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Motorcycle drivers are about 27 times more likely to die in a crash than passenger car occupants, making it perfectly clear that safety is absolutely crucial in terms of riding a street bike. While there are many significant details that go into staying safe on a bike - speed limits, helmets, turn signals, etc. - quality LED headlights can play a major role during nighttime riding.
Buying the best LED light for motorcycles can help increase visibility not only for you but for other drivers on the road who may not see you otherwise. Take a look at some of the details you should pay attention to when purchasing your LED lights.
Most motorcycles you buy from a dealership or a shop come with stock headlights, which are typically halogen, HID, or even incandescent lights. These lights certainly have their advantages, but LED lights have skyrocketed in popularity as of late.
Halogen headlights are one of the most popular types of lights for motorcycles because they are durable and low-cost, making them rarely yet easily replaceable. The downside to these lights is that they produce a lot of heat. Additionally, they tend to collect moisture easily, which negatively affects the light's performance.
High-Intensity Discharge, or HID, lights are used often because they are brighter than halogen lights and produce a very small amount of heat, making them safe to use and handle. However, the Xenon bulbs in these lights take up a lot of power, they cost a lot more, and their lights tend to be blinding to other drivers.
LED lights are the newest of the bunch to hit the headlight scene. LEDs use diodes to produce light, and they are highly energy-efficient and have a long lifespan. While they do generate a lot of heat like the halogen lights, many of them come with heat control systems. LEDs are brighter than halogens, yet more expensive, but they use directional lighting rather than diffused lighting, making them more effective.
Though LED lights are good options for your motorcycle, not all of them are the same. When considering the best LED light for motorcycles, you have to consider a few things.
First, many LED lights have four or five main beams. However, some lights will also have halo rings with a DRL function. And, each LED beam will have its own customer projector lens.
Some styles of LED lights will utilize a split beam design. This kind of light gives you just two LEDs, but the overall appearance of the light is very old-school. So, if you're into that style, you can have the functionality of the LED with the look of a classic motorcycle headlight.
It's also good to look for a headlight that uses multiple rows of lower power LEDs. The reason for this is to protect you from a lamp outage. Should a few of your LEDs go out, you still have several to back you up and provide you with plenty of light on the road.
Like with all auto parts and accessories, you will have to make sure that the LED light you choose for your motorcycle is compatible. Keep in mind, though, that most modern bikes use H4 connectors.
However, some models may have an H13 connection or something entirely different. Make sure you know yours so you can avoid wasting time and money on something that won't work.
During the installation process, it's crucial that you not only attach your light correctly but that you adjust the aim of it. Different patterns of LED lights might require different placement.
When you purchase an LED headlight kit, many systems will come with more than just the headlight. For example, you can find quality kits that include fog lights or turn signals. Depending on how frequently you ride and how much time you spend on dark roads at night, these might be some additions to consider.
This is the traditional and simplest form of motorcycle headlight that has been used since the beginning of motorcycles. It uses a tungsten filament bulb that mounts in the center. Then surrounding the bulb is a reflective material. The idea is to reflect the light produced towards the road in front of your bike. More modern versions of this style of light are better at concentrating the light into a centralized beam to better light the road.
These headlights are the most cost-effective and will give your motorcycle a retro feel. The reflective material tends to be shiny and quite noticeable on the front of your bike.
This style of headlight is modern and a bit high-tech. You could consider them an improvement on the traditional reflector. The housing is much smaller, thanks to a compact design. There’s no need for a large reflective housing. Instead, there’s a magnifying lens in the middle of the headlight. This lens will focus and project the light down the road in front of you.
You’ll find that this style of headlight is more expensive than reflective headlamps. They also come in a wider range of sizes and designs. This enables you to create a more customized look for your motorcycle.
The newest addition to the motorcycle headlight lineup are LED versions. These are considered the most modern and energy-efficient option. LEDs can be quite small, which means this style of headlight can also be the most compact of the three headlight styles.
LEDs give you complete freedom in the level of brightness and temperature of light. They also last longer than other bulb options and consume less power.
The downside of LEDs is that they aren’t repairable. When your LED headlight reaches the end of its life, you’ll need to replace it. While this can be expensive, it will rarely happen thanks to an incredibly long useful life.
You have a few different bulb options when buying a headlight for your motorcycle. A common and standard bulb style is halogen. They have a filament and come in separate or combined low and high beam lights.
Another option is HID bulbs. These are brighter and can produce a whiter light than the traditional halogen bulb. Their downside is that they are sensitive and can go bad easily. Just touching them with your bare hands can cause them to malfunction.
A third option is LED. These are a modern bulb and tend to be the most expensive. They are also the most durable and have the longest useful life.
Before you buy any headlight, you need to confirm that it will work on your bike. You can confirm this by checking with the manufacturer of the headlight. You can also look at your current headlight setup and confirm that it has the same setup as your future headlight.
