ST1300 LED Headlight Bulbs?

[Shuey]

On replacing OEM ST1300 headlight bulbs with brighter, whiter LED ones . . .

Ok, I've spent the past 2 hours or so reading threads regarding LED replacement headlight bulbs. I'm . . . confused.
My dated experience was with replacement bulbs that, other than bending/breaking off two tabs, were a simple replacement - no ballast, no fans, just replace and roll.
Most of the current info I read seems to recommend bulbs with fat fan ends that may or may not require modifying the rubber boot to fit.
So, I'm looking for bright white, plug and play, and as bright as I can get that the bike will support.

Maybe time for an update thread on what's current?
Suggestions?

What about AUXITO H4/HB2/9003 LED Headlight Bulb with Fan, 100W 20000LM 6000K White, 2022 Upgraded? The fan seems small and doesn't look like it interferes with the rubber boot. https://www.auxito.com/collections/9003-led-bulb/products/9003-led-bulb-h4-hb2-led-headlight-bulb-20000-lumen

Sylvania 9003 LEDs look good and have the advantage of being readily available at most auto supply stores. Comments?

Thanks,
Shuey

 

[Obo]

@spiderman302 's the resident expert on the latest model (at the greatest price)

The model you've linked too doesn't look to quite fit the preferential design specs of the latest bulbs.

It may indeed work, but it won't give you all the lumens for your dollar (and in the right spots) the other models will.

I have one of the (now older) F2 bulbs. Almost all of them have ballasts and fans, need the 2 tabs broken off, and do not need the rubber boot modified.

I'd still call them plug and play even with the few things you need to do vs if you just swapped a halogen for a halogen.

 

[Shuey]

I guess I'm not convinced that a replacement with ballast/fan is going to be . . .easy enough to install without removing plastic.
In any case, I'm not intending to swap in another halogen. Strictly looking for an LED solution.

Appreciate the response,
Shuey

 

[Mellow]

On replacing OEM ST1300 headlight bulbs with brighter, whiter LED ones . . .

Ok, I've spent the past 2 hours or so reading threads regarding LED replacement headlight bulbs. I'm . . . confused.
My dated experience was with replacement bulbs that, other than bending/breaking off two tabs, were a simple replacement - no ballast, no fans, just replace and roll.
Most of the current info I read seems to recommend bulbs with fat fan ends that may or may not require modifying the rubber boot to fit.
So, I'm looking for bright white, plug and play, and as bright as I can get that the bike will support.

Maybe time for an update thread on what's current?
Suggestions?

What about AUXITO H4/HB2/9003 LED Headlight Bulb with Fan, 100W 20000LM 6000K White, 2022 Upgraded? The fan seems small and doesn't look like it interferes with the rubber boot. https://www.auxito.com/collections/9003-led-bulb/products/9003-led-bulb-h4-hb2-led-headlight-bulb-20000-lumen

Sylvania 9003 LEDs look good and have the advantage of being readily available at most auto supply stores. Comments?

Thanks,
Shuey

On an FJR ?

 

[Obo]

I had to remove the plastic as my hands are just too large. Other have done it though, so it is doable. I'd still recommend removing some plastics for ease.

You can get to it by removing only the windscreen, black cover and the dash cluster. No need to remove all the Tupperware.

 

[Obo]

On an FJR ?

He did say ST1300, even though his signature says FJR...

 

[Shuey]

On an FJR ?

Reading comprehension test . . . yes, it's for an ST1300.

Obo gets an "A"!

Shuey

 

[dduelin]

Cougar F2 and Bob’s your uncle. Illumination and fit is great and no Tupperware removal or alterations of boot required. I’ll come over and fit them for a lunch with you at Chick Fil A.

Cougar Motor Flagship F2 Plus Series H4 Led Bulbs , 20000LM 6500K All-in-One - Cool White, Super Bright Halogen Replacement

Cougar Motor Flagship F2 Plus Series H4 Led Bulbs , 20000LM 6500K All-in-One - Cool White, Super Bright Halogen Replacement

cougar-motor.com

 

[Nashcat]

I put the Cougars in my ST1300 sidecar rig. I had the plastic off, doing some wiring upgrades, so it was extremely easy. They have a great pattern and are super bright.

John

 

[st11ray]

Cougars

 

[Shuey]

Seems like there is a clear consensus. Thanks all for the feedback.

Cougar F2 and Bob’s your uncle. Illumination and fit is great and no Tupperware removal or alterations of boot required. I’ll come over and fit them for a lunch with you at Chick Fil A.

Cougar Motor Flagship F2 Plus Series H4 Led Bulbs , 20000LM 6500K All-in-One - Cool White, Super Bright Halogen Replacement

Cougar Motor Flagship F2 Plus Series H4 Led Bulbs , 20000LM 6500K All-in-One - Cool White, Super Bright Halogen Replacement

cougar-motor.com

Thank you Dave, I gladly accept. Hopefully early February'24 sometime?
However, as of a few minutes ago, Cougar had them on sale and . . . Sold Out.
Shuey

PS: If you are attending WinterSTOC, and . . . if I can find some bulbs, could you put them on there?

 

[dduelin]

Yes, bummer, and yes. Gladly.

PS I have one new F2 in hand because the NC700X uses only one and they are sold as a pair. If someone on the forum has another one they are willing to part with you will have a pair.

 

[Auron]

Anybody know when they'll have more?

 

[Obo]

.

 

[JohnK]

“What about AUXITO H4/HB2/9003 LED Headlight Bulb with Fan, 100W 20000LM 6000K White, 2022 Upgraded? The fan seems small and doesn't look like it interferes with the rubber boot.“

I have these now for about a year. Install was easy enough and fit fine with the boot. So far no issues and really happy with them. All weather heat or rain, long distant runs etc.

.

 

[Obo]

These bulbs have a slightly less lumen output but are leaps and bounds above OEM bulbs or the h4 incandescent upgrade.

If you can't get the "newest" Cougars at 20,000 lumens these are still more than satisfactory and work well.

14,000 lumens

Amazon.ca

12,000 lumens

Amazon.ca

FYI my F2's are rated at 12,000 lumens and still work amazing. I would have no issues buying them again. I also had no issues with the fan and the rubber boot on the headlight for my ST1300.

 

[jodog]

After y'all get done replacing stock headlights with LED (which I HIGHLY recommend), check out Clearwater LIghts https://www.clearwaterlights.com/ and Ruby lights https://www.rubymoto.com/ for some aux lighting that will put the new LED headlights you installed to shame.

 

[Shuey]

Since the Cougar 20K LM bulbs were sold out, I ordered (and received) the 18K LM bulbs. They look . . . identical and I don't think I'll notice the missing 2K of Lumens!

Shuey

Cougar Motor H4 Led Bulbs, K16 Series All-in-One - 18000LM 6000K Cool White, Quick Installation Halogen Replacement

Cougar Motor H4 Led Bulbs, K16 Series All-in-One - 18000LM 6000K Cool White, Quick Installation Halogen Replacement.

cougar-motor.com

 

[Obo]

For reference, a halogen h4 upgrade puts out (depending on the brand) can output from 430 lumens to 2317 lumens (see here )

That means even the 12,000 lumens is a decent increase.

If I remember correctly, for every 4x increase in lumens the light appears twice as bright to your eye. A 12K lumen bulb would be around 2.5x as bright.

 

[Obo]

my F2 for my ST has that extra black box. Any bulb that runs an internal voltage other than 12v in the lamp will have one.

It's fairly safe to assume most of these bulbs have that extra black box.