Suzuki GSX-R LED Low Beam Headlight Upgrade: Hilox XTR Black H7/H9

One of our regular followers, and the owner of a car we help sponsor, is no stranger to tuning and upgrading super-fast cars and bikes. So when he heard about our XTR series, he decided to install a set in his very special motorbike too. The high light output and long lifespan convinced Nick to upgrade the halogen headlights to LED on his Suzuki GSX-R. We have summarised Nick's review below.

Why did you choose an LED kit?

On a motorbike you want to be seen, and of course you want to see well yourself. The original halogen light gives a poor beam pattern and often disappears in traffic. Xenon was not an option because of the plastic headlight.

How did the installation go?

Well. Because the complete LED system is compact, it was easy to fit.

Suzuki GSX-R LED: what was installed?

• Low beam: H7 XTR Black kit, Hilox Performance
• High beam: H9 XTR Black kit, Hilox Performance

What you need to know about the H7 XTR Black for motorbikes

For a motorbike with a single low beam bulb there is the H7 XTR Black LED kit, Hilox Performance, Solo. According to the product information it delivers 3,600 true lumens per LED: 3.5 times more light than halogen and just as powerful as xenon. The colour temperature is 5700K, a white light that makes you stand out in traffic better than yellow halogen light.

The LED chips are Luxeon Z ES chips from Lumileds (Philips), developed for the automotive market. They last up to 50,000 hours, 50 times longer than halogen. A Smart Cool IC chip and a Maglev fan keep the chips at the right temperature, and the LED is IP68 waterproof. For a rider who also rides in the rain, that is no luxury.

What is in the Solo kit?

• 1 x H7 XTR Black LED bulb, 36.2 mm
• 1 x XTR Black driver, 66 x 31.1 x 15.7 mm

A CAN-bus module is not included in this Performance Solo kit. If your motorbike has a system that monitors the bulbs, look at the Evolution versions in the XTR Black LED kits.

LED or xenon on a motorbike?

Nick did not choose xenon because of the plastic headlight on his GSX-R. On top of that, on a motorbike the space behind the headlight plays a big role. A xenon kit works with a ballast that starts the bulb, and after starting, xenon needs a short warm-up time. An LED is at full brightness straight away, and the XTR LED is compact: the bulb is 36.2 mm and the driver 66 x 31.1 x 15.7 mm. That explains why Nick found it easy to fit.

You can read more about the differences between halogen, xenon and LED in xenon vs LED: the real differences.

Low beam and high beam: check your fittings first

Many motorbikes have a separate bulb for low beam and for high beam, each with its own fitting. On Nick's GSX-R that was H7 for the low beam and H9 for the high beam. Other bikes have low and high beam in one bulb, for example with an H4 fitting. So first check which fitting is in your headlight before you order; it is usually printed on the base of the current bulb or in the owner's manual.

In the LED for motorbikes category you will find Solo kits in H3, H7, H8, H11, HB3, HB4 and HIR2, among others.

How to fit an LED kit on your motorbike

1. Switch off the ignition and let the halogen bulb cool down.
2. Get access to the back of the headlight. On a bike with fairings, that may mean taking off parts of the fairing.
3. Remove the dust cover, unplug the connector and take the halogen bulb out of its holder.
4. Fit the LED, connect the driver to the original plug and fix the driver firmly in place so it does not vibrate.
5. Put the dust cover back and test the low beam and high beam.

Beam pattern and inspection

You can rotate the XTR LED through 360 degrees to set the beam pattern. After fitting, have the light beam checked. According to the product information this kit has no ECE or E-mark approval and is intended for racing circuits and private property; if in doubt, check with the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority) or your inspector.