The easiest solution is to buy one that’s compatible with a plug-and-play option. If you’re a bit more experienced with working on bikes, then you can venture beyond plug-and-play and change the setup for your headlight. This could require you to use a conversion wiring harness or other hardware.
Your motorcycle headlight is going to get exposed to the elements. This means it needs to have a fully-sealed and solid construction. That way, you don’t have to worry about water getting in the headlight and causing it to malfunction.
You should also look for one that’s solidly built. This will prevent vibration or road bounce from knocking the bulb, wiring, or headlight housing loose.
Another point to consider is that some headlights have a sealed construction. This means that the headlight housing and bulb are an all-in-one construction. If the bulb goes bad, you’ll have to replace the whole housing, not just the bulb.
The number one thing to look for before buying any motorcycle light is the amount of brightness it outputs.
Checking the brightness of a give bulb is as simple as checking the number of lumens it outputs when set to high beam. The more the number of lumens, the more powerful a light is.
While still at it, you’d also want to check the color temperature of the produced light as it affects how the light looks like. This is usually denoted in Kelvin (K).
Ideally, you want to get a headlight that produces light that looks white as daylight for increased visibility and safety on the road.
Another crucial aspect to consider when buying a motorcycle headlight is wither it’ll fit in your motorcycle.
Manufacturers usually state a list of compatible motorbike that can work with their headlights. But we also encourage you to actually measure your Headlight to ensure it’ll fit perfectly.
As you might have noticed our led motorcycle headlight review list above, most models measure around 7-inches which is the diameter of most motorcycle headlights.
You’ll also want to ensure that you invest in an easy to install headlamp.
We suggest that you look for models that come with plug n’ play design as they’re much easier and faster to install than other modes.
BUT…you should make sure the Headlight you purchase is compatible with your vehicle to ensure a hassle-free installation process.
There’s no set period for replacing motorcycle headlights. Each light comes with its own lifespan, after which you should replace it with a new one to continue enjoying excellent visibility on the roads.
Most models have a lifespan ranging rom 30000-80,000.
However, keep in mind that this lifespan can be affected by temperature, shocks, and general tear and wear.
So, if you notice your Headlight starting to lose some brightness, you might consider looking for a replacement.
Or you can use the rule of thumb, which states you replace your Headlight after around 18-24 months.
Measuring your motorcycle headlight is a crucial task that helps ensure the new replacement you get will perfectly fit in it.
To determine the size of your bike headlamp, simply remove the current bulb from its housing with the help of a screwdriver.
Then, read the information written it to get an idea what’s the ideal replacement should look like.
The easiest and cheapest way of aiming your headlights brighter involves cleaning and restoring them. Here, you’ll need a restoration kit for your Headlight’s inner working or the soap and water stuff to clean the fogged up lens.
Another way of making your Headlight brighter involves replacing the old, factory halogen lamps with the modern LED or HID headlights. These modern lights give a greater projection of light which makes the old halogen models pale in comparison.
Your motorcycle’s wiring system might also be the culprit behind the decreased brightness. Be sure to inspect your wiring as well as the dynamo (or have someone more experienced do it for you) to see if that’s where the problem is.
All in all, the BEST solution to getting brighter light involves replacing your current bulb with a more powerful headlight!
If you want nothing but the brightest motorcycle headlight, then you should consider looking for LED lights since they output more powerful beams, plus they’re more efficient than the stock halogen headlamps.
However, keep in mind that not all LED bulbs deliver powerful beams of light. You should look out for the lumens rating and color temperature rating to get an idea how a given bulb performs.
A: Yes, but you will need an LED conversion kit. Determine what type of bulb your bike uses, and find a compatible kit. Simply remove your old bulb and replace it with the new one by following the product's instructions.
A: First, check your electrical system. The brightness of your headlight can be affected by a weak dynamo or poor wiring. Alternatively, you can replace the bulb with one that is stronger.
A: In simplest terms, park your bike on a flat surface about 25 feet away from a light-colored wall or garage door. Then adjust the light until the beam hits the proper spot on the wall.
Whether you have a Harley Davidson, a Kawasaki, a Suzuki, a BMW, a Yamaha, a Honda - or even another type of bike - you'll want to make sure the headlights are DOT approved. DOT is the rulemaker when it comes to the legality of running lights on the road.
If you're taking your bike off-road, things will be a little different. You'll still want white light (usually in aluminum housing), and you may even need an adapter.
You will also want to look at passing lamps (also known as passing lights), the taillight, the warranty on the bike, and whether or not there is a low beam setting. LED headlight bulbs are usually brighter, but you should also look at projector headlights, as well as different versions of LED projector lights.
You will also want to make sure that you have the right fitment, as well as checking to see if there is a polycarbonate lens available. No matter which LED headlights you go with, make sure you choose a bright, safe pair.
