There has been many threads and discussions about LED headlights. Some of the information is legit and some seems to be made up. I did some research when deciding which light to buy. Below are the FACTS that I found when making my decision.

LED REFLECTOR Style lights:

Truck Lite Phase 7



http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs...roductId=92025

· Made in the: USA
· # of LED Arrays: 2
· Low Beam Draw: 1.8 amps
· High Beam Draw: 3.6 amps
· Color Temperature: 5,800K
· Connector: H4
· DOT Approved: YES
· Warranty: 3 Years
· Matching Auxiliary Lights Available: Yes
· Lens: Polycarbonate
· MSRP: $299.99
· Best Price Found: $160.00 (NAPA)

Peterson 701 Great White



http://www.pmlights.com/products.cfm...Id=71&pId=3748

· Made in the: USA
· # of LED Arrays: 2
· Low Beam Draw: 1.6 amps
· High Beam Draw: 3.6 amps
· Color Temperature: 5,400K
· Connector: H4
· DOT Approved: YES
· Warranty: 2 Years
· Matching Auxiliary Lights Available: No
· Lens: Polycarbonate
· MSRP: Undetermined
· Best Price Found: $235.99 (Fox Tail Lights)

Harley Davidson Daymaker Reflector



http://www.harley-davidson.com/store...11-67700189--1

· Made in the: Undetermined
· # of LED Arrays: 2
· Low Beam Draw: Undetermined
· High Beam Draw: Undetermined
· Color Temperature: Undetermined
· Connector: H4
· DOT Approved: YES
· Warranty: 1 Year
· Matching Auxiliary Lights Available: Yes
· Lens: Undetermined
· MSRP: $399.95
· Best Price: $319.96 (Surdyke)

Headwinds 7"



http://www.headwinds.com/mm5/merchan...&Category_Code

· Made in the: Undetermined
· # of LED Arrays: 2
· Low Beam Draw: 1.7 amps
· High Beam Draw: 2.6 amps
· Color Temperature: Undetermined (500 Lumens - Low / 1100 Lumens - High)
· Connector: H4
· DOT Approved: YES
· Warranty: 3 Year
· Matching Auxiliary Lights Available: Undetermined
· Lens: Undetermined
· MSRP: $264.95
· Best Price Found: $264.95 (Headwinds or J&P)

LED PROJECTOR Style lights:

JW Speaker 8700 Evolution



http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/he...product=500249

· Made in the: USA
· # of LED Arrays: 4
· Low Beam Draw: 2.5 amps
· High Beam Draw: 2.5 amps
· Color Temperature: 5,700K
· Connector: H4
· DOT Approved: YES
· Warranty: Undetermined
· Matching Auxiliary Lights Available: Yes
· Lens: Polycarbonate
· MSRP: $550
· Best Price Found: $352.29 (4x4 Parts for Less)


JW Speaker 8700 Evolution 2 (w/ or w/o Halo)



http://www.jwspeaker.com/products/le...0-evolution-2/

· Made in the: USA
· # of LED Arrays: 6 w/o DRL & 7 w/ DRL
· Low Beam Draw: 2.5 amps
· High Beam Draw: 2.5 amps
· Color Temperature: Undetermined
· Connector: H4
· DOT Approved: YES
· Warranty: Undetermined
· Matching Auxiliary Lights Available: Yes
· Lens: Polycarbonate
· MSRP: $390
· Best Price Found: $351.99 (4 Wheel Parts)

Harley Davidson LED Daymaker Projector



http://www.harley-davidson.com/store...-11-7339010--1

· Made in the: Undetermined
· # of LED Arrays: 4
· Low Beam Draw: Undetermined
· High Beam Draw: Undetermined
· Color Temperature: Undetermined
· Connector: H4
· DOT Approved: YES
· Warranty: 1 Year
· Matching Auxiliary Lights Available: Yes
· Lens: Undetermined
· MSRP: $524.95
· Best Price Found: $419.96 (Surdyke)

