LED Headlights - Facts & Opinion
#1
LED Headlights - Facts & Opinion
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)
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)
Last edited by Rustrtal; 05-11-2015 at 01:50 PM. Reason: Added info
The following users liked this post:
GTK (03-31-2016)
#2
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.
· 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.
Last edited by Rustrtal; 06-02-2014 at 03:54 PM.
The following users liked this post:
shorelasHD (04-21-2016)
#4
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.
"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.
#5
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.
#6
#7
LED Feedback (negative)
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
Trending Topics
#10