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[MrBlc]

A colleague tipped me of this website earlier today.
His BMW was apparently a very good fit with these LED lights.
It seems they have a package for Zero bikes as well.
So.. I'm curious.. Any of you have experience with these?
Link:
https://www.clearwaterlights.com/products/darla-zero-ds-dsr

[ESokoloff]

Sorry, no experience with Clearwater’s as I went a different route with my 16 DSR.

I replaced the incandescent head & running light bulbs with LED’s as well as the turn signals.
This free’s up some electrons for heated grips, duel horns, LED’s running lights (only 10w each), as well as several additional running, stop, & turn indicator LED’s.
I used a SPDT relay for the horns & ran the power for my heated undershirt through its Normally Closed contact as the stock power supply is very limited (especially for riders used to nearly unlimited power from a conventional ICE bike (BMW in my case).


You’ll likely be Ok with just adding the additional 48watts load but I would consider also converting to LED headlight & running light.

[MrBlc]

Thanks for the reply.

Any suggestions for good LED replacements in the main light?

[Crissa]

I'd love to know.  The light a serious downgrade from my lane-following HIDs on my Mazda, and it gets dark in the mountains pretty early.

Looks like the headlight housing on the 2014 S comes off pretty easily, and I'm not shy about it being a several-hundred dollar component.  It's dang important at night.

[ESokoloff]

Thanks for the reply.

Any suggestions for good LED replacements in the main light?

I hesitate to recommend what I've got as I had customer support issues with this vender on the 10w aux lights I also purchased from them. 

I believe this is what I have...
http://stores.advmonster.com/h4-r3-led-headlight/
Please confirm these fit your application. 
It uses thermal conductivity (copper??) ribbon so no fan. 
It doesn't have a shield over the emitter so some light gets wasted bouncing up out of the headlight reflector. I don't get flashed by passing opposing vehicles so the light output/pattern's not offensive to others.
I believe it does do a better job of projecting light as compared to stock but I also have the additional 2@10w aux lights & my commute is mostly lit up with overhead/street lights.


2+ years later they now have 30+k miles and have performed with no issues. 
The downside is they are not plug & play.
The stock halogen bulb has a thin SS flange & the plastic locking ring is relatively thick.
This LED emitter has a relatively thick plastic flange so I had to make a thin steel locking ring (I think I ended up using the lid of a tin can).

Perhaps there is a better bulb out there so do some additional research. 
My thought with this vender is you will make out Ok if all goes well but if you have a warranty issue........... Good luck.

[MrBlc]

Thank you
I have a DSR as well, so my exp would most likely be close to yours..
Granted, driving season is nearing it's end this year, but sunup/sundown times are closing in on my commuting times so increased lighting is desireable.
I live in an area where streetlights are few and far between, so the need to see what is happening besides the road is paramount.
ie: this morning i had to contend with both a deer and a cat close to the road. Fortunately, i knew about both before i left the house, but activity increases when darkness lasts longer.

[RG2019]

I have this one;

https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/32954493346.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.57e54c4djk6sxO

Very cheap It works perfectly!

[MrBlc]

@RG2019
located in .nl i see..
I have purchased stuff through AliExpress before. Noticing how they write the data for batteries i also noticed this:
High Brightness Max 8000Lm, Normal 6120Lm
And then, further down on the page (almost at bottom):
https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1OeNzX0jvK1RjSspiq6AEqXXaS.jpg
Effectively halving the lumen output for 1 bulb use..

So.. This leads me to ask a few questions:
- How long have you used this bulb?
- Think you could grab a picture from a dark area with it?
  - Curious to see how the light cone forms on Lo.
- Does Hi and Lo work simultaneously at Hi?

[RG2019]

NL indeed! I have the 8000Lm but off course you never know what you get
 
- I am using it now for about 3000km.
- Yes, I can do this tonight. It is now 12AM here.
- Will make some pics
- Will check that for you

ASAP

[RG2019]

Here some pics by daylight.

[RG2019]

By the way; here in Holland it is not allowed to replace a normal lightbuld with a LED lightbuld.
Something to do with the reflectors, but I don't care...
Don't know were you are living and if that is a problem.

[MrBlc]

Nice
Thanks

I'm located in the same timezone, just much further north, so.. I know it's not quite dark yet.

@ESokoloff
This is interesting. Their R4 struggles with the same plastic ring design.. Sad that this is making installation that much more cumbersome. Even so. It's a very interesting alternative.

I have noticed places like AliExpress is filled with H4 LED alternatives, but it's quite a jungle out there and i suspect i'm not the only one looking for other peoples experience. I really appreciate the inputs received so far.

[ESokoloff]

Effectively halving the lumen output for 1 bulb use..

What may be going on is that the vender is listing the TOTAL output for a pair (2) of the bulbs. 
Very misleading
Considering that this bulb is less then a 10th of the AdvMonster, you can afford to experiment a bit especially if you have auxiliary lights.

[RG2019]

More pics

[RG2019]

Somebody else drove my bike yesterday and I was driving in front of it.
The LED headlight was very annoying for me because of the brigntness.
Maybe I should adjust it a bit lower.
On the other hand... Now you can't miss me...