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T120 LED Headlight Conversion

17K views 27 replies 14 participants last post by  tsmgguy 
#1 ·
Stock light is below standard and I would like to upgrade to an LED headlight. I know a couple other folks have used the ADVMonster setup: http://stores.advmonster.com/h4-led-headlight/ with good results. I have purchased some products from them in the past and they are high quality.

I guess my questions are:
1. Is the H4 LED a true "plug and play" or is there other modifications?
2. What other alternatives are there to improve the headlight?


i know it has been discussed in the past, but I would like to revisit the topic to see if there are any new ideas or converts.

Roll Tide
 
#3 ·
I swapped in a Hella H4 55/100 watt bulb and it was a huge improvement. You can buy them off Amazon for about $10 shipped. It's a drop in replacement.

I have LED bulbs in two other bikes and they are nice. The issue is you need to make sure there is sufficient clearance in the headlight bucket for the heatsink and find a place to mount the power module.

Whatever you choose be very careful with the mounting clip, the plastic reflector housing has very short screws holding the clip and they strip out easy. It's a very poor design. I posted up pix etc about this in another thread.
 
#10 ·
This question has been kicked around here before. I'd just pass along that at least part of the problem with the T120's headlight is probably a poor reflector design. This can be rectified by installing a new OEM headlamp assembly, PN T2706508. This is the same as comes stock on the T100/ST/SC. It solves the problem. It doesn't have the heavy internal metal heat sink, so there's additional room in the headlight shell.

I'd be cautious of simply installing a bulb of higher wattage. This means more heat, and it's not certain that the original plastic reflector can take it.
 
#11 ·
I decided to go with a complete headlamp. A new Triumph headlight is $219 and a self contained Pathfinder led bulb is $70 or $290. The results are conflicting and marginal at best. I decided to go a differen route which will give a sure thing. There are only 2 led headlights worth considering. Vision X and JW speakers headlights. Can not go wrong with. I decided on VisionX. More expensive than JW but less than a pair of tires. I consider a crash off road at night much worse than a blow out so you decide. So here are the part numbers for Vision X. 7" Vortex Motorcycle Black Chrome - XMC-7RDB #9895291. $419,Inline plug in to run low beam with high beam, P-Hl4 #9895475 - $19. Wow! I went with black chrome because you do not get the vertical dim lines from reflexion of shiny back ground. Probably will not notice, just a thought. I didn't want to end up throwing good money after bad so in the long run could end up cheaper and done right. Plug and play. I have snow on the ground so it will be a while to see if it fits in housing. Will try to follow up in 3 weeks.
 
#14 ·
Thanks! Lots of money. I have a Harley ring laying around and might have to add a few screws to hold ring maybe. The Harly ring bubbles out in middle to hold light edge of standard lights and the T120 tappers iin so it will not. Screw hole on bottom seems in same place. Must have a weird light. Triumph has to be different. Will try that first. Thanks for advance warning, this would have caught me by surprise.
 
#15 ·
Fits

There is no problem with space with the VisionX. The back is small compared to stock. The stock is 1 to 1 1/2 inch deeper. Does not seem like much but is. Makes the VisionX look dinky. I did a trial install as I am sending it back. Where I purchased it sent me a used old one. E-mailed VisionX about it on Saturday. The Vice President contacted me within the hour, must have an app on his phone or works Saturday. He took care of it immediately and put me in contact with another distributer. How's that for customer care and service. I am purchasing a new one from the new contact. Minor setback as always happens with upgrades. The worse part is unhooking the parking light wire.
 
#16 · (Edited)
Here are some pics of my Vision X XMC-7RD install. I used a Motodemic adapter ring That I mentioned in post 13 and I used a new factory style connector on the halo wire so it would simply plug into my DRL (or position/parking light as it applies) wiring harness. I also used the HI/LO adapter from Vision X that allows both HI & Low beams at the same time when in HI beam mode. Plenty of room in the bucket with the lower profile lamp.

I'll post some nite time pics soon.
 

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#20 ·
Definitely interested in pics. Daytime too. Does the halo light up as the daytime running light instead of the low-beam as stock?
It's kind of difficult to take pictures of headlights as there is always some washout but here is the halo & low beam and everything lit on high beam. I forgot to take a pic of just the halo but it comes on separately in the "park" position.
 

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#18 ·
Looks nice especially with the ring. My should be here tomorrow, Saturday. Suppose I should order the Motodemic today so I have it mounted quicker. Does not hurt the pocket as much spread out. Boy this is taking time. Salt and sand on road yet. This Tuesday we lost a rider right in town here. Very sad. In the process of shocks, fork springs and Norman Hyde mufflers so I have a little time. I got the Custom Dynamics True Beam. It is the Vision X rebranded. It is $20 more but I know it is the latest LED technology as they sell a ton for Harley. The technology is changing fast. Thanks for the hints. Mike
 
#19 ·
Forgot to say about the accident. It happened at 12:15 am. Who knows what happened? Same thing with my best friend late nite, in town.. I cried at the funeral and have never got over it. I can not think that this headlight might have helped. That why I have upgraded all my headlights no matter the cost. Sorry for the bad news but if I can save one life.
 
#22 ·
Got it installed. Some hints. Can not remember real well and I am not taking it out again. The secret to horizontal alinement is you line the tabs up and use factory clips on the three. The clips barely catch the the tabs on each side. The clip will install over tab. You install all three make sure the head light is on right tabs. This is with the adapter rings. The only thing that will work. $150 with shipping so you know, but it is quality. Don't aline head light tabs and you will pull you hair out taking in and out and turning it to do Alinement.You use the two included clips elsewhere. This keeps the Three factory clips from slipping off tabes. Take a business card folded in half behind each screw when screwing in or they fall underneath. Another hair puller. To keep halo ring on just low or both high and low you have to spice into center wire, blue I think, BETWEEN resistor and final headlight plug. This is with the $19 harness with high and low, you would be crazy not to get it any way. You need a female clip to plug into the male clip on new head light. I didn't have to solder a wire on as I found a clip with wire already on in the parts box. Ya! Finally something went right. Any way have one of those blue inline wire clips handy. Put the female wire and clip in first and then that blue center wire in. Squeeze shut. Now the head light can just come out by pulling the plug. This WILL not go with the bike if I sell it. Halo works on just low and with with high and low. Nice! Have not been out at night but do not have too. I have never seen a light like this. Is it ever bright, bright and then some. Did I say wide. Goes from one side of garage to other. It is worth it. Have locktight for screws, dialectic grease for connection, female spade with wire soldered on, blue inline clip a head a time. Get the wire on the $19 high low before starting. Get some Wolfgang plastic sealer made for plastic headlights. Keeps these plastic headlight lens from clouding up. The light will never burn out but the lenses will turn cloudy in time. My 2013 Evo MR headlights are like new. Start doing it right away. Enought, night will not come soon enough.
 
#28 · (Edited)
Interesting. This unit is "fanless". Instead, it relies on cooling fins. I wonder whether there's enough air flow and enough room for it in the T120's headlight shell.

And, I think it's been proven pretty well that a combination of the following and an LED headlamp will not work:

https://newbonneville.com/shop/easy-start-headlight-control-module/
 
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