ADV Pulse

NEWSLETTER
Get ADV Pulse delivered by email
Sign up for ADV Pulse Weekly

Newsletter

Get ADV Pulse delivered by email
Sign up for ADV Pulse Weekly

Connect With Us

Follow On Facebook:

ADV ProductsADV Bike AccessoriesCyclops LED Headlight Bulbs Let You Conquer the Night

Cyclops LED Headlight Bulbs Let You Conquer the Night

Ride more confidently at night when you upgrade to an LED headlight bulb.

Published on 08.12.2014

The stock lighting on most Adventure Bikes just doesn’t cut it for off-road night riding. The weak halogen bulbs create too many shadows, hiding roots and rocks that can jump out and surprise you in the night. A good lighting system allows you to see the details of the terrain more clearly and gives you the confidence to ride at a faster pace.

One of the easiest ways to upgrade your stock lighting is with an LED replacement bulb. LED bulbs offer better power efficiency, lower operating temperatures and superior durability to HID bulbs. On a mission to find the brightest LED headlight bulb on the market, we came across a new product from Cyclops Adventure Sports.

LED headlight bulb - 3600 lumen

Cyclops 3600 Lumen High/Low Beam LED Headlight Bulb.

Cyclops is one of the top names in LED motorcycle lights with a strong reputation for quality products and customer satisfaction. Before releasing their new LED headlight bulbs to the public, they went through months of extensive testing in the mud, dust and rain. The bulbs are designed for the rigors of off-road riding and use a cooling fan and electronic thermal management system to ensure durability. An 18 month warranty on the product is one of the best in the business.


ADVERTISEMENT

We decided to install their H4 LED headlight bulb in our KTM 990 Adventure test bike. At 3600 lumen, the LED bulb has 3x the light output of the stock H4 halogen bulb and runs on half the wattage. This efficiency allows us to run more accessories like a GPS, heated grips, heated gear and auxiliary lights, without worrying about draining the battery.

Installing the LED Headlight Bulb
The LED replacement bulb was strictly plug-n-play and required no wire splicing or attaching of ballasts. Four bolts removed the headlight assembly and the old bulb was pulled from its housing. We were able to install the new LED bulb without much trouble following the bike specific instructions provided by Cyclops. The only tricky part was getting the bulb retaining ring back in place with the larger bulb, but we were able to get the installation completed in about 20 minutes.

Nighttime Off-Road Testing
Recently, we rode our KTM 990 Adventure test bike to the San Bernardino Mountains near Los Angeles. The rocky jeep roads and wooded single-track trails in the area offered the perfect terrain to put the durability of the light to the test. Normally a bone dry region in the summer, we were hit with a freak storm that created torrential rains and flash floods. We passed through several thigh deep water crossings, which allowed us to test the water resistance of the light. The Cyclops LED headlight bulb stood up to all of our torture testing throughout the weekend and continued working without flaw.

Rocky Trail LED Headlight Beam
The Cyclops LED headlight bulb provided a dramatic improvement in nighttime visibility and made it much easier to read the terrain.

Nighttime performance of the headlight beam was exceptional and we enjoyed riding with an abundance of light. The LED bulb puts out a controlled and focused beam pattern with minimal light scatter. The white light it emits is in the color range of mid-day sunlight (5600K color temp), making it easy to pick out rocks and read traction levels. While these LED headlight bulbs are designated for off-road use (just like all LED and HID replacement bulbs), the well-focused beam pattern did not cause a problem for other motorists when we traveled on the road.

Before riding back to camp, we re-installed the stock halogen bulb to compare the two lights under the same trail conditions. The dingy yellow light emitted from the stock bulb slowed our pace considerably and made the cliff-lined trails all the more precarious.

LED headlight Bulbs beam in Woods
The usable range of the LED headlight bulb was approximately 200 feet in the KTM 990 Adventure.

Powerful Light, Great Value
We like that with a simple replacement of a headlight bulb you can get a dramatic improvement in brightness. The Cyclops LED headlight bulb focuses the light in a tight beam pattern and doesn’t throw light everywhere like some of the cheaper LED replacement bulbs on the market.

If you want the farthest beam distance possible, a good set of LED auxiliary lights are still your best choice. But the Cyclops LED headlight bulb is more than adequate for most off-road riding situations. It’s also more streamlined, less susceptible to damage and the installation is less involved than with a set of auxiliary lights. At $75 it’s a great value as well.

The Cyclops LED headlight bulbs are specifically designed to withstand the harsh environment of off-road riding. With a lifespan of 30,000 hours (3.5 years of continuous usage), they will probably last longer than your bike. Like all Cyclops LED motorcycle lights, you can return it for a full refund if you are not 100% satisfied.

News Update:
The Cyclops H4 LED headlight just got better! The newest version of bulb is more compact and easier to install, and with new electronics, it’s even more robust and durable. Performance has also improved with a more focused beam spread, better high/low beam contrast and increased power output (now with 3800 lumen).

