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K1100LT headlight
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Bazsm
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Joined: 09 Aug 2021
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Location: Hayling Island, UK

PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2021 5:00 pm    Post subject: K1100LT headlight Reply with quote

Is the K1100LT headlight the same across the whole range, any difference between LT and the SE?
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Flying Duck
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Joined: 27 Jan 2005
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2021 5:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Exact same headlight for all of the following Ks:

All K1100s (RS & LT)
K1
K100RS4V
K100RS, RT and LT
K75RT

The only difference is the lenses and reflectors for right or left hand drive countries.
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93 LT (x2)
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86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
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Bazsm
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Joined: 09 Aug 2021
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Location: Hayling Island, UK

PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2021 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, I’m planning on putting in an LED strip and figure getting a used headlight is the best option so I can prep one and just swap them over.

I’ve seen your amber one and I did this on my previous LT with an LED strip from a torch but want something brighter this time.

I often do short journies on the bike and found using the headlight all the time ran the battery down so a good LED strip should give me visibility to other road users while not taxing the battery
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Flying Duck
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2021 2:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If I were to do it today I would just put an amber "Eagle Eye" LED in the parking light hole. These things are REALLY BRIGHT.

I use the red ones for add'l brake lighting and everyone I ride with comments on how bright and noticeable they are.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/194219542501
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
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Flying Duck
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Joined: 27 Jan 2005
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2021 2:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also if you switch to an LED H4 headlight then then it draws much less power.

The ones that I use only draw 20W on low and 40W on high vs. the 55/60W of a halogen bulb. And they put out tons of light in the right pattern.

Here's the difference. This is a picture I shot using two LT headlights.


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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE
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Bazsm
Big Brick Rider


Joined: 09 Aug 2021
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Location: Hayling Island, UK

PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting, presumably I'd have to bodge the raptor LED to fit but might see if I can find an LED in the correct fitment first (think there used to be a brighter version for the old R100RS but I might be making that up)!

I think the problem with LED headlight bulbs is there's no one 'good' design so it's a bit of pot luck so which type have you tested and are happy with?

cheers
Barry
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Scott_Anderson
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 9:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I had an LED in my R1100 when I acquired it, and I changed it out for a EB relay kit and standard halogen lamp.

Main reason for removing the LED was that I didn't like the scatter pattern of the emitted light beam. Yes, it was bright, but it was way to bright in the eyes of oncoming traffic, and it wasn't where it needed to be on the roadway compared to the pattern of a standard filament lamp.

Just my opinion and reason for not having an LED for a retrofit headlamp application on my bike.
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1995 K1100LT 0302044
1997 R1100RT ZC62149
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
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Flying Duck
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Joined: 27 Jan 2005
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bazsm wrote:
Interesting, presumably I'd have to bodge the raptor LED to fit but might see if I can find an LED in the correct fitment first (think there used to be a brighter version for the old R100RS but I might be making that up)!

I think the problem with LED headlight bulbs is there's no one 'good' design so it's a bit of pot luck so which type have you tested and are happy with?

cheers
Barry


The nice thing about the Eagle Eye LED is there no "retrofit" required. Just remove the upper reflector (2 screws) and it fits in the hole where the parking light socket goes. You don't need to mod anything and it's easily reversible.

You don't need three of them, just one. (That was just an example EBay listing.)

The one thing about the Eagle Eye LEDs is that their wires are pretty thin. I just solder on and heat shrink some thicker wires to deal with that.


Here's an example install with a spare headlight that I have.







_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE
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Flying Duck
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Joined: 27 Jan 2005
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Location: Bumf***, WA

PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 12:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Scott_Anderson wrote:
I had an LED in my R1100 when I acquired it, and I changed it out for a EB relay kit and standard halogen lamp.

Main reason for removing the LED was that I didn't like the scatter pattern of the emitted light beam. Yes, it was bright, but it was way to bright in the eyes of oncoming traffic, and it wasn't where it needed to be on the roadway compared to the pattern of a standard filament lamp.

Just my opinion and reason for not having an LED for a retrofit headlamp application on my bike.


When did you do this? Up until last year or so most LED headlights were light scattering garbage or the good ones cost $90 or more. That's why I waited until 2020 to go LED.

If you get ones like this they have a good beam pattern. Check out my actual picture above. As you can see the low beam cutoff is right where it should be with no scatter or dark spots.

https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Headlight-HIMA4X4-8000LM-Lumileds/dp/B07TF8XCMM/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=m3+h4&qid=1630595962&s=automotive&sr=1-8
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE
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Scott_Anderson
Site Admin


Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 3117
Location: Central Iowa, USA

PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Duck, I got the bike in Aug of last year right before my red K was totaled...
The LED was already installed by the po.(it came as a 2-pk and he gave me the 2nd one as well, plus another 2pk of a different style.)



