headlight

[smoothblue]

I finally had a headlight bulb go out on me on my 2005. I see the stock bulb looks to be a H4 with (I think) 50 watt low and 60 watt high. What are my options for a low budget fix? Are there different bulbs other than stock that are better lighting?

 

[bramfrank]

You can buy higher wattage builbs and you can buy colored bulbs, but the reality is that the high power ones generally burn out quickly and the blue ones are not as bright as the clear ones'.

As it happens, it is also technically not legal to put in any bulb except the specified one, because the relfector and bulbs are approved as an assembly.

Buy two decent (known-branded) H4 -bulbs and install them. When one bulb goes, the other is usually not far behind.

 

[HaulinAshe]

I highly recommend either the Philips Vision Plus 50 H4 or Philips X-treme Power H4 from CAsportTouring. You won't easily find these bulbs locally and CAsportTouring is a great vendor IMHO.

As already stated, buy two and change them both at the same time. The other bulb isn't far behind.

 

[Bustanut joker]

I've had good luck and better lighting with Sylvania Silverstars.. Both in my truck and scoot.

:jester:

 

[JR'SFJR]

I recently purchased a H4 Candlepower(made in Germany) from our Honda shop. Cost: between $6-7. Will see.

 

[Bounce]

I highly recommend either the Philips Vision Plus 50 H4 or Philips X-treme Power H4 from CAsportTouring. You won't easily find these bulbs locally and CAsportTouring is a great vendor IMHO.

As already stated, buy two and change them both at the same time. The other bulb isn't far behind.

+1 on the Philips. I get mine from Murph.

https://www.murphskits.com/catalog/

He seems to currently list the Extreme 80's but I know he can get the +50s since that's where I got mine.

https://www.murphskits.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_28&products_id=304

 

[jim oneill]

How difficult is it to replace the headlight bulbs? how much disassembly is required?

 

[NightShine]

How difficult is it to replace the headlight bulbs? how much disassembly is required?

On smoothblue's '05 it's a piece of cake. I can do it with my eyes closed (literally, since I do it by touch). On a recent ride, a fellow FJR rider's left headlight bulb went out, and I replaced it with my spare one in about 2 minutes. But that's only because I hadn't done one in a while and couldn't remember which way the retaining clip hinged.

Don't know about the Gen 2's.

 

[Patriot]

just remove the two black panels on the side the bulb is out

you'll see the plug to the back of the bulb inside a round soft rubber piece

pull off the plug noting the orientation of male blade terminals on the bulb...which way the middle blade faces to properly insert the new bulb facing correctly

unhook the silver wire holder clamp and let it hinge out of the way

put on some surgical or nyril gloves...touching the bulb glass with bare skin will cause a hot spot from body oils and greatly lessen or immediately cause the bulb to fail

so then it's new bulb in, hook the keeper wire thingy, put back the soft rubber cover, and then plug back in the wires

I, ah, well, ah, moisten the rubber thingy with spit so it slides on easily...I guess some silicon spray might be effective as well

oh, the left side is more difficult because a brace for the nose is near the bulb

on mine there's a ah, well, ah, few wires up in there too :blink:

hope this helps and good luck with it

Mike

in Nawlins'

 

[bramfrank]

No disassembly required on a Gen-II - I've changed mine out - even done a plug-and-play HID conversion (and back) without removing anything. And I have fat hands.

 

[Slosey]

+ 1 on Philips Vision Plus 50 H4. Meijer's has them...at least in my area. They are a whiter light.

 

[Brodie]

Smoothblue

The Sylvania Silver Stars are a good improvement for a fair price at any good auto parts store. Just don't expect them to last quite as long as the originals.

Trust us, you have only a few days, if you are lucky, before the other one goes out. Get her done!

Brodie

 

[Harald]

Ditto on high power bulb life. The ones I put in lasted only 9 months on one side (running at least 1000 miles per month). The stock ones were still going strong after 2 years, but I wanted extra light. Now I'm back to one stock bulb and the other high power one.

A little tip when changing bulbs: put a little dielectric grease on the dust boot and it'll be a pleasure taking it off next time (not the struggle it'll be the first time).

 

[LeftBase]

Good stuff here! Got my right bulb changed blind and left handed with panels A and C off, using the Yamaha manual in about 90 minutes.

Didn't even have to remove any panels after using the tips in Patriots write up above to do the left in five minutes.

This is the first and only set of headlight bulbs in a little over 50k. Hope I can remember all this stuff next time!