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Author Topic: CREE LED Headlight Conversion  (Read 3275 times)

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Offline FJRider

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CREE LED Headlight Conversion
« on: December 31, 2013, 09:07:22 AM »
I received my CREE LED H4 High/Low from ElectricalConnection.com and today is warm enough to add this interesting farkle.

I saw it first here.

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Here is their website.

EC - LED Headlight Bulb - H4 High/Low

The package arrived within 3 days of order and everything looked of high quality. The kit consisted of the H4 CREE bulb, a transformer, a mini fan assembly and a PVC fan duct. The instructions were OK.

Step1: Remove the headlight from the bike

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Step 2: Remove the existing H4 Bulb.

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Old bulb and the CREE LED Bulb

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Step 3: Install the new CREE LED Bulb

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Step 4: Install mini fan and duct

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Step 5: Decide where you want to mount the transformer.

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The requirements are:

1. It has to be close to the Headlight
2. It must turn with the headlight and fork
3. It should not interfere with the headlight assembly

I decided the best place was next to the horn and I would need a special bracket. I used a piece of aluminum sheet and fabricated a small bracket.

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It would mount adjacent to the horn and mount between the horn and the horn fork mount.

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Test everything. Good to go!

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Step 6: Reassemble

I took the bracket apart and pained it with some satin black rattle-can stuff I had in the basement. Now it matches the rest of the fittings and doesn't look so home made.

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Here is the finished assembly.

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All back together.

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Before the modification I measured the stock headight with my wife's light meter (she's a professional photographer) one foot in front of the center of the headlight, engine running. It read 2037 lumens

After the modification a I measured the same way and got 4024 lumens.

All in all not a bad modification for $79.95 plus shipping.
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Offline Cablebandit

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Re: CREE LED Headlight Conversion
« Reply #1 on: December 31, 2013, 09:17:53 AM »
How is the cut-off?  Many of the HID's I see look brighter but half the light is thrown up in the trees since the reflectors in the housing weren't designed for that type of bulb.
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Offline sleazy rider

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Re: CREE LED Headlight Conversion
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2013, 09:18:54 AM »
Heh, beat me to it.  I'm curious about the entire light pattern.
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Offline FJRider

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Re: CREE LED Headlight Conversion
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2013, 10:41:48 AM »
Quote from: Cablebandit on December 31, 2013, 09:17:53 AM
How is the cut-off?  Many of the HID's I see look brighter but half the light is thrown up in the trees since the reflectors in the housing weren't designed for that type of bulb.


The focal dimension of the CREE LED match the OEM bulb. So the parabolically, the light pattern should be the same.

From what I see on my garage wall the pattern looks about the same, althought twice as bright. Once it warms up I'll take some night photos. But I really didn't get it for night riding. We have a problem at night around here. Especially on my local roads. Cornfield on one side of the road - woods on the other. Eat - Sleep.

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It's more so as to be seen by cars. If I need to do night riding I take the FJR and fire up the Clearwater's.
« Last Edit: December 31, 2013, 10:53:11 AM by FJRider »
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Offline Cablebandit

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Re: CREE LED Headlight Conversion
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2013, 10:47:47 AM »
Gotcha.  It looked like they may do a little better than HID just by looking at the bulb design.
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Offline PatM

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Re: CREE LED Headlight Conversion
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2013, 10:51:55 AM »
Nice write up.
They look brighter but how much more glare? I've got PIAAs LEDs on my bike and have to turn them off at night when I encounter other vehicles on the road. I'm looking for a dimmer.
I'd like to convert the headlights to LEDs as you did but I'm afraid it might be too bright.
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