The main reason I don't "upgrade" to an LED "bulb" is the same reason your LED upgrade "bulb" was listed as "for off road use only". The reason it is listed as "for off road use only" is because it CAN NOT be DOT certified. Why can't it? There are plenty of factory, DOT certified LED headlights on newer bikes.
The reason is your LED replacement "bulb" can not emit light in a 360 degree pattern like the standard bulb did. Why is that a problem for the DOT? They regulate the spread pattern, both high and low beam, that headlights emit. The reflector in most of our headlights was designed to collect and focus the light from a standard light bulb, whose dimensions, filament placements and such are all standardized. These bulbs emit light in a 360 degree pattern. So, when you replace standard bulbs, you can be sure the reflector is doing it job and the headlight meets DOT standards.
I've seen pictures of "LED upgrades" where there were major problems in the light dispersal. Dark areas where there should be light. That happens because the portion of the reflector that was supposed to focus light in that area is not getting it from the non-360 degree pattern emitted by the LED "bulb". This problem has been solved, by some, by shimming the bulb, moving it within the reflector until it shines light where needed.
Here, finally, is my major concern. Since the bulb can't be DOT certified there is no incentive for the manufacturer to be sure the light source (filament placement in a standard bulb) is where it should be. I suspect they might even cheat further (since they have no standards to adhere to) to make sure the "dark areas", previously mentioned, are minimized. My major concern is blinding on coming drivers, especially when I read comments like "I can see signs light up way down the road, even on low beam". Since they can't be DOT certified, "I" can't be sure my headlight is performing in the safest manner possible, for both me and the person coming the other way.
Does that mean I'll never upgrade my head light to LED? Nope! When the time comes that DOT certified LED headlight units (with reflectors / lenses designed to work with the LED) become more affordable, I'll consider it. Does that mean YOUR LED headlight conversion is "unsafe" like I implied earlier. I don't know... if the LED light source is exactly where it should be as compared to a standard bulb then probably not.
Me... even before I added a Hondaline light bar (which I installed a couple of weeks ago), I found the standard headlight adequate. High beam and low beam worked just fine for me. So objects in the road may not be as bright as they would be with an LED headlight but I can still see them just the same.
This post is not intended to bring umbrage to anyone who has or is thinking of "upgrading" their headlight to LED, only to make you think and consider the alternatives.
The reason is your LED replacement "bulb" can not emit light in a 360 degree pattern like the standard bulb did. Why is that a problem for the DOT? They regulate the spread pattern, both high and low beam, that headlights emit. The reflector in most of our headlights was designed to collect and focus the light from a standard light bulb, whose dimensions, filament placements and such are all standardized. These bulbs emit light in a 360 degree pattern. So, when you replace standard bulbs, you can be sure the reflector is doing it job and the headlight meets DOT standards.
I've seen pictures of "LED upgrades" where there were major problems in the light dispersal. Dark areas where there should be light. That happens because the portion of the reflector that was supposed to focus light in that area is not getting it from the non-360 degree pattern emitted by the LED "bulb". This problem has been solved, by some, by shimming the bulb, moving it within the reflector until it shines light where needed.
Here, finally, is my major concern. Since the bulb can't be DOT certified there is no incentive for the manufacturer to be sure the light source (filament placement in a standard bulb) is where it should be. I suspect they might even cheat further (since they have no standards to adhere to) to make sure the "dark areas", previously mentioned, are minimized. My major concern is blinding on coming drivers, especially when I read comments like "I can see signs light up way down the road, even on low beam". Since they can't be DOT certified, "I" can't be sure my headlight is performing in the safest manner possible, for both me and the person coming the other way.
Does that mean I'll never upgrade my head light to LED? Nope! When the time comes that DOT certified LED headlight units (with reflectors / lenses designed to work with the LED) become more affordable, I'll consider it. Does that mean YOUR LED headlight conversion is "unsafe" like I implied earlier. I don't know... if the LED light source is exactly where it should be as compared to a standard bulb then probably not.
Me... even before I added a Hondaline light bar (which I installed a couple of weeks ago), I found the standard headlight adequate. High beam and low beam worked just fine for me. So objects in the road may not be as bright as they would be with an LED headlight but I can still see them just the same.
This post is not intended to bring umbrage to anyone who has or is thinking of "upgrading" their headlight to LED, only to make you think and consider the alternatives.