Bulb Compatibility
Cyclops LED headlight bulbs have been installed successfully in the following Adventure Bike models:

3800 Lumen H4 LED Bulb
KTM 990/950 Adventure, KTM 950 Super Enduro, KTM 690 Enduro, BMW G650GS Sertao, BMW X-Challenge, Pre-2008 Kawasaki KLR650, Moto Guzzi Stelvio, Suzuki DR650, Suzuki V-Strom 650, Triumph Tiger 800, Triumph Tiger Explorer, KTM 250/450/530 XC & EXC, Honda CRF450X, Yamaha XT 225/250, BMW F650GS (Single), BMW G650GS

3000 Lumen H7 LED Bulb
BMW F650GS (Twin), BMW F700GS, BMW F800GS, BMW R1200GS

6400 Lumen (Dual 3200 lumen) H11 LED Bulb Kit
KTM 1090 Adventure, KTM 1190 Adventure, KTM 1290 Adventure

Photos by Bill Lieras

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.

Author: Rob Dabney
ADVERTISEMENT

Related Stories

Related Stories

Notify me of new posts via email

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

37 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Peter
Peter
August 13, 2014 8:55 am

Great article. I just purchased one of these for my Scrambler.

Ray Morris
Ray Morris
August 20, 2014 1:32 am

Do they make them for Harley’s ???

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
August 20, 2014 8:29 am
Reply to  Ray Morris

It’s possible. Looks like many Harleys use an H4 type bulb. You’ll have to check with your dealer or owners manual to see what bulb type your model uses.

Pat
Pat
August 27, 2014 1:11 pm

You need a better test. You need two bikes side by side in the same image first of all. The different quality of the light will change how the computer in the camera filters teh light. And more. C’mon guys. Do this right.

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
August 27, 2014 1:36 pm
Reply to  Pat

Hi Pat. I think it’s already clear that there is a dramatic difference between the two bulbs and further testing is not necessary.

Dave
Dave
September 16, 2014 2:45 pm
Reply to  Rob Dabney

Pat is spot on (forgive the pun). Comparing brightness with two separate photo images in no way provides an accurate representation of real world light output. You’ll have to do better than that, and if you don’t understand why, well then, that speaks volumes.

Peter W.
Peter W.
September 16, 2014 5:42 pm
Reply to  Dave

Always amazes me how some criticize without taking into consideration what is relevant to the article.

Geoff39
Geoff39
September 16, 2014 7:58 pm
Reply to  Peter W.

Hey Peter W – I couldn’t agree more. More relevant and important to a rider is to see the difference of the same terrain details between one bulb and the other, as they show in the article. Showing 2 bikes at the same time in the same shot is useless for this purpose. I purchased the light recently and the improvement in how much of the terrain detail I can see is as dramatic as they show – I couldn’t be happier!

Carl Motola
Carl Motola
August 27, 2014 1:59 pm

Great article guys. Purchased one for my BMW recently and I couldn’t be happier. The improvement is way more than I expected. Thanks for the tip!

Fred Aguilera
Fred Aguilera
October 29, 2014 11:07 am

I don’t see anything listed for a 2012 Yamaha vstar 1300. I would buy it if I knew for sure.

dan
dan
January 13, 2015 9:15 pm
Reply to  Fred Aguilera

Use just a little common sense,,,,know which bulb yours takes (H4, h7, whatever), then order that direct replacement. C’mon, be a man!

Rodney Pacheco
Rodney Pacheco
March 4, 2015 11:15 am

Can I get a set for my street glide 2012.harley Davidson …thanks .rp

Darrin
Darrin
March 17, 2015 6:34 pm

Do you make these for Harley’s ? And are they street legal?

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
February 7, 2016 10:50 am
Reply to  Darrin

Hi Darrin. Contact Cyclops to see if the bulbs can be used on your Harley. (206) 575-7900, (800) 624-0278 or info@cyclopsadventuresports.com.

trackback
Replacing the headlight bulb with an LED? - KTM Duke 390 Forum
June 17, 2015 6:47 am

[…] thing to fail) cooling fan design of the Cyclops. LED headlight technology is advancing quickly. Cyclops LED Headlight Bulbs Let You Conquer the Night – ADV Pulse Cheers, Will 2015 390 Duke 1980 Moto Guzzi V50 II (becoming a cafe racer) 1984 Moto Guzzi […]

John Singapore
John Singapore
July 12, 2015 9:47 am

Hi, does this bulbs fits on my Yamaha FJR 1300j Year 2015?

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
February 7, 2016 10:53 am
Reply to  John Singapore

Hi John. Not sure about the FJR. Contact Cyclops to see if they have bulbs that work with your bike. (206) 575-7900, (800) 624-0278 or info@cyclopsadventuresports.com.

trackback
Can an LED Headlight Bulb Make Auxiliary Lights Redundant?
August 4, 2015 6:49 am

[…] year we tried out a 3600 lumen LED headlight bulb from Cyclops Adventure Sports on our KTM 990 Adventure test bike. The improvement over the stock […]

Mark Jensen
Mark Jensen
September 7, 2015 2:29 pm

In regards to the Tiger 800 install, are any modifications to the rear of the headlight housing to make the bulbs fit? Seems like there’s not a lot of room in there for the larger footprint of te LED lamp.

