Burgman 650: Headlight Protectors

Summary: Headlight Protectors, as the name implies, protect headlights. With motorcycle headlights ranging from 400 to 800 dollars, and my Burgman having two headlights, I decided to install a set of headlight protectors for some $65.

Chipped Headlight Screen (speck out of focus over black top on light bulb)

I wasn't really aware of the cost of headlights, until I trashed some plastic on my Burgman 400. The lights were quoted at 500 AUD each 

If I would keep the Burgman (translated to town / city man) within the city fringes, I would not need any headlight protectors. Taking her out onto country roads, including gravel roads, I have seen the odd stone coming my way, which warrants the installation of headlight protectors on my bike.

It took not long to find a tiny little chip in one of the headlights on my Burgman 650 Executive — and it wasn't the only one I found — that made me think that getting some headlight protectors may be the way to go.
I chose the product offered by "Australian Motorcycle Headlight Protectors". The company manufactures headlight protectors for most motorcycles. As it turned out, I got a quality product.

What Is In The Box?

A.M.H.P. Headlight Protector Kit (unpacked)

A.M.H.P. Headlight Protector Kit

• Two AMHP headlight protectors
• Two 3M Surface Wipes
• Eight 3M Dual Locks™ sticker pairs
• Fitting guide
• Business Card

The technology is rather simple. A clear piece of plastic is cut to size and bent to shape of the headlight window. The protectors are affixed on the headlights with 3M Dual Locks™ stickers. Too easy. 
The Dual Locks™ are quite nifty. It is a heavy duty, round, clear plastic device. It has mushroom shaped heads that lock together on the inside. This allows for the protectors to be removed for cleaning.

In short: I installed the set in less than 10 minutes. It can be done faster with clean headlights. The following is a more detailed description of the installation.

Installation

Headlight Protector with 3M Dual Locks™

The installation process is straight forward:

One word of caution upfront: I recommend not to pull the Dual Locks™ fastener pair apart. They do work! There is no need to test them! Why? Because and most likely you may not get them back together as nicely (exactly on top of each other) as the two pieces were when you got them.

… and read the manual. The list below contains some of the experience I gained in the process.

1. Clean the headlights. Use warm water and dishwashing liquid. Make sure all dirt, grime, waxes, and cleaners have been removed. Dry the headlight surface. The surface must be dry!
2. Clean the headlight protectors. Dry the headlight protector surface. The surface must be dry!
3. Use the 3M Surface Wipes following the instructions on the package on both, the head light and the protectors.
4. Remove the glue protector sheet from the 3M Dual Locks™ fastener pair, but from one side only!
5. Position and apply the 3M Dual Locks™ to the protector, 5 mm away from the outer edge of the protector.
6. Do a test-run the alignment of the protector with the headlight. Get a clear idea how the protector is supposed to sit. Do this 3 to 5 times, or more, to make sure that you can postion the protector correctly every time.
7. Then remove the glue protector sheets from the 3M Dual Locks™ fasteners, and keep a little distance between the Dual Locks™ and the headlight. Find the position tested before, make sure this is the right postion, and then press one Dual Locks™ fastener into position. Check again, and correct the postion of the protector if required. Then press the protector firmly into place. Try to get it right the first time! Apply pressure where the 3M Dual Locks™ fasteners are located. Do NOT press on the centre of the curved protector.
8. Then leave it alone. Allow the glue of the fasteners to cure for ten hours.

The headlight protectors can be removed for easy cleaning.

The Result

Headlight Protectors Installed on the Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive 2009

I put the right protector (right on the photo, left when riding the bike) on first. The lower left corner is not close enough to the centre of the bike. Something I corrected on the other side. But, as I see it, not far enough. A stone will hit the headlight almost head on, hence, the protectors should cover the headlight completely. Or to make more sense: I should have rotated the right protector 5 degrees clockwise and moved it 5 mm to the lft (closer to the centre of the bike). The lft protector is close, but could have been brought in (towards the centre of the bike) by 2 mm.

In principle the protectors sit alright. If I would do it again, I would make sure I get it spot on the first to the accuracy as decribed above. What will help is step 6 above: do test-runs, as in test postioning!

Headlight Protectors Installed on the Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive 2009

It is Tuesday evening; the protectors are still on the bike. Not that I would have doubted they would, but it is a mere set and forget event to put these protectors on.
I wish you luck to get yours spot on the first time.

Event Log

Explanation for (first column) event / log type: Inspection, Problem, Fix, Event.

The date format is dd/mm/yyyy.

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