Replaced high beam head lamp with LED

So the halogen bulb for the high beam on my Swing's head lamp started acting wonky. Won't light up. It's my first time switching out bulbs from the head lamp, and I decided to go with a 5000K LED bulb. Here's how it went:

I saw a Youtube video of a guy being able to reach the high beam head lamp from underneath the front fender.

As it's in an awkward spot, I had to go by feel to figure out what was the dust cover, and good lord, trying to figure out how to unhook the retainer without even knowing what it exactly looks like.



Once I unhooked the retainer, I swapped out the old halogen bulb out and installed the H7 LED bulb. I tried to take the adaptor out and install the H7 LED bulb onto it, but it was too loose of a fit. I ended up having to manipulate the plugs outward to fit the original bulb connector.



With that done, time to hook it back all into place... right? Unfortunately, the H7 LED bulb that I bought came with a heatsink at the back. There was absolutely NO way the retainer would fit over the heatsink. Or so I thought.

With a bit of elbow grease, I managed to widen the retainer just so slightly to wedge the LED bulb and its heat sink in place. Fired my Swing up and my oh my..





I'm now enjoying increased road visibility at night and I'm really digging the white light on the Swing. Might just swap out the top lamp's halogen bulb out soon!

P.S I kept the old bulb adaptor just in case if I ever need it in the future.

That was my first mod, except I switched out both to LEDs with H7s. If memory serves, I did them both from the bottom.

Thanks for the information! I thought I would try that when my bulbs start to go south. But realistically at my age I seldom ride after dark anymore... Plus the cost difference. We shall see!

GHM-PM wrote:

Thanks for the information! I thought I would try that when my bulbs start to go south. But realistically at my age I seldom ride after dark anymore... Plus the cost difference. We shall see!

I bought the LED bulbs for cheap via an e-commerce platform. A pair of H7 LED bulbs set me back by USD4.50. Not sure what's the pricing these bulbs are like for you, but it's an upgrade worth the hassle, even if you don't ride at night!

Erdoc48 wrote:

That was my first mod, except I switched out both to LEDs with H7s. If memory serves, I did them both from the bottom.

From the various videos and posts I've came across, you'd have to remove the top cowl of the Swing to access the upper head lamp. But if it's possible to access the upper head lamp from the front fender... I might just make the switch ASAP!

I've had lighting problems with my Moto Guzzi sidecar combination since I got it and recently bought some top of the range branded H4 LEDs for it. The alternator just doesn't have the watts for proper incandescent bulbs. The single Osram H4 is good as many cars with two headlights and burns only about 16W. A quick sweep around the lesser bulbs has netted me another 35W saving and I'm now well within what the 40 year old Bosch puts out. I now have the power budget for a couple of decent spots - led ones, of course.

dovahkiin wrote:

From the various videos and posts I've came across, you'd have to remove the top cowl of the Swing to access the upper head lamp. But if it's possible to access the upper head lamp from the front fender... I might just make the switch ASAP!

Here’s a link to a ‘replace head light bulb’ discussion from a few years back:
https://www.silverwing600.com/t5150-headlight-low-beam-upper-bulb-removal-and-replacment?highlight=Headlight+bulb

Cosmic_Jumper wrote:

dovahkiin wrote:

From the various videos and posts I've came across, you'd have to remove the top cowl of the Swing to access the upper head lamp. But if it's possible to access the upper head lamp from the front fender... I might just make the switch ASAP!

Here’s a link to a ‘replace head light bulb’ discussion from a few years back:
https://www.silverwing600.com/t5150-headlight-low-beam-upper-bulb-removal-and-replacment?highlight=Headlight+bulb

Cheers, this will definitely come in handy.

It does help if you've previously removed the screen garnish and fiddled about in there before. Then you'll know how the rubber bulb covers for main and dipped beam bulbs stick to the bulb holders due to heat over the years.

A smear of rubber lubricant over the bulb covers once they're removed makes changing bulbs in future so much easier.

If you've changed the upper bulb successfully, changing the lower one is by reaching up underneath is relatively easy because you've sussed it out changing the upper bulb.

I'd leave those useless pilot bulbs alone unless they've blown. They have an annoying tendency to slip off their connections and drop inside the headlamp reflector. Once in there you need a flexible grabbing tool and numerous attempts to fish them out of the reflector.

Did US models ever have those ‘pilot bulbs’ (the small ones above and lateral to the upper headlight, not the indicator bulbs) installed? When looking at my SW, I never noted them on.

I tried posting a pic. But anyway, the auxbeams work really well .

Erdoc48 wrote:

Did US models ever have those ‘pilot bulbs’ (the small ones above and lateral to the upper headlight, not the indicator bulbs) installed? When looking at my SW, I never noted them on.

I've always thought all models came with those pilot bulbs. Not sure what's the significance of those bulbs as it didn't provide much light anyway.

Salth2ofish wrote:

I tried posting a pic. But anyway, the auxbeams work really well .

Those look expensive! Did you meet with much trouble installing the latch over the heatsinks as well?

Yes the latches were a bear to get over the fans. But well worth the 5 hours that it took me to install them.

dovahkiin wrote:

Erdoc48 wrote:

Did US models ever have those ‘pilot bulbs’ (the small ones above and lateral to the upper headlight, not the indicator bulbs) installed? When looking at my SW, I never noted them on.

I've always thought all models came with those pilot bulbs. Not sure what's the significance of those bulbs as it didn't provide much light anyway.

Salth2ofish wrote:

I tried posting a pic. But anyway, the auxbeams work really well .

Those look expensive! Did you meet with much trouble installing the latch over the heatsinks as well?

I could not put the rubber covers back on that keep moisture out of the headlamp assembly, but have not had any issues . It’s been 18 months. I do have a tiny leaf that somehow got into the headlamp lense though.

They work great!! $36.99$

Salth2ofish wrote:

I could not put the rubber covers back on that keep moisture out of the headlamp assembly, but have not had any issues . It’s been 18 months. I do have a tiny leaf that somehow got into the headlamp lense though.

How did you managed to take a photo like that?! I've tried using my phone to take a similar photo from the bottom only to fail miserably hahaha.

By the way, great reference pics for those who would like to swap out bulbs but can not visualize the back/latches of the headlamp.

I took the whole front cowling off. That’s the only way I could do it. Then I took pics while it was off. Yeah, not really a good way to get a camera in behind there when it’s on.

Thanks for some nice pics. There are some rubber covers out there you could adapt to fit if think they need it.

If I recall correctly, I cut the inner aspect of the rubbers to make them fit over the back of the LED heat sinks (and I did this years ago when installing similar LEDs on the ST1100s I have)- I did it more for better visibility to other drivers than for lighting up the road as I am rarely on the road at night anymore.

As far as taking off the front cowl, that looks like quite a bit of work to remove, but I have two get that done eventually as I have some cosmetic (paint) damage to my cowling and may want to get the whole thing repainted (may not be worth it, or maybe it is as I plan to keep the SW for a very long time)

Removing the cowling is a lot of work, you’re right. RE-installing it is even MORE work.

Erdoc48 wrote:

If I recall correctly, I cut the inner aspect of the rubbers to make them fit over the back of the LED heat sinks (and I did this years ago when installing similar LEDs on the ST1100s I have)- I did it more for better visibility to other drivers than for lighting up the road as I am rarely on the road at night anymore.

As far as taking off the front cowl, that looks like quite a bit of work to remove, but I have two get that done eventually as I have some cosmetic (paint) damage to my cowling and may want to get the whole thing repainted (may not be worth it, or maybe it is as I plan to keep the SW for a very long time)