Choosing an H4 reflector

H4-Lucas used to make a reflector/lens for this quite good light, but there was a black cap over the front of the bulb, bike vibration jumped this off-not good. Wipac made a similar H4 unit-cheaper and the black cap being smaller did not fall off-recommended. Sorry can't help with Cibie Hella.

Paul

If your bike is running 12V electrics you could try one of the Halogen BPF bulbs instead of swapping reflectors.

NOC Shop has these although showing out of stock. I have one spare. If you want to try it then message me.

I used these for while and found them fine just a bit heavy on power use as they are 60W/55W so the charge warning light came on occasionally riding in town and at low revs.

In the end I swapped to a Wipac H4 reflector (added detail: 7" Quadoptic Unit with sidelight Part. No. S4700) and an LED headlight bulb from Paul Goff which I found to be a good option.  Much the same as a Lucas reflector with the halogen bulb but the Wipac reflector is shallower allowing more room for the LED bulb's heatsink as Paul Goff recommends.  Also there is no sign of the charge warning light even at low revs.

Andy

Wipac H4 are good as are Hella H4.

I use a 7" Quadoptic reflector with a Philips Racing Vision H4 bulb and it's streets ahead of the standard set-up.  Full beam is sensational but maybe a tad too focused for some, low beam has a good cut off for height and a nice flick up to the left to be able to see up the verge.  I did try the Lucas 7" H4 reflector last year, but didn't like the beam pattern nearly as much as the Quadoptic.

I bought my Lucas H4 headlamp conversion from Paul Goff, and it is so much better than the original Lucas one on my 1970 Commando Roadster. Paul Goff was advertising this conversion, so he may still have them in stock. They are genuine Lucas parts, as the box is green and has the Lucas logo on the box.

Paul

To answer your question I found the LED beam pattern similar to the halogen one and fine for our dark Devon roads. I didn't really notice the specific patterns for dip and main but encountered no problems. The light is certainly bright enough.

Looking at Paul Goff's website there are now many 'Daylighters'. My interpretation follows but best check the website.

The bulb I am using is the 12V Daylighter H4 4K.  There is now an H4 5K. Both of these are shown as requiring 9-32V.

The new H4 5K will not work with the Wipac Quadoptic reflector. The fitting 'bumps' and black shield apparently foul the bulb heatsink.

Now listed on the site are revised BPF LED headlight bulbs available in 6/12V and 12V only versions.  If you are continuing to run 6V you could try the new 6/12V BPF LED.

An alternative is to switch to the H4 reflector (Lucas now looks a better bet to allow for any future  H4 LED 6v bulb) and try the powerful 6V Halogen bulb 60/55W.

As the LED bulb range is continuing to change I'd contact Paul Goff and seek his advice on the best options for you now and any likely improvements,

Andy

AC above says 'these are genuine Lucas as the box is Green' ere not so, the real Lucas company failed in the mid 1980s. All we have now is under use of the name I think from the WW Wassell empire, parts made under licence. Some might be adequate BUT genuine Lucas because of a Green box not so. I sell  'Lucas' coils in Green boxes made in the far east. They seem to work well but not real LUCAS.

Pre Focus QH bulbs, these will not be as good a light/beam pattern as the real HD reflector as the latter allows better more accurate focus of the light source within the reflector.

Twittering about this LUCAS thing, it's funny how for many years we lambasted how poor the Lucas item was, and now in a lot of cases the reproduction units (rear lights) are many times worse. Some time we don't know when we are well off.