Headlights Refresher

Jay51

Jay51

Joined
Dec 28, 2016
Messages
187
Location
Orange County California
Bike
2006 ST1300A
Hi Guys,

I have had my ST1300 in storage for 3 years as I have moved around the country for work.

I've changed the oil and fluids and fired it up. All is good, except I need a refresher on how the headlights should light up.

1. On low beams, should one or both sides light up? Only one side is lighting up.

On high beams, both sides light up.

Thanks for the refresher...

-Jay
 
Both low beams illuminate at all times when on low beam. Both high beams illuminate at all times when on high beam.
This assumes that this is a North American market ST1300 that has not been modified.
 
Good time to upgrade to LED's.

Headlight LED -- F2 vs F3 vs NB35 | Lighting / Visibility

There are LED bulbs that have more power than the F2 LED bulb. F2 is 33 watts. F3 is 44 watts. NB35 is 44 watts. They both produce 33% more power than the F2. So they are brighter but.... You cannot compare these by which has the highest peak brightness. The F2 and the F3 have about the same...
www.st-owners.com www.st-owners.com
 
drrod said:
Good time to upgrade to LED's.
Click to expand...
Agreed. LEDs are a huge improvement. Also you may remember that both headlight are turned off while the starter button is depressed. And if so – disregard. And if they go out but don't comeback on try a shot or two of plastic safe electrical contact cleaner. Follow this up with a disassembly to clean and lightly grease. And if you're already aware of that – again disregard. :)

Also it's always a good idea to ensure your headlights are properly aimed. The whiteness to blue-whiteness of LEDs can annoying some people even when they're properly aimed. Excessive brightness will also cause problems so I avoid claimed high output bulbs.

I've had LED bulbs in my ST and car for years without being 'flashed'. But very recently I was at the limit line in the #1 lane on a red light on an incline. The driver of the car in the #1 lane directly opposite me flashed his high beams. This was the first time ever. I attribute that to adjusting my high beams a touch below what is required and doing so fully fueled.

Not wanting him to feel ignored I responded in kind. It was impressive how bright the high beams are on my old forum-approved G2 bulbs. He was not amused.

The reality is that me being on an incline raised the point of incidence to the driver's face. I understand how this would be annoying. But the same happens with incan lights properly aimed. But being LEDs 'was a problem'. I got over it soon enough.
 
ST Gui said:
.....I attribute that to adjusting my high beams a touch below what is required and doing so fully fueled.
Click to expand...

On "bouncy" roads, the headlight adjustment motor comes in handy to lower the beams a notch or two.
 
Is there a set of procedures to remove the plastic to get at the headlights. I did have LED lights installed by someone in LA. They were what Spiderman had suggested around 2018 or so. I don't remember what they are but something like F2 comes to mind. I am now in Myrtle Beach SC.
 
Jay51 said:
Is there a set of procedures to remove the plastic to get at the headlights. I did have LED lights installed by someone in LA. They were what Spiderman had suggested around 2018 or so. I don't remember what they are but something like F2 comes to mind. I am now in Myrtle Beach SC.
Click to expand...

This guy does a decent job demonstrating it.

MidLife said:
You can access the balancers by removing the lower inner cowl only, but first time is easier if you remove the left middle cowl as well (large panel).

This guy is removing all the plastic but does a decent job showing how to remove the fairing in the process (mirror cover comes off easier with a good forward wack though....and there should be a tether for it).


Installing the panels back for the first time is more tedious, but there is excellent doc here.

Article [13] - ST1300 - Maintenance - Fairing Installation | ST1300 Articles

A set of notes about putting the fairing back onto the ST1300. It covers most of the fitting gotchas, which might otherwise catch you out and/or result in broken tags. Also lists all of the fasteners - photos, description,, part numbers, where they fit and why it matters. Very useful for...
www.st-owners.com www.st-owners.com

Removing the fairing on a "new" bike is often a good idea to assess status (and often find out how many fasteners might be missing!)
Click to expand...
 
If you can get ahold of a manual, it tells you the order the fairing pieces come off. While there are shortcuts, I think it is best to follow the book for the first few times until you know how the various pieces interlock. Theoretically, a fellow with long arms can reach up from below, unclip the bail and remove the lamp. However, the bail is tricky the first time. The first headlight lamp I replaced took me 20 minutes to get the bulb out (with both right and left tupperware off), the second bulb took maybe a minute or two.
 
If you take the front cowl off, there's no better time to service The windshield adjuster, if you have one...
 
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