Harley Davidson Touring: How to Install LED Headlights
Swapping out your headlamp with a much brighter LED version is just about the easiest upgrade modification that you'll find for your bike. Not only do you get more light, but LEDs actually use less power than the stock halogen bulbs.
This article applies to the Harley Davidson Touring Bikes (2000-2016) with a single round headlight.
Staying alive and keeping the rubber on the pavement is something we all have to continually and consciously think about while riding. Too many cagers just didn't see us as they pulled right out in front. It is as aggravating as it is dangerous. One thing you can do to help alleviate this somewhat is to upgrade that headlamp from stock to a super bright LED. This is one mod that is well worth the money, as it does make a huge difference in seeing as well as being seen, and this is half the battle that we face every day we ride. This is a super easy DIY mod that you can accomplish in a matter of minutes in your own garage, driveway or even the parking lot where you purchased your new LED headlamp bulb. Save yourself the expense and time by not having the dealership do it for you.
Materials Needed
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Shop rag or towel
Step 1 – Remove the headlamp housing ring
You may want to place a clean shop rag or other towel over your front fender to protect it from any scratches during this procedure.
- Locate the retaining ring screw at the bottom of the headlamp.
- Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove this screw and set aside. You will reuse it.
- Once the screw is removed, use the tab it was screwed into and rotate the headlamp ring counterclockwise about an inch or two.
- Pull the headlamp housing ring straight off and set aside.
Step 2 – Remove the headlight housing
The headlamp is now ready to be removed.
- Remove the three screws mounting the headlamp retaining ring to the housing.
- Once these screws are removed, the retaining ring as well as the headlamp lens itself will fall right out, so be careful and hold in place with one hand.
- Remove the retaining ring and set it aside.
- Carefully pull wiring harness from the backside of the headlamp and disconnect the bulb.
Step 3 – Configure your wiring harness
This is the step where most folks get tripped up. It is unlikely that the existing headlight wiring will match up exactly with your new LED headlamp. LED headlamps will come with integrated hi and lo beams (and possibly even with wide beams) all wired into a single harness plug, in most cases. Your existing headlamp may have two or three wires in one plug for hi, lo or parking lights. Carefully read the instructions that came with your new LED headlamp.
In the example for the Fatboy, the existing headlamp has two wiring harnesses, one for hi and lo, while the other is for parking. You can simply cut the parking harness out and tie the wires in, and the other harness should plug right into the port on the LED headlamp. For the Street Glide, you'll likely only have two harnesses, one for lo and one for hi beams. Instead of cutting these harnesses up, you can follow them back to the box and disassemble them. Just follow the instructions with the LED headlamp and wiring harness kit and they should plug right into your new headlamp with no issues. The new LED light may have come with its own harness, or you may have to purchase an LED harness kit.
Step 4 – Install new LED headlamp
Installing the new LED headlamp is about as easy as the old came out.
- The LED headlamp should have come with three locating lugs or bumps that allow it to be installed accurately in the correct position.
- Plug the wiring harness in the bike up to the connecting port for the LED headlamp.
- Fit the headlamp into position.
- Replace the retaining ring.
- Replace the housing ring, turning it clockwise this time to lock it in place and tighten down with Phillips head screw.
- Enjoy the extremely bright and powerful headlight on your ride.
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