Tired of poor lights?

[Toyark]

I have put up for years with a poor headlight ( F650 Dakar).
I even rewired to have 100 watts on dip on my H4 but the reflector isn't that good and the light was always poor. A small pool of yellow light dribbled onto the road would be a fair description of what it was like.

A little research brought me to Gabe's site ( Zen Overland) where I bought the Cyclops H4 LED and what a difference.

2 Cree's light up on dip and use only 20 watts and all 3 Cree's on high. (30 watts)
Through personal preference, my dip is now on all 3 Crees giving 3600 lumens of clean, instant white light as against a feeble yellow 'spill' from old conventional bulbs.

For me , this works well and I feel a lot safer now that I can actually see where I am going without having to fire up my Xenon spot and causing the night to light up which is good for me but not so good nor courteous to oncoming traffic.

It is (almost) a plug 'n' play- There are a few very very minor and simple mods which anyone can do to make it work on the F650.

No connection to Gabe aside from saying he's a good bloke and I am a happy customer.

p.s I have no idea if this will pass an MOT test but swopping the bulb over before it is simple.

[PanEuropean]

Originally Posted by Bertrand

...I have no idea if this will pass an MOT test...

The manufacturer's website (the link you gave) states that it is not DOT approved and is for off road use only.

Usually, that means that the beam pattern doesn't conform to the industry standards established to prevent blinding oncoming drivers.

[Threewheelbonnie]

A UK MOT tester probably can't spell DOT and in any case won't care what the yanks say. It's a purely "practical" test using a complex set of lines on a wall and some lenses to make it look less of a lottery. If the test monkey got his leg over the night before it'll pass so long as it lights up, if not it'll just be a better excuse for a fail than a strident horn or not having a sidecar brake (or a sidecar to mount it to).


I'd try it as is.


Andy

[chris]

In support of Andy's comment, bikers in the UK tend to find a MOT test station where the tester isn't a muppet and fails a bike for a visible and useful headlight.

All my bikes have louder than "allegedly legal" pipes and I always ride with high beam, day and night. I prefer to see and be seen/heard. My MOT tester is fine with this and feels that brakes, wheel/head bearings and horn should work, rather than failing the bike because the US Dep Of Transport are justifying their wages.

The only DOT thing my tester is interested in, is the stamp on the tyres, and then only if it hasn't a European "E".

[1moremile]

Originally Posted by chris

I always ride with high beam, day and night. I prefer to see and be seen/heard. "E".

Chris - do you really ride with high beam on at night? The arrogance of that statement above is incredible. Apart from this being contrary to the highway code, it is utterly selfish. You appear to be saying "I'll do what I want and f*ck anybody else".

26 years ago I was on the receiving end of an idiot like you. On a dark country road I was blinded by on oncoming car driver who did not dip his lights. The end result for me was massive life changing injuries and a lifetime of pain and disability. I've just had my 12th big orthopaedic operation this year and if you saw my x-rays you probably wouldn't believe them.

I hope I never have to meet you on a dark road anywhere.

[Toyark]

Mollydog:
I have just one headlight 'bulb' which is the cyclops one I reported on.
It's beauty is that it requires no ballast. ( unlike the separate Xenon spot).
I'm happy with it.
My max draw on lighting is now 30watts with the cyclops plus 50watts for the xenon.

[chris]

Originally Posted by 1moremile

Chris - do you really ride with high beam on at night? The arrogance of that statement above is incredible. Apart from this being contrary to the highway code, it is utterly selfish. You appear to be saying "I'll do what I want and f*ck anybody else".

26 years ago I was on the receiving end of an idiot like you. On a dark country road I was blinded by on oncoming car driver who did not dip his lights. The end result for me was massive life changing injuries and a lifetime of pain and disability. I've just had my 12th big orthopaedic operation this year and if you saw my x-rays you probably wouldn't believe them.

I hope I never have to meet you on a dark road anywhere.

Thanks for you balanced post that is in no way , nor including any hyperbole.

You're referring to a road traffic incident involving a car that had it's high beams on.

I am referring to a riding motorcycles (even with the influx of 4x4ers and pushbikers, this is still a bike forum) with sh!te headlights/headlight bulbs and hence keeping high beam on to increase my chances of seeing and being seen by killer car drivers during the day and night.

The OP is referring to a bulb fitted to a motorcycle, that, as far as my knowledge of watts/lumens goes, is probably brighter than the highbeam on my bikes.

While still I turn my lights to lowbeam when coming up behind other bikes or if another bike/cyclist/pedestrian is coming the other way.

[mollydog]

Curious what you spent all up on your lights. Are you saying you bought two
side lights (spots) and one H4 bulb ... or?

That's the beauty of HID ... lower draw and more output.

Lots of companies are offering these kits now ... and WHAT A DIFFERENCE!

I've had HID kits from DDM Tuning for 3 years now. Some companies mark up more than others. Nearly ALL the HID bulbs come from a factory in China. DDM guys are Chinese ... living in Los Angeles. So pretty good deal price wise. Check it out:

DDM Tuning : Motorcycle HID Kits & Lighting

My H4 bulb is 5000 lumens, $22 USD.
I'd like to have side lights but the charging system on the DR650 is just too weak to handle it. Maybe I could do ONE 20 watt light?

My H4 HID bulb draws 35 Watts, compared to 55 watts for stock H4 bulb. No one flashes me, and it's easily 3 times brighter than stock bulb. After 3 years/15,000 miles the ignitor burned out ... DDM sent me a FREE replacement and I now carry a complete back up kit. (packs small)

[Ian The Pain]

Originally Posted by Bertrand

There are a few very very minor and simple mods which anyone can do to make it work on the F650.

I've been following the thread over on ADV Rider about these lamps and was thinking about getting one, but was unsure as to whether these would fit an '05 f650gs. Any chance you could tell me what mods you had to make, and is it reversible? Oh, and what year is your Dakar?

[Toyark]

Originally Posted by Ian The Pain

I've been following the thread over on ADV Rider about these lamps and was thinking about getting one, but was unsure as to whether these would fit an '05 f650gs. Any chance you could tell me what mods you had to make, and is it reversible? Oh, and what year is your Dakar?

I cannot see any reason why it would not fit a 2005- mine is a 2002
Reversible? no but the mods are not on the bike but on the light fitting itself-
Buy one from Gabe at Zen Overland and he'll tell you 'how to' - it's not difficult

[trackdayrider]

Travelling to and from work on the bike this week in the dark - my LED spots have been a massive boon ... a very bright pool of light in front of the bike, while the headlight creates the beam I need..

My LEDs were off ebay for a fraction of the cost of similar units from specific adventure sites

will post a picture when I can get a link to work

[mollydog]

Originally Posted by trackdayrider

Travelling to and from work on the bike this week in the dark - my LED spots have been a massive boon ... a very bright pool of light in front of the bike, while the headlight creates the beam I need..

My LEDs were off ebay for a fraction of the cost of similar units from specific adventure sites

will post a picture when I can get a link to work

.... and post P R I C E S ... while you're at it please.

[John A]

I've got some like these:

30W Black Motorcycle ATV CREE U2 LED Driving Fog Spot Head Light Lamp Headlight | eBay

though to be honest, there's lots of sellers, selling at varying prices who, on ebay, say they're from a number of countries, but all see to have some element of Chinese in their names :confused1:

It would be interesting to see what spending 10 times more gets you in terms of construction quality / light quantity.

[trackdayrider]

Originally Posted by mollydog

.... and post P R I C E S ... while you're at it please.

Got mine from ebay (china) these on ebay ar £28 for the pair - exactly the same as mine ... ebay link