We had the opportunity to compare the standard Savage halogen head light on Lancer's bike, with the Daymaker on Versi's bike, and the led bulb in the regular Savage bucket on my bike. It was obvious the daymaker was the best of the three.

The daymaker was extremely bright with good lighting to the right and left of center and in the center it looked like a spot light.

The led bulb was also extremely bright with the best lighting at the center and then going to the sides in alternating bands of bright and not so bright.

The standard halogen light was not nearly as bright and was visibly yellowish as compared with the above.

I do not know the cost of the led bulb Dave lent me but I suspect that for the money it is the best alternative. Versi, please let everyone know a bit more about your daymaker set up and roughly what it cost.

engineer wrote on 05/29/17 at 19:45:36:

Absolutely no comparison.
When I was in the lead I could easily see springman's light... the only other LED light in the group.  
And seeing his light I knew the group was together as he usually rode cleanup.
Comparing his light against Steve's dual halogen... it looked like it was off.

I learned a lot about filament vs. LED bulbs this weekend.  The big problem with installing LED bulbs into reflectors made for filament bulbs, is that the location of the LED emitter is not in the same place the filaments are in the bulb.  The result is that the reflector can't direct the LED light where it should go.....and a lot of light shines up beyond the vertical cut off that is supposed to keep it from shining up into oncoming traffic.  The Daymaker style lights are designed to use lenses rather than reflectors, and "good" ones can direct the light better (bad ones are just too bright and a menace....we have a few Jeep owners in my area that really should be arrested for the amount of light they are throwing at everybody.

If TinyPic gets their photo service working again....I can post some photos that show a really big difference in the light pattern created by a filament vs. LED in the same reflector.      

There is no doubt that a better than stock Savage light can be found - however just like any of the other improvements done on the Savage, there may not be a "one fits all" solution.

Installing a Silverstar bulb helps......and the change is easy but the bulbs don't last nearly as long as a stock bulb.

The stock reflector can benefit from an LED bulb - we are currently searching for an affordable one to recommend.  The market changes constantly however, and there are hundreds to choose from.  And the stock bucket doesn't have much room inside for cooling braids, fans or cables and drivers associated with a lot of LED units - and the bulb has to work with the rubber seal on the back of the headlight if you don't want your reflector to have moisture and dirt issues.

Bigger headlight buckets can be used, and this allows for bigger and more efficient reflectors.  Then you get into the issue of choosing a reflector, filament bulb or LED.....or daymaker.

They are now starting to make LED units that have the light sources in the location that the filament is on a regular bulb....and these are making it possible to get much more usable light out of the reflector.  Unfortunately this technology is not being used on the $30 Chinese LED's yet....this truly is a "you get what you pay for" technology at the moment.  A lot of these are designed for cars, and they won't work with the rubber seal on the back of the headlight (and headlights are incredibly hard to clean and keep streak and lint free).

Notice in the photo below how the LED units are in the nearly the same place as the filament, and the shields on the LED are also reflectors that direct the light....rather than just blocking it.  (These won't fit in the stock Savage bucket, and they may not work with the rubber seal).

Here is a site that has LED bulbs listed for about any vehicle.  https://www.superbrightleds.com/vehicle/2005-suzuki-s40-boulevard?make=75&mod...
 After reading this thread I'm considering an LED headlight replacement for visibility reasons (I don't ride at night).  I'm also interested in an LED tail light/brake light replacement.

These guys have a headlight kit that might do the job.  There is also a resistor kit but it doesn't seem to be mandatory except on bikes that monitor the various systems.  Any opinions on the headlight kit or which one of he many tail light "bulbs" would be appropriate.

I have purchased 2 NOE buckets from sporty/dyna's and will be installing 5 3/4"  Daymaker's for REX & the Purple People Eater.
Let there be light !

Any opinions on this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1x-H4-40W-8LED-COB-Super-Bright-Motorcycle-Headlight-...

The heat dissipation is exactly what I was concerned about. I guess I will pass on this one. I do not want to fry anything inside my headlight bucket.