There is the hard way and then there is my way to replace headlamp bulbs on the ST1300.
See the posting.
https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44761
See the posting.
https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44761
I wonder... here in the States I noticed the 2003 models have a plastic deflector on the forks that the 04-08 models do not have. If you take this off it makes getting to the bulb area from underneath much much simpler.There is the hard way and then there is my way to replace headlamp bulbs on the ST1300.
See the posting.
https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44761
When I had my '03 I was able to get to the position lights but they are not held on very well, if you aren't careful, the bulb can fall into the headlight.Question on positioning lights
Slightly off topic but how do you access the positioning lights? I have replacements but can't for the life of me work out how you're meant to change them without removing the whole upper cowl and screen assemblies?
I used this thread myself when installing my HID - I'd already broken a piece of plastic off and had to use a misemployed screw in the end. I didn't break anything else thanks to the great leads in this thread (the 5lb lump hammer was the next tool of choice...:banghead. Thanks, all.
Thanks again.When I had my '03 I was able to get to the position lights but they are not held on very well, if you aren't careful, the bulb can fall into the headlight.
On my '08 it appears to be even harder to change... I say leave them alone 'til they go out otherwise, wait 'til you do a valve check or some other maint where you need both side fairings off. Then, you can get to them easier.
For me, that brings up the wrong diagram. But I have the deflectors you mention on my '04. Perhaps they were added with the superbrace thing?I wonder... here in the States I noticed the 2003 models have a plastic deflector on the forks that the 04-08 models do not have. If you take this off it makes getting to the bulb area from underneath much much simpler.
Does your model have this deflector?
Item 18 in this diagram:
http://www.xtremeusa.com/fiche_section_detail.asp?section=159485&category=Motorcycles&make=Honda&year=2003&fveh=3693
:censored !&$??@! :censoredWhen I had my '03 I was able to get to the position lights but they are not held on very well, if you aren't careful, the bulb can fall into the headlight...
Hey, Danny!Thank you John A your thread was timely, I was just pulling my hair out , trying to remove bulb from headlight on ST 1100 headlight still insitu.
That dam bail clip was stubbon, your How to projects guide was extream..
Thanks Danny
Happy Easter:aussie1:
Pat.. you don't know how many times I looked at it wanting to do the same thing... I think some have had luck using those long arm grabber things to pic the bulb out...:censored !&?@! :censored
Why didn't I listen to you, Joe?
I took the fairings off (to do that Spring cleaning I've mused over) and found the attractive rubber positioning light fitting just lurking within reach; tempting me just to, "have a look"; maybe a "go"?
I pulled - but the rubber just stretched. Nothing more. So I dug a spade screwdriver in there and managed to loosen the critter out some. Then I pulled and twisted gently to let the rubber flow free.
Plop! Plink! The LHS positioning lamp is in the headlamp unit and tomorrow I move on to stage 3 of cowl removal - the upper cowl and headlight unit.
"Son. If you learn through your mistakes you'll get a fantastic education".
My Dad.
.
Just to help out - the missing link for me was in the squeezing so another pic that may help those cognitively challenged such as I....once this is done with the panels off it seems so easy, but fiddling round with eyes on the ends of m'fingers shoved down the cowling was sooo hard! ie - no blood drawn this time!!!This should answer all your questions... I can change the bulb in 30 w/time to spare.
If you feel around the connector you'll feel the sides give a little.. go towards the headlight a little more and you'll feel more of the pins.
I started my ST1300 in the garage this morning before backing out to leave for work. Thought there was a bright flash of light against the garage wall, but didn't give it any thought. Got a few blocks from the house & when I stopped behind a car suddenly realized the LH low beam burned out. I don't ride much after dark, but I'm concerned that when I do & have to use the low beams, the bike might pull to the right, until I get that bad bulb replaced.This should answer all your questions... I can change the bulb in 30 w/time to spare.
If you feel around the connector you'll feel the sides give a little.. go towards the headlight a little more and you'll feel more of the pins.
I know that not everyone will agree with me as it's actually a quite "simple" operation (once you've done it and apologised for your language in Church), but I think doing your first bulb change should be done with the side cowl removed because:I started my ST1300 in the garage this morning before backing out to leave for work. Thought there was a bright flash of light against the garage wall, but didn't give it any thought. Got a few blocks from the house & when I stopped behind a car suddenly realized the LH low beam burned out. I don't ride much after dark, but I'm concerned that when I do & have to use the low beams, the bike might pull to the right, until I get that bad bulb replaced.
I tried sticking my hand in there this afternoon to find the plug or back of the bulb, and think I may have to find a lady with much smaller hands to reach it for me so I don't have to resort to removing the plastic first. Wonder if I could speak to a massage therapist about....
Anyway, if I'm gonna have to instruct her how to remove/replace the bulb, I've gotta figure out the correct sequence of events from these posts and/or my SM. Am I correct in assuming the electrical connector must be unplugged first, then the rubber boot removed, then unlatch the wire bail to remove the bulb? It sure looks like one of those tasks that can lead to a lot of frustration & 4-letter words to have to do most of it by "feel". Wish me luck y'all - me or the lady with small hands will need a lot of encouraging words, I do believe.
Don
Don, you have an '03... on 2003 models I noticed there is a plastic fork guard that I have only noticed on 2003's... If you remove that, it's a simple task.I started my ST1300 in the garage this morning before backing out to leave for work. Thought there was a bright flash of light against the garage wall, but didn't give it any thought. Got a few blocks from the house & when I stopped behind a car suddenly realized the LH low beam burned out. I don't ride much after dark, but I'm concerned that when I do & have to use the low beams, the bike might pull to the right, until I get that bad bulb replaced.
I tried sticking my hand in there this afternoon to find the plug or back of the bulb, and think I may have to find a lady with much smaller hands to reach it for me so I don't have to resort to removing the plastic first. Wonder if I could speak to a massage therapist about....
Anyway, if I'm gonna have to instruct her how to remove/replace the bulb, I've gotta figure out the correct sequence of events from these posts and/or my SM. Am I correct in assuming the electrical connector must be unplugged first, then the rubber boot removed, then unlatch the wire bail to remove the bulb? It sure looks like one of those tasks that can lead to a lot of frustration & 4-letter words to have to do most of it by "feel". Wish me luck y'all - me or the lady with small hands will need a lot of encouraging words, I do believe.
Don
This just happened to me. I pulled the position bulb socket out of the headlight, and the bulb fell out of the socket and disappeared in the gap between the reflector and lens. I don't know if there's any way to get it out, but I figure it isn't going to do any harm down there.I also swapped out the positioning lamps for blue-filtered ones seeing as I'd dropped one into the headlamp unit and I had to remove it anyway (also a blue-filtered halogen for balance). Getting it out was so much of a laugh I'd recommend the exercise to everyone...:
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I'm pretty slick at taking the cowls off now (another time last night taking the HID out for the annual MOT test) and stripping the front cowl and lamp assembly was still pretty scary. In the event I took my time and got the little lamp out (tipped it out the H4 socket) but best of all, other than a raised confidence I felt I had achieved something.This just happened to me. I pulled the position bulb socket out of the headlight, and the bulb fell out of the socket and disappeared in the gap between the reflector and lens. I don't know if there's any way to get it out, but I figure it isn't going to do any harm down there.