KymcoForum.com
Scooters - 125 to 300 => Grandvista 250 => Topic started by: jak51 on April 20, 2020, 02:45:36 PM
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Hi -
I just bought a sweet, used 2007 GV 250, and just joined the Kymco forum. I'm wondering if anyone with a similar year and model has switched out the halogen headlamps for LED? If so, what did you need to buy, and how easy or difficult was it to do.
Thanks so much.
Jeff
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I tried LED replacements in the Downtown and rejected them because beam patterns were unsatifactory. They would have blinded oncoming drivers. The DT300i has two reflector and two projector lights. Yours is a reflector, I think.
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Thanks!
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it is a bulb switch only, what may work is a H I D light as the filament is in the same place, I tried all and only thing that worked was install L E D spot lights as the reflector in the head light is not good for a bike , my scoot is kymco downtown 300
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Thanks for the info. You answered my question about whether a conversion kit was necessary.
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Hi -
I just bought a sweet, used 2007 GV 250, and just joined the Kymco forum. I'm wondering if anyone with a similar year and model has switched out the halogen headlamps for LED? If so, what did you need to buy, and how easy or difficult was it to do.
Thanks so much.
Jeff
Here is an updated video of upgrading the bulb in the Grandvista:
https://youtu.be/RZ73oe6hFhU (https://youtu.be/RZ73oe6hFhU)
I did with this one from Amazon and it fits perfect and the pattern in both hi / low is perfect - as long as the plastics are installed correctly you will be blown away with the results.
MZS H4 LED Headlight Bulb Single for Motorcycle,9003 HB2 Mini Conversion Kit - CREE Chips - 6500K 5000Lm Extremely Bright
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BFPQMGH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Thanks!
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Related question as I have not yet needed to replace my bulb.
I installed a high/low flashing unit in my 2005 Grandvista 250.
Will the LED work in as the halogen did?
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I don't know but I think that would probably damage it what I would recommend is use the LED which has something like four times the output of that halogen bulb and if you really need something flashing you could just set up a halogen light and mounted on the fender or something and then hook up the Flasher to that I think the LED is just one of the best upgrades you can possibly do to the Grand Vista
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Hi Paul -
I brought up the link to the LED bulb you referenced in an earlier reply, and when I put in my year, make and model info, Amazon stated that the bulb would not fit my 2007 GV 250. Did the bulb fit your GV without any problems?
Thanks.
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Hi Paul -
I brought up the link to the LED bulb you referenced in an earlier reply, and when I put in my year, make and model info, Amazon stated that the bulb would not fit my 2007 GV 250. Did the bulb fit your GV without any problems?
Thanks.
Yes absolutely. Amazon's system is designed to ensure that a particular vehicle or scooter is listed for a part. This part is universal in nature so no one is going to go back and test every possible vehicle that it might fit. I posted a review on amazon for this bulb an listed my Grandvista.
The nice this about this design and why it costs a little more than other LED's is that the design is compact for motorcycles and scooters and has the special removable base (the three prongs on the flat plate) making it easy to install even if there isn't much room once the headlight assembly is put back together.
If you download this link to my google drive you will see the rest of the pictures:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19gJUOVjRMBs1YDm1EEvC33QsQgDjbZ0C?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19gJUOVjRMBs1YDm1EEvC33QsQgDjbZ0C?usp=sharing)
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Yes absolutely. Amazon's system is designed to ensure that a particular vehicle or scooter is listed for a part. This part is universal in nature so no one is going to go back and test every possible vehicle that it might fit. I posted a review on amazon for this bulb an listed my Grandvista.
The nice this about this design and why it costs a little more than other LED's is that the design is compact for motorcycles and scooters and has the special removable base (the three prongs on the flat plate) making it easy to install even if there isn't much room once the headlight assembly is put back together.