This is what was mounted. Can't say how old it is....
Also note that my headlamp modulator module didn't play nice with the LED lamp either. It was actually pulsing on/off(like a LEO wig/wag) which is not legal.
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Ride safe.



1995 K1100LT 0302044
1997 R1100RT ZC62149
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
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Flying Duck
PsyKotic Waterfowl


Joined: 27 Jan 2005
Posts: 10082
Location: Bumf***, WA

PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Those look like they'd be good for heating up a cup of tea. Laughing
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE
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Bazsm
Big Brick Rider


Joined: 09 Aug 2021
Posts: 55
Location: Hayling Island, UK

PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Flying Duck wrote:
If you get ones like this they have a good beam pattern. Check out my actual picture above. As you can see the low beam cutoff is right where it should be with no scatter or dark spots.

https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Headlight-HIMA4X4-8000LM-Lumileds/dp/B07TF8XCMM/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=m3+h4&qid=1630595962&s=automotive&sr=1-8


I’ll give your recommendation a go as the price is pretty cheap, I guess longevity might be an issue though.
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Bazsm
Big Brick Rider


Joined: 09 Aug 2021
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Location: Hayling Island, UK

PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Flying Duck wrote:
The nice thing about the Eagle Eye LED is there no "retrofit" required. Just remove the upper reflector (2 screws) and it fits in the hole where the parking light socket goes. You don't need to mod anything and it's easily reversible]


Ok, but it’s a still a headlight out and glass off job so if I’m doing that I might as well go with a full width LED strip
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Flying Duck
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Bazsm wrote:


Ok, but it’s a still a headlight out and glass off job so if I’m doing that I might as well go with a full width LED strip


It's a tad tricky but you can get the lens off without having to completely remove the headlight assembly from the fairing. I've done it on a K75RT, K1100RS and K1100LT. The tricky part is using an extended Phillips screwdriver to get the three bolts that hold the headlight assembly to the front of the fairing body. The bottom one is the hardest. It's a lot less work than taking the fairing off though

Example: When I added LEDs to my LT many moons ago I did it on the bike.




I've never seen any 12V LED strip lights anywhere near as bright as the Eagle Eye LEDs. If I ever get another LT or RS then I'll just add a single Eagle Eye as shown about six posts back.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE
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Bazsm
Big Brick Rider


Joined: 09 Aug 2021
Posts: 55
Location: Hayling Island, UK

PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well I bought a headlight off eBay as I planned to fit at least one of the Eagle eye LEDs as a brighter parking light but was pleasantly surprised when I opened it up:





Although it looks a bit heath robinson I'm impressed with the brightness which hurts the eyes if you look directly into the light:



I've ordered the LED h/light bulb from FD (as well as the instrument LED set) and might well try this parking light mod out on the bike.

Did I read somewhere you can remove the headlight unit without taking the fairing off?
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Flying Duck
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 15, 2021 9:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I did mine 8 or 9 years ago but if I were to do something custom like this these days I'd probably use 12V COB LEDs to fill up the parking light space.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE
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Bazsm
Big Brick Rider


Joined: 09 Aug 2021
Posts: 55
Location: Hayling Island, UK

PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2021 6:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I thought I read you had to remove the fairing to get the complete headlight unit out:

[img][/img]

I'd already stripped some stuff out to fit FD's instrument LEDs so just removed one of the horns which gave enough space to turn the unit on it's side and it squeezed out Smile

Just need to install the LED strip tomorrow!
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Flying Duck
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PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2021 6:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Color me impressed that you got the headlight assembly out without fairing removal. Shocked

Good job! Beemered

Keep us posted when you get things back together.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE
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Bazsm
Big Brick Rider


Joined: 09 Aug 2021
Posts: 55
Location: Hayling Island, UK

PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2021 9:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

All back together and I'm impressed with whoever made up the LED bar as it's considerably brighter than the version I installed in my last LT about 15 years ago, I did buy 4 of the Eagle eye LEDS but tbh I'd be surprised if they are much brighter.

This is from 50 yards!

Parking light:
[/img]

With LED headlight bulb (courtesy of FD):
[img]

I also installed the instrument LEDs which look good - I had a couple of bulbs out before so will be nice to read the clock at night.

A good day's work Smile
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Flying Duck
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2021 11:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looking good! The more LEDs the better. Very Happy

Just a though but if you have some amber Eagle Eye LEDs you could install one on each side to improve your conspicuity from the side. There are old LEDs so not extremely bright but you could install an Eagle Eye in this location:


_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE
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