Just asking cos they've been around for a while now.: Do we need headlight protectors?
Any LED Headlight failures/cracked/scratched etc yet ?
- Thread starter GrinningGSer
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Just asking cos they've been around for a while now.: Do we need headlight protectors?
No, you don't need a protector. I've not read of one failure. The headlight "glass" is made of lexan, which is pretty much bulletproof.
fredaroony
Registered user
I put the SW-Motech one on yesterday and not sure how keen I am on the looks of it.
Looked at headlight protectors for my GSA and think most look 
MrMcNamara
Registered user
Just asking cos they've been around for a while now.: Do we need headlight protectors?
Wouldn't recommend any kind of solid protector as LED's killer is heat - hence the large heat sink & cooling fan. as pointed out, the lens is UV protected Lexan (annealed polycarbonate) so pretty much unbreakable! care should be taken cleaning as the lens will scratch & the UV coating can be damaged by harsh cleaners otherwise crack on as normal
conkerman
Registered user
I quite like the BMW one.
I have the BMW one and if you saw two of the chips out of it you want something protecting your LED headlight!
I am happy its out of the protector at £85 and not the LED headlight at loadsa money for sure!
It will take a lot to crack the polycarbonate cover on the LED headlight and I assume that this part is replaceable as it is not actually part of the LEDs, if this is the case then there is no need for a seperate guard.
That's a good point and one, that I doubt, anyone has bothered qualifying
Belt and braces as far as I'm concerned. Who wants to be the first to have a stone shot at your headlight at 100 mph from a lorry in front of you. Easier to have a guard and be sure. It also keeps it clean. Splattered fly's stay on the guard.
My lens has a stone chip so I fitted the cymarc led headlight guard 10k miles ago. No probe as it stands about 10mm away from the led so any heat can escape.
conkerman
Registered user
According to the AS cycles fiche. Lens is integrated into the main unit.
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Sent from my MZ604 using Tapatalk
I put a guard on mine, looks a bit crap, but better than a big hole punched right through the middle of the headlight by a squashed can thrown up by a car as happened to my vfr some years back.
The guard cost me £10.00, how much for a new bmw headlamp.
The guard cost me £10.00, how much for a new bmw headlamp.
MrMcNamara
Registered user
Make sure the heat sink at the bottom (RH when viewed from front) gas plenty of air / is not obscured or overheat could cause failure. My experience with Lexan (lens cover material) is that you can belt it with a hammer - it will mark up but will not break / crack
For sure, the Lexan cover can be removed from the main unit: its just a matter of unclipping it for anyone who dare try:
The problem is that unless anyone knows otherwise, it is not available as a separate part and the whole unit is in excess of £800, I believe.
The problem is that unless anyone knows otherwise, it is not available as a separate part and the whole unit is in excess of £800, I believe.
GS-Jonesy
Registered user
I asked the dealer and they advised that BMW do not supply the lexan lens separately and therefore any damaged lens (I.e bad enough for an MOT fail) would mean a replacement light unit.
I know this lexan stuff is meant to be tough but I'm starting to think a protector and the better safe than sorry approach might be prudent
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I know this lexan stuff is meant to be tough but I'm starting to think a protector and the better safe than sorry approach might be prudent
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I didn't start this thread as another protector thread (I have a protector); the theme is to evaluate if it's really necessary cos there's a lot of UNPROTECTED LED's out there now and if vulnerable, or unreliable, we'd hear the stories; So far the silence is deafening
I'm sure that there are manufacturers of Lexan that could laser cut one for you, if you ever needed it. But you won't.
It took 3 bullets to weaken this piece, before it finally broke.
http://youtu.be/3F6jvoI-zRU
Mine was hit by a stone from a bike in front at low speeds ie below 30 mph and the lens was marked. I have no doubt had it happened at a higher speed I would be forking out for a new or second hand headlight.
A used Cymarc guard was 30 odd quid , plus I don't have the hassle of sourcing and paying for another headlight unit , incidentally when speaking to my dealer about headlight guards they confirmed that they have replaced 3 or 4 led headlights due to stone damage so it does happen.
Now that might not be many in the grand scheme of things but knowing my luck mine would end up as one of them , I would rather stump up for a guard and then sell it on when the bike is sold.
As for lexan being tough , I spent a number of years playing behind riot shields made of a similar material (makrolon) which is also supposed to be almost bullet proof , bollocks , I've seen loads of them crack and even shatter under impact .
UOTE=The Nutty GSER;4211907]I'm sure that there are manufacturers of Lexan that could laser cut one for you, if you ever needed it. But you won't.[/QUOTE]
A used Cymarc guard was 30 odd quid , plus I don't have the hassle of sourcing and paying for another headlight unit , incidentally when speaking to my dealer about headlight guards they confirmed that they have replaced 3 or 4 led headlights due to stone damage so it does happen.
Now that might not be many in the grand scheme of things but knowing my luck mine would end up as one of them , I would rather stump up for a guard and then sell it on when the bike is sold.
As for lexan being tough , I spent a number of years playing behind riot shields made of a similar material (makrolon) which is also supposed to be almost bullet proof , bollocks , I've seen loads of them crack and even shatter under impact .
UOTE=The Nutty GSER;4211907]I'm sure that there are manufacturers of Lexan that could laser cut one for you, if you ever needed it. But you won't.
[/QUOTE]
Mine was hit by a stone from a bike in front at low speeds ie below 30 mph and the lens was marked. I have no doubt had it happened at a higher speed I would be forking out for a new or second hand headlight.
A used Cymarc guard was 30 odd quid , plus I don't have the hassle of sourcing and paying for another headlight unit , incidentally when speaking to my dealer about headlight guards they confirmed that they have replaced 3 or 4 led headlights due to stone damage so it does happen.
Now that might not be many in the grand scheme of things but knowing my luck mine would end up as one of them , I would rather stump up for a guard and then sell it on when the bike is sold.
As for lexan being tough , I spent a number of years playing behind riot shields made of a similar material (makrolon) which is also supposed to be almost bullet proof , bollocks , I've seen loads of them crack and even shatter under impact .
I'm sure that there are manufacturers of Lexan that could laser cut one for you, if you ever needed it. But you won't.
Exactly, it isn't foolproof and at £1200 or so for a new LED headlight, I'd get a guard or just go for the normal headlight................should I need to in future
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