What were they thinking?

[ataDude]

Don't get me wrong... I love my Spyder but...

... what were they thinking when they designed the access <or lack thereof> to the headlight bulbs?

Today, while installing a boat load of NMN stuff (more on that later), I decided to put some Piaa H7s in that have been setting around here for a while.

Unless you're a skinny eight-year-old <or have access to one> with skinny eight-year-old hands, this is probably one of the most frustrating tasks I've encountered... and, I've done a lot!

Yes, I know about removing the top console cover... but I wanted to see what a road repair would be like... now I know... I will drive with only my A-arm lights or with a flashlight before I attempt that again on the road. :yikes:

In fact, I think I'll throw one of these in the boot... just in case.



That was my gripe for the week. Now, I feel better, too.

 

[tatt2r]

Take all the Tupperware off very easy to get at just installed nmn hids last week worked for me and didn't take too long

 

[tatt2r]

And I'm hoping never to have to change one on road

 

[bone crusher]

ata...ahhh, what we all need for night riding...a helmet light!

tat...how easy are those HIDs? I have a bunch of things I wanna get from NMN, but I have to wait until some finances clear out...will probably get double play and assoc. LEDs for turn signal first...

 

[bjt]

I would put the NMN HIDs at the top of the list. They are one of the best if not the best upgrade I've done to my Spyder. The clear white light is absolutely amazing. I've gotten so used to them that when we drive our Suburban at night, it seems like the headlights are broken or they are running on 6 volts. nojoke

IMO, the install is not technically difficult but does take some time, mainly because of the tight space you have to work in.

 

[aka1004]

:cus::cus::cus:
too tight even for my small hand

 

[daddydarko]

:agree:

I invented some new swears installing mine.

 

[ataDude]

Ha, that's exactly what my thumbs look like. pps:

:cus::cus::cus:
too tight even for my small hand

 

[bone crusher]

I would put the NMN HIDs at the top of the list. They are one of the best if not the best upgrade I've done to my Spyder. The clear white light is absolutely amazing. I've gotten so used to them that when we drive our Suburban at night, it seems like the headlights are broken or they are running on 6 volts. nojoke

IMO, the install is not technically difficult but does take some time, mainly because of the tight space you have to work in.

Did you go with the 6k or 8k? I be a thinkin' that the 8k is too blue? Or is it 'true blue'?...okay, too much Madonna...

 

[Lamonster]

Ha, that's exactly what my thumbs look like. pps:

I think I posted the same picture of both my thumbs nojoke

 

[bjt]

Evan recommended the 8K HIDs to us. IMO his suggestion was right on. The lights look slightly blue when you look at them head on. From the riding position, the projected light is pure white. They are awesome. :thumbup:

 

[wildwillie]

changing headlights

Both of my headlights went out at the same time. Replacing them was a b----. so to speek. I was really considering cutting the top of that tube where the lights go with a drimmel tool to give me more excess but I finely got them to lock in. It's a very poor design for replaceing them. I feel your pain.:agree:wildwillie

 

[Dudley]

Don't get me wrong... I love my Spyder but...

... what were they thinking when they designed the access <or lack thereof> to the headlight bulbs?

Today, while installing a boat load of NMN stuff (more on that later), I decided to put some Piaa H7s in that have been setting around here for a while.

Unless you're a skinny eight-year-old <or have access to one> with skinny eight-year-old hands, this is probably one of the most frustrating tasks I've encountered... and, I've done a lot!

Yes, I know about removing the top console cover... but I wanted to see what a road repair would be like... now I know... I will drive with only my A-arm lights or with a flashlight before I attempt that again on the road. :yikes:

In fact, I think I'll throw one of these in the boot... just in case.

That was my gripe for the week. Now, I feel better, too.

I wholeheartedly agree with you. Would really have been nice to have an instrument cluster easier to remove (screws) and giving a bigger opening to get to the bulbs. That's what's so nice with crusiers (3 screws and you're there). To change the bulb on the Yamaha Venture I had to remove the front half of the fairing!

 

[Roadkill]

bulbous frustration

+I had the distinct (dis)pleasure of needing to get to the right headlamp for replacement. My hands weren't small enough either, so I finally resorted to upper console removal, but the damned front middle tab wouldn't let go.

Much to my chagrin I finally had to force/twist the console up and aside before I could get in a position to turn the connector counter-clockwise and remove it.

That's when I found out that the dealer didn't give me the right bulb...

So now I need to repeat the whole freakin' process.

Ride on.
Roadkill