Templar X headlight assembly (checking for Raccoons in trees)

mtnbiker88 · 02-01-2025, 12:54 AM

Hi, new to the site and the one thing I had never owned was a dual sport so like many others watched reviews and ended up with the templar x 6spd version. Have done a few of the upgrades to it, haven't ridden it yet because it's been about 10 degrees since I received it
BUT the one test drive around the block and the headlight adjusted as low as it goes is still pointing up like a bat signal. Am I alone in seeing the trees? The mounting bracket seems to be in part to blame and the rest is due to the overly soft rear suspension (225lb with gear) on the bike. Before I just add a 2 inch spacer to the top mounting holes has anyone else got a better solve? I saw the guide page and the replacement headlight that's no longer available on Amazon to upgrade it to a better hosting.

OUTERLIMITS · 02-01-2025, 02:14 AM

I don't own this bike, but have seen this comment from many owners. To me it looks like the headlight is a copy of a Polisport Halo headlight. We had one of those on my son's KDX200 and it mounted and adjusted just fine. I'm wondering if they changed the mounting for the Templar. The standard Halo mounting is just 4 rubber straps and then there is an optional plastic piece that attaches to each side (with a few nuts and bolts) that spaces the headlight away from the forks. On his KDX we used those two plastic spacer pieces and with the 4 rubber straps the mounting was good and simple. I'm guessing that XPro has changed something on the mounting on that headlight to maybe mount solid on either top or bottom and then rubber straps on the other. I will say it's not a great headlight as far as night riding, but the Polisport unit fits great on most any bike and with those two plastic extension pieces bolted to the sides, it gives plenty of space for the wiring behind the headlight, which seems to be an issue on these bikes.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/25525881073...Bk9SR_7744GYZQ

OldGuy · 02-01-2025, 10:25 AM

This is interesting, as I just posted on the long Paladin thread about just the opposite. On this bike, the headlight is pointed at the fender! The stock mounts do not allow it to be raised enough, so I am looking at options - mostly likely I will drill different mount holes.

The Ebay link above is for an incandescent (halogen) light - that's a step backward from the LEDs w/ projector lenses on the Paladin. Not sure what the stock light on the Templar is, but I would seek to alter the mount before going backwards to a light that will require far more power, and still be marginal functionally.

Crossbar · 02-01-2025, 03:59 PM

See Thumpers's post #100 in the Templar Resource Guide thread. Shows how he used some simple extension brackets to get the headlight down some.

Crossbar · 02-01-2025, 04:12 PM

.. also, the stock headlight on the Templar is about useless at night. I ended up putting this on mine.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B13XDLNS...sin_title&th=1

I did have to fabricate some bottom brackets for it so it's not a 'direct' bolt on option. It does, however, give enough light to where I feel comfortable riding short distances at night with it.

mtnbiker88 · 02-01-2025, 07:57 PM

Thanks. I ended up just making a bracket for the top and zip ties to hold it for now. The metal bracket on this bike seems to be the wrong one. It's way too far out at the bottom. I used two inches of spacing at the top to get it close enough. I just needed to get it down the street to a gas station but I'll probably end up making that aamzon one fit. I don't mind fabricating to make it fit but new out of the box it should at least function as intended some.

GypsyR · 02-01-2025, 11:01 PM

Hmmm. I didn't have those issues on mine and was able to get it aimed to suit me easily enough. (Edit-It's already pointed down so it is partially lighting up my front fender.)
I will say the stock bulb was astonishingly dim. The first time I was out in the dark with it I was literally using a pocket flashlight in one hand to light the road. I saw no reason, and still don't, to throw the baby out with the bathwater so I just bought a good headlight bulb and have been happy ever since. No complete headlight assembly replacement needed. While I was waiting on the new bulb to come in I added two driving lights on either side of the headlight. After bulb replacement I don't need them at all but keep them as they do light up the sides of a dark trail nicely. Overkill for street use now, the new bulb nailed it. Which one I used is in one of the Templar main threads. (I've forgotten)

mtnbiker88 · 02-15-2025, 01:53 AM

So I ended up going completely for plan D. While I may upgrade to one of these other LED number plates later on to keep with the theme of being cheap and living downtown. Ended up at harbor freight with the spot light led light bar for 24 bucks with a 15 percent discount code. Cut the lower piece that hangs down and made my own mount below the number plate and wired it to the high beam switch so I can not totally blind people with the candle of a headlight but also see when on below outside of town. Trying to stay cheap on this one as my oldest wants one too before summer so trying to not go crazy on this one. (New headlight might be the gateway drug to dropping two grand in upgrades to it! Lol)

