New LED 12/24w bulb and headlamp

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Ansimp

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2013
Messages
9,855
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Location
Brisbane Australia
My Bike Models
1981 GL1100 “Rats Nest”
1998 GL1500c Val
1987 CBR1000f “The Pig”
1991 CBR1000f Red
The 35w HID that I installed in the Rats Nest had failed and I decided to go LED as the high beam in the HID was a mechanical refocusing of the bulb. I had been chasing a Hella H4 replacement headlight as I have used them over the years and they have the best light distribution of any aftermarket ones that I have used. Back in the day we used to be able to buy a twin light kit for around $100, unfortunately they are no longer available except as NOS and most ebay sellers are chasing around $100 for just one. I was lucky to pick one up off ebay for only $17 dollars as the box was water damaged and the headlight was a little oxidised around the mounting tabs. The 12/24w LED bulb has a driver that wasn’t happy being jammed behind the headlight bucket of my Windjammer. I decided to extend the wiring so that I could install the driver in the LH pocket of the fairing. I didn’t expect 10 wires but once I made the decision to move it I had to complete the wiring extension.
Low beam
High beam
Low beam showing the cut to the curb side
 
[url=https://classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=218360#p218360:k37v5vir said:
Ansimp » Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:59 am[/url]":k37v5vir]
While I was finishing up I noticed a strange “hose” hanging down, can anyone identify it for me.
Pretty sure that "hose" is a piece of white birch tree. :hihihi:
 
[url=https://classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=218362#p218362:258ffrki said:
mcgovern61 » Thu Jul 09, 2020 12:29 am[/url]":258ffrki]
[url=https://classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=218360#p218360:258ffrki said:
Ansimp » Wed Jul 08, 2020 8:59 am[/url]":258ffrki]
While I was finishing up I noticed a strange “hose” hanging down, can anyone identify it for me.
Pretty sure that "hose" is a piece of white birch tree. :hihihi:
It’s actually what we call black wattle but it did have me wondering when I saw the bottom hanging down from a distance :smilie_happy:
 
[url=https://www.classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=218387#p218387:2ctb1mdr said:
dan filipi » Fri Jul 10, 2020 3:10 am[/url]":2ctb1mdr]
Must be from the off road romping.....or maybe that's normal dredged driveway debris.
From the DD I believe but as I still haven’t ridden since our off road adventure I can’t be 100% sure :hihihi:
 
I seldom drive at night, but have considered an LED for the '79. I just wonder 1) is there one that can fit the driver/cooling fins in a standard GL1000 bucket? and 2) will there be enough air flow in that bucket for one?
 
[url=https://classicgoldwings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=218409#p218409:10k25ffh said:
pidjones » Fri Jul 10, 2020 10:43 am[/url]":10k25ffh]
I seldom drive at night, but have considered an LED for the '79. I just wonder 1) is there one that can fit the driver/cooling fins in a standard GL1000 bucket? and 2) will there be enough air flow in that bucket for one?

You don't want to much do ya...id say if they make one that fits ..and it gets installed ircwont last long ..and the wires in thete sheesh ....id say the wires would have to be gone and it might work then with proper ventilation..mu bike actually has two led bulb units ..it has a face but no bucket ..been doing well for about three yrs..
 
As long as the bulb itself can stand the temperature, I'm going to bet the bucket and wiring should be fine.

The LED may be 30W or so, the incandescent it replaces is a 55/60W bulb. Most of that is released as heat, therefore the LED produces far less heat than the bulb it replaces. As long as you don't wrap wires around the heatsink, and the heatsink doesn't touch any plastic, it should be fine.

I'm using an LED in the Vetter right now. Had to modify it slightly for clearance, but nothing has died yet. Most of the aftermarket H4 LED bulbs are probably designed to be in the engine bay anyways, which should be warmer than a headlight bucket.
 
Here is a pic with the same bulb installed in Val, so far all working well. Don’t know whether there is a major difference in bucket size between the Valkyrie and early headlight buckets. With the Vetter bucket the fan end of the LED seems like it is touching so we will see how it survives. Seeing as I now have 2 spare buckets I may in the future drill ourt the back so that the fan end clears better.
 
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