Here's a new idea currently in the Kickstarter phase: https://newatlas.com/allight-self-leveling-motorcycle-projector-beam-headlights/55113/ (https://newatlas.com/allight-self-leveling-motorcycle-projector-beam-headlights/55113/)
An H4 retrofit LED headlight projector that is self leveling.
(https://img.newatlas.com/allight-self-leveling-motorcycle-projector-headlight-hid-4.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&ch=Width%2CDPR&fit=crop&h=347&q=60&rect=223%2C205%2C1077%2C606&w=616&s=a0f81bd57cd62478520cffe5b9d52d0e)
(https://img.newatlas.com/allight-self-leveling-motorcycle-projector-headlight-hid-3.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&ch=Width%2CDPR&fit=max&h=700&q=60&w=616&s=17aba17143dea6d205530ee7828201c3)
Yes, I know all about Murphy's Law. Murphy was an optimist.
Love to hear your thoughts.
Pat
Link to Kickstarter page:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/955088174/always-level-projector-light/description (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/955088174/always-level-projector-light/description)
These things usually bring me to ask a ton of questions for things they don't address on their kickstarter page and you can't ask unless you are already a supporter.
LED or HID? I'm guessing by the compactness of the harness - LED.
Lumens?
Who makes the actual projector? Doesn't look like anything I recognize as say, Morimoto. And the cut off profile is a new one to me.
I do find it interesting that they install it entirely from the back, yet they're demonstrating it on the video with an open housing. I suppose that rubbery ring that is forced into the housing firms up enough to keep the whole thing motionless. Also interesting.
Now for the FJs, what's the distance from the mounting flange to the front end of the projector lens? My FJ1100 has only 107 mm to hit the factory lens. It's been hard to find a Morimoto retrofit unit that is under that length until lately, and some reviews say those mini sizes are not what you want for a main headlight beam, more for auxiliary lighting.
If someone is not prepared to remove the factory external lens face and replace it with totally clear polycarbonate or similar, kiss off the whole project. A projector lens can't be expected to perform as designed, with an interfering old school flat fluted lens in front of it, that was designed to collect and project light coming from all directions inside a 5" wide housing, from an H4 halogen bulb.
If I thought I could fabricate a clear replacement that would seal properly, I'd still be left with maybe having to 3D print an extender collar to the back of the FJ housing to move the projector back so it will not hit the inside of the clear cover. Too bad there was a fellow posting here about 4 years ago that was making progress and getting the clear replacements molded/vacuum formed.
Thanks for the good questions Charlie. :good2:
My '84 FJ headlamp housing has ~4" inside clearance so it should be ok. The Allight specs state that 3" is needed for inside clearance.
Yes, it's an LED.
No idea on the lumen or foot-candle output.
Your point about a projector beam shining through our oem headlight lense is a good one.
Not sure how that would affect the beam pattern. With the projector lense 1" from the inside face of the oem glass, who knows?
In my most recent tour (after WCR) my buddy and I traveled through 7 western states, and at night, with the FJ leaned over into a dark corner, there were times when I wished I had better visibility. Thus my interest. Yes, I'm aware of supplemental accessory lighting options.
3 guys I know who have the uber $$$ BMW K1600 love the adaptive headlight on their bikes.
I'm not sure this gizmo will ever come to market. The Kickstarter funding is just not there.
$175 to be a Guinea pig for the first production run is a bit rich. Lot's of moving parts on that gizmo.
Pat
My '16 FJR has the LED headlights with the cornering lights. I had doubts about the effectiveness of the cornering lights, but they do work well. And the factory LED headlights are much better than the halogens. The high beams are awesome. FYI.