02-01-2025, 11:01 PM	#7
GypsyR Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 397	Hmmm. I didn't have those issues on mine and was able to get it aimed to suit me easily enough. (Edit-It's already pointed down so it is partially lighting up my front fender.) I will say the stock bulb was astonishingly dim. The first time I was out in the dark with it I was literally using a pocket flashlight in one hand to light the road. I saw no reason, and still don't, to throw the baby out with the bathwater so I just bought a good headlight bulb and have been happy ever since. No complete headlight assembly replacement needed. While I was waiting on the new bulb to come in I added two driving lights on either side of the headlight. After bulb replacement I don't need them at all but keep them as they do light up the sides of a dark trail nicely. Overkill for street use now, the new bulb nailed it. Which one I used is in one of the Templar main threads. (I've forgotten) __________________ 2023 Templar 250 X Last edited by GypsyR; 02-15-2025 at 12:44 PM.
	0

02-01-2025, 12:54 AM	#1
mtnbiker88 Join Date: Jan 2025 Location: Virginia Posts: 3	Templar X headlight assembly (checking for Raccoons in trees) Hi, new to the site and the one thing I had never owned was a dual sport so like many others watched reviews and ended up with the templar x 6spd version. Have done a few of the upgrades to it, haven't ridden it yet because it's been about 10 degrees since I received it BUT the one test drive around the block and the headlight adjusted as low as it goes is still pointing up like a bat signal. Am I alone in seeing the trees? The mounting bracket seems to be in part to blame and the rest is due to the overly soft rear suspension (225lb with gear) on the bike. Before I just add a 2 inch spacer to the top mounting holes has anyone else got a better solve? I saw the guide page and the replacement headlight that's no longer available on Amazon to upgrade it to a better hosting.
	0

02-01-2025, 02:14 AM	#2
OUTERLIMITS Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 76	I don't own this bike, but have seen this comment from many owners. To me it looks like the headlight is a copy of a Polisport Halo headlight. We had one of those on my son's KDX200 and it mounted and adjusted just fine. I'm wondering if they changed the mounting for the Templar. The standard Halo mounting is just 4 rubber straps and then there is an optional plastic piece that attaches to each side (with a few nuts and bolts) that spaces the headlight away from the forks. On his KDX we used those two plastic spacer pieces and with the 4 rubber straps the mounting was good and simple. I'm guessing that XPro has changed something on the mounting on that headlight to maybe mount solid on either top or bottom and then rubber straps on the other. I will say it's not a great headlight as far as night riding, but the Polisport unit fits great on most any bike and with those two plastic extension pieces bolted to the sides, it gives plenty of space for the wiring behind the headlight, which seems to be an issue on these bikes. https://www.ebay.com/itm/25525881073...Bk9SR_7744GYZQ
	0

02-01-2025, 10:25 AM	#3
OldGuy Join Date: Nov 2024 Posts: 61	This is interesting, as I just posted on the long Paladin thread about just the opposite. On this bike, the headlight is pointed at the fender! The stock mounts do not allow it to be raised enough, so I am looking at options - mostly likely I will drill different mount holes. The Ebay link above is for an incandescent (halogen) light - that's a step backward from the LEDs w/ projector lenses on the Paladin. Not sure what the stock light on the Templar is, but I would seek to alter the mount before going backwards to a light that will require far more power, and still be marginal functionally.
	0

02-01-2025, 03:59 PM	#4
Crossbar Join Date: Jun 2024 Posts: 116	See Thumpers's post #100 in the Templar Resource Guide thread. Shows how he used some simple extension brackets to get the headlight down some.
	1

02-01-2025, 04:12 PM	#5
Crossbar Join Date: Jun 2024 Posts: 116	.. also, the stock headlight on the Templar is about useless at night. I ended up putting this on mine. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B13XDLNS...sin_title&th=1 I did have to fabricate some bottom brackets for it so it's not a 'direct' bolt on option. It does, however, give enough light to where I feel comfortable riding short distances at night with it.
	0

02-01-2025, 07:57 PM	#6
mtnbiker88 Join Date: Jan 2025 Location: Virginia Posts: 3	Thanks. I ended up just making a bracket for the top and zip ties to hold it for now. The metal bracket on this bike seems to be the wrong one. It's way too far out at the bottom. I used two inches of spacing at the top to get it close enough. I just needed to get it down the street to a gas station but I'll probably end up making that aamzon one fit. I don't mind fabricating to make it fit but new out of the box it should at least function as intended some.
	0

02-15-2025, 01:53 AM	#8
mtnbiker88 Join Date: Jan 2025 Location: Virginia Posts: 3	So I ended up going completely for plan D. While I may upgrade to one of these other LED number plates later on to keep with the theme of being cheap and living downtown. Ended up at harbor freight with the spot light led light bar for 24 bucks with a 15 percent discount code. Cut the lower piece that hangs down and made my own mount below the number plate and wired it to the high beam switch so I can not totally blind people with the candle of a headlight but also see when on below outside of town. Trying to stay cheap on this one as my oldest wants one too before summer so trying to not go crazy on this one. (New headlight might be the gateway drug to dropping two grand in upgrades to it! Lol)
	0