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Active Member
 Headlamp Choices
My '14 RT-S blew a headlamp at Americade. Before I pull it apart and replace both bulbs, I'd like to know if any of you have had any success with getting the dealer to replace the lamps under warranty.
If not, I'd like to hear your real world experience with the options we now have like LEDs, HID, and Xeon. I don't want to modify the socket, melt a housing, or melt connectors or wiring.
Both my riding buddy and I had a stock bulb fail at three years. Has anyone done better with one of the alternatives? Please refrain from trumpeting your selection as "the best" unless it has been demonstrated to provide more light for as long or longer than the stock lamps without damaging the electrical system. Thanks in advance.
2014 RTS , Spyderpops oversized brake pedal Cognac
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Very Active Member
Bulbs wear out. On a '14 you're three years into your Spyder. Changing them is an easy procedure shown in the owner's manual (pg. 152-154). You need an HB3 bulb, or 9005, same bulb, different number. Replace both of them at the same time. Why? If one has gone the other won't be far behind. Don't ask how I know. MOST IMPORTANT: buy them from an autoparts store. Why? They come in sealed individual packages. That prevents the dealer's part guy from taking one out of its box and handing it to you with his greasy paw thereby substantially shortening the life of the bulb. They're also less expensive from the autoparts store.
Do be aware if you're going to change them yourself there are two possible positions for the adjustment cable, marked HB and LB. Make certain you put the cable back in its original hole. The holes on mine were also marked with a white or yellow crayon.
Artillery lends dignity to what would
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Cognac 2014 RT-S
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Very Active Member
2016 F3 Limited
2019 Ryker Rally
2014 Suzuki V Strom 650
2020 CSC TT 250
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Very Active Member
Go for the LED bulbs. Lamonster Garage is probably best.
GO for the LED BULBS. LAMONSTER GARAGE is probably the best.
GO FOR THE LED BULBS. LAMONSTER GARAGE IS PROBABLY THE BEST.
Did I explain my opinion clearly ???
If it ain't broke, don't break it.
IBA #47122
2020 RT Limited Asphalt Grey
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SpyderLovers Sponsor
LEDs
If you are going to the trouble, upgrade to the LEDs. Much brighter, last longer! Joe
Joe Meyer
Dealer for the Outlaw/ROLO laser Alignment system
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Have a look on ebay, you will be able to get a set of direct fit LED builbs for just over $50.
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Active Member
LED Headlights
My high bead on the left burned out. After trying for three days to get the bulb out. I ordered the LED headlights from Lamonster for my 2013 ST and upon receipt, I had Mission Motorsports install them. They were able to install them rather quickly. They did a wonderful job.
New LED Headlights for Spyder 2017-05-23 001.jpg
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Very Active Member
HIGH BEAM
 Originally Posted by djhobin
My high bead on the left burned out. After trying for three days to get the bulb out. I ordered the LED headlights from Lamonster for my 2013 ST and upon receipt, I had Mission Motorsports install them. They were able to install them rather quickly. They did a wonderful job.
New LED Headlights for Spyder 2017-05-23 001.jpg
To the best of my knowledge on Spyders in North America .... there is no High beam / Low beam in the usual sense ..... We have a single filament bulb and High / Low is created by the SHUTTER mechanism ........ Sooooooooo when you say your HIGH BEAM burned out you still had LIGHT coming from the Left side ?????? ..... Mike 
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If you find that the connection has melted you may be able to get replacement under warranty. I had one of mine do that and the dealer replaced it.
And if you replace it yourself remember what JayBros said about the adjuster cable. There should be a wax pencil marking that will indicate which hole you run it through.
2017 F3T-SM6 Squared Away Mirror Wedgies & Alignment
2014 RTS-SM6 123,600 miles Sold 11/2017
2014 RTL-SE6 8,600 miles
2011 RTS-SM5 5,000 miles
2013 RTS-SM5 burned up with 13,200 miles in 13 weeks
2010 RTS-SM5 59,148 miles
2010 RT- 622
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Active Member
High Beam Burn out
To Mike, on the 2013 ST, it does not have the shutter system. The high beam did burn out. I still had the low beam available. The right side headlight still had the High beam available. I drove the Spyder with both low beams on until I had them replaced.
Dennis
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Very Active Member
SHUTTER SYSTEM
Originally Posted by djhobin
To Mike, on the 2013 ST, it does not have the shutter system. The high beam did burn out. I still had the low beam available. The right side headlight still had the High beam available. I drove the Spyder with both low beams on until I had them replaced.
Dennis
Very interesting, The EU system has the high /low for ALL their Spyders ..... I wonder why the ST is different ???? .... Thanks for this info ..... Mike
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Very Active Member
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 I know...
Stand in front of both brands of light, and tell me if you can see the difference.
(I did, and I couldn't!)
There's often more to it, than just lumens...
How hot do they get? (Do more lumens create more heat? How is it dealt with?)
