Removal of headlight body for installation of Super-Led lamps

[Celso Novo]

Hello friends!
I came back a few days after an 8,000km trip with my Trophy SE and it was filthy.
So, I decided to take it apart to do a deep cleaning, in order to reach the parts that are not reached in a traditional wash.
With the bike completely disassembled, I wanted to take advantage and change the 55/60 W halogen lamps for stronger LED ones that would give me better lighting on the road, since the original ones weren't satisfying me.
For that, I read several topics in this forum about the procedure to change them, but I couldn't, maybe because my hands are too big, because I couldn't get enough access, not even removing the battery cover and the battery.
So, I released the lower part of the headlights in order to obtain lateral access for one hand, while with the other hand I tried to install the bulbs, which I even managed, but I was unsuccessful in fixing the tension spring that goes behind the base of each lamp and that holds it in place.
I concluded that I would need to completely remove the body of the headlights to install the lamps on my workbench.
I came back to this forum in order to get some information on how to remove the "front panel/headlamps" assembly from the windshield arms.
Only then, with the help of your posts in this forum, did I manage to discover that if I loosened four clips and removed four pins that fix the windshield hinged arms, I would be able to remove the optical assembly.
So I did and success!
Here are some photos I took after removing the headlights and installing the bulbs.
I haven't finished yet, as I need to assess whether the temperature of the heat dissipation strips will be excessive for the rubber cover and melt it.
If I notice that the tapes are heating the rubber covering too much, maybe I will increase the gap.
We will see...

[tdragger]

That's an involved job for sure.  Just keep in mind that there are limits to how much you can improve your headlights.  I've installed LED bulbs as well which are a big improvement but only so much.

If you are truly interested in throwing a lot of additional light down the road, then you should go with auxiliary lights.

Here is my install of a Denali Electronics system that includes a DialDim Controller, a set of D3 Spots and a set of D3 Fogs.  This system will light up the night.

[Celso Novo]

It turned out really good! Surely those motorcycle headlights must illuminate the road in front of you a lot, but here in my country the legislation is stricter and I would hardly be able to ride with so many auxiliary headlights without being stopped by the Highway Police. But a pair of auxiliary headlights is acceptable here. So, in addition to upgrading the main headlights, I also bought these LED auxiliary headlights in the photo below with 60 Watts each (20 LEDs of 3 Watts each). I hope it greatly improves visibility at night!

[Pauli363]

The first thing I noticed when I bought my TTSE last may was the lights on the bike.  I really wanted to upgrade to LED but read mixed reports on here.
So beforehand, I decided to see if I could get brighter Xenon bulbs.  I quickly learned that the adverts promised a lot and delivered little.  I went through 3 sets of supposedly better Xenon bulbs that were no different to what were on the bike.

After some research myself I settled on a set of LEDs that had the ballast built in.  The bulbs below are excellent and I was able to fit them without anything being removed from the bike.  The difference is like night and day.
Firstly, from an aesthetics point ov view, the bike looks sharp and modern.  But the lights also cast a crisp white beam which I am please with.

In addition, I also installed an LED running bulb in the middle light, a pair of LED spot lights and wired up the LED indicator kit, whereby you have permanent white LEDs in the indicator housing, which flash amber when indicating.  The overall change is fantastic.  You will not miss this bike coming down the road.

I completed the above a few month prior to the UK MOT test was due, and I was a bit anxious that the bike would fail if there was an issue with beam or alignment.  However, I believe there was a fairly recent change to legislation here indicating that as long as the beam etc wasn't radically changed and oncoming vehicles would not be blinded, then it would be deemed acceptable.  My bike went through the test 2 weeks ago with no issues and no advisories.

These are the headlight bulbs I settled for. 3600 lumens, and 600ok colour temp.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B085Q8QT1M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are the LED spots I got.  Mounted under the fairing above the front mudguard.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08FMHT2BQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


And this is how they look on.

Before:




After.  (Spots can be seen, but aren't turned on here)

[mike5878]

Pauli they withdrew the MOT fail rule re conversions from Halogen to LED very quickly after it was introduced, now it's the same as before. As long as they meet the settings they pass. I just ordered the bulbs you mentioned in your post after seeing your before and after pics, lovely job cheers. If I see you on the roads of Norn Irn I will give you a wave.

    

[Coconut]

Covered in a previous Topic ....

On 22 March 2021, so 2 years ago tomorrow ! - MOT Special Notice 01-21 "Headlamp conversions"
was enacted, allowinged an LED Headlamp bulb conversion into a "Halogen" Light fitting,
providing, as stated below, thaty the Beam Pattern did not cause any undue dazzle etc,
but this only referred to motorcycles and as far as I know does not yet apply to other vehicles ( in the UK ).

Cheers 

[Pauli363]

Originally Posted by mike5878

Pauli they withdrew the MOT fail rule re conversions from Halogen to LED very quickly after it was introduced, now it's the same as before. As long as they meet the settings they pass. I just ordered the bulbs you mentioned in your post after seeing your before and after pics, lovely job cheers. If I see you on the roads of Norn Irn I will give you a wave.

 

Hi Mike.  Good job, glad I have helped.  I found them easy to fit without having to remove anything from the fairing.  Some people report difficulty replacing bulbs, and there are some who go in from underneath the fairing, and some from above.  I went in from above.  When you take out the original bulb, try and picture in your head whet you are doing.  The LED bulb will seat perfectly, the fiddliest bit is getting the tension spring back on.  Shine a torch down there with the bulb out and check what you have to do to get the spring back in place, it makes it easier when you are doing it "blind".  Also, remember to change out the middle running light to LED as well to complete the transformation!

Unfortunately I don't see a link for the switchback indicator kit on eBay any longer, someone else may be able to point you in the direction od a set of these.  Again, a doddle to fit, and make a big difference.