LED Headlight Upgrade on RTLC

[Yonkyo]

I've finally managed to source a decent (actually very good) LED marker, that's at least as bright as a HID bulb.

Its the new Philips LUXEON 6000K LED. And i'm very impressed with it, as i've had one on my Ducati during my recent 2000mile blast around France and Spain, where it performed brilliantly (literally).

So i've now put one in my RT...

DRL's only - All taken in bright sunlight.



Low Beam LED



Low Beam and LED Aux's



+ High Beam - OEM Halogen (i'll also be changing these for LEDs soon)




And some night shots.









As you'll know, changing the Low Beam bulb is a fiddly fucker, as you have to do it my feel alone. So fitting the LED and Ballast was quite tricky, but it all went in, and only took me about 15 mins.

 

[Capt Over-reaction]

That looks like a job well done, well interested, just a few questions.

Any pics of the install, where did you put the ballast, did you have to drill the cap.

What is the heat like from the cooling braid do you think it may melt the screw on bulb cover plastic, and last but not least, do you get the bulb fail symbol on the instrument panel.

Sorry just one more, did you compare the before and after light throw against the garage doors.

 

[dmilne]

So why is the LED better than the HID.
I had a HID on my GS and it was .... nuclear..
Now have a RT LC with just one dipped beam unlike the previous model with 2. I fancy a bright and RELIABLE replacement dip, so why LED?

Thanks

Dave

 

[Yonkyo]

Ooh lots of questions.

Install pics not possible, as I did it blind and by feel only. Accessing the low beam is a PITA unless you strip the front end.
Everything fitted inside the headlight housing, but it's a tight fit, and so far no problems with heat.

No problems with the Canbus either. No Lampf warnings.

Beam spread looks the same as OEM bulb but much brighter and whiter (the photo doesn't do it justice).

I haven't had the opportunity to ride the RT on a dark country road yet. But the LED is excellent on my Ducati.

 

[Yonkyo]

So why is the LED better than the HID.
I had a HID on my GS and it was .... nuclear..
Now have a RT LC with just one dipped beam unlike the previous model with 2. I fancy a bright and RELIABLE replacement dip, so why LED?

Thanks

Dave

The new generation of LEDs are just as bright as HIDs, but they should last longer, run cooler and not burn your reflector, plus use less power.
Also the ballast is much smaller.

So just as good as a HID, but without all the drawbacks......oh and LEDs are cheaper.

I think HIDs will become obsolite within a year or so.

 

[Fluffmeister]

I know what you mean about access, I fitted a Philips Xtreme +130 to my dip as the RT was a step backwards from my GS TE LED Headlamp (Also did a pair of Philips +130 on the mains). That is very bright and very white, but this looks good, do you have a link to where you sourced it from please?

 

[Yonkyo]

I have previously bought LEDs for my van from here http://www.horizonleds.co.uk/h7-philips-luxeon-led-headlight, they are very expensive, but UK based.

However, i bought the RT/Ducati H7's from here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331430472818?euid=c8d4f5e0a3564a0faf497b2be28f29b6&cp=1 a lot cheaper, and they look identical, and perform exactly the same.

 

[Fluffmeister]

Thanks

 

[theloudbloke]

Thanks for posting, did you just install the ballasts in line as part of the harness or mount them somewhere?

Ted

 

[Yonkyo]

The ballast was just about small enough to fit inside the headlight housing, but it is a tight fit and as i said, a very fiddly job without stripping the fairing off.

 

[Bendy toy]

I've got Les Wassal HIDs on my Hexhead GSA. Are you saying the new LED bulbs beat HID 50 kits?

 

[Fluffmeister]

Some of the good quality Philips kits are not to far off mate, needs to mature a little more IMHO but it will replace HID technology in 12-24 months IMHO

 

[Yonkyo]

Some of the good quality Philips kits are not to far off mate, needs to mature a little more IMHO but it will replace HID technology in 12-24 months IMHO

+1 what Fluff said.

I also had a full set of Wassal HIDs on my last GSA, great kit, but lots of chunky wiring, connectors, ballasts and converter box, and of course the fragile bulb.
These next gen LEDs offer an excellent compact alternative.

Whats the bet that Les will be offering the LEDs alternative soon..

 

[Flipfly]

It's not just about brighter, it's about distance, and this is where HID still kicks LEDs into a cocked hat. I'm a big fan of LED, I have a fantastic set of led spotlights fitted to my bike, but...I still run HiD in the dipped and main beam because the spread of LED is excellent and the intensity is fantastic, but the penetration of the beam is definitely lacking in comparison. The HiD distance is a good 20% further than the LED. The issue is with the LED lense, there is technology to get great distance with LED, but not as an aftermarket option.
It will get there, but IMHO LED are still an auxiliary system, and should not be used on the main lighting until it gets a bit better.

If you use the lights to be seen it doesn't matter, but I like night riding and it needs to be as good as possible to be of interest to me right now.

 

[mercuryf1]

However, i bought the RT/Ducati H7's from here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331430472818?euid=c8d4f5e0a3564a0faf497b2be28f29b6&cp=1 a lot cheaper, and they look identical, and perform exactly the same.

Is one set sufficient to successfully do the whole conversion?

 

[mercuryf1]

However, i bought the RT/Ducati H7's from here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331430472818?euid=c8d4f5e0a3564a0faf497b2be28f29b6&cp=1 a lot cheaper, and they look identical, and perform exactly the same.

By ordering one set from the supplier above is enough to successfully do the conversion?

 

[Fluffmeister]

There is only one H7 bulb so you would end up with a spare, I'd buy that from you if interested

 

[Yonkyo]

By ordering one set from the supplier above is enough to successfully do the conversion?

Unfortunately not. the RTLC uses 1 x H7 (Dipped beam) and 2 x H1 (main beam).

So a set of H1's will convert your mainbeam bulbs, but you will be left with a spare H7, which you can use in another vehicle.

 

[dmilne]

Mine just arrived in the post.

"As you'll know, changing the Low Beam bulb is a fiddly fucker, as you have to do it my feel alone. So fitting the LED and Ballast was quite tricky, but it all went in, and only took me about 15 mins."

WHAT??!!

"Install pics not possible, as I did it blind and by feel only. Accessing the low beam is a PITA unless you strip the front end"

How in Goodness name did you do it in 15 mins?? --unless you had a 10 year old double jointed boy handy...

I've just managed to connect the bulb to see how bright it is. Left arm coming up from below, right arm holding the OEM connector from above.

LED doesn't come on with the ignition on as the OEM does, but lights up with the engine running.

15 mins.... does that include the time taken to remove the front suspension completely???

I'll try again later and let you know how I get on....

 

[Fluffmeister]

For those that have done the LED bulb swap, how are you dealing with the cooling wire's / strands? I've got a Philips Xtreme Vision +130 in mine at the moment, which I did do by feel in about 15 minutes (and I have the dexterity of a 1970's British professional wrestler after several pints of Ansell's Bitter), but I like the look of this LED and the match to the DRL's.