LED Headlights for F3S - Which Way To Go?

[SpyderHands]

I know there has been some other posts here on the forum about this subject, however I"ve not found a thread that was "F3/F3S" specific.

If one were going to change out their OEM headlamps for the LED's, which manufacturer is best suited for this bike out of the box? I've read posts on TricLED and Lamonster's kits, however I am a bit confused when I read that the low beam and high beams seem to be the same direction and brightness in some situations, while others are amping up the bragging on the same bulb kit.

I read where another person purchased some and saw no difference and sent them back and went and installed another bulb ("PIAA") that was even better for HALF the investment.

Please share your opinionated experience ASAP.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond.

 

[JKMSPYDER]

LED HEADLAMPS

​I installed LED headlamps from Tricled last year and love them. They put out so much light vs the OEM headlamps.

 

[SpyderHands]

​I installed LED headlamps from Tricled last year and love them. They put out so much light vs the OEM headlamps.

What about the direction, low beam/high beam noticeable differences?

Any adjustments needed out of the box?

 

[UtahPete]

What about the direction, low beam/high beam noticeable differences? Any adjustments needed out of the box?

I have an RTL and I don't know how the headlights differ from the bike you have. But, after installing TricLED's package I had no need to adjust them. They're pretty much a direct replacement for the OEM halogen bulb in the housing (which is the part that takes the adjustment for direction of the projected light).

With the RT, there is no separate 'filament' or set of LED's for the lower and upper beams. This is accomplished with an electrically actuated shutter built into the housing. I found this out the hard way because one of my headlights wouldn't switch between low and high and it was because I had placed the LED components in the housing in such a way that they interfered with the shutter.

Don't know if this helps or not.

 

[bscrive]

I am the guy that put the PIAA lights on my wife's F3.

Lately, there was thread about a guy that bought some YITA LED lights on evil bay and he liked them pretty well. I bought a set of H4 for my wife's F3 and put them on. They do have a distinguishable high and low beam, but my wife has yet to drive her bike at night to try them. They work well in the garage, but that is not a real test. We will have the bikes out this weekend and I will try her bike at night to see how they are.

Send me a PM if you want the url to the ones I bought.

Brian

 

[cmarsala]

LED Lights

I know there has been some other posts here on the forum about this subject, however I"ve not found a thread that was "F3/F3S" specific.

If one were going to change out their OEM headlamps for the LED's, which manufacturer is best suited for this bike out of the box? I've read posts on TricLED and Lamonster's kits, however I am a bit confused when I read that the low beam and high beams seem to be the same direction and brightness in some situations, while others are amping up the bragging on the same bulb kit.

I read where another person purchased some and saw no difference and sent them back and went and installed another bulb ("PIAA") that was even better for HALF the investment.

Please share your opinionated experience ASAP.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond.

I installed Lamonster LED lights, in this attached picture you can see the difference between stock and LED, it's like day and night, hi/low beam is fine. Installation is pretty straight forward, while I had everything apart I also installed Lamonster Fog Lights, also an easy install this is an F3S, I've also did a few other upgrades, 2 up rear shock, BajaRon sway bar, an F4 windshield:doorag::doorag:

 

[Firefly]

I have Lamont's LED's on my F3 and they're pretty good, but the pattern while on 'bright' leaves some voids on each side.

No bulb of equal lumens, including the PIAA is going to be any brighter than stock. They are tinted to be a bit blue, but that doesn't make them brighter. You have to get more lumens out to be brighter. Some LED's accomplish this. HID's for sure accomplish this and are usually able to scatter the light better than LED's. I've never seen any LED that matched my old HID's I ran on my GS.

That being said, both kits from TricLed and Lamont are good kits. Can't speak for the other kit mentioned that someone out here loved, but having LED's on all four sides made good sense to me. Not sure how they're handling low vs. high beams on those.

My main reason for the swap was I knew I would have it all torn down and didn't want to have to mess with a burnt out bulb sometime while on the road. The LED's should last the lifetime of your bike.

 

[SpyderHands]

I installed Lamonster LED lights, in this attached picture you can see the difference between stock and LED, it's like day and night, hi/low beam is fine. Installation is pretty straight forward, while I had everything apart I also installed Lamonster Fog Lights, also an easy install this is an F3S, I've also did a few other upgrades, 2 up rear shock, BajaRon sway bar, an F4 windshield:doorag::doorag:

View attachment 150912

Thank you for your reply.

