I haven't seen it written up to change a headlight and guessing the procedure tells us to turn the handlebars and weasel things out, but I just couldn't get the protective boot off with my fingers...let alone put it back on. So, here's MY process for changing/upgrading the stock H4 headlight bulb. In my case I upgraded to a Philips X-treme Power +80% bulb. Note that these bulbs are the same wattage as stock (55/60W), but purportedly produce more usable lumens. Now, I wouldn't necessarily agree it's 80% of the stock bulb, but do think it's a noticeable improvement with no increase in juice. I'm not a fan of over driving the stock wiring harness with higher wattage bulbs. First I had to start with Torx bits I had bought years ago and have scarcely used until now. This fastener is a T25 and used a 1/4" socket driver with a 1/4" socket. First off was remove the black cover with the 4 fasteners (they look like they're stainless steel) and set them aside. Next take off the remainder of the white plastic. The bottom two connection points are easily jiggled free from grommets. With the last piece off you can really see the underlying structure, wiring layout, and nooks and crannies you might want to do future farkling projects. The reflector is held in place by three total fasteners. Two side bolts and one top bolt. The top fastener adjusts the vertical position of the headlight beam and I made a mental note of about how many threads were exposed. Release this screw by going to the other side of the instrument panel with a long extension (below) and turn until the threads pop out from the white part (above). Now focus on the two fasteners on the sides. I also note relative position and tried to put back in the same spot. If you don't get these right you may find your light pattern is right or left of where it should be when you ride the motorcycle later. Regardless all three are adjustable after you put it all back together later if you need to. With the three fasteners removed you can remove the headlight assembly. Wiggle off the headlight connector. It's a three-prong type. Next, wiggle off the watertight cover. (This is the part I couldn't seem to do by turning the handlebars....or that it would have taken so long or frustrating for me than doing these steps). There are two wire bails you need to release and then the bulb will come free. Swap bulbs and remember not to touch the glass part and get oil from your finger on it. Reverse the process for installing things back. I didn't do a before or after shot, but can say there are more lumens on my garage wall than the stock bulb. And a final shot of the bulb's nicely "whiter" light than stock. Enjoy.
I remember upgrading my klr to a sylvania silver star 80/100 (along with relays) and the difference was AMAZING!!!
There is a bulb replacement section in the manual available in the second sticky of this forum, but it is exactly the same process as you have taken. It doesn't say to remove the white cowling, but the pictures appear to show the it removed. Nice write up, thanks
I pulled my headlight out last week. Annoying having to remove the vertical adjustment screw to replace a bulb. An easy enough job if you're doing it in the daylight but how often do you urgently need to replace a bulb during the day?? I tried the "count the number of turns on the way out" method, but there's little resistance when the last thread unscrews so getting the count right that way is pretty hit and miss. Luckily I'd paid attention to approx how much of the thread was exposed (and i rarely ride this bike at night).
Ignacio, great write-up! I commute in the wee hours of the morning (normally before 5am) through a desolate military training area. 20 miles of my journey is through isolated terrain with no lights, buildings, or anything. All I pass are typically critters that stumble out of the woodline and into the road, and a never-ending array of fresh potholes. As such, I've had to upgrade the lighting for every motorcycle I own. I haven't been overly impressed with the fancy 55/60W H4 bulbs. They are better, but still not good enough for my purposes. Hella makes a 55/100W H4 bulb that is pretty awesome for my purposes. I've run their 80/100W bulb on my Ural, but it is just too much on the low beams. The 55/100W lets me have a normal (clearer) low beam, but a high beam that will let me adequately see into the future. However, with more wattage comes more heat. I typically replace the stock connector with a hight-temp ceramic socket. If the wiring from the relay is cheap, I'll end up upgrading that too. So far, the Ural is the only bike I haven't had to upgrade wiring on. It may not be necessary, but the wiring upgrade to a better guage/quality of wire will help deliver the power more effectively to the bulb, as well as take away any worries of the stock wires overheating/melting. Just putting this out there for anyone who has contemplated such an upgrade. I haven't done the upgrade or the commute on the Husky yet. The stock headlight has a pretty good dispersion pattern in stock form, so this may not be necessary. I'll know in a few months when I get home and start making the commute on Ginger (my TR650).
Googled and found best price after considering shipping. https://www.google.com/search?q=Phi...14,d.cGE&fp=f2fcae2acdb91ab0&biw=1280&bih=851
Hmmmmm...looks like the HIR bulbs do not come in a dual filiment (high/low in one bulb) option. Bummer because they seem to be much brighter than the rest.
I wondered that when you first posted. And potentially hotter and seemingly with a variety of compromises around price point & longevity....even if it were to come in an H4...which is doesn't. I've played the lighting game for some years including hi wattage halogen, HID conversion including Hi/Lo solenoids, high dollar Hella FF200 HID lights (used to be my favorite), several generations of LED, etc. and currently spew about 10,000 lumens out the front of my FJR idealized for high-desert speed runs. The handwriting seems fairly obvious that there's not a whole lot to be done to improve the current reflector and single H4 bulb of the Husky, and that LEDs are increasingly obvious as the technology to go with these days via auxiliary light. I'll be planning to add a set of auxiliary lights--probably something like the Model 60 ADV Monsters using CREEs. Positioning high and protected, minimizing glare, situating a relay(s), and placing a multipurpose switch elegantly will be the subject of a future farkle thread. Maybe once I finish the Iron Butt Rally this year.
On my KLR I used Napa's Wagner BP1210-H4. It was 80/100 watts but needed the connector and harness upgrade.
Has anyone tried any HID conversions? DDM Tuning has a kit for around $45 comes in 35 Watt and 55 Watt, I use their conversion lights in my truck headlights and off road lights and never had a problem but I am unsure if the 55 Watt is too much for the Strada. Anyone with more knowledge about lighting and Wattage please help!
I have including DDM and ones better than DDM. Converting H4 bulbs with high & low filaments to HID are suboptimal in my opinion. Low conversion only works pretty well (HID use less or same than halogen and produce more lumens aligned well), but the ones that change position for high beam don't do very well as critical alignment on an already sketchy reflector is going to make it even muddier. A set of auxiliary LED like ADV monster are ideal IMO in lumens, energy usage, price, and form factor.
Contrary to popular belief, you can't just throw a HID kit on a stock filament and it work correctly. Yes, it will work, and probably provide some more light, but not GOOD light, and it'll probably piss off oncoming traffic too. So it may work, but it is never going to work "correctly." Halogens are a cylindrical light source. HID's are a crescent shaped light source. As such, they require completely different housings, reflectors, and lenses to function properly. Sometimes it might work, but other times it won't. Candlepower has a great explanation on their website, which include videos and pictures. I'll leave the details up to them. http://store.candlepower.com/trabhidki.html
Nice job on the write up My experience with after market higher out put halogen bulbs has been greater light out put but shorter life span. For me the low beam on the Terra is really bad, the high beam is o.k. Has anyone adjusted their head light to raise the low beam up, my low beam seems to be aimed to low or is this normal? Probably end up with some L.E.D.'s for aux light Thanks Glen
I did when I swapped the light. The upper single fastener adjusted up and down. If, however, it's too far out of range you may need to adjust the two lower set screws on either side. The pictures of these are included in the OP.
