Anyone else blowing low beam headlight bulbs on a 12GS? I am replacing another one today, number 5! 18.5k and mostly city riding.
Yup. Mine low beam blew out at 13,000 miles. And there've been a number of threads on the subject. Five in 18,500 miles seems pretty extreme, though. Are you using stock bulbs? One of the techs at my local dealership said the PIAA's and other brighter bulbs do burn brighter, but they blow faster.
I am using sylvania bulbs. I talked to the dealer today and the specified a 55watt bulb; I will check on that when I get a new bulb tonight.
Yep, the bulbs are 55watts at the store(for standard bulbs). now what? Is there a way the can specifically test the head light circuit with a real world load, instead of just a resistance or voltage check?
You're following the age old instructions about NOT touching or contaminating the bulb surface in any way, right? Seems in my experience with halogen bulbs the only way I could blow 'em that fast is to dirty 'em up or run the wrong wattage.
I've had two blow out in 11k miles. I never handle the bulbs. A guy I work with said he had the same problem with his HD Sportster. Problem stopped for him when his dealer suggested heavy duty bulbs. Boxer motor vibrations?
No probs with either of my two 12GS's.. Besides what has already been mentioned might it be worthwhile to make sure all the mounting bolts are properly torqued? Hope you find out what the issue is.
On cars anyway the halogen bulbs will blow sooner if the alternator is putting out too much (unregulated) voltage. Is your alt./batt. charging circuit OK?
Just blew my first bulb at 13500 miles. Replaced with a Sylvania. We'll see how long this one lasts. motoshane
I think the problem is likely caused by vibration. Check carefully around the headlight unit for anything just touching it, or loose. This includes any reflectors inside the headlight shell. Don't forget the area behind the instruