Installing LED headlight unit

Carlotto Posts : 46 Join date : 2017-06-25

I've received the headlight conversion unit I mentioned in my intro post, and I've checked that it has enough depth available in the shell. There's one snag, and one fairly predictable question.

The snag is that the headlight bezel has a couple of mounting tabs top and bottom to match the stock reflectors left-right axis mount. The replacement I have in hand has no such mounts, since it was never officially intended for a motorcycle headlamp (horrors!). Before I try to cobble something up, I thought best to ask the collective wisdom how this may have been handled in the past. I don't have a driving desire to use a different headlight shell (as I understand Yodasoldier or others may have done), but if I have to I will.

The predictable question, of course, is the related one of what the best way might be to make the headlight bezel black. The headlight replacement unit is all black, the shell is black, so the bezel ring is the odd man out. The Tenni Green of the bike is set off so nicely by the black frame and components, and I am of that faith that believes chrome is the work of He Whose Name Shall Not Be Spoken Evil or Very Mad

I can do the whole sanding - etching - painting routine, but is someone has a better idea, or even a handy hint, I'd welcome it.

GRiSO Capo Posts : 10047 Join date : 2013-09-30

Why even use the shell? I attached mine directly to the headlight bracket with some M8 stud nuts.

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Carlotto Posts : 46 Join date : 2017-06-25

beetle wrote:: Why even use the shell? I attached mine directly to the headlight bracket with some M8 stud nuts.

I suppose I could do that, but I do like the clean, classic look of the headlight shell (though of course there's always the issue of cracking plastic to deal with). It may be worth the relatively small effort to try and see what it looks like.

Guest

Is that vinyl wrapping I see there Mark?

GRiSO Capo Posts : 10047 Join date : 2013-09-30

ITSecurity wrote:: I suppose I could do that, but I do like the clean, classic look of the headlight shell (though of course there's always the issue of cracking plastic to deal with). It may be worth the relatively small effort to try and see what it looks like.

You could always buy the SE shell. I believe it's hideously expensive, however.

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GRiSO Capo Posts : 10047 Join date : 2013-09-30

ghezzi wrote:: Is that vinyl wrapping I see there Mark?

Well..yeah. That's how GRiSO became orange.

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In GRiSO we trust!
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Carlotto Posts : 46 Join date : 2017-06-25

beetle wrote:

ITSecurity wrote:: I suppose I could do that, but I do like the clean, classic look of the headlight shell (though of course there's always the issue of cracking plastic to deal with). It may be worth the relatively small effort to try and see what it looks like.

You could always buy the SE shell. I believe it's hideously expensive, however.

The shell I have is in fine shape, so whatever strategy I choose will include preserving it intact if I can. I'll likely try your suggestion of removing the shell, since I have a carbon-fiber (or is that carbon -fibre?) flyscreen installed that will help hide the bits behind.

Biondino Posts : 221 Join date : 2017-02-10

I was considering a similar conversion. I had saved this 7" Daymaker Headlight Bucket on my Amazon wish list. Think it's generic enough it could work on a GRiSO

GRiSO Capo Posts : 1722 Join date : 2014-07-03

WRT your second question, and with some trepidation following my oil-thread debacle Rolling Eyes

, I submit these -- which I am ordering (or stopping by a JD place to buy) -- to paint an aluminum bracket for my Stornello's auxiliary lights ... after I decide whether to go flat or not:

John Deere Flat Stuff

John Deere Satin Stuff

BTW, I am one of those guys who learned the hard way how fornicating expen$ive a replacement OEM shell is. Shocked

Post pix upon your victory ... or defeat. Wink

Bill

P.S. A prospective buyer on Amazon asked "Msrp on this is $8 why is the price so high?" The seller responded, "Shipping is expensive, Amazon fee is about 15%, need money to support our family. Choose any three Smile

Natalie." I like her style. cheers

GRiSO Capo Posts : 1471 Join date : 2015-01-04 Age : 63

Hey Bill; what could go wrong with your post this time ???

You know he's based in Canada right; Hopefully doesn't need the bigger size cans...

"We cannot ship these products to California, Delaware, Maryland or Canada"

GRiSO Capo Posts : 1471 Join date : 2015-01-04 Age : 63

Now I'm messing it up - maybe they just won't ship to Canadians living in US :-)

GRiSO Capo Posts : 1722 Join date : 2014-07-03

paulbrice wrote:: Hey Bill; what could go wrong with your post this time ???

You know he's based in Canada right; Hopefully doesn't need the bigger size cans...

"We cannot ship these products to California, Delaware, Maryland or Canada"

I think I'm gonna throw up. Embarassed

Bill

GRiSO Capo Posts : 1099 Join date : 2017-08-06 Age : 69

Rustoleum makes a "farm" paint, pretty good stuff, found it at Menards about half the price.

Carlotto Posts : 46 Join date : 2017-06-25

paulbrice wrote:: Hey Bill; what could go wrong with your post this time ???

You know he's based in Canada right; Hopefully doesn't need the bigger size cans...

"We cannot ship these products to California, Delaware, Maryland or Canada"

I have dual citizenship. When I'm in Canada, everyone calls me an American, and when I'm in the US, everyone calls me a Canadian. Rolling Eyes

Grignapoco Posts : 103 Join date : 2013-09-11

I recently fell down and broke my headlight. Spazzed out and immediately ordered a generic 7" "Daymaker" LED headlight from Amazon only to find that it does not fit in the stock headlight shell.

The resulting search turned up Low Profile Healight Shell ($79 USD) from Motodemic. It is an exact fit for the stock headlight mount. This is the same shell that JW Speaker uses for their V7 LED conversation kit. However, it isn't super convincing to me: old school where you mount the LED unit to bezel with spring clips, then bezel to housing with 2 sheet metal tabs and 1 screw. I would have preferred an LED unit with integral mounts off the casting.

Carlotto Posts : 46 Join date : 2017-06-25

Bill Hagan wrote:: WRT your second question, and with some trepidation following my oil-thread debacle , I submit these -- which I am ordering (or stopping by a JD place to buy) -- to paint an aluminum bracket for my Stornello's auxiliary lights ... after I decide whether to go flat or not:

John Deere Flat Stuff

John Deere Satin Stuff

BTW, I am one of those guys who learned the hard way how fornicating expen$ive a replacement OEM shell is.

Post pix upon your victory ... or defeat.

Bill

Well, it looks like my final result (after a couple of experiments) will be something like what Beetle did, letting the LED unit act as its own shell. I have done a few 'make pretty' things to make the result more visually acceptable for my own configuration. I will be relying on a carbon-fiber flyscreen or a just-received Givi A34 windshield to help hide the wiring that can now not be hidden in the shell. I used some 3/4-inch shrink-tubing to black out the coupling nuts used to suspend the LED headlight unit, and did a few other things too.

Photos to come, along with those showing how I mounted Rizoma turn signals.

Biondino Posts : 221 Join date : 2017-02-10

So Tony, how did things finally turn out? Picture-picture?

Guest

I felt a bit affluent at the weekend and stuck on a Koso Thunderbolt, just needed a couple of 8mm through spacers and modified the wiring from inside the OE headlight as the Koso comes with a flying lead. I think it looks the business, but hey that’s why I stuck it on :-)

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GRiSO Capo Posts : 1657 Join date : 2014-09-22

Robinson_Spike wrote:: I felt a bit affluent at the weekend and stuck on a Koso Thunderbolt, just needed a couple of 8mm through spacers and modified the wiring from inside the OE headlight as the Koso comes with a flying lead. I think it looks the business, but hey that’s why I stuck it on :-)

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Oh yes i want one of those, i guess that's the running light on? how does it look on low beam?

GRiSO Capo Posts : 1657 Join date : 2014-09-22

they are how much!!!!!

Guest

sidrat wrote:: they are how much!!!!!

Hahaha - yes I know, my wife let me buy it at the Manchester show because it’s a hefty piece of kit in real life and I was pleasantly surprised when my tight arsed mates even said it was the business and, it gets attention everywhere, makes the bike look modern too?

Paul

Tanabuso Posts : 75 Join date : 2018-02-07

They WERE 10% off - ended yesterday though. Sad

Guest

Florida lime wrote:: They WERE 10% off - ended yesterday though.

Koso North America? - Tell em that I sent you - I reckon that they’ll give you 15%

GRiSO Capo Posts : 392 Join date : 2017-08-03

Oh wow I am going to get that Koso Thunderbolt, it looks awesome!

GRiSO Capo Posts : 621 Join date : 2018-10-04 Age : 60

That’s a great idea Idea

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