable change from the original lights. Much brighter than stock.

Just my opinion and yours may vary.

 

[RICZ]

You probably could add some wiring and a switch to activate the headlight relay directly from battery power. You'd have to study the wiring diagram to see how to do it.

I think I will take up brain surgery first, then understanding BRP's diagram will be easier.

 

[JayBros]

I think I will take up brain surgery first, then understanding BRP's diagram will be easier.

Isn't that the truth!

 

[RICZ]

OK, I got 'er done. Took the bike out in the dark of night and got the headlight adjusted to where I like them. TAKE NOTE: On the F3, Clockwise on the adjusting screw is DOWN.

 

[remus]

I am going to refer you to this recent post. It explains the why and how of LED lighting and which bulbs are best
https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?131236-The-Best-LED-headlight-information