I've just replaced my headlight bulbs for the first time and have come to the following conclusion.
For other fellow newbies out there:
It's literally a 5 minute Job (per bulb) including unpacking the H4 and cutting off the tabs.
Work from top and/or bottom.
Under no circumstances (unless you have the hands of Goliath) is there any need to remove the headlight assembly as some tutorials suggest. Even then get someone with smaller hands to do the fitting for you.
Summary: Remove the connector (squeezing in at the sides to release the clips), remove the rubber boot, unclip and remove the old bulb, if you have the USA model replace with OEM 45/45 bulb or cut the lower tabs off an H4 bulb, ignore the shim if you do go the H4 route, replace in the reverse order. I put a thin smear of oil on the contact area of the rubber boot to make sure it slipped on easy.
You do not need the shim when choosing to use the H4 bulb over the OEM. The tab at the top is more than adequate to locate the position of the bulb, the lower tabs are only there to ensure the use of the OEM bulb. Obviously the USA version has some regulation regarding wattage so the tabs are different to the H4. In every other way the H4 is the same.
I installed a 55/60. I have used 55/100 on previous bikes but the differential between high and low beam is to great and dipping to low beam is like being plunged into relative darkness especially on a wet night.
Just passed my Warrant Of Fittness with flying colours
Cheers
For other fellow newbies out there:
It's literally a 5 minute Job (per bulb) including unpacking the H4 and cutting off the tabs.
Work from top and/or bottom.
Under no circumstances (unless you have the hands of Goliath) is there any need to remove the headlight assembly as some tutorials suggest. Even then get someone with smaller hands to do the fitting for you.
Summary: Remove the connector (squeezing in at the sides to release the clips), remove the rubber boot, unclip and remove the old bulb, if you have the USA model replace with OEM 45/45 bulb or cut the lower tabs off an H4 bulb, ignore the shim if you do go the H4 route, replace in the reverse order. I put a thin smear of oil on the contact area of the rubber boot to make sure it slipped on easy.
You do not need the shim when choosing to use the H4 bulb over the OEM. The tab at the top is more than adequate to locate the position of the bulb, the lower tabs are only there to ensure the use of the OEM bulb. Obviously the USA version has some regulation regarding wattage so the tabs are different to the H4. In every other way the H4 is the same.
I installed a 55/60. I have used 55/100 on previous bikes but the differential between high and low beam is to great and dipping to low beam is like being plunged into relative darkness especially on a wet night.
Just passed my Warrant Of Fittness with flying colours
Cheers