Thanks!

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
February 7, 2016 10:48 am
Reply to  Mark Jensen

Hi Mark. The Cyclops LED bulbs should work with your Tiger 800. If you talk to Cyclops, they may be able to provide some additional bike-specific advice on installing the bulbs.

bill c
bill c
September 22, 2015 1:28 pm

A great looking product. The low beam however looks too high like it’s going to blind traffic

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
February 7, 2016 10:51 am
Reply to  bill c

Hi Bill. With the headlight adjusted properly, we’ve never had any problems with blinding oncoming traffic on low beam.

wizau
wizau
December 23, 2015 4:55 pm

I can’t believe anyone would EVER recommend a LED bulb with a FAN in it…how long before that fan fails or gets junked up with muck and stops working. Especially on an adventure bike. Seriously, get one WITHOUT a fan in it and never think about it again.

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
December 23, 2015 5:06 pm
Reply to  wizau

Hi Wizau. The fan is protected in the headlight housing and is resilient enough to handle being submerged in water. Sure it’s possible that mud and gunk could get in there and foul it up but you’d have to go through some serious muddy terrain for that to happen. There are LED bulbs that don’t have a fan, but those are the cheaper kind that won’t last as long. Even though the LED bulbs don’t get as hot as halogen, they like to have a constant temperature. The fan is just there to help regulate temperature and increase the longevity of the bulb. If the fan is disabled temporarily it should not immediately cause the light to fail.

ganzai tiger800
ganzai tiger800
January 8, 2016 2:50 am

hi , im wondering on how its gonna fit into triumph tiger 800 housing? any idea anyone?

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
February 7, 2016 10:56 am

Hi Ganzai. The Cyclops LED bulbs should work with your Tiger 800. But you should talk to Cyclops for advice on installing the bulbs. (206) 575-7900, (800) 624-0278 or info@cyclopsadventuresports.com.

Clay Jones
Clay Jones
February 7, 2016 8:25 am

How are these for riding on pavement? any issues with blinding oncoming traffic (not that I care too much).

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
February 7, 2016 10:57 am
Reply to  Clay Jones

We’ve had not problems with blinding oncoming traffic on low beam when the headlight is adjusted properly.

Donald McCoy
Donald McCoy
June 10, 2016 5:59 pm

You have bulb compatibility H7 listed for BMW F650GS. My 2007 BMW F650GS Dakar uses an H4!

Donald McCoy
Donald McCoy
June 10, 2016 6:02 pm

You have compatibility 3000 H7 listed for BMW F650GS! My 2007 BMW F650GS Dakar uses an H4! I purchased an H4 3800. Hopefully I made the correct choice!

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
June 10, 2016 6:18 pm
Reply to  Donald McCoy

Looks like you got it right. It’s the twin cylinder F650GS that uses the H7. Your bike uses the H4. We’ve updated the list. Thanks!

trackback
Cyclops Long Range: Best Value in High-Output Aux Lights?
June 24, 2016 8:47 am

[…] aren’t always the best way to measure visible light output. Demonstrating this is the fact that a 3800 lumen Cyclops LED headlight bulb shines about a quarter of the distance of a single 1050 lumen Cyclops LED Long Range light, simply […]

Rasta papa
Rasta papa
November 3, 2016 8:22 am

Will this work on a ’06 KTM 950 Adve, and are they “plug & play”?

Rob Dabney
Rob Dabney
November 3, 2016 8:51 am
Reply to  Rasta papa

Looks like your 2006 KTM 950 Adventure uses the same headlight as our 2012 990 ADVR we used for this installation/test. So you shouldn’t have any problem. And yes it’s plug-n-play. Contact Cyclops (Info@CyclopsAdventureSports.com) for specific tips on installing the bulb on your bike and it should help save you some time in the garage. Enjoy!

Ettienne
Ettienne
September 21, 2017 11:33 am

Can I fit these led`s in the headlights of my 2010 Yamaha xt1200z Super Tenere?

trackback
Headlight mods? - Page 4 - Stromtrooper Forum : Suzuki V-Strom Motorcycle Forums
June 6, 2018 5:47 am

[…] are lighting up the same, so essentially you lost your low beam unless you can adjust it down. Cyclops LED Headlight Bulbs Let You Conquer the Night – ADV Pulse Bugzy is right on. Nearly every biker, or cager for that matter, that has aftermarket LEDs is […]

ipsogbvfhj
ipsogbvfhj
January 26, 2021 2:49 pm

Muchas gracias. ?Como puedo iniciar sesion?

ADVERTISEMENT

Watch: 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro Tested

For 2024, Triumph's dirt-focused Tiger 900 — the Rally Pro — has received...

My First Time Riding Enduro, How Hard Could It Be?

Nestled between the Sierra Nevada and Inyo Mountains of California lies a l...

Leatt Enters Adventure Market With New Line Of Riding Gear

Leatt might not be one of the first names that comes to mind when you think o...