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LED Conversion
- Thread starter pwharton1
- Start date
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- Tags
- led conversion
I'm pretty sure the headlight on an '02 R1150RT is identical to the one on an '03 R1150RT, which is what I have. I replaced both low and high beam bulbs with LED. The low beam is an H7 and it was not difficult to find an LED bulb that fits without requiring any modification to the bike's headlight assembly. I bought a Hikari H7 bulb from Amazon, but that was over a year ago and now there are DOT approved H7 bulbs with approximately the same physical dimensions.
The high beam is another story. The H3 bulb fits into a can-shaped metal and plastic holder that slides into and locks in the headlight assembly. You will have a very hard time finding an H3 bulb that both: 1) fits in that holder without requiring any modification, and 2) is bright enough to serve as a high beam bulb. I spent an evening with a Dremel tool making an H3 LED bulb fit. The increase in brightness was worth the effort.
The high beam is another story. The H3 bulb fits into a can-shaped metal and plastic holder that slides into and locks in the headlight assembly. You will have a very hard time finding an H3 bulb that both: 1) fits in that holder without requiring any modification, and 2) is bright enough to serve as a high beam bulb. I spent an evening with a Dremel tool making an H3 LED bulb fit. The increase in brightness was worth the effort.
jnrugg
Member
When you replaced the low beam, were you able to get the metal spring clip that holds the bulb in place to fit?
I also have an 1150RT and just can't get the spring clip back on without removing the front fairing.
While my low beam is an H3 my high beam is an H1 on the 2002
Have you tried searching Amazon? There are a tonne for sale there. I bought a set of 2 H7 bulbs for $30.
Okay, then they changed between 2002 and 2003.
The H7 bulb I used is designed with a removable rotating collar. That collar is what fits into the headlight assembly and the spring clip goes over it. Then the bulb goes into the collar and twists to lock. So the spring clip was not quite as much trouble for me, but still one of the more difficult things I've ever done in my life.
The most difficult was related to that $(*%#$*$ high beam bulb holder.
jnrugg
Member
I don't use hi beams enough to make it worth changing.
Any chance you have the link to where you got your bulb?
H7 LED for 2003 1150RT low beam: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GKRKN5B
Bonus! You get two bulbs in the box. I still have the second one sitting around on a shelf if/when the first one fails.
Bonus! You get two bulbs in the box. I still have the second one sitting around on a shelf if/when the first one fails.
jnrugg
Member
The back cover fits over this?
Yes. For reference compare this one from superbrightleds.com that they recommend for our bikes: https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...-kit-with-compact-heat-sink-2000-lumens/3932/
I bought that bulb and tried it. The cover would not close over the heat sink. I returned it and bought the Hikari.
