6TH Generation LED Headlights

I found this kit on Amazon for $100.00, but it only has 2 H7 lamps.

http://www.amazon.com/Newsun-Quality...productDetails

New problem, 6th gens have 4 H7 lamps

View attachment 25169

I have contacted a company to see if they make a kit with high/low power supplies that will run 4 H7 lamps. I will keep everyone posted.

Has anyone found a solution I missed, besides ordering 2 H7 kits?

 

Original 6th gen have H4 for low beam and H7 for Hi beam. Unless the PO did some modifications

 

I thought so too, but enlarge screen clip of schematic, and when I flicked the low/high switch, I didn't see any change on the lower lamp. Will investigate further, Merry Christmas!

 

6
BULB, HEADLIGHT (12V 55W) (H7) (STANLEY)
34901-MAT-611
$16.76
7
BULB, HEADLIGHT (12V 60/55W) (STANLEY)
34901-MC7-602
$23.27

http://www.hondapartshouse.com/oemparts/a/hon/5053f5a8f870021c54be7b3a/headlight

 

I've got a 6th gen, I know its European but it has 4 H7 Bulbs, 2 for low beam and 2 for high beam.

My Haynes manual tells me that the European and the American versions are identical in this respect.

Also Lings Honda say the same

http://www.lingshondaparts.com/honda_motorcycle_parts_selection_pfk.php?block_01=13MCW601&block_02=F__0100&block_03=5894

Carpy

 

So I could in theory put 4x55watt HID projectors in this bike and blind the sun?

 

Well guys I decided to settle this once and for all. I just went out on this nice sunny Christmas day and thoroughly checked it out.

Yes the bottom headlights had H4 Lamps in them, BUT, per the schematic, there were only two wires going to the socket!

Turning on the lights confirmed only one filament was lighting.

Now comes the $64,000 question, how does the one filament position in the H4 lamp (nearest the tip) compare to the H7? And how does that effect the pattern?

Then, seeing if I could find some specs on lamps, I found this on another forum:
View attachment 25171
Someone was actually modifying H4 to fit in the H7 positions!

PS: This has me wondering, I don't think the PO went to the trouble modifying the H4 to fit the H7 reflector, plus the socket on the back looks big enough to be a 3 prong socket, so maybe it was intended to have an H4, but wired for low beam only as some last minute change by Honda to conform to US Specs. I am going to pull them out and check it out.

So my manual, schematics and visual inspection all confirm 4 H7 lamps with PO put H4 in lower headlights!

 

Found some more interesting pictures:
Low Beam Connector: View attachment 25172
High Beam Connector: View attachment 25173
Note, the only difference is the location of one of the terminals for the prongs.
It seems to me that if one added the third terminal and wire to the low beam connector, you could have two high beam filaments on!

Now all I have to do is find out which lamp the reflector is designed for.

 

Final Answer:
We are all partly right and partly wrong!
Today I took out high and low beam lamps to inspect reflectors, here is what I found:
View attachment 25182
Left side lamps removed, H4 on left, H7 with Honda adapter, on right.
View attachment 25180
Low beam reflector, designed for H4 lamp, but only wired for low beam filament.
View attachment 25181
High beam reflector, designed for H7 lamp.

I was going by a manual I downloaded from Europe, so schematic was right, type of lamp was wrong.

I am think of get both H4 and H7 LED kits and wiring high LED on H4 with a switch in-line to turn off & on (while on high beam) and use the H7 kit as the "normal" high beam.

Thanks for all the input, lot of mis-information out there!

 

When they get installed please let us know the results!

 

Almost done.
I built a new harness with 3 dedicated feeds for each set of filaments; low (H4) , high (H7), High2 (H4), 3 relays and dedicated grounds back to battery.
View attachment 25211
I added switch to turn on High 2 when on High Beams.
I used Napa heavy duty sockets (phenolic + heavier wires). marine relays and inline fuse holders for each feed.
For the H4's I am using Wagner BP1210H4 80/100 Watts
For the H7 High beams I have ordered Osram Rallye 65watt (that's why it's not all done).

Preliminary results: I believe the H4 lower reflector was designed to use H4's because they have metal shield over low beam filament and produces a sharp cut off. I do not believe reflector is designed for high beams, when I turn on H2, it's like a big flood light! Not the same pattern as H7 High beams. I will do a little video when Osrams come in and it's all done.

I also ordered the same H4 LED kit as Zoom-Zoom did for his 5th generation (Low & High in same reflector). I will see if the high beam LED is the same pattern as the H7 High Beam. This may not be the optimum set up for 6th generations. May need both an H4 AND an H7 kit!

Note: I see posts say H4s for Hondas are different, mine took a third party H4 no problem.

PS: I used pigtails in to existing sockets to power relays, no mods to bike wiring. I wanted heavier wiring to carry the current and not mess up stock wiring.

 

What's to stop me from just tapping into the highbeam line and continuing it to the H4 connectors? I do not suspect there could be a powering issue as the high beam line should be capable of handling 2x55watt and the new LEDs only pull 25 watt per bulb and since the high beam line will only power half of the H4 set that would equal 25x2 + 12.5x2 or 75watt total which is still less than the 110watts the line would have been powering before.

 

No problem in doing that except I am not sure lower reflector was designed to be used for high beam as well. I think Honda used the H4 for lows to get the sharp cutoff.
Rather than splice into existing wiring, use pigtails with 1/4 spade connector to plug into existing sockets.
View attachment 25231
Picture is not very big, hope you can see connectors.
I was thinking about H4 single LED on bottom and the H7 LED on top, but hesitated on spending $200.
I found the Wagner BP1210 H4s in stock at NAPA, got heavier duty sockets, yada, yada, yada. Project grew into major undertaking and ended up spending $200 anyway!
But what I will do is take photos of EACH Low, High and H4 High beams individually when I get new H7s. I want to see how the two high beam patterns compare and will post pictures in a week or so.

 

I'm most curious to know how an LED bulb compares to a filament style. Any way you can do a apples-apples test of a 100% stock setup first?

 

Check the 5th generation thread, there is an extensive test. But the 5th gens have a single reflector, we have two.

 

I have ridden with another VFR owner that appears to have wired their H4 bulb into the high beam switch as well. I do not know if it is aimed properly but it does appear very bright but isn't that the idea?

 

See my post under 5th gen LED's. High wattage lamps and relays draw a little too much, H4 LEDs tomorrow.

 

Just as we getting the LED's sorted out, BMW comes along with this:

http://bmwmcmag.com/2014/02/bmw-laser-headlights-go-into-production/

 

Wow cool find mate :thumb:

 

My replacement H4 LED headlights arrived yesterday from Hong Kong. The Cree failed twice, so I got a refund and got these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/18126903435...iewitem=&sspagename=ADME:L:OC:US:3160&vxp=mtr

I installed them yesterday, without any major modifications, only need to trim dust cover. Power supplies tucked nicely below reflectors, held in place with Velcro.


I went out last night briefly and they worked fine. I think they need some adjustment, so I will wait to take pictures till then. Note adjustment screw is not Phillips!

I also got a set of H7 50W Cree's for the Hi Beams and they are working fine too, but have not had many hours on them.


With my relays, I can turn on Hi beams in H4's as well, doesn't add a lot to an already bright beam.

As a further precaution, I have upgraded my R/R to a SH775 Series R/R from Jack Flemming at roadstercycle.com.
Our normal R/R shunts unused output from stator to ground (balanced system), with the drastic reduction in load (LED headlight and tail lights), this causes it overheat and possibly fail.

Will post pictures and reliability in a while.