Zongshen RX3 LED Headlight Review
 

Yesterday my parcel arrived from Taobao. All the items I ordered were present, in excellent condition, including the upgraded, LED headlight for the RX3. :)

As with the stock headlight, the upgraded headlight has LED lights which surround the headlight. In addition, the upgraded headlight has two LEDs on top which provide the high beam, and one LED on the bottom, which provides the low beam. The new headlight employs three lenses, one over each LED, which focus, and project the light beams.

I transferred my turn signals from the stock headlight to the LED headlight, and installed it on my RX3. Then I went for a ride as I awaited nightfall to properly test the headlight.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps6z5oqsp9.jpg

Traveling one of my favorite roads, I stopped to take some photographs of the headlight in the daytime, from approximately 40 feet in front of the bike.

Because of the headlight lenses, the light patterns are very focused. The first photograph was taken from a standing position, with the headlight set to high beam.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psykwucyp5.jpg

The next photograph was taken from a kneeling position, with the headlight set to high beam. As you can see, the light is more intense inside the focused beam.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psrcvyuahg.jpg

The last photograph shows the low beam, taken from a kneeling position. This pattern is wider, and tilted much lower to the ground; it has a distinct horizontal cutoff.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...pspa9xfalk.jpg

The headlight has European E4 approval. I can not find any DOT marking on the headlight.

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...des/codes.html
http://trace.me/techdocs/TraceME%20e4-03-2033.pdf

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psdwjlcjrc.jpg

After nightfall arrived, I took the bike for a ride to test the headlight patterns. At first, I had the headlight pointed too high. However, I quickly returned home, and discovered the headlight was very easy to adjust for the proper angle.

As stated earlier, the low beam has a distinct horizontal cutoff in the pattern, and is aimed significantly lower than the high beam. The light pattern is well very focused. In fact, it is too focused for my preference. I don't think the low beam casts enough light to the side of the road.

The high beam is also very focused, but casts a little more light to the side. The high beam projects well down the road, and illuminates the signs very well. However, once again, I would prefer a much wider light pattern.

Final Analysis

After replacing the stock HS1 bulb with an H4 bulb, I prefer the light patterns from the stock headlight over the LED headlight. I ride off road a lot, and the stock headlight illuminates the side of the road much better than the LED headlight. The wider illumination patterns make it easier to see rocks, ruts, and other obstacles on an unpaved road. Since the RX3 headlight is attached to the frame, rather than the triple tree, the wide light patterns also make it easier to see the side of the road while negotiating turns on city streets. Therefore, I prefer the stock headlight, with an H4 bulb, over the upgraded LED headlight. ;)

I replaced the LED headlight with the stock headlight, and I will compare the brightness of the two light patterns this evening. However, any differences in brightness aside, I am sure I will still prefer the light patterns from the stock headlight. ;)

I do prefer the appearance of the LED headlight; it looks very modern, and unique. :) However, in my opinion, function trumps form. ;) Therefore, if anyone is interested, I am willing to sell the upgraded LED headlight for the price I paid at Taobao, plus whatever it actually costs to ship the headlight to your location. I will accept the loss of the shipping charges I paid to get the headlight delivered from China. ;)

Thanks for the excellent writeup, Spud.

You're welcome. :)

Thanks for the write up Spud. Would auxiliary lighting still be required with either the standard or the LED headlight?

I'll buy it. PM'ed you, Spud.

Boo. Always late. :cry:

Could send me information for your tao bao agent?

Thanks.

Tony, Spud posted an excellent tutorial here:

and his agent seems to be taobaotrends.com

:)

Auxiliary lighting is always helpful. However, in my opinion, auxiliary lighting is not required with the stock headlight, as long as you switch to a brighter, H4 bulb. :)

In my opinion, auxiliary lighting is required with the upgraded, LED headlight, since the light patterns are so focused. ;)

I got both of your PMs, and replied to both. You are the first to reply, so if the price is acceptable, the headlight is yours. :)

Sprite is correct on both points, Tony. :) Here is a link to my tutorial on ordering from Taobao.

http://www.chinariders.net/showthrea...716#post180716

However, if Paisleyrider changes his mind, you are next on the list for the headlight. ;)

I agree. That's why I went ahead with a black bar riser today rather than try to find a chrome version. The geometry is so much better with 1.5" rise for me.

