Headlights are an important feature of motorcycles, not only to illuminate your way but also to make you visible on the road. Great lighting on your motorcycle means the difference between a safe ride home or not.
Let us understand the pros and cons of using LED and Halogen headlights on your Harley.
Halogen lighting is the most commonly used type of headlight in motor vehicles, including motorcycles, and is a type of incandescent light that uses a wire attached to a halogen-filled bulb.
When these bulbs are turned on, they send an electrical current through these filaments. The current flow heats the tungsten filament until it turns white with heat, at which point it will begin to emit light.
One of the drawbacks of this type of light bulb is that it can become hot due to the amount of energy it takes to illuminate it; this heat may be enough to discolor your bike’s headlight housing.
However, the simple design of the bulbs means that they are very cheap and easy to replace. A halogen light bulb can last about 2000 hours or roughly two years if you drive for about 3 hours a day.
On the other hand, LED headlights for Harley do not use filaments as halogen bulbs do. Instead, they are made of semiconductors that emit photons when powered, resulting in an emission of light.
LED lights require more sophisticated electronic devices that can include heat sinks and fans, which are naturally more expensive to produce. The advantage here is that they use less electricity and last longer than traditional halogen lights.
Although they do generate some heat, it is not as much as compared to Halogen bulbs. Unlike halogen lights, LED lights can last up to 20,000 hours. This is the reason why many Harley riders love to upgrade their headlight to LEDs.
The popularity of LED motorcycle lights means that they are being mass-produced, with alternative designs, even for older motorcycles. Some of these designs include signature designs, halo rings, and even projector-style headlights.
With LEDs, manufacturers can create sophisticated designs that are incredibly easy on the eyes. These bulbs are also becoming increasingly popular with adventurous motorcyclists as they offer excellent lighting for riding on an off-road track.
However, a downside is that LEDs headlights are an expensive alternative to halogen bulbs. Also, replacing bulbs is not just an easy option if you want to go with LED lighting since you will need to replace the entire lighting system on your bike.
Simply put, this means that you cannot replace your existing halogen bulb with HID or lead and the entire lighting unit must be replaced.
Legal guidelines should always be considered when deciding to switch from halogen to LED lights. There are some gray areas in terms of the legality of LED replacement, and with so many products on the aftermarket scene, you can spend money on something that cannot legally fit on your bike.