I just replaced the low beam on my C650GT. They sure do make it look easy in the Owner's Manual, don't they? Just remove the side panel, take off the rubber boot, unplug the cable, squeeze in the clips and out comes the bulb. Easy/peasy, right? Hell, I can do that in the parking lot of the auto parts store during lunch!!
What they DON'T tell you is that unless your name is Ralph Dibney, Patrick "Eel" O'Brien or Reed Richards, you're going to spend a lot of frustrating, patience-stretching time doing this. The side panel comes off easy enough BUT... unless you're one of the aforementioned gentlemen, you better have a forearm six inches longer than normal and a hand half the size of a person your age.
Getting the rubber boot off is easy. It's the only part you can actually SEE through that tiny little opening revealed by taking off the side panel. You can't actually work through that opening either (unless your name is...), you're going to have to come up from underneath the fairing while LOOKING through that opening.
Except, you can't see the plug you're supposed to remove, and you can't see the clip you're supposed to unfasten... you're going to have to do that by "feel" alone. Actually, getting the old bulb out is the EASY part. Putting the new one back IN is where the fun begins.
As most of you are aware by now, you do NOT want to touch the glass of a halogen bulb. The oil residue from your fingers will create a "hot spot" when the filament is burning and could result in the glass shattering in use. You'll have to insert the bulb with the "tang" upwards so it seats properly in the holder. Now, while you're holding the bulb with one hand, slip your OTHER hand up that tiny... wait... what's that? There's no physical way to get another hand up that opening (unless your name is...)? But if you release the bulb, it'll just fall out and likely shatter on the pavement.
So now you need to practice your dexterity. Holding the bulb in place with a couple of fingers, try to use the OTHER fingers of the same hand to reach the clip you moved out of the way, lower it into position, and snap the edges back into their retainers (all by FEEL, because not even the aforementioned gentlemen will be able to see it either. Only Clark Kent might be able, but he'd also likely tear the whole front end of the scooter apart in frustration too).
IF you think you have it clipped in, slowly withdraw your hand and make sure the bulb doesn't move. Grab the bulb by the electrodes and give it a little tug just to be absolutely sure. If it stays in place, replace the electrical plug next (again, by feel, since you can't see what you're doing). Once you have that firmly in place you'll need to slip the rubber boot back up there and work around the edges with your fingers until it completely seals off the housing.
Whew! You're FINALLY done. Just put the side panel back on.
I never did replace a bulb in the TMAX. I can't imagine it being any easier though (just based on where those sadistic engineering bastards decided to place the battery).
