Equipping your bike with a headlight is great if you want to get a clear vision at night. It helps you stay safe on the road and avoid accidents when you are riding in dark places. Did you know you can convert a motorcycle headlight to a bike light?
If you are wondering how you can do that, I will give you an instructable guide on how you can do that with a 100 watt LED headlight common in motorcycles. It is easy to that and you don’t require fancy tools or equipment. Let’s get right into it.
Materials you Need:
1. Heat sink and Fit the Lens:
Use a drill and make some holes on the heat sink and then apply the sink paste. Place the LED chip carefully. Mix the glue in a ratio of 1:1 and apply the glue mixture on the lens, LED, and reflector. Put the lens and the reflector on the LED and wait for it to dry overnight. Cut some holes and position the switch depending on where you want it.
2. Electrical Connections:
Smear some flux at the wire ends and tin those ends with a soldering iron. Additionally, ensure that all connections are insulated with tape and avoid short-circuiting the battery. Connect the battery with 10A fuse and then the battery ground to the bicycle body to eliminate electrostatic shock. You can also use a battery management system to protect the battery.
3. Installation and Testing:
The next step is to install the headlight on your bicycle and test if it is working. You can do the LED assembly using a nut-bolt and a clamp. Place the battery under the bike seat or on the frame. Hold the battery and the wires well in place using the zip ties. You can keep the switch on the handle to make access easy.
You should also consider having a bigger heat sink to make cooling the LED easy. Alternatively, you can install a fan to enhance the battery performance. You should also know that the LED is high power so sometimes they don’t last long. Therefore, you can have two batteries or consider a smaller wattage LED.
You have now successfully installed a motorcycle headlight on your bike and you can ride safely at night. The whole process can take you about two hours to complete and it is easy to do that if you have the right tools.
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs
Q: Which headlight is best for bike?
A: Visibility is essential if you want to have a safe riding experience. Therefore, you need to install the right headlight for your bike. Some recommended models you can consider include Osram headlights, Nikavi headlights, BLP H4 headlights among others.
Q: Do motorcycle headlights need to be e marked?
A: Yes, your quality motorcycle headlights should be e-marked. If it doesn’t have the mark, some testers might not work. So, a normal headlight should be e-marked if you don’t want the headlight to fail you.
Q: Can I put LED lights on my motorcycle?
A: You can find a wide range of motorcycle LED lights which include strip lights or pod lights. Some have lighting effects and others change the color. Additionally, the LED light kits in motorcycles have a switch where you can turn them on and off easily.
Q: How many lumens do I need for bike headlight?
A: Roughly, light for daytime use should have 100 or more lumens. For urban commuting lights, you need 50-200 lumens. For rural riding lights, the lumens should be between 400-600 lumens.
Q: Are motorcycle headlight bulbs the same as cars?
A: Yes, they are the same. This is because the two are interchangeable. However, sometimes you might find the fitting at the end is not similar.
Q: What is the brightest bicycle headlight?
A: Niterider 3600 pro is one of the brightest bicycle headlights that features 3600 lumens. A standard car headlight produces approximately 1500 lumens.
Q: Why are bike lights so expensive?
A: Bicycle lights come at a high price because they are niche made. The lights also have some specialized features so bikers need to spend more to get one.
Q: How many lumens do you need for night riding?
A: Riding at night requires around 800 lumens and you can ride comfortably without issues. You can also choose bigger lumens or smaller lumens depending on what you want.
Q: How many lumens do I need to mountain bike at night?
A: Mountain biking at night requires around 500 lumens on the handlebars and another 500 lumens for your helmet.
Q: How can I make my bike light up without a battery?
A: In the old days, people used bottle dynamo in bikes but today they are commonly made for low-end markets. Today, many bike lights feature built-in rechargeable batteries. If you want to use a dynamo hub, the process can be expensive and you also need to replace the whole of your bike’s front wheel. Many people prefer using detachable battery-powered light.
Q: Do you have to have a light on your bike at night?
A: It is essential to have lights on your bike at night. Most states recommend white front light that has an extendable beam up to 500 feet ahead. You should also have a red rear reflector to make you visible when riding in low-light conditions or at night.
Conclusion
Having a headlight for your bike is essential especially if you ride at night. We have given you a guide on how you can convert a motorcycle headlight to a bike light in some simple steps. I hope after following the above steps, you will enhance your visibility on the road and stay safe. If you have a query or any suggestion, you can leave a comment.
Hello Guys! I am John Reese, a professional biker and my hobby is biking! I have been biking for last 10 years and I love using bikes while outing as well. Based on my experiences with the different type of bikes (mountain bikes, road bikes and hybrid bikes); I am sharing my opinion about various bikes so that a beginner can get started right away. Happy reading!
