H-4 Headlamp adpapters

[michael]

$12 and these "wonder wafers" could be yours too. The picture has a quarter for size reference. Let me know if you have questions. I have not installed them (not till I break the bike out of storage at a friend's house) but did get to play with the adapters in a ST1100 headlight assembly that STA had at the show. (STA gives free shipping to HSTA members.) The thickness is minimal but provides a solid flat rotation free surface to keep the headlight aimed properly. I was too chicken to take a dremel my globes. The reason I bought them was to use 60/55W clear H4 bulbs for better night visibility.

The adapters are in and the 60/55 H4 are noticeably brighter. No bodywork removal was necessary; you just need to have the bike on the centerstand and turn the forks to opposite side of the side you are trying to install and there will be plenty of room. All I did was study pictures of headlight globe from the H4 dremel modification page, so that I would know which way the spring clamp needed to be moved to release the stock bulb. Piece of cake!

Jeremy Lucas jlucas@columbus.rr.com

NOTE FROM KARL MARSH:

Well I finally got the Sport Touring Accessories H4 bulb adapters and put them in. A fellow lister sent me his after he concluded they weren't worth bothering with...I don't share that opinion, however. They mount from the front of the H4 bulb after cutting off the two lower "tabs" from the bulb base. This allows the use of standard H4 (or DOT #9003 which are identical but much cheaper, even in the same brand) bulbs rather than having to rely on the proprietary Honda 45/45 watt bulbs (which are about $25 each).

The adapters fit with varying tightness depending on bulb brand, with Sylvania/Osrams being tighter (good) than the made-in-Hungary GEs (unfortunately, the Osram bulbs were defective and not usable) While one lister resorted to using super glue, I found that putting a small gradual bend in the adapter caused it to "grab" the base of the bulb with spring tension. The little tits (no gender slur intentioned) at the bottom of the bulb base can also be bent slightly to retain the adapter, just enough to keep it in place while installing, then it's held in by compression of the socket's retaining spring.

I made before and after measurements of the beam pattern by marking the top of both the high and low beams on the garage wall. There seems to be little or no change with the adapters. This measurement is a little crude, though, as it requires a judgement call about where the beam cuts off...it is a kind of gradual tapering off rather a definite line (both before and after). The bulbs were very stable in the reflectors and didn't move or wobble even when the wiring was given a good tug.

These things seem to work as intended. They look like they should cost about $1.00 a dozen rather than $4.00 each, though (plus $2.00 shipping). Still, a cost-effective alternative to OEM Honda bulbs and a more elegant solution than bent tabs, nails, or modified sockets.

-Karl.