LED Hi-Beams

[Hornblower]

SoCalMotoGear has introduced a new hi-beam LED upgrade for the GL1800 (including the F6B). You can check it out on their website under Gold Wing products. It appears to have been made to use in conjunction with their HID lo-beam kits. For those like me, who installed an HID kit only on the lo-beams, the stock hi-beams appear yellow and "wimpy" in comparison. These high-power LED bulbs surely take care of that little problem. It's an easy install (I just did both bulbs in about 30 minutes) since it is simply a bulb replacement.

Speaking of the install...it's easier on our F6B's than on the full GW's. Basically, you remove the left side cubby and the right side cover (where a right side cubby would be if we had one). Unlike the full GW, there is much less in the way so nothing further has to be removed to get to the bulbs. Still, it takes a bit of patience to reach in there and change the bulbs but it's not too bad at all. And, it's way easier than installing HID kits because it's just a bulb replacement and no ballasts involved. BTW, Cruiseman's Garage has a good YouTube on this install.

Now, there is no doubt these bulbs are much brighter and whiter than the stock halogen bulbs but SoCalMotoGear does not claim they actually reach out further however, they do provide more light to the sides and color-match quite nicely with the HID's.

The stock H7 bulbs are rated at 55 watts and these high-power LED bulbs have an 80 watt rating. So, while they do draw a bit more power, they run cooler than the halogens. Halogens actually are fairly inefficient with most of their energy output going to heat rather than light. The reverse is true with these LED's. Priced at $55/pair, I believe this is a good buy but then again, I'm a nut for LED's in general .

[MichaelG]

Ken, thank you for bringing this up, as I needed to post something on this issue.

As some of you may know, I installed the complete set of HID lights in the front of my F6B a couple months ago. That is both Low Beams, and both High Beams. After doing the ride to the F6B Rally, and back, I have come to the conclusion that I can NOT recommend installing the HID High Beams on our bikes, and here is why:

While the HID Low Beams work GREAT, and I really like them...and you really should use the Electrical Connection Low Beam Cut-Out relay, so that it delays the starting of those Low Beam HID's until the bike has actually started........and finally you want to make certain that both of your Low Beams are adjusted to equal height, and not staring on-coming car drivers in the eyes...........................

The HID High Beams are NOT a good investment. I will be removing my HID High Beams, and keeping them as back-up...and replacement for the HID Low Beams, if I need a replacement ballast, or bulb. All of the HID ballasts and bulbs are the same...whether High or Low beam...they are all the same.

The "reason" I am removing the HID High Beams is because (whew...he finally gets to the reasoning behind all this)...is that when you have an opportunity to actually turn ON the HID High Beams, it takes several seconds for those HID's to come UP to full brightness. During that time you are waiting for them to come UP to full brightness, there is an equal chance that you will have to dim your High Beams, back down to just the Low Beams, because of an oncoming car or truck. That means you never really get the chance to ride for any distance with the High Beams ON. In trying to do this several times, between oncoming cars or trucks, you end up cycling the HID High Beams ON and OFF, and that is not good for the HID's.

I have decided to go with either the new LED High Beams like Hornblower has suggested, or...as an immediate fix...to install the PIAA Super White bulbs that I "did" have installed as Low Beam bulbs, prior to going to all 4 HIDs. I saved those PIAA Super White bulbs, as they cost a pretty penny, and now I will have a use for them.

You want your High Beams to be a light that can come ON instantaneously...without having to warm up or build up its' brightness. Having an H-7 bulb, or a LED bulb, will allow you to do what you want with the High Beams.

I do not mind switching my High Beams ON and OFF...when needed, as I want the extra light...when I need it. But to have to WAIT for the HID's to warm up and build up their brightness, became a safety issue.

For those of you that bought ONLY the HID Low Beams...that was a good move. For those of you wanting to go to HID's...only buy the Low Beam package...which is simply a box of two HID's, versus the four HID's for the full kit.

[GiddyupF6B]

Ken, thank you for bringing this up, as I needed to post something on this issue.

As some of you may know, I installed the complete set of HID lights in the front of my F6B a couple months ago. That is both Low Beams, and both High Beams. After doing the ride to the F6B Rally, and back, I have come to the conclusion that I can NOT recommend installing the HID High Beams on our bikes, and here is why:

While the HID Low Beams work GREAT, and I really like them...and you really should use the Electrical Connection Low Beam Cut-Out relay, so that it delays the starting of those Low Beam HID's until the bike has actually started........and finally you want to make certain that both of your Low Beams are adjusted to equal height, and not staring on-coming car drivers in the eyes...........................

The HID High Beams are NOT a good investment. I will be removing my HID High Beams, and keeping them as back-up...and replacement for the HID Low Beams, if I need a replacement ballast, or bulb. All of the HID ballasts and bulbs are the same...whether High or Low beam...they are all the same.

The "reason" I am removing the HID High Beams is because (whew...he finally gets to the reasoning behind all this)...is that when you have an opportunity to actually turn ON the HID High Beams, it takes several seconds for those HID's to come UP to full brightness. During that time you are waiting for them to come UP to full brightness, there is an equal chance that you will have to dim your High Beams, back down to just the Low Beams, because of an oncoming car or truck. That means you never really get the chance to ride for any distance with the High Beams ON. In trying to do this several times, between oncoming cars or trucks, you end up cycling the HID High Beams ON and OFF, and that is not good for the HID's.

