Rear headlight cover and LED option

[2daMax]

Re: Rear Headlight Cover Source? '14+ Tenere.

You wont find any, Cyclops are the only ones, and they will not sell separately. The best you can do is look up another thread where 2daMax made use of plumbing hardware that works well.

Linky: http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=21098.msg309666#msg309666

I have now changed to another H7 LED with a fixed heat sink (no fan). I had to cut the smaller diameter in the axial direction 4X to have the heat sink fit. Still works.

These LED heat sinks are designed to be cooled and being en-cased with a dust cover, that would mean the cooling would be a challenge and leads to shorter LED lifespan.

Am using these H7 LEDs: https://www.nighteyeled.com/products/copy-of-2x-h11-h8-h9-led-car-headlight-light-8000lm-50w-replace-bulb-beam-kit-6000k

It is compact even with the fan-less heat sink and does not have that irritating LED driver cube that I find it hard to place.

 

[mebgardner]

Re: Rear Headlight Cover Source? '14+ Tenere.

2damax: Thanks for posting this information for us, I'm very pleased to see options other than a US$175, fan equipped LED being used.

As part of my education, I understand the physics of how an LED generates and emits light. So, as you previously pointed out, junction temperatures and the removal of heat from that (small) area, is very important.

Did you purchase the 2.5 in., or the 3 in. cap "fixture", from Ace HW?

 

[mebgardner]

Re: Rear Headlight Cover Source? '14+ Tenere.

Linky: http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=21098.msg309666#msg309666

I have now changed to another H7 LED with a fixed heat sink (no fan). I had to cut the smaller diameter in the axial direction 4X to have the heat sink fit. Still works.

These LED heat sinks are designed to be cooled and being en-cased with a dust cover, that would mean the cooling would be a challenge and leads to shorter LED lifespan.

Am using these H7 LEDs: https://www.nighteyeled.com/products/copy-of-2x-h11-h8-h9-led-car-headlight-light-8000lm-50w-replace-bulb-beam-kit-6000k


2damax:

I'm going to ask a few questions regarding this new installation, in a new thread. I think it's important enough to warrant a new thread.

Thanks for your patience with me.

It is compact even with the fan-less heat sink and does not have that irritating LED driver cube that I find it hard to place.

 

[mebgardner]

LED Headlight option with Integrated driver.

We have a forum member, 2damax, who has changed his LED headlight choice from a previous type that uses an external driver "brick" and cooling braids, to a new type that has the driver "brick" electronics integrated into the base of the LED, and cooling via metal "fins".

Some members object to the fugly fan-less "braid" models that have the braid exposed out the back of the headlight enclosure, sealing end cap. It is indeed ugly...

This new style LED promises to remove that objection. It has no braid. It does have cooling fins, and they still need to be exposed to circulating air.

This raises the further objection that the enclosure would not be sealed against the elements (rain, dirt, etc...)

This ingenious fellow devised a method using a readily available, and cheap, rubber "boot" to seal the enclosure, and leave the LED cooling fins exposed.

Voila! Good cooling, mostly sealed enclosure, no brick to fanagle into the enclosure, and cheap to install both for sealing boot and LED lamp selection.

I'm impressed, and want to see some pictures of the install. How about you?

2damax, would you please give us some pictures of what this looks like?

 

[Checkswrecks]

Merged the three threads on this.

mebgardner - Realize that 2DaMax is not in North America and there are a LOT of LED headlight options available in Asia that we will never get in the US or Canada. I've only been to Malaysia a couple of times, but going to car parts stores on work trips to Taipei is fun.

 

[markbxr400]

Regarding the Cyclops covers, I lost one first time out after installing their LED kit. I emailed them and they shipped me a replacement. Just FYI, they recommended a partial bead of RTV sealant once the cover is screwed on to keep it from backing out. A few thousand miles later, including offroad, and both are still there.

 

[2daMax]

Re: Rear Headlight Cover Source? '14+ Tenere.

2damax: Thanks for posting this information for us, I'm very pleased to see options other than a US$175, fan equipped LED being used.

As part of my education, I understand the physics of how an LED generates and emits light. So, as you previously pointed out, junction temperatures and the removal of heat from that (small) area, is very important.

Did you purchase the 2.5 in., or the 3 in. cap "fixture", from Ace HW?

It would be the 3" diameter.

I will post pictures later on the latest LEDs from Nighteye. I bought it off eBay for about US$27. Please choose the LED configuration that matches closest to the original Halogen filaments. Position of the light source is most important since the reflectors/converging lens are designed for the Halogens. Best configuration is the 3 LEDs per side (6 LEDs total).

