Like a few other said, no need to remove the outer fairing. On my 05 I just removed the trim ring, the light assembly comes out, replace the bulb and put back together total time about 10 minutes.

 

you can do it either way but i think it's much easier to remove the outer fairing.

 

Sometimes I just shake my head and say, "WTF?"

One screw takes off the trim ring, three screws take the headlight out. Squeeze the harness and remove from bulb. Pay attention to how the spring clip holds in the bulb, release bulb, replace, reattach clip, plug in harness, put in three screws, attach headlight rim.

And removing a fairing is easier?

 

Changing a headlamp bulb on the 2009 Suzuki Burgman 650 was way worse. 2 hours.

 

I can't believe you never removed the outer fairing yet. seven screws and no chance of knocking light out of wack.

 

Do you have to take the passing lamp bar off to remove the fairing?

 

Nope
And you can remove the seven screws and just tilt the fairing forward and reach the bulb. Easy as can be plus no need to readjust the head light.

 

Seems it can be done both ways then. The one advantage of removing the fairing seems to be that the headlight will remain properly adjusted. Of course yet another advantage would be that while the fairing is off you can inspect for broken brackets, fraying wires, loose nuts and bolts.

Thanks again to all.

 

My 01 Utra is the same, remove trim ring, three screws change bulb put back together. Takes all of 10 minutes. I've replace mine several time over the years and it's less hassle than removing the outer fairing and risk scratching the fender or fairing.

 

Hmmm, 18 guys to change out a headlight bulb. Must be a slow day.