Replace headlight bulbs with LED?

[UtahPete]

2017 RT Limited. The stock headlight bulbs are just to weak and would like to replace with LED. Appears they are standard automotive HB3 9005 bulbs. Has anyone replaced just the bulbs? Anything to be aware of with this replacement?

The OEM wiring harness and circuitry is designed for the halogen bulbs. LED kits supplied by Lamonster and TricLED have a) finned bulb holder to dissipate heat and b) an inline black box with circuitry for the LED 'bulbs'.

If you just replace the halogen bulbs with an equivalent LED bulb, you may not have the heat dissipation capability or LED circuitry needed for the bulb to work properly in the OEM harness, even if it physically fits the connector.

There has to be a reason kits cost so much more than just a bare LED replacement bulb....

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

The OEM wiring harness and circuitry is designed for the halogen bulbs. LED kits supplied by Lamonster and TricLED have a) finned bulb holder to dissipate heat and b) an inline black box with circuitry for the LED 'bulbs'.

If you just replace the halogen bulbs with an equivalent LED bulb, you may not have the heat dissipation capability or LED circuitry needed for the bulb to work properly in the OEM harness, even if it physically fits the connector.

There has to be a reason kits cost so much more than just a bare LED replacement bulb....

, #1.- there is LESS power draw using LED bulbs, so the OEM wiring harness has LESS of a load to carry ........... #2.- I don't know what LED KIT you are referring to - the kits don't have any extra wiring both TricLED & LaMonster are selling you LED BULB re-placements. The difference between the two Vendors kits are LaMonsters has an EXTERNAL Ballast....... I did have some concerns about HEAT dissipation so I drilled some holes in the covers .........that was quite awhile ago and I haven't had any water issues ....... Mike

[RTL1330]

I did both the headlamps and fog lamps with Xenon Extreme LED kits last year. Easy DIY installation and a vast improvement on seeing and being seen.

[Bob Denman]

You stand a MUCH greater risk of melting something with a brighter halogen bulb; than you ever would with these cooler, lower power-drawing LEDs.

[ThreeWheels]

Like others have said, I replaced both the headlights and foglights with the Lamonster kit on my 2014 RTS.
Now all the lights match the same color as the white fender tips.
Some people feel the need to remove the frunk to get to the left foglight.
I did not. The right foglight is very easy. Turn the handlebars to increase clearance on the appropriate side.
On the left, the cover and old lightbulb come out quite easily.
The new LED bulb goes in without too much trouble.
Pay close attention when you first remove the cover. Re-installing it with the frunk in place can be tedious and difficult, but eminently doable.
Just use plenty of patience, and lubricate the cover with an abundant amount of cuss words.
The remarkable Galina is teaching me some new ones in Russian that are quite effective.
Edit: Out with Galina, in with Susan.

[SpyderAnn01]

I got really excited in December when I was installing TricLED headlights on a customer’s RT, the bolts on the headlight were actually magnetized. Don’t remember if it was s 16 or 17 but I haven’t come across another one with magnetized bolts since. I take a piece of painters tape and basically tape the bolt to the socket. Works like a charm.

[KX5062]

At the bottom of the page on this web link is a really nice chart explaining the differences between bulbs and their outputs.

http://www.xenondepot.com/9005-automotive-bulbs-s/1023.htm