There are many types, and I made a few errors here and there. I have tried the COB type but they do not shoot as far as the one I had posted for Nighteye.

 

[2daMax]

Pictures of nighteye with rubber part. I need to check my installation, the angle of the heat sink in final position seems different from each other. I think they ought to be the same.

Comparison between the COB type, Halogen, and Nighteye H7.

 

[mebgardner]

Thanks, folks.

I saw those parts on eBay, and wondered if an integrated driver would work out. Looks like: Yes!

There *are* plenty of choices, that's great! Unless the supplier gives the spec for the distance from "base" to "led point source", (ie: not the "base" to "stalk length" that most give), it's probably a crap shoot about whether or not the S10 headlight housing / lens system will allow a proper beam cutoff / light spread / throw distance / beam focus, etcetcetc...

Fortunately, 2damax has already done the legwork on this particular replacement part, and from the picture above, it looks like it should be a good compromise for all the design constraints.

Nice work, 2damax, and thank you very much.

 

[EricV]

@2daMax - Care to comment on THIS style of bulb? First time I've seen this type of fully contained COB LED bulb. I do wonder about heat dissipation, but at the price point, I may give them a try just to broaden the knowledge base on LED lights, for the Super Tenere forum.

There are various versions of this type, of varying wattage and claimed lumen output. These claim 60 watts and 6000 lm each, so drawing comparable power to the oem halogen bulbs and significantly more power draw than the NightEye's 25 watts per unit, but a bit more lumens too.

 

[mebgardner]

A careful look at eBay offerings turns up many varieties that look like they could be suitable, but fall apart when looking at the particulars.

Using this term "Fanless H7 LED" turns up 269 offerings today.

However, they each have a problem: Either they have a brick, and / or braid, some only emit one-sided, some use the "COP" type LED (not a true "point source"), some are lower power. They can look identical to the item 2damax points at.

A differentiator appears to be the designation "Seoul CSP" type of LEDs.

I have problems with the descriptions, too. Some say "50 W" in the title, and the description does not. Some say "20 W" per bulb, and then say 4000 LM. I cn not tell if that is the total of the two bulbs offered, or for each bulb. They're very confusing to "decode".

I will say, the NightEye units 2damax bought, is very clear in their descriptions, and documentation.

Ummm, I just realized I sound like I work for them. I don't, and I have no affiliation with them. Just to be clear, y'know?

 

[EricV]

Did you look at the link I posted in the previous post? IT is a fanless LED, but not with a heat sink and of a different design from what I've seen discussed previously.

 

[snakebitten]

Buy em Eric!!!

Then let us know. I'm really curious and the price is a no brainer, regardless of life expectancy.


I'm HID because my upgrades were pre-the current LED rage.
And since they haven't given me a moment of trouble, I'll let them continue to brighten the night.
(I have plenty of auxiliary lighting after Jaxon plastered the bike with squadrons)

 

[EricV]

Buy em Eric!!!

Then let us know. I'm really curious and the price is a no brainer, regardless of life expectancy.

Enabler!! Bought two just now.

I took off the HID low beam aux light and the 10º spot LED lights from the '12 and haven't yet mounted them to the '15. I'm not planning on mounting the single DOT legal HID, though I loved being able to use it in traffic w/o blinding oncoming cars. I don't do much night riding and the wife can't see well at night, (LASIC near/far), but I also really liked how hitting the flash to pass with the high beams and 10º spots coming on really got people's attention.

 

[mebgardner]

Eric:

Yes, of course I looked at them. You requested a response from 2damax, and so I did not impose myself with my opinion. I'm a new guy here, I believed that would not go over well...

Since you're asking, however, here's my .02:

They have a broad emitting interface. That is, they're the worst of the bunch of offerings to not emit a point source.

They have both side and front emitters. So, whatever light they emit, will be from two directions. I think the light from the front emitters will be wasted, since it will not focus, and it will also scatter broadly.

The heat generated will have to be conducted through the base. That may melt your housing, around the base. Its going to get very hot there.

+1 for fanless, +1 for brickless, +1 for braidless.

You want to watch that housing carefully for heat around the base. Frankly, I would not do it.

I bought these today, for less than $30 and free shipping, from a US warehouse:
"Nighteye H7 8000LM LED Headlight Conversion Kit Car Bulb Fog Driving Light 6500K ",

... from eBay.