I have decided to go with either the new LED High Beams like Hornblower has suggested, or...as an immediate fix...to install the PIAA Super White bulbs that I "did" have installed as Low Beam bulbs, prior to going to all 4 HIDs. I saved those PIAA Super White bulbs, as they cost a pretty penny, and now I will have a use for them.

You want your High Beams to be a light that can come ON instantaneously...without having to warm up or build up its' brightness. Having an H-7 bulb, or a LED bulb, will allow you to do what you want with the High Beams.

I do not mind switching my High Beams ON and OFF...when needed, as I want the extra light...when I need it. But to have to WAIT for the HID's to warm up and build up their brightness, became a safety issue.

For those of you that bought ONLY the HID Low Beams...that was a good move. For those of you wanting to go to HID's...only buy the Low Beam package...which is simply a box of two HID's, versus the four HID's for the full kit.

Good advice Miles, that makes a lot of sense! I have the hid low beams and was going to install the hid high beams over the Winter. I will go with leds or the Piaa lights now. Thanks for info.

[GiddyupF6B]

SoCalMotoGear has introduced a new hi-beam LED upgrade for the GL1800 (including the F6B). You can check it out on their website under Gold Wing products. It appears to have been made to use in conjunction with their HID lo-beam kits. For those like me, who installed an HID kit only on the lo-beams, the stock hi-beams appear yellow and "wimpy" in comparison. These high-power LED bulbs surely take care of that little problem. It's an easy install (I just did both bulbs in about 30 minutes) since it is simply a bulb replacement.

Speaking of the install...it's easier on our F6B's than on the full GW's. Basically, you remove the left side cubby and the right side cover (where a right side cubby would be if we had one). Unlike the full GW, there is much less in the way so nothing further has to be removed to get to the bulbs. Still, it takes a bit of patience to reach in there and change the bulbs but it's not too bad at all. And, it's way easier than installing HID kits because it's just a bulb replacement and no ballasts involved. BTW, Cruiseman's Garage has a good YouTube on this install.

Now, there is no doubt these bulbs are much brighter and whiter than the stock halogen bulbs but SoCalMotoGear does not claim they actually reach out further however, they do provide more light to the sides and color-match quite nicely with the HID's.

The stock H7 bulbs are rated at 55 watts and these high-power LED bulbs have an 80 watt rating. So, while they do draw a bit more power, they run cooler than the halogens. Halogens actually are fairly inefficient with most of their energy output going to heat rather than light. The reverse is true with these LED's. Priced at $55/pair, I believe this is a good buy but then again, I'm a nut for LED's in general .

Can you take a pic with the high beams on so I can see the color match? This sounds like a good idea but I need to know that they match well.

[Hornblower]

Can you take a pic with the high beams on so I can see the color match? This sounds like a good idea but I need to know that they match well.

Definitely, I can do that. In fact, SoCalMoto wanted me to take some pics as well so I was going to be doing that anyway. Also, I have the BikeMP3 960's in the lower cowl so I can compare that as well. From what I have read, the color temp of the SoCalMoto HID's are 6K, the 960's are 6.3K, and I haven't actually seen a spec on these new LED's. Judging by the color, I would say they are also around 6K. Both the HID's and the LED's are about as white as you can go without getting some blue tint. The 960's could be just on the threshold of seeing some blue but not too much. All considered, I think all three are a pretty good match, color-wise, and, without a doubt, a huge improvement over the stock bulbs.

[Steve 0080]

I do agree with Miles on the High Beams….however, for me living in the land of old folks I use the High Beams during the daytime… and on occasion at night, the Low HID’s are plenty for the night… I mainly installed my High Beams to be seen! If any thing I will add the 960's Ken has to be even brighter!!!!

[BARRYS770]

I have a question. The LED bulbs are only rated at 800 lumens of light output each, whereas, the standard H7 bulb has a rated output of 1350 lumens + or - 10%. Therefore, it would seem to me that the projected light output would be better with the standard H7 bulb than with the LED bulb replacement. While LED's are very bright when you look at them, they don't put out as much actual light.

Osram Rallye H7+ 65watt bulbs have a lumen output of 2100 lumens. That is nearly as much light output as HID's.

http://store.candlepower.com/osraulhiouh7.html

[Steve 0080]

Barry you are right !!! Go HID or go home.

[Hornblower]

I have a question. The LED bulbs are only rated at 800 lumens of light output each, whereas, the standard H7 bulb has a rated output of 1350 lumens + or - 10%. Therefore, it would seem to me that the projected light output would be better with the standard H7 bulb than with the LED bulb replacement. While LED's are very bright when you look at them, they don't put out as much actual light.

A legitimate question, for sure. Color temp plays into this as well and the color was my first reason for going LED. Of course, you can't just keep going up the color scale and get more light down the road. From what I've read, once you start getting into the blue tint (over 6000K), the light projected down the road diminishes. The real test is taking the bike out at night and see how it does. Frankly, with my low-beam HID's and 960's, I'm not too sure I will ever need my hi-beams but we'll see about that soon enough.

[Hornblower]

OK, Giddyup, you asked for it, you got it!



The front lights in all their glory What you're seeing here are the low-beam HID's and hi-beam LED's from SoCalMotoGear and the 960 cowl lights from BikeMP3. Not a bad color match if I do say so myself.