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[Adrian]

Sadly, it is just a space issue. There IS a way round, but I don't recommend it: a friend has an Electra modified by the previous owner with one of our hosts' add-on rev counters, and the original speedo mounted alongside on some meccano (!) bracketry, with the original opening for the speedo blanked off. It looks absolutely ghastly, but at least he could fit one of these LED kits! My friend is planning to put it back to standard. A,

[Norm]

Absolute total waste of time fitting an LED headlight to an Electra, the 3 phase alternator on those produces plenty of power and if not, it is because of a charging problem which needs to be fixed, fitting an LED ain't going to solve that problem

[Adrian]

True, a healthy three-phase alternator system won't need the LED headlamp conversion, but for project use I bought an Electrex World CDI (batteryless) ignition which also has lighting coils (bit like a modern flywheel magneto), though the lighting output is only 50W, so for systems like these where lighting power is more marginal, LED headlamps make a lot of sense. A.

[Adrian]

Just an update on this after 1 year.



I have been back on the website to check (the link I posted originally still works) and there is now a revised design on sale which DOES fit headlamps with speedometers fitted, so game on, pre-99 Bullet owners! You'll need the little adapter ring shown if your headlamp unit takes the P45T bulb.



This might not be so much use for the owners of late 99-on Bullets, the fact that this particular version of LED works on + or - earth suggests that they MIGHT work with regulated AC, can any electrical gurus confirm/deny?



Hope this helps someone.



A.

[Scalyback]

[center]

So now Pete had come out with these... (see link in first post)












The days of fans, heatsinks etc. seem to have ended. They run on both 6 v and 12v, using more current for 6 v. See the chart he has below..


0.26 amp and 0.52 amp low/high beam @ 12v



(0.21 amp and 0.42 amp @ 14v)



0.52amp and 1.04a low/high @ 6v



(0.44 amp and 0.88a @ 7v)



I have a couple of the BPF fitting types as above, ready to go into Tornado and Kevin which both have the fifties casquette, but looking at the picture, there should not be any fitting issues. Am in Paris at the moment, but will report back when I get the chance to test them.

[jefrs]

I have used many LED bulbs on various vehicles. The advantage is increased light but the disadvantage is the light output is very directional. You can get get more light for less power but not so much with the headlamp bulb. I have LED on the pilots, tiger-eyes and in the headlamp for a distinctive 'see me' DRL pattern: with cars now having DRL, riding a bike with the headlamp on no longer serves as well as it once did, I get less smidsys with the LED.. three bright dots says, "that's odd!". I have a Cree reversing lamp on the car because the dim original is useless. I did put LED side lamps on the car but they looked like pinholes in the snow, they did not illuminate the reflector shell, same with using the LED pilot in the bike headlamp shell but that serves a different purpose. One other problem is even the white ones do not provide a full spectrum of colours, they do not show up all objects (that ultra-bright Cree reverse lamp doesn't).

I find the spread pattern important, I like to see what is in the hedgerow. Deer and rabbits can be a problem but I've also encountered loose horses on the road. The sharp cut off from some lamps is not good for this.



The H4 Phillips Motovision available from our hosts is +40% and gives a good bright pattern (the Neolite is good) but H4 are also available at (eg) +50%, +90%, +120%, +150% and even +190% (off-road/showroom, probably not street-legal). The percentages can be confusing because "120% brighter" means "+20% brighter": caveat. (GE, Bosch, Halfords(Bosch?))

Over the last 20+ years I've found the brightest street legal ones do not provide the best driving pattern, nor best visibility in poor weather. You might get a bright centre but a dim periphery and they dazzle back so they don't peer through the murk.

[Scalyback]

Which takes care of the modern 12V bikes with either 55-60W headlamp capability, or upgraded generators!



Now for those with older bikes, or 6V systems or even Tornado, my bullet from 1994, I would certainly entertain the idea of trying the LEDs. Will let you know what happens when I finally get to try them out, unless somebody else has already done so?

[Scalyback]

[center]There is also AW motorcycle Parts that do 30-35W BPF halogens in both voltages. I have tried the 12V and found them to be useable. I do have a vid but the camera was rather shite!

[jefrs]

If I still had the 6V Bantam I would most certainly be interested in anything that actually emitted light.

[Adrian]

Ebay item 252273912342 ??? A.