Led VS Hid Motorcycle Headlights – what are the differences?

Last Updated on January 2, 2023 by Leepu Da Maxim

There are some key differences between LED and HID headlights. For example, HID headlights are brighter than LED headlights. Moreover, HID headlights produce a more blue-white light, while LED headlights have a more yellow-white light.

Key Takeaways

• LED headlights are more durable and have a longer lifespan than HID headlights
• LED headlights are more energy efficient than HID headlights
• HID headlights are more expensive than LED headlights
• LED headlights have a lifespan of 50,000 hours, while HID bulb’s lifespan is only 2,000 hours

HID Headlights – Key differences

Features	LED	HID
Energy efficiency	It requires little energy to operate, which allows for excellent savings	Requires 30 seconds and extra power for ignition, energy efficiency is lower
Reliability	It is possible to dim the LED bulbs to obtain a better result	These lights are not regulated and could reach other drivers
Flexibility	LED lighting requires small devices	Provide whiter and brighter illumination
Lifetime	Can provide at least 5,000 hours of use	Excellent life span but less than LED
Costs	Higher initial costs	Less budget is required than with LED headlights

What Are The Advantages Of Using LED?

LED headlights in particular can offer a variety of advantages to users. So, it is necessary to consider these benefits to optimize the operation of your motorcycle. Firstly, LED headlights can provide a much longer life.

This service life can far exceed that of halogen headlights or HID headlights. So, the level of reliability and safety when using this lighting is higher. Also, it is necessary to mention that LED headlights have a higher light output. It is possible to get instant lighting with LED headlights.

When using HID headlights, it is necessary to wait a few seconds to get the correct color and total brightness. It is because of these additional aspects that many users decide to opt for LED lighting instead of other options.

What Are The LED Headlights?

When we analyze the meaning of the acronym LED, then it is a light-emitting diode. In this case, it is not possible to find filaments in LED headlights. In this case, this component is not needed for the current to pass through them. In particular, this is one of the main differences between LED headlights and halogen bulbs.

On the contrary, a semiconductor is used for the current to be transferred into the LED headlight. Of course, the functionality of these headlights is much more complex. However, here we must simply mention that this is a very affordable option for cars or everyday life. There are even many advantages that users know how to take advantage of daily.

When a user adjusts each of the material properties of the semiconductor, an excellent advantage is obtained as a form of light generation. Thus, a color change can be obtained if the frequency of the emitted light is adjusted. Of course, this is not a procedure that can be performed by any user with little knowledge in the area.

Besides, it is necessary to take into account that this type of lighting has been in use for a considerable amount of years. That is why it is very easy to find LED lights and LED lighting in a laptop, a cell phone, and other various devices. It is an excellent advantage to save energy with this option.

Also, the portable and small size makes it an excellent complement to a large number of electronic devices or vehicles today. At the same time, LED lighting produces very low temperatures and little heat. So, the functionality avoids generating small damages due to high temperatures.

The first cars to include LED headlights were some Audi models. In 2007 was incorporated into the model R8 and V10 engine LED headlights. From there, a lot of vehicles began to incorporate LED headlights. Of course, the motorcycles also decided to add this lighting to optimize the driving of the owners.

At the same time, it is necessary to consider that this type of lighting can be manufactured in different sizes. Of course, this is an excellent advantage according to the different applications of today. At the same time, a complete LED lighting system allows one to dim some sections of light and increase the brightness in other parts. So, LED headlights in a vehicle can provide different modes depending on the driving of each person.

In other words, LED headlights can be adapted to the driving needs of any part of the world. Besides, this same capability allows them to adapt to different daytime or nighttime driving conditions. So, it is an excellent complement to optimize safety by illuminating a large area at night.

In these times, it is also possible to have some spare LED kits that allow replacing some conventional halogen bulbs. Of course, this requires a certain amount of money. However, a car or a motorcycle will be able to take advantage of the excellent benefits of LED lighting.

On the other hand, it is necessary to take into account that LED headlights produce heat. So, the popular belief that no heat is generated is wrong.

However, the heat generation of these LED headlights is minimal. This is because all the heat generated is concentrated in one area. So, to avoid overheating, a cooling mechanism is incorporated into high-power LED lights.

Of course, a large cooling system is not required when the LED lighting is at an intermediate level. In most average-sized LED lighting, only a simple heat sink is required. In some more important cases, a fan is also included. In this way, the fan is combined with the heat sink to optimize the airflow of the area.

In particular, the heat sink is often located on the back of light bulbs. This component in turn is typically about one inch in size. Of course, this is a feature that must be considered before installing a new parts kit.

In particular, the efficient operation of low-temperature LED lighting is what provides extended life. When the cooling system is working excellently, then the life span will be longer. Even the life of the LED lighting is often longer than the life of the vehicle itself.

What Are HIDs?

In particular, this lighting means High-Intensity Discharge. It is also a well-known illumination as Xenon light. In particular, this name is used because it is an illumination that contains gas inside the bulb. Also, the operation between LED lighting and HID lighting is different.

In short, an electric arc is required as a source of illumination in these cases. In turn, this component is located between each of the two tungsten electrodes. In this case, this type of lighting is usually used to cover large areas. Some of the most common uses are in reflectors or stadium lights.

Compared to halogen lights, this option provides twice as efficient lighting and a much whiter color. These are two important aspects when high power is required constantly. However, the best option of all is in the efficiency of LED lighting.

HID headlights, their use began to be implemented in cars in the 1990s. Since then, a large number of vehicles have achieved superior driving efficiency. Today, there are some kits of parts to incorporate this lighting in many vehicles. However, it is not possible to get the best features as LED lighting does.

Which Is Better: LED Or HID Headlights?

When it comes to choosing a type of lighting for your particular motorcycle, LED lighting is preferable. On the one hand, this type of lighting has the possibility of providing the longest life span compared to other types of lighting. As we have mentioned, this happens due to the cooling efficiency of this lighting.

On the other hand, we can mention that the variety of colors, as well as the operation on the road, is more efficient when you use LED lighting. The instant start function can provide an excellent advantage even if it is only a few seconds.

So, if you want to enjoy a good performance and long life, you should incorporate LED lighting into your motorcycle. It is also an excellent way to optimize the safety of your vehicle while driving.

References:

https://www.caranddriver.com/car-accessories/a38106796/hid-vs-led/

https://www.partzilla.com/blog/led-vs-hid-lights-differences