Vision X Vortex 7"



http://www.visionxusa.com/product/au...led-headlight/

· Made in the: Undetermined
· # of LED Arrays: 6 Including Halo Ring
· Low Beam Draw: 1.08 amps
· High Beam Draw: 1.67 amps (I'm assuming 2.75 amps for High/Low together)
· Color Temperature: Undetermined (Claims 4,210 Raw Lumens)
· Connector: H4
· DOT Approved: YES
· Warranty: Undetermined
· Matching Auxiliary Lights Available: Undetermined
· Lens: Polycarbonate
· MSRP: $419.00
· Best Price Found: $419 (Vision X, 4 Wheel Parts, Yaffe)

 

Below are the Generally accepted Truths (otherwise known as opinions) found on other forum threads, personal experience and Youtube reviews, etc.:
· The Projector lights have fuller more even light patterns but tend to be narrow beams
· The Reflectors are not as full of a pattern but are diffused further side to side.
· The Reflectors are not as easily seen during the daylight by other motorists from angles other than straight on
· The Projectors work well when paired with matching spot/auxiliary lights especially when the spot/auxiliary lights are modified to stay (harness on pre-’14, flash on ’14) on with the high beams
· The Reflectors work well when there are no spots/auxiliary lights to fill in the sides
· According to the JW Speaker website they are an OEM manufacturer for Harley Davidson and since the lights look very similar, it is likely that JW makes the HD Projector
· Peterson manufactures the HC branded reflector style light (not listed above) and Truck Lite makes the Kuryakyn Reflector Headlight.
· I could not find any definite information regarding the manufacturer of the HD Reflector. I have read countless threads where people claim it’s made by Truck Lite. To me (just my opinion) the HD bulb looks closer to the Peterson than the TL.

Please feel free to post up any additional facts or opinions that have been omitted or may need to be corrected. I will gladly add any other light or edit any of the above information.

 

Rustrtal, thank you for putting this together. Excellent post. Great to see this info in a nice concise post.

 

I like the Truck-Lite Phase 7 (headlight & Spots on my bike but not so much if I wasn't running Motolights too

"The Reflectors are not as easily seen during the daylight by other motorists from angles other than straight on"

In the below picture all the lights are on, headlight on low beam. At first I used to check to make sure all the lights are on now I know that at certain angles you just don't see it.

Straight on they're blinding.

 

I have the Trucklite and CD Dynamic Rings. During the day, I ride with the high beam on. One thing I did notice right after I installed the Trucklite was that it needed to be angled up higher. It was much better after that. I don't really like the way that the Trucklite has just the wide beam. At times, it can be hard to see when you are in turns because the beam changes with the bike angle.

 

Excellent post. I have the truck light and you are right. looks off at most angles. But it is very bright at night.

I recomment a light ring and other items to bring visibility up.

 

I agree. I had the HD LED HL and Spots on my 07. Unless looking directly at the lights they looked OFF. Additionally when hitting curves at night you have a sharp cut off of light on the outside and inside of the curve. I tried all kind of adjustments and tricks, but basically quit riding at night because of the Deer in my area. I just couldn't see through the curves. I never thought of the Ring for better visibility during the day. I had other riders in the group ask "How do you turn off your headlight and why would you? Unless you looked straight at the light, it looked off. Notice - all the videos I found online where shot when the bike is straight up. It was the worst investment I made on my 07 FLHTC.

I'm sure there are several folks here with a different opinion than mine. But bottom line, I lost visibility of ME during the day and visibility of the ROAD at a night when riding curves.

Good luck!
Zlaneb

 

The hd reflector IMO is the best led light for daytime visibility even at angles, I ride with a friend that had a TL 7 and at slight angles looks like it is off.

 

Nice thread, all great info. Thank you!

 

I installed the both the TL 7 Headlight and Passing lamps and find that it is much brighter than the stock light that came on the bike. I do agree that it needs to be aimed a little higher than normal though. The passing lamps make a world of difference for cornering in the dark.