How to choose a motorcycle headlight?

Ride with Style AND Safety!

 

In this article we're going to help you choose your new headlight with as many tips as possible. For example, all the tips you need to install and adjust it yourself.

 

What do we mean by "headlight"? A light with a reflector and special lens mounted on the front of your motorcycle to illuminate the road ahead.

 

 

Changing a motorcycle headlight can be necessary for a number of reasons:

 

• Wear: Motorcycle headlamps are subjected to harsh riding conditions, including vibration, shock, heat and bad weather. Over time, headlight bulbs can wear out and lose brightness, reducing visibility at night or in bad weather. In this case, we recommend replacing them to ensure good visibility on the road.

 

• Failure: Like all electrical components, headlamps can fail due to short circuits, faulty connections or other electrical problems. If your headlight doesn't work at all, it may need to be replaced.

 

• Upgrading: Some motorcyclists choose to replace their original headlight with a more powerful or aesthetically different model. For example, they may opt for a motorcycle LED headlight, which offers better visibility, longer life and lower energy consumption than traditional bulbs. It can also improve the bike's overall appearance.

 

• Conformity: Your motorcycle has a poor-quality headlight. To comply with traffic regulations, you want to install an approved headlight. These are often marked "E" on the headlamp glass. They are marked "homologated" on our website.

 

 

Here's a bobber preparation with our approved brass headlight:

 

 

First of all, what types of motorcycle headlight are there?

  

There are several types of motorcycle headlight, but here are some of the most common:

 

• Halogen headlights: Halogen headlights are the most common type of headlight used on motorcycles. They use a standard halogen bulb that produces light by passing an electric current through a filament. Halogen headlights offer decent luminosity, but have a shorter lifespan than other, newer types. With their retro look, they are often used as vintage motorcycle headlights.

 

• LED headlights: LED (Light-Emitting Diode) motorcycle headlights are becoming increasingly popular. They use light-emitting diodes to produce light. LED headlights are brighter than halogen headlights, consume less energy, last longer and offer better visibility. They are also available in a variety of colors and designs. In fact, you can find a motorcycle headlamp that's round and more design-oriented because this technology is modular.

 

• Xenon headlights: Xenon headlights, also known as HID (High-Intensity Discharge) headlights, use an electric arc discharge to produce light. They offer greater brightness and visibility than halogen headlights, but require a special ballast and ignition to work properly.

 

• Adaptive headlamps: Adaptive headlights are headlights that automatically adjust to driving conditions. They can include features such as directional lighting systems, which swivel with the movement of the handlebars to illuminate the road around bends. These headlights improve visibility and safety at night or in difficult driving conditions.

 

• Additional headlights: Additional headlights are extra lights installed on a vehicle to improve lighting. They are often used in situations where increased visibility is required, such as night driving, off-road driving or in adverse weather conditions.

 

• Headlight plate: The motorcycle headlight plate often consists of a bulbous motorcycle optic in a fairing that aesthetically surrounds the light. This type of headlight is often used on Moto cross (enduro), Scrambler, Flat track, Tracker, Trail and Supermotard bikes.

 

Click on the style of your choice below to access our product lists based on the style of motorcycle you are looking for:

 

- Vintage motorcycle

- Bobber

- Cafe Racer

- Scrambler

- Tracker

  

About the additional motorcycle headlight:

 

There are several types of additional headlight, each with its own specific characteristics and applications:

 

• Fog lights: These lights are designed to illuminate the road in fog, snow or heavy rain. They are mounted low on the vehicle to reduce light reflection and improve visibility in low-visibility conditions. Very useful at night when your motorcycle is not equipped with a directional headlamp, these headlamps allow you to illuminate the inside of the bend, enabling you to take the best trajectory in complete safety.

 

• Long-range headlights: These are designed to project an intense beam of light over a long distance, improving visibility when riding at night on open roads. They are usually mounted on the top of the vehicle.

 

• Light bar headlamps: This is a bar containing several LEDs, providing powerful, uniform illumination over a large area. Light bar headlamps are often used on Trail or Scrambler, off-road vehicles to illuminate surrounding areas.

 

Here's an example of a Ducati Scrambler fitted with additional headlights:

 

 

 

How to choose your headlight?

 

The choice of headlights for a motorcycle depends on a number of important factors. Here are some points to consider when selecting headlights for your motorcycle: 

 

1. Type of motorcycle: Different types of motorcycles may require specific headlights, depending on their design and use. For example, a sports bike may need headlights with long-range projection for enhanced visibility at high speeds, while an off-road bike may require more robust, vibration-resistant headlights.
2. Style and aesthetics: Headlights also contribute to the overall appearance of the motorcycle. If you want to personalize the look of your motorcycle, you can choose from a variety of headlight styles, such as round headlights, rectangular headlights, LED headlights or headlights with special patterns.
3. Light performance: Consider the power and lighting quality of the headlights. LED headlights are generally brighter, more efficient and last longer than traditional halogen headlights. Make sure that the headlights you choose offer adequate visibility for safe driving in different conditions, whether at night, in the rain or in fog.
4. Installation: Check that your headlights are compatible with your motorcycle in terms of mounting and electrical connection. Some headlamps may require modifications or adapters to fit your motorcycle correctly.

  

Bratstyle preparation for a customer with an LED headlight:

 

 

How do I connect a motorcycle headlight?

 

Connecting a motorcycle headlight can vary depending on the specific model of motorcycle and the type of headlight you're using. However, here are the general steps for connecting a motorcycle headlight:

 

1. Preparation: Make sure the motorcycle is switched off and the battery is disconnected to avoid any short-circuit or electrical hazard.
2. Remove old headlight (if necessary): If you're replacing an existing headlight, you'll need to remove the old headlight first. This may involve removing screws or other fasteners that hold the headlight in place. Consult your motorcycle owner's manual or look for model-specific instructions for guidance.
3. Checking existing wiring : Before plugging in the new headlight, check the motorcycle's existing wiring. Make sure it's in good condition and that there are no damaged wires or loose connections.
4. Connecting the wires of the new headlight: At Remmotorcycle, all our products have their corresponding wires, which you can easily find in the item description. Please note that we take particular care when connecting LED headlights. This may require special installation. Like connecting a resistor upstream of the harness. In most cases, this results in weak or non-existent lighting. To quickly rule out a faulty headlight, connect the headlight leads directly to your battery terminals.
5. Switch connection (if fitted): If your new headlight has a separate switch, you'll also need to connect the switch wires to the motorcycle's electrical system. This may involve connecting to existing power cables or to a separate wiring harness. This is often the case for additional headlamps as seen above.
6. Fixing the new headlight: Once the electrical connections have been made, securely fix the new headlight to the motorcycle using the appropriate screws or fixings. Make sure it's correctly aligned and secure.
7. Function check: Once everything is connected and secure, reconnect the battery and switch on the motorcycle to check the new headlight's operation. Make sure it lights up correctly and works as intended.

 

It's important to note that motorcycles may have different electrical systems and specific wiring diagrams. If you have any problems with the wiring, contact the Remmotorcycle team, who will help you get through this stage easily.

 

 

A Sportster equipped with our LED bobber headlight:

 

  

 

How to adjust a motorcycle headlight?

 

Motorcycle headlight adjustment is essential to ensure optimum visibility while avoiding dazzling other drivers. Here are the general steps for adjusting a motorcycle headlight:

 

1. Preparation: Park your motorcycle on a flat surface, facing a wall or garage with enough room to back up. We recommend that you equip yourself to reproduce the weight on your motorcycle.
2. Horizontal level: Make sure the motorcycle is straight and level. Use a level if necessary to obtain a perfectly horizontal position.
3. Vertical adjustment: Switch on the motorcycle's headlights and observe the projection of the light beams on the wall or garage. The headlights should be set to illuminate the road ahead without dazzling other drivers. Generally speaking, the light beams should be slightly lower than the horizon line. As a rule of thumb, at 5 meters from the wall, your light beam should be 10 cm lower than the height of your headlamp.
4. Adjusting the adjusting screws: Most motorcycle headlamps are fitted with adjusting screws for setting the headlamp height. These screws are usually located on the rear or side of the headlight. Use a screwdriver or appropriate wrench to adjust the set screws, turning clockwise or counter-clockwise to increase or decrease the headlight height respectively.
5. Repeat for the other headlight (if fitted): If your motorcycle is equipped with two headlights, repeat the same steps to adjust the second headlight.

 

It's important to note that these steps may vary slightly depending on the specific model of your motorcycle. Always refer to your motorcycle user manual for precise headlight adjustment instructions.

 

If you encounter difficulties or are unsure of the procedure, we recommend that you contact us to adjust your motorcycle's headlights.

 

Here's one of our most successful headlights, a 6.8 LED headlight with daytime running lights:

 

Looking to illuminate your ride in style? Discover our high-quality motorcycle headlights, offering optimum visibility and elegant design. Don't let the dark get in your way - with our headlights, you can ride with confidence, day or night. Cafe racer or other styles, get ready for an illuminated riding experience with our exceptional motorcycle headlights!