Very good. Thank you Spud. :tup:

I went for another ride yesterday afternoon with the stock headlight installed, and took some photographs from the same location.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...pstwprmdcv.jpg

I stopped to take some photographs of the headlight in the daytime, from approximately 40 feet in front of the bike. The first photograph was taken from a standing position, with the headlight set to high beam.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psokgdej0g.jpg

The next photograph was taken from a kneeling position, with the headlight set to high beam.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psloce1uzp.jpg

The last photograph shows the low beam, taken from a kneeling position.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psk9mhaegz.jpg

The LED headlight is obviously more conspicuous during daylight, and offers a real safety advantage. ;) I didn't get a chance to ride last evening to test the brightness of the stock headlight with an H4 bulb, versus the LED headlight. Judging from the photographs, it seems the LED headlight is definitely brighter within its focused beams. However, since I don't have auxiliary lighting, I still prefer the much wider coverage of the stock headlight. ;)

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psg4cg1zvn.jpg

Wow, the difference in brightness is astonishing.

I wonder what the comparison between the H4 bulb and the upgraded headlight is like. Perhaps I can do my own test when I switch out my H4 for my new Gundam headlight :D

I will try my best to take an evening ride in the next few days, while my memory is fresh, to compare the brightness of the H4 bulb to the LED headlight. However, the upgraded LED headlight is now safely packed, and ready for shipment. ;) I encourage the new owner of the LED headlight to post his review of the headlight on this thread. I will be interested to hear his impressions. :)

I must admit, I think the LED headlight is 'dead sexy.' :) If the projected beams weren't so narrow, I wouldn't part with it. ;) If I decide to get auxiliary lighting in the future, I will probably get another LED headlight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE1Laum54x8

Spud, could you provide the part number etc for the LED headlight assembly you ordered? I know its probably on the "main thread" but it might be useful to have it on this "headlight review" thread as well.

Spud, is there any evidence of excess heat with the H4 setup? Any discoloration?

No, there is no indication of any excess heat, discoloration, or any other damage. If one is concerned about excess heat from the 55W/60 H4 bulb, all he has to do is drill a couple of ventilation holes in the rear cover of the headlight. All the headlights on my other motorcycles are completely open in the back. Only the bulb is covered with a rubber boot. :shrug:

There is nothing inside the back cover of the headlight that is vulnerable to dirt or rain. The low front fender and the high, well protected location of the headlight will also protect it from the elements. One could drill several ventilation holes in the lower portion of the cover if he were worried about rain entering the headlight. ;)

I don't remember seeing a part number on the headlight, and I have already packed it for the new owner. :shrug: However, here is a link to the Taobao page where I bought the headlight. If ordering the headlight from this vendor, one needs to make sure he selects the LED headlight, for the higher price, and not the stock headlight. ;)

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=37861433653

http://img02.taobaocdn.com/bao/uploa...!524266847.jpg

Upgraded headlight
 

i concur with spud, I don't like the function of the led headlight ,but I'm going to try an add some led. Driving lights to the crash bar.

Thanks for the honest review, SpudRider. Saved me a lot of money. Most folks fear admitting a mistake. I bet you're man enough to wear pink, too. I'm now leaning towards reworking the stock headlight to hold a pair or trio of 9003/H4 or H1 projectors, though I've not decided what type of bulbs I'll use. I'd like to stay away from auxiliary lights hung on the bike for a couple reasons. First, I'd like to keep the aerodynamics clean because I'll be doing a LOT of riding at 55mph+. Second, I'd rather not have anything hanging out to get snagged on my occasional ride into a ditch due to excessive "enthusiasm" (stupidity) in a curve or something.

You're welcome, but you're wrong. I never wear pink. :lol:

I think the LED headlight might work very well for people with auxiliary lighting. :) The high beam projects very well down the road at night. Also, I think the bright LEDs greatly increase the safety factor while riding in daylight. :)

Cyclops 3600 lumen LED
 

Has anyone considered this one ? They cost $70 for the H4.
Power draw is 20/40 watt
color temp 5500K
12 month warranty
they claim the brightest LED available
I think I'll give er a go.

Yes, I bought the generic version of that LED light from eBay, and installed it in my Honda CRF250X. :tup: You can read my installation thread, and review, at the following link. ;)

http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=13947

However, I'm pretty sure that LED bulb will be too long to install in the RX3. Also, you would need to cut a hole in the back cover of the RX3 headlight for the fan. ;)

I am going to recant my previous statement. ;) Based upon the experience you reported at another forum, I have decided to experiment with an LED bulb in my RX3. I now believe at least one version of the LED bulbs will fit inside the RX3 headlight. :) Therefore, I ordered that bulb, and it should be here in a week or so. At that time I will attempt an installation, and report my results. ;)

I was jusg going to sugesst that spud... an led bulb in the stock halogen housing...LOL I upgraded my headlights to LED and they are definitely much brighter....however the housings are complete crap so I'm not sure how well they will do at night... you can definitely see me on the road though....will get some pics tonight....

Spud, I am looking forward to your findings, and I'd like to know what bulb you are using.

I noticed that J&P Cycles sells an H4 "PathfinderLED" bulb that appears to have no fan and would seem to be a direct plug-in fit. Price is about $44.

I have now experimented with the Zongshen LED headlight, and three different bulbs in the stock headlight. ;) I have used the stock HS1 bulb, an H4 incandescent bulb, and my latest experiment is with an 18W, H4 LED bulb I bought from eBay.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjIwWDYyMA..._id=880000500F

You can purchase this LED bulb from China for $14, delivered. Because I didn't wish to wait, I purchased the bulb from the United States for $21. ;) Cyclops is selling this LED bulb for $60, plus shipping, with a 1-year warranty.

http://www.cyclopsadventuresports.co...orts_p_97.html

The H4 LED bulb performs very well, and I like it a lot. :tup: I am still contemplating whether the H4 incandescent bulb, or the H4 LED bulb is best. ;) The LED bulb offers excellent conspicuity, even in daylight. Here is a photograph I took at midday of the H4 LED bulb from 20 yards, in a standing position.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psp3zmhw2k.jpg

Here is a photograph I took at midday of the H4 LED bulb from 20 yards, in a kneeling position.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...pspeluizud.jpg

I think the H4 LED bulb offers better daylight conspicuity than the Zongshen LED headlight. For comparison, here is a photograph I took at midday of the Zongshen LED headlight from 13 yards, in a standing position.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psykwucyp5.jpg

Here is a photograph I took at midday of the Zongshen LED headlight from 13 yards, in a kneeling position.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...psrcvyuahg.jpg

Since the light beam is not so narrowly focused, the H4 LED bulb is much more conspicuous in daylight than the Zongshen LED headlight. :tup:

In comparison to the H4 incandescent bulb, the H4 LED bulb casts more light to the sides of the motorcycle, so it illuminates the road better while turning corners on pavement, and while trying to avoid obstacles while riding off road after dark. :) In addition, the H4 LED bulb uses less power, generates much less heat, and lasts far longer than an H4 incandescent bulb. However, the H4 incandescent bulb definitely projects the light farther down the road, especially on high beam.

I will experiment more, and let you know my final conclusions after more deliberation. However, I will offer these preliminary conclusions. ;) If you are riding fast at night on mostly straight pavement, the H4 incandescent bulb will let you see farther. However, if you are riding a lot at night in the city, or riding at night more slowly on winding paved roads, the H4 LED bulb will illuminate the corners much better. :) Also, the H4 LED bulb will make you much more conspicuous during daylight than the H4 incandescent bulb. ;)

Incidentally, these H4 LED bulbs are very water resistant, if not waterproof, as shown in the following video. ;) I installed a similar H4 bulb in my Honda CRF250X, and it has performed superbly for me. :tup:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbY-Xk4y6_k

Thanks for the comparison update, Spud. Especially good to know is the difference in pattern.

Is it just me, or does the sky in your pics look a bit hazy? I've been following the news about wild fires in the NW region.

Indeed, the sky is filled with smoke in Idaho. :tdown: I hope they can extinguish these forest fires soon. :ohno:

LED Bulb Options
 

I have not taken my headlight assembly apart yet. Would this LED bulb fit without modifications? Or do you need to cut some space and modify the rubber boot to fit the fan part of the bulb?

FYI there is a PathfinderLED H4 bulb with no fan that probably would fit without mods, but I just learned it only puts out 700 lumens. The PathfinderLED 2000 lumen bulb has a fan and looks similar to the one Spud referenced. Both of these bulbs are about $44 on J&P Cycles.

Spud's bulb is 3600 lumens, or so Cyclops claims.

Yes, you do need to make a few modifications to the headlight. I will try to capture some photographs, and post a thread on this topic, tomorrow. :)

I did take photographs of my LED bulb installation, but I haven't had time recently to post them. I will try to update the tread as soon as I can. ;)

I switched back to the standard H4 bulb for further testing. Without a doubt, the H4 incandescent bulb is best. :tup: If you are not having heat problems with the headlight reflector, you can't beat a 55W/60 H4 bulb. ;) If you are concerned about heat damage, I think the H4 LED bulb is next best. The stock, 35W HS1 bulb is anemic, and the Zongshen LED headlight is too narrowly focused for my tastes. The Zongshen LED headlight might work well with the appropriate auxiliary lighting, but I find it unsatisfactory when used alone.

I'm using an H4 silverstar ultra and it provides a powerful white light with a nice wide spread. I am a little worried about heat so I cut the back off the assembly for extra ventilation.