What is their expected life?
What sort of pattern do they throw down the road?
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Go with LEDs for longer life and brighter light than halogen
Originally Posted by djhobin
To Mike, on the 2013 ST, it does not have the shutter system. The high beam did burn out. I still had the low beam available. The right side headlight still had the High beam available. I drove the Spyder with both low beams on until I had them replaced.
Dennis
Yeah, but doesn't he have the 2014 RT-S, which I believe does have the shutter mechanism. So, if there's a problem with the shutter, replacing the bulb isn't going to help.
Either way, I would agree that LED bulbs are the way to go. Brighter light and much longer life because there's no filament to break. No, I don't believe it's a warranty item - normal maintenance on any vehicle.
As for Xenon, HID and the like - way more expensive and not necessarily any better than LED.
If you replace the headlights with LED, you will probably also want to replace the fog lights for appearance sake if nothing else. THOSE are a bear to get at on the RT, so unless you've got the skill, patience and determination to do them yourself you might consider having everything done at the dealer - or at the next Spyder rally where the vendors like TricLED are there to sell and install them.
Good luck.
2014 RTL Platinum
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Originally Posted by coastrider
My '14 RT-S blew a headlamp at Americade. I'd like to hear your real world experience with the options we now have like LEDs, HID, and Xeon. I don't want to modify the socket, melt a housing, or melt connectors or wiring.
I wanted a brighter light for visibility, so I bought the full set of headlight and foglight bulbs from TricLED when they had a promotion going last November. I didn't get around to installing them until a few weeks ago. It took me several days of figuring out how to take the body panels off and gain access to the foglight modules. The left foglight was a real bear to replace because there is limited space to work but the others not so bad.
When I first got them reinstalled, I had only a low beam on one headlight and learned from TricLED I'd probably blocked the shutter when putting everything back together. That turned out to be the case and it was easily rectified.
I'm very happy with the way they look, and I'm confident I won't have to mess with them again for probably the life of the bike, since LEDs have that reputation.
LaMonster's LED kit is a little different than TricLED's in that some modification of the rear cap on the headlight housing is necessary. He has a great installation video here; http://www.lamonstergarage.com/9005-...for-spyder-rt/
Last edited by UtahPete; 06-14-2017 at 09:46 AM.
Reason: correction
2014 RTL Platinum
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Very Active Member
RT HEADLIGHTS
[QUOTE=UtahPete;1268705]Yeah, but doesn't he have the 2014 RT-S, which I believe does have the shutter mechanism. So, if there's a problem with the shutter, replacing the bulb isn't going to help.
Either way, I would agree that LED bulbs are the way to go. Brighter light and much longer life because there's no filament to break. No, I don't believe it's a warranty item - normal maintenance on any vehicle.
As for Xenon, HID and the like - way more expensive and not necessarily any better than LED.
If you replace the headlights with LED, you will probably also want to replace the fog lights for appearance sake if nothing else. THOSE are a bear to get at on the RT, so unless you've got the skill, patience and determination to do them yourself you might consider having everything done at the dealer - or at the next Spyder rally where the vendors like TricLED are there to sell and install them.
Good luck.[/QUOTE' " a bear to get to on an RT " , I don't think so  ..... I can do a headlight in about 20 minutes or less ....... you might mean an RS / GS ........ Mike
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THOSE are a bear to get at on the RT, so unless you've got the skill, patience and determination to do them yourself you might consider having everything done at the dealer - or at the next Spyder rally where the vendors like TricLED are there to sell and install them.
Good luck.[/QUOTE' " a bear to get to on an RT " , I don't think so ..... I can do a headlight in about 20 minutes or less ....... you might mean an RS / GS ........ Mike [/QUOTE]
No, I meant an RT. The left foglight access is limited by the air duct. The right one is a snap.
Last edited by UtahPete; 06-14-2017 at 09:43 AM.
Reason: correction
2014 RTL Platinum
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SpyderLovers Sponsor
Lights
The headlights are the upper ones, the fog lights are the lower ones, and the left foglight is indeed hard to get at by the fresh air snorkel. We did a set Saturday. We were doing shock adjusters, and with the shock out, the left fog light is easier to do. Our tech at our dealership finds it faster to remove the Frunk! Might try that next time!
Joe Meyer
Dealer for the Outlaw/ROLO laser Alignment system
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Originally Posted by cptjam
The headlights are the upper ones, the fog lights are the lower ones, and the left foglight is indeed hard to get at by the fresh air snorkel. We did a set Saturday. We were doing shock adjusters, and with the shock out, the left fog light is easier to do. Our tech at our dealership finds it faster to remove the Frunk! Might try that next time!
You're right of course. I had it backwards in my post.
2014 RTL Platinum
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Here is a nice article about what is best...Its all about the housing design...
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I've got the ones from TricLEDs, but Lamont's are just as good! 
Originally Posted by Dray 
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