Installation video for LED headlight install for the F3S anywhere?

 

[Firefly]

Thank you for your reply.

Installation video for LED headlight install for the F3S anywhere?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3tQ2XSWrXI#action=share

 

[Dave7691]

I installed Lamonster LED and fog lights and love them.

 

[SpyderHands]

I installed Lamonster LED and fog lights and love them.

Thank you! :clap:

 

[SpyderHands]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3tQ2XSWrXI#action=share

Thank you! :thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

Lamonster Garage, versus TricLEDs??? :dontknow:
I would hate to have to live on the difference between them.
They're BOTH good choices! :clap:

 

[jcthorne]

Having installed both Tric and Lamonster, I have to give the nod to Lamonster Garage on the headlight replacement LEDs.

 

[Machinegunner]

We used the LEDs from Xenon Depot because at the time Lamont and Reggie did not offer them. We think ours work fantastic compared to stock.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Poor Side Focus

I have Lamont's LED's on my F3 and they're pretty good, but the pattern while on 'bright' leaves some voids on each side.

No bulb of equal lumens, including the PIAA is going to be any brighter than stock. They are tinted to be a bit blue, but that doesn't make them brighter. You have to get more lumens out to be brighter. Some LED's accomplish this. HID's for sure accomplish this and are usually able to scatter the light better than LED's. I've never seen any LED that matched my old HID's I ran on my GS.

That being said, both kits from TricLed and Lamont are good kits. Can't speak for the other kit mentioned that someone out here loved, but having LED's on all four sides made good sense to me. Not sure how they're handling low vs. high beams on those.

My main reason for the swap was I knew I would have it all torn down and didn't want to have to mess with a burnt out bulb sometime while on the road. The LED's should last the lifetime of your bike.

Did you try rotating the lamp in lamp socket ? ... It can be turned 1/4 and that would completely change the light pattern ....... Triclid's were great out of the box....... IMHO , Lamont or one of His minions could adjust them so when He gets them they are correct when He sells them ...... once the correct position is determined ... the LED stick will either have to be turned or not ..... right now the consumer has to figure it out ....... just a thought ....... Mike :thumbup:

 

[SpyderHands]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3tQ2XSWrXI#action=share

Not wanting to be technical, however that video is on a Limited model which has different access points.

 

[SpyderHands]

I am disassembling my F3S to get ready to install my LED's and when I get to the headlight assembly itself, after i've removed the 4 screws that hold it into the frame, there is very little play to pull it out to install the actual bulbs into the back of the headlight fixture!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Can anyone help? Is there something else I need to do to loosen it up to get more hand room to get in behind the headlight to access the bulb port????

PLEASE HELP ASAP.

Thank you!!! :yikes:

 

[ABQSpyder]

I am disassembling my F3S to get ready to install my LED's and when I get to the headlight assembly itself, after i've removed the 4 screws that hold it into the frame, there is very little play to pull it out to install the actual bulbs into the back of the headlight fixture!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Can anyone help? Is there something else I need to do to loosen it up to get more hand room to get in behind the headlight to access the bulb port????

PLEASE HELP ASAP.

Thank you!!! :yikes:

Say what???? WOW:yikes:
You don't need to take the Headlight Assy out! I'd stop what your doing stand back and reevaluate the situation. There's a clip that holds the Bulb in just remove the clip pull the bulb out install new Bulb put clip back on bingo! I've change the bulbs multiple times from factory to HID's to LED's didn't pull out fixture. Like I said STOP!!!
Do you have a manual?? If not go on line and get One!

 

[SpyderHands]

Say what???? WOW:yikes:
You don't need to take the Headlight Assy out! I'd stop what your doing stand back and reevaluate the situation. There's a clip that holds the Bulb in just remove the clip pull the bulb out install new Bulb put clip back on bingo! I've change the bulbs multiple times from factory to HID's to LED's didn't pull out fixture. Like I said STOP!!!
Do you have a manual?? If not go on line and get One!

Thanks for stopping by.

I have the manual. There's no way to get the bulb out of the back of the headlight without removing those 4 screws and pulling the headlight out. Otherwise, there's no room to get my hand in behind between the internal frame, braces, and other components in that same area. I'm just trying to figure out how to get more play to get in behind the fixture to remove the boot and so forth. That's my dilemma. :sour::banghead: