Now I read this thread. Yesterday was my attempt at my first ST repair, the left head lamp. The Honda manual was nearly useless, "disconnect bulb 3P socket". After wiggling, pulling, twisting, etc and another visit to the manual, I finally felt the small tabs on the sides. Pressed and removed 3P (on top, facing the back of the bike, with my eyes closed, LOL). Dust cover a breeze. The retaining bail does what? manual arrows lend no help, back to playing "blind man". OK I feel it an it unsnaps and pivots away, the planets have aligned.
Bulb in hand down to the local auto store. The tabs on the 9003 are at slightly different clock positions, light is important so off to the Honda boys and order the correct bulb, not in stock.
Practiced replacing the old bulb, now with glove to ensure a clean bulb (practice). All worked well, get rid of the glove to feel the retainer, dust cover on and socket back. I aligned the center bulb connector first and slid on the side pair with relative ease.
After reading this thread I will trim the tabs of a 9003 H4 lamp for the next head light change and do it as a pair to keep the intensity of light the same. 2 for the price of one Honda lamp.