LED bulb replacement

I've recently updated my dipped beams to LED lamps and am about to do a similar thing to the main beam. Difference for the dipped is pretty impressive.

Question then is what do I need to bear in mind if I were to replace the tail and brake lights, AND the front and rear indicators in a similar fashion?

Any pointers welcome.
Thanks.

 

If your 6th gen VFR has the factory installed regulator/ rectifier you may want to "bear in mind" the understanding that the LED bulbs use significantly less current and because of that the r/r will be stressed to dump the excess.

 

Also, the reflectors in the headlamp housing are optimized for the position of the filaments in stock lamps. LED's are in a different position than the filaments so the patterns on the road won't be the same. I went through all this on my 2003.

 

Ooh .. I suspect the bike has the standard stuff, is there a solution that will remove the problem that swapping to LED bulbs might create?

 

Good point. I haven't tried it at night yet, so unsure what effect they might have.

 

I have the Termitor H7 (low) and H13 (high) LEDs, they seat properly and have a good beaten zone, just be aware the high beams have plug adaptors you'll have to pull from the OEM bulbs to plug the H13s into the harness. also, you absolutely need an Shindengen 847 rectifier to handle the changes.

 

Roadstercycle.com for a Shindengen 847 A rectifier upgrade. It’s a rectifier that can just supply whatever the load is rather than the old type which shunts the excess to ground . All this keeps your stator cooler. Get a mounting plate from Mellodude on here. Get an extra foot of wire for the stator connection.
Or wait for your stator and rectifier to both grenade and replace both. Stators are $330 OEM. Also add a voltmeter to the motorcycle and you’ll always know what’s happening with the charging system.

 

If you buy proper LEDs the emitters will be in the same physical position as the filaments in the halogens, so the beam pattern shuldn't change and may just need a tiny up/down tweak. H4 LEDs should have stepped emitters and a low beam shroud.

If you put LEDs in the indicators your flasher rate will be very fast and probably illegal; easist is to replace the flasher unit with an LED specific unit.

I'd challenge the statement that switching to LED headlights will cook the regulator. Data I have seen suggests the stock 55W bulbs may be more like 48W, and LEDs are generally on the 35-42W range. A difference of 26W (2 x (48-35)) is not going to overstress the RR, or at least it hasn't caused any notable issue in any of my bikes that I have switched over to LED (1990 ST1100, 2005 ST1300, 1986 VFR750, 1997 VTR1000F, 99 VFR800, 09 VFR800, 15 VFR1200)..

 

You will need to know if your bulbs for your signal lights have the built in resistor. Many have but if nto, you need the resistor or the signal light flashers will not flash. Your tail lights are just plug and play LED. No resistors needed. I switched to LED tail lights and love them. they are about twice the brightness to keep you safe from being run into from the rear. Here is Canada, we can't use HID front lights. They are illegal. They must have the CSA insignia to make them legal. I don't know what the story is in the USA or over in Europe for HID. But, Here in Canada, the Paia bulbs are legal as the have the CSA (Canadian Standards Association) I think it is something to do with the prisms in your headlight compartment that does not properly reflect light. I read that somewhere a long time ago.

 

I did my conversion 12-13 years ago, not many choices for LED replacements then, if the emitters are in the proper position, then your results will be better than mine.

 

The regulators are keen to ensure that your lights don't dazzle on-coming drivers. There are plenty of aftermarket LED bulbs available that have the correct base and connections but have the emitters in a completely random location that bears no resemblance to the halogens that the reflector was intended to use; these would be a Poor Choice. We have to get annual "warrant of fitness" inspections to maintain road worthiness, and the regulators instructed the inspectors to fail any vehicle that had LED installed where halogen was OEM. The UK had the same but have now allowed the tester to pass LEDs provided the beam pattern is correct. I have found "morally flexible" testers who will give me a WOF pass with LED provided I turn up with the halogens in a box...

 

Yes. Everywhere is a little different . Here in Canada if it does not have the CSA (I think we accept Underwriters as well as essentially they are both the same labelling just one is USA and one is Canada. But the CSA is a federal association, but the province of British Columbia where I live, specifically say that all lights on motor vehicle must be CSA approved. If not, it is an opportunity for the LEOs here to present you with a Welcome to BC brochure which demands that you pay a fee of something like $170 or so.