LED Driving lights make my Valk headlight look like yellow snow

[runedisc]

Hi newbie Doug here again,

I just bought some DJI4X4 LED Light Bar 2Pcs 48W Cube LED Pods" from Amazon
 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MT7OLT4

and mounted them on my engine guards with

https://www.amazon.com/GS-Bracket-Mounting-Motorcycle-Antenna/dp/B06XZWYZ65/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1498713346&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=r+GS+Power%27s+Bracket+Mounting+Clamp+for+1.25%E2%80%9D

They look great! I got a Kuryaken  Master Cylinder Reservoir Cover Accessory Switch, used bosch relays to wire them and they fill in the low ground in front and at the low side the headlight doesn't hit.

When I was adjusting them I realized, my headlight looks like crap.  Compared to the LED's, it is dingy and yellow.

What do I do?  Is there a non LED answer?  Do I buy an LED headlight?  I don't care!  I just want the lights to be somewhere around the same color.

I know LED's make a lot of heat.  Will that be an issue?

I like really bright far reaching lights.  What is the best?

Your help will be greatly appreciated!

thank you,
Doug
Red/Black Valkyrie in Napa, CA

I know there are at least a couple of other Valkyries in Napa.  Give me a shout out.  Or maybe just a message.

Ride safe all!

[Leathel]

I just fitted a 100/90 watt blue tone bulb and it looks similar to the LED spots.... not sure I like it better for lighting over the warm tone headlight...... will give it some time.

It does match the LED color pretty well....Cant remember the brand ATM

[Bagger John - #3785]

Yellow snow?

Don't eat that.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Don't know about the lights. But you've got some great riding in your area. I lived in Napa for a year while going to school at Mare Island. 

[Gryphon Rider]

You're concerned about the mismatched light colour, but not about industrial-looking, black, square lights beside your beautiful, chrome, round headlight?

An H4 style LED bulb in your headlight will produce less heat than any halogen bulb.

[Bagger John - #3785]

You're concerned about the mismatched light colour, but not about industrial-looking, black, square lights beside your beautiful, chrome, round headlight?

An H4 style LED bulb in your headlight will produce less heat than any halogen bulb.

I bought a pretty decent one from Rivco at the '16 IX Center Motorcycle Show. My next lighting update is to fit a set of DayMakers to the headlight + spots.

[Itinifni]

I just added the finishing touches to my headlight(s) project.

I wanted to keep the stock headlight look because I like the large clear lens and fluted reflector. I could have gotten much more light out of a Daymaker but the style wasn't what I was looking for.
I purchased this bulb from Electrical connection. http://electricalconnection.com/index.php/product/led-headlight-bulb-h4/
The light pattern is identical to the stock H4, a little brighter than the stock but not as bright as the 80/100 Halogen I had in the bike.
Color temp is in the 6k range.

Now a quick side note on color temp and opinion. I'm not a fan of the higher color temps, particularly for long range lighting. I find they seem to wash things out and reduce depth perception, just my opinion. See the chart below for color temp info, for reference Halogen is around 3.2k.


I would have preferred something in the 4.5-5k range but right now they're hard to find, I think it's because warmer color temps put out less lumens and companies want to advertise big numbers.

I then purchased 4 led lamps that I believe are identical to these (paid a fraction of the price on a Chinese website).
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-light-pods/2-round-10-watt-led-mini-auxiliary-work-light/1386/
Nicely chromed housing that I think looks correct for the bike.
The original drivers were 8 watts, replaced with 15 watt drivers. Replaced the original 6-6.5k LEDs with Cree XM-L2s at 5k and installed elliptical optics in two lights for use on low beam and spot optics in two for use on high beam.

For the real long range illumination I installed two 130 watt halogen KC Highlights.

I haven't found any long range LED lamps available for a reasonable price. To get a good spot light with an LED you need a large, deep reflector because the LED needs to be at the back of the reflector. Most of the LED light manufacturers want to advertise lumens (amount of light) not lux (throw). It's easy to achieve lumens, just add more LEDs.

This is what my set up looks like (pay no attention to the dirty bike).




Auxiliary lights are switched from high to low with the headlight and any of the pairs can be turned off with a separate switch.

Here is a color comparison, also note the pattern of the LED in the OEM headlight.
Headlight, highbeam:


Headlight, highbeam + highbeam LEDs


Headlight, highbeam = highbeam LEDs + KC Highlights

[pancho]

Dude, you got some serious light,, I like it.  Looks like your garage door is about to melt in the last picture.

[Itinifni]

I can feel the heat from the KCs from about 5 feet away. The one draw-back is on an open stretch of road moths have about a mile to get lined up on my face shield.

[Steel cowboy]

You should get a VOM on the battery and see what the voltage draw is. Make sure the alternator can keep up.

[Itinifni]

I only use the halogen spots when I'm the open road (typically at speed). High or low beam with the auxiliary lights on total current for headlights is about 52 watts, a little less than the stock low beam.

High beam with the KC lights draws about 315 watts, a decent load but not a problem for the 546 watt alternator.

[Funbaldguy]

Check out Josh's day maker bracket for Valkyrie here and YouTube. Yes I did.

[DK]

I just added the finishing touches to my headlight(s) project.

I wanted to keep the stock headlight look because I like the large clear lens and fluted reflector. I could have gotten much more light out of a Daymaker but the style wasn't what I was looking for.
I purchased this bulb from Electrical connection. http://electricalconnection.com/index.php/product/led-headlight-bulb-h4/
The light pattern is identical to the stock H4, a little brighter than the stock but not as bright as the 80/100 Halogen I had in the bike.
Color temp is in the 6k range.

What is the address of the Chinese site where you found the cheaper lights?
Now a quick side note on color temp and opinion. I'm not a fan of the higher color temps, particularly for long range lighting. I find they seem to wash things out and reduce depth perception, just my opinion. See the chart below for color temp info, for reference Halogen is around 3.2k.


I would have preferred something in the 4.5-5k range but right now they're hard to find, I think it's because warmer color temps put out less lumens and companies want to advertise big numbers.

I then purchased 4 led lamps that I believe are identical to these (paid a fraction of the price on a Chinese website).
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-light-pods/2-round-10-watt-led-mini-auxiliary-work-light/1386/
Nicely chromed housing that I think looks correct for the bike.
The original drivers were 8 watts, replaced with 15 watt drivers. Replaced the original 6-6.5k LEDs with Cree XM-L2s at 5k and installed elliptical optics in two lights for use on low beam and spot optics in two for use on high beam.

For the real long range illumination I installed two 130 watt halogen KC Highlights.

I haven't found any long range LED lamps available for a reasonable price. To get a good spot light with an LED you need a large, deep reflector because the LED needs to be at the back of the reflector. Most of the LED light manufacturers want to advertise lumens (amount of light) not lux (throw). It's easy to achieve lumens, just add more LEDs.

This is what my set up looks like (pay no attention to the dirty bike).




Auxiliary lights are switched from high to low with the headlight and any of the pairs can be turned off with a separate switch.

Here is a color comparison, also note the pattern of the LED in the OEM headlight.
Headlight, highbeam:


Headlight, highbeam + highbeam LEDs


Headlight, highbeam = highbeam LEDs + KC Highlights