If you download this link to my google drive you will see the rest of the pictures:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19gJUOVjRMBs1YDm1EEvC33QsQgDjbZ0C?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19gJUOVjRMBs1YDm1EEvC33QsQgDjbZ0C?usp=sharing)
No worries about heat building in that plastic headlight on a hot summer day - since a scooter light is on constantly?
Any warning that the fan has quit on this Chinese light inside that small enclosed space? Headlight assemblies aren't well ventilated....seems heat would just be recirculating in that assembly.
Stig
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No worries about heat building in that plastic headlight on a hot summer day - since a scooter light is on constantly?
Any warning that the fan has quit on this Chinese light inside that small enclosed space? Headlight assemblies aren't well ventilated....seems heat would just be recirculating in that assembly.
Stig
Stig, you have to stop asking tough questions lol. The heat issue is a strange one.... LED's use less power than the oem halogen lamp 30W vs 55/60W AND there is limited air circulation so the bulb gets quite hot but.... Halogen bulbs can tolerate much more heat than LED's which require on computer circuits....
The LED does get hot (just think of an LED headlamp - can get hot enough to make your forhead sweat and it is using way less power than the scooter bulb. So the solution is heat sinks on the circuits that power the LED AND a fan. If that fan stops I'm sure the bulb will burn up and there is no warning as I have stopped the fan with my finger - might be worth adding a high pitched fan failure alarm.
Bottom line:
the fan has been running perfect first in the scooter then I moved it over to my Honda NC700X motorcycle so it is about 1 year old and about 2,500 miles with no issues. Worth doing yes - huge 4X the light output and works perfect in HI and LOW on the grand vista but on my Honda you must choose as turning it on way or the other will make HI good or LOW good but not both. One mode HI or LOW will project an unfocused beam pattern. This is the result of the way the LED's make focused light where Halogens seem to project light equally in all directions more uniformly without needing a diffuser like LED's do.
Again - in my opinion the single best upgrade for the grandvista of any accessory - so much good focused and bright light at night that the oem bulb is like driving by street lights only. So powerful it can reflect off speed limit sighs at night an hurt you eyes with the intensity!
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Always kinda wondered about fan vs. non-fan LEDs
Fanless success may well rely on air flow through the bulb area.
I've been running these fanless ones in a couple SYMs for a year or so. No issues (knock on wood)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XHD78DQ/ (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XHD78DQ/)
The difference in light and spare power is notable.
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Stig, you have to stop asking tough questions lol. The heat issue is a strange one.... LED's use less power than the oem halogen lamp 30W vs 55/60W AND there is limited air circulation so the bulb gets quite hot but.... Halogen bulbs can tolerate much more heat than LED's which require on computer circuits....
The LED does get hot (just think of an LED headlamp - can get hot enough to make your forhead sweat and it is using way less power than the scooter bulb. So the solution is heat sinks on the circuits that power the LED AND a fan. If that fan stops I'm sure the bulb will burn up and there is no warning as I have stopped the fan with my finger - might be worth adding a high pitched fan failure alarm.
Bottom line:
the fan has been running perfect first in the scooter then I moved it over to my Honda NC700X motorcycle so it is about 1 year old and about 2,500 miles with no issues. Worth doing yes - huge 4X the light output and works perfect in HI and LOW on the grand vista but on my Honda you must choose as turning it on way or the other will make HI good or LOW good but not both. One mode HI or LOW will project an unfocused beam pattern. This is the result of the way the LED's make focused light where Halogens seem to project light equally in all directions more uniformly without needing a diffuser like LED's do.
Again - in my opinion the single best upgrade for the grandvista of any accessory - so much good focused and bright light at night that the oem bulb is like driving by street lights only. So powerful it can reflect off speed limit sighs at night an hurt you eyes with the intensity!
OK - your experience convinced me.
No worries with this bulb!
Stig😊
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OK - your experience convinced me.
No worries with this bulb!
