Tech Tip Hi-Tech Lighting
Installing A LED Headlight
All headlights are not created equal; they are available in four basic light sources: incandescent, quartz halogen, HID (high intensity discharge) and LED (light emitting diode). Some riders think that brighter headlights are better, when in fact it is the color temperature of the light source that gives a rider the ability to see objects at night. A whiter light gives a rider greater depth of view at night. Incandescent and quartz halogen lights have a yellow cast and HID lights have a blue beam, while hi-output LEDs emit a true white light; their light color is the closest to sunlight’s color.
LED headlights are the newest type. Their illumination ability and directional aiming is nothing short of fantastic and they are now available for motorcycles. With this info in hand, we searched the Drag Specialties website; they have a RIVCO Products H4 LED headlight bulb kit. It is a straight bolt-in replacement for most 1994-2013 baggers. Because this H4 LED headlight bulb has a built-in electronic ballast, which is mounted in the rear of the light’s hi-impact housing, no other parts need to be replaced.
We ordered the RVCO LED headlight bulb kit, Drag Specialties part number 2060-0535, MSRP $69.95. We then followed along as Dave Rivera, at Bartels’ H-D, installed it in a 2012 Ultra Classic. Installing the headlight bulb was about a one hour operation, which is because the front of the fairing must be removed. The LED headlight bulb assembly is a straight plug-in replacement; no filing or soldering is required. Our first evening ride was a real eye opener; the headlight’s white light gave us a view that had a lot more detail of our surroundings. The RIVCO Products LED headlight is, bar none, the best nighttime riding product we have ever experienced.
By John Sullivan
Source
Drag Specialties
dragspecialties.com
THIS 2012 ULTRA CLASSIC’S LED CONVERTED HEADLIGHT LOOKS STOCK, UNTIL IT IS TURNED ON. THEN, WHAT A DIFFERENCE, YOU CAN’T FIND A BETTER WAY TO SEE THE ROAD AFTER DARK!
TO GET TO THE HEADLIGHT BULB, THE FRONT OF THE FAIRING MUST BE REMOVED. IT IS ATTACHED WITH THE THREE ALLEN SCREWS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSH TO GET TO THE HEADLIGHT BULB, THE FRONT OF THE FAIRING MUST BE REMOVED. IT IS ATTACHED WITH THE THREE ALLEN SCREWS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THERE ARE FOUR MORE SCREWS ON THE RIDER’S SIDE OF THE FAIRING THAT SECURE IT TO THE FRONT SIDE OF THE FAIRING. HIELD AND…
WITH ITS MOUNTING SCREWS REMOVED, THE FRONT FAIRING IS PULLED FORWARD SO THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRE HARNESS CAN BE UNPLUGGED FROM THE BACK OF THE FACTORY HEADLIGHT BULB AND THE FAIRING SET ON THE WORKBENCH
TO FIT THE LARGEST NUMBER OF BIKES, THE RIVCO PRODUCTS LED HEADLIGHT BULB COMES WITH THREE H4 MOUNTING FLANGES. THE LIGHT’S INPUT CABLE PLUGS INTO THE FACTORY HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR.
THE FACTORY HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REMOVED FROM THE REAR OF THE HEADLIGHT SHELL.
THE RIVCO LED BULB WAS INSTALLED INTO THE FAIRING AND ITS CONNECTOR PLUGGED INTO THE FACTORY HEADLIGHT WIRE HARNESS. AFTER THAT IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF INSTALLING THE FRONT FAIRING.