JW Speaker 8790 nonadaptive headlight install
I've a 2015 Freewheeler. I purchased through JP Cycles a model 8790 nonadaptive JW Speaker LED headlight and installed it today. I've not yet ridden in the dark so I have no idea how the light performs in that situation. I'll try and attach a photo of the face of the light, not installed.
This post is intended to provide information about the light and my installation experience. The lighting unit is of extremely high quality the installation method and final result is not so high quality.
I'll explain the difference between adaptive and nonadaptive technology. Nonadaptive means the light shines straight down the road like any headlight. An adaptive headlight has extra LED's that illuminate the road side as a bike is leaned into a turn. Since a trike does not lean adaptive technology is not required and such a light is useless on a trike, especially considering its $200+ extra cost over a nonadaptive.
The JW Speaker 8790 adaptive and nonadaptive light each use the same housing and face plate so you might think when looking at the nonadaptive; WOW, look at all those LED's. The only LED's that work on the nonadaptive are the center one, low beam and the 3 on the bottom, high beam. Those arrayed in a circle do not work, the LED's and controlling circuitry are not installed.
I've a 2015 Freewheeler that had the factory halogen headlight. This headlight has an H4 (3 prong) connector to the bike circuitry. The JW Speaker 8790 light comes with this same H4 connector installed so it is plug and play. The purchase information on the JW Speaker and JP Cycles site each say an adapter wiring harness is required. This is not true and it is useless. I can speak only for my bike. To verify I suggest you pull your existing headlight loose from its mountings and check if you have an H4 type plug; if so, you do not need the harness. Save yourself $20 to $30.
There were no installation instructions included with the headlight. There was a postcard with a reference link to the JW Speaker site for a video of installation instructions. I found this video not to exist for this specific model light. The installation is a no brainer to a point, the light electrically connects the same as stock and it slips into the housing with the 3 orientating tabs the same as stock but that is where similarity to the stock installation ends. The stock light fits flush to the light housing, the JW Speaker light does not.
There are some bosses on the light that keep it from fitting close to the stock housing by approximately 1/8 of an inch. There is a 7 inch rubber "O" ring included with the light. Having no installation instructions I assumed this installs around the light to seal the 1/8 inch gap and is intended to pinch between the stock housing and the light retaining ring for a water resistant seal, it does no for several reasons. The "O" ring rides too high where the light orientation bosses are and falls into the gap where they are not so there it does not pinch with the light retaining ring leaving a water leak point. Knowing this now I think a thin smear of silicone caulk on the factory mounting face might hold this "O" ring in position to get the pinch seal with the light retaining ring.
Why did I buy this particular light? I bought it for two reasons, the dual burn technology which is when the high beam is on the low beam is also on. The other is, I looked at the JW Speaker site for the light pattern of this light and on low beam it throws light wider to the side and closer to the bike, hence giving me good side lighting but it also throws low beam lighting down the road the same as other low beam lighting does.
I've a 2015 Freewheeler. I purchased through JP Cycles a model 8790 nonadaptive JW Speaker LED headlight and installed it today. I've not yet ridden in the dark so I have no idea how the light performs in that situation. I'll try and attach a photo of the face of the light, not installed.
This post is intended to provide information about the light and my installation experience. The lighting unit is of extremely high quality the installation method and final result is not so high quality.
I'll explain the difference between adaptive and nonadaptive technology. Nonadaptive means the light shines straight down the road like any headlight. An adaptive headlight has extra LED's that illuminate the road side as a bike is leaned into a turn. Since a trike does not lean adaptive technology is not required and such a light is useless on a trike, especially considering its $200+ extra cost over a nonadaptive.
The JW Speaker 8790 adaptive and nonadaptive light each use the same housing and face plate so you might think when looking at the nonadaptive; WOW, look at all those LED's. The only LED's that work on the nonadaptive are the center one, low beam and the 3 on the bottom, high beam. Those arrayed in a circle do not work, the LED's and controlling circuitry are not installed.
I've a 2015 Freewheeler that had the factory halogen headlight. This headlight has an H4 (3 prong) connector to the bike circuitry. The JW Speaker 8790 light comes with this same H4 connector installed so it is plug and play. The purchase information on the JW Speaker and JP Cycles site each say an adapter wiring harness is required. This is not true and it is useless. I can speak only for my bike. To verify I suggest you pull your existing headlight loose from its mountings and check if you have an H4 type plug; if so, you do not need the harness. Save yourself $20 to $30.
There were no installation instructions included with the headlight. There was a postcard with a reference link to the JW Speaker site for a video of installation instructions. I found this video not to exist for this specific model light. The installation is a no brainer to a point, the light electrically connects the same as stock and it slips into the housing with the 3 orientating tabs the same as stock but that is where similarity to the stock installation ends. The stock light fits flush to the light housing, the JW Speaker light does not.
There are some bosses on the light that keep it from fitting close to the stock housing by approximately 1/8 of an inch. There is a 7 inch rubber "O" ring included with the light. Having no installation instructions I assumed this installs around the light to seal the 1/8 inch gap and is intended to pinch between the stock housing and the light retaining ring for a water resistant seal, it does no for several reasons. The "O" ring rides too high where the light orientation bosses are and falls into the gap where they are not so there it does not pinch with the light retaining ring leaving a water leak point. Knowing this now I think a thin smear of silicone caulk on the factory mounting face might hold this "O" ring in position to get the pinch seal with the light retaining ring.
Why did I buy this particular light? I bought it for two reasons, the dual burn technology which is when the high beam is on the low beam is also on. The other is, I looked at the JW Speaker site for the light pattern of this light and on low beam it throws light wider to the side and closer to the bike, hence giving me good side lighting but it also throws low beam lighting down the road the same as other low beam lighting does.
orag:
- Somtimes !