Stig😊
Just remember the performance will vary depending on the vehicle. On my Grandvista it worked perfect in HI/LOW but on my 2012 Honda NC700X I had to choose and I flipped the bulb so that LO Beam had the best pattern while HI is a little scattered. Also, you have to take you time to record the location of screws and be patient with the plastics and be gentle with the fan blades. Post pics when you get it done.
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Just remember the performance will vary depending on the vehicle. On my Grandvista it worked perfect in HI/LOW but on my 2012 Honda NC700X I had to choose and I flipped the bulb so that LO Beam had the best pattern while HI is a little scattered. Also, you have to take you time to record the location of screws and be patient with the plastics and be gentle with the fan blades. Post pics when you get it done.
One more question: what was the wattage of the stock (Kymco installed) headlight bulb in your scooter?
Stig
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One more question: what was the wattage of the stock (Kymco installed) headlight bulb in your scooter?
Stig
Same as a car 55/60 watt - OEM Headlight Bulb is Phillips H4 12342
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Hi Paul -
I got the H4 LED bulb you suggested, and am getting up the motivation to make the switchout. I saw your review and pictures on Amazon, and I'm confused. It appears you had to do more than just remove the upper front cover to change the bulb. It looks like you pulled the whole unit off in order to access the bulb socket from the rear. Can you please explain the process of how you changed out the halogen bulb for the LED.
Thanks!
Jeff
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Paul (mrbios) has posted a video on YouTube showing briefly how to switch out the halogen headlight bulb for the LED. Very informative and well done.
https://youtu.be/uArfdPXimhE
If you're planning to do this to your GV 250 like I am, make sure to watch his video. Highly recommended!
Jeff
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Paul (mrbios) has posted a video on YouTube showing briefly how to switch out the halogen headlight bulb for the LED. Very informative and well done.
https://youtu.be/uArfdPXimhE (https://youtu.be/uArfdPXimhE)
If you're planning to do this to your GV 250 like I am, make sure to watch his video. Highly recommended!
Jeff
Thanks Jeff. Also, I deleted that video and replaced it with an update version that has more information:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ73oe6hFhU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ73oe6hFhU)
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Since X-mas ist kind of light-festivity, thought it might be a good idea to put some more light in my LIKE. Reading some more articles about this issue made me order a H4 shaped LED bulb.
Well, to change it on our LIKE is easy and fits 1:1.
No trouble with size or lenght to berth. Looks a little bit futuristic with this fan-body in front.
AND, it came it my scooters colors. (pls see pics)
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Looks great
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Since X-mas ist kind of light-festivity, thought it might be a good idea to put some more light in my LIKE. Reading some more articles about this issue made me order a H4 shaped LED bulb.
Well, to change it on our LIKE is easy and fits 1:1.
No trouble with size or lenght to berth. Looks a little bit futuristic with this fan-body in front.
AND, it came it my scooters colors. (pls see pics)
Ruffus,
This will likely be of interest to LIKE200i owners.
Please consider re-posting this to the LIKE200i page.
Next summer let us know if there were heat issues with this bulb. The LIKE headlight bucket may not have adequate ventilation slots to deal with the fan recirculating the bulb's heat in there.
You ride a lot at night, as well?
Thanx, Stig
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Ruffus,
This will likely be of interest to LIKE200i owners.
Please consider re-posting this to the LIKE200i page.
Next summer let us know if there were heat issues with this bulb. The LIKE headlight bucket may not have adequate ventilation slots to deal with the fan recirculating the bulb's heat in there.
You ride a lot at night, as well?
Thanx, Stig
Stig,
Good points. Repost in Like200 forum is a good idea.
Regarding heat issues - they style I used has the fan on the back so it avoids the recirculated air issue but it costs more ... maybe and extra $10? It has another advantage that the power pins are mounted to a cord instead of the back of the bulb keeping it compact and flexible across many 2 wheeled installations.
So far mine has lasted 18 months and about 3,500 miles with no issues.