I searched for higher lm units, I did not find any above 8000 lm.

 

[EricV]

Actually mebgardner, I welcome your input, same as any member here. 2daMax has just been playing with the LED headlights more than most of us, thus the shout out. We all have different backgrounds and knowledge bases. That's the great thing about the forum. ::008::

I have only minimal knowledge/experience with LED automotive lighting. Some of the basic laws still apply. Some watts in usually equals some light out. Resistance makes heat. Not all lumens are equal. Not all advertising is true.

If I can safely run 65 watt halogen Osram Nightbreakers in the Super Ten's housing, I'm going to consider that running the 60 watt LED bulbs won't be seriously hotter at the metal base. That may, or may not, be true. Time will tell and it was a cheap investment for the experiment, if I'm attentive. 8)

And while I'll spend money on some things, I won't on others. In the last 2k miles of riding I barely got to use my high beams, even during the SS1K run from Portland, OR to St George, UT. Not because it wasn't dark, but because the roads I was on had too much traffic at night to allow high beam use. That's one reason I loved my HID DOT legal low beam light. I don't need as much light now. Not doing endurance rallies any more and less over all night riding. That makes me un-willing to drop $175 on the Cyclops kit, despite it's good reputation.

 

[snakebitten]

Mebgardner, may I second Eric in stating on this forum, any genuine opinion is welcomed. I don't think you have to earn your wings to contribute here.

As for Eric possibly jumping on an inferior product,.....you can plainly see he has left himself an "out" by blaming me.
However, I'd like to point out that even a cheap court appointed representative should be able to successfully argue the point that my encouragement was far short of an arm-twist. Lol

Eric is simply enjoying that wonderful, but often short lived, new-bike acquisition honeymoon. And he has earned it, unlike myself. He puts 100,000 miles on a bike before treating himself. (Ridiculously reasonable on his part) I admit to living vicariously through him. A bit of usurping, if you will.

Enjoying this thread.

 

[EricV]

Eric:

Yes, of course I looked at them.

Just checking. ::008::

They have a broad emitting interface. That is, they're the worst of the bunch of offerings to not emit a point source.

Dayam, sounds just like halogen...

They have both side and front emitters. So, whatever light they emit, will be from two more directions. I think the light from the front emitters will be wasted, since it will not focus, and it will also scatter broadly.

Fixed that for you. Again, sounds like halogen. HID even has shields over the front in low beam versions, to avoid blinding drivers.

The heat generated will have to be conducted through the base. That may melt your housing, around the base. Its going to get very hot there.

+1 for fanless, +1 for brickless, +1 for braidless.

You want to watch that housing carefully for heat around the base. Frankly, I would not do it.

Thanks for sharing your opinion. Really. ::012:: I agree that optimally, fanless, brickless and braidless would be ideal for our application. And I agree, heat will be conducted thru the base. Metal conducts heat very well. Having melted wiring connectors on my '12 and changed over to ceramic before the recall, I'm somewhat familiar with these issues. ;D

I searched for higher lm units, I did not find any above 8000 lm.

Keep in mind that the Nighteye units are 4000 each, so a total of 8000 lm. Excellent output for the watts used.

There are a lot of higher lumen LED kits, not sure if any met your specified requirements. Problem is, some of them are well over 100 watts, some even over 200 watts. Now that would be a heck of a power draw, fan or no fan, heat sink or no heat sink, braid or no braid, for the Super Ten's wiring harness and enclosed light pod design.

As far as Snakebitten living vicariously thru me, you better be wearing your hip waders. Have you seen his bike!? "Pimped out" doesn't begin to describe that beauty. Look up "One Off" in the Super Tenere dictionary and you'll find a pic of SB's bike.

Still, I am aiming for homeless vagabond status to wander around on motorcycles with my wife, so things could be worse. And hey! I hardly bought any new stuff for the '15. I had to get a few things because they wouldn't transfer over, or I was too nice a guy and left them on the '12, but a man's got to have heated grips! ::025::

 

[snakebitten]

Homeless vagabond status.........

You should know I've paid close attention to your recent life-change plans. And I've secretly applauded them.
Why?
Because I know some things. Haha
I hope you find it as liberating as it can be.

I'm not homeless, technically. But the Tenere cost more than the house. Lol

 

[EricV]

The Dude abides.

The other aspect for my wife is, If not now, when?

I'm easy, if she's happy, I'm happy.

I will report on the LED "bulbs" I bought when they come in. Shipping from CA, so shouldn't take too long. (thread content!)