LED Headlight Upgrade on RTLC

[Yonkyo]

Mine just arrived in the post.

"As you'll know, changing the Low Beam bulb is a fiddly fucker, as you have to do it my feel alone. So fitting the LED and Ballast was quite tricky, but it all went in, and only took me about 15 mins."

WHAT??!!

"Install pics not possible, as I did it blind and by feel only. Accessing the low beam is a PITA unless you strip the front end"

How in Goodness name did you do it in 15 mins?? --unless you had a 10 year old double jointed boy handy...

I've just managed to connect the bulb to see how bright it is. Left arm coming up from below, right arm holding the OEM connector from above.

LED doesn't come on with the ignition on as the OEM does, but lights up with the engine running.

15 mins.... does that include the time taken to remove the front suspension completely???

I'll try again later and let you know how I get on....

I did say its a very fiddly job. The reason i can do it in 15mins is because i've been doing a lot of playing around at trying different bulbs, so i'm well practiced.

So, have you fitted it yet then?

 

[Yonkyo]

For those that have done the LED bulb swap, how are you dealing with the cooling wire's / strands? I've got a Philips Xtreme Vision +130 in mine at the moment, which I did do by feel in about 15 minutes (and I have the dexterity of a 1970's British professional wrestler after several pints of Ansell's Bitter), but I like the look of this LED and the match to the DRL's.

The cooling strands spread out evenly behind the headlight access cover, it's a tight squeeze but they do fit, and so, no problems with heat.

 

[Fluffmeister]

The cooling strands spread out evenly behind the headlight access cover, it's a tight squeeze but they do fit, and so, no problems with heat.

You sir, are a god that walks amongst men and responsible for me spending cash on an eBay order for a shiny LED Bulb

 

[Packer]

The ballast was just about small enough to fit inside the headlight housing, but it is a tight fit and as i said, a very fiddly job without stripping the fairing off.

Have the LED's you've installed got fan cooling systems or simply heat sinks and have you ventilated the headlamp assembly to allow dissipation of heat from the LED?

One advantage of the HID technology is that they produce far less heat than a standard incandescent lamp. Reflector damage is usually a result of using non -UV shielded lamps with plastic reflectors.

Slightly off topic, I wonder if BMW actually employ designers who ride motorcycles at night? Surely if they did they wouldn't install a single dip beam lamp on an intercontinental tourer. That smacks of ignorance or crass stupidity. On second thoughts it's me that is being dense, they are trying to get the additional cash from your pocket for what are essential additional lights

 

[mercuryf1]

I asked a friend's opinion by showing him the link for the H7 LED bulb. He has a company that designs and manufactures all sorts of LEDs.

Although he has no info on comparative amount of lumens from H7 vs standard BMW issued bulb, he reckons that the H7 LED might not be bright enough for night time driving! Unlike the front LED of the GSA (which has dual lenses), the RT does not have a lens. RT only has a reflector which will result in less brightness from the light thrown.

Yonkyo, how do you find riding at night with the new set-up? I noticed you have aux fog lights on your bike too. I guess that helps!

 

[Yonkyo]

You sir, are a god that walks amongst men and responsible for me spending cash on an eBay order for a shiny LED Bulb

LOL, i'm no God, but my XL hands work like a blind watch maker on Steroids...

Good luck with the install...and have patients...

 

[Yonkyo]

Have the LED's you've installed got fan cooling systems or simply heat sinks and have you ventilated the headlamp assembly to allow dissipation of heat from the LED?

These LEDs are not fan cooled, they have flexible heatsink mesh, and no i didn't ventilate the housing and nothings melted......yet

 

[Yonkyo]

I asked a friend's opinion by showing him the link for the H7 LED bulb. He has a company that designs and manufactures all sorts of LEDs.

Although he has no info on comparative amount of lumens from H7 vs standard BMW issued bulb, he reckons that the H7 LED might not be bright enough for night time driving! Unlike the front LED of the GSA (which has dual lenses), the RT does not have a lens. RT only has a reflector which will result in less brightness from the light thrown.

Yonkyo, how do you find riding at night with the new set-up? I noticed you have aux fog lights on your bike too. I guess that helps!

The light throw and illumination from this LED is excellent, and easily exceeds the OEM bulb, plus the light colour is also very white.

I dont use the aux LED light at night now, as they tend to dazzle oncoming traffic when i'm leaning in to corners.

 

[dmilne]

Give me a few days... I have other stuff to do 1st. D

 

[DC]

these look great thanks for the info , Can I ask about the Aux Spot lights , how did you mount and what make are they please ? they look like the GSA ones

 

[Yonkyo]

these look great thanks for the info , Can I ask about the Aux Spot lights , how did you mount and what make are they please ? they look like the GSA ones

The spots are standard BMW LEDs as fitted to the GSA's and K1600's etc.
There is a fitting kit for the RTLC.

 

[Ninj]

Give me a few days... I have other stuff to do 1st. D

Dmile Did you mange to install? Think mine will be going in the car!

 

[dmilne]

Yes, it was more than a bit of a faff though. Partly because I have an aftemarket horn fitted which is bigger than the OEM.
More than 15mins..... However, knowing that it could be done in 15mins I persevered and got it in.
Works fine, really bright white, not yet tried at night so I don't know what it's like in the dark.
I did have to remove the speaker grills and use one of those cameras for looking in remote places to see what was going on.

 

[Ninj]

Ok Thanks I'll give it another go in the sun