Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Cheap/easy mod for brighter headlight

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 28, 2011 | 11:08 PM
  #1  
ReidRik_Von's Avatar
ReidRik_Von
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 669
Likes: 28
From: Bothell, WA
Default Cheap/easy mod for brighter headlight

I was reading about various headlights that can be added to touring bikes and someone dropped in a brilliant suggestion that can be made to the stock headlight to dial up the brightness. It entails the removal of that cone that sits right in front of the bulb. All you do is remove the headlight bucket and unscrew the post that holds this cup. If I recall this same piece is also where the spring that holds the bulb attaches to so you can't just take this piece out, rather you need to cut the post about half way between were it mounts and the cone. I just used a marker so that when I hit this with the dremel the cut would follow the line of the headlight dish.

Here is a photo with the cup removed:


Right below the bulb you can see where the post that held the cone was cut.

While I don't ride much at night, it is definitely seems to be brighter and the cost $0.
 
Reply
Old Nov 28, 2011 | 11:14 PM
  #2  
Casper's Avatar
Casper
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,500
Likes: 332
From: Blue Grass (KY)
Default

Did you loose any side lighting, I mean that cone was there for a reason...dispersion of light? Just wondering...
 
Reply
Old Nov 28, 2011 | 11:44 PM
  #3  
ReidRik_Von's Avatar
ReidRik_Von
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 669
Likes: 28
From: Bothell, WA
Default

I didn't take a before/after shot but both forward and side lighting seem the same.
 
Reply
Old Nov 28, 2011 | 11:52 PM
  #4  
JetD's Avatar
JetD
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 531
Likes: 4
From: Chile Flats, AZ
Default Curious

I'm interested to know the precise purpose of the 'cone' and it's design as well. It must be designed to effect some purpose.
The fact it exists makes it a part of the production cost -- so why the expense if there's no purpose?
Inquiring minds want to ............
That said, thanks for the experiment; on my list until there is justification to leave well enough alone....
 
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2011 | 12:01 AM
  #5  
ReidRik_Von's Avatar
ReidRik_Von
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 669
Likes: 28
From: Bothell, WA
Default

I thought I read somewhere the auto headlights needed to illuminate the area up and to the right of the road make road signs visible. I wonder if the cone is designed to direct some of the light there?
 
Reply
Old Nov 29, 2011 | 12:22 AM
  #6  
DR. V-TWIN's Avatar
DR. V-TWIN
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 19,364
Likes: 40
From: Los Angeles, CA
Default

Took the diffuser off my headlight a long time ago.

Drew
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Joe What
Softail Models
6
Oct 10, 2010 03:24 PM
jcmusic
Dyna Glide Models
7
Jun 17, 2010 04:27 PM
jurob
Sportster Models
11
Apr 4, 2008 06:06 PM
Booey424
Sportster Models
2
Apr 22, 2007 12:23 AM
veniculum
General Harley Davidson Chat
13
Sep 8, 2006 12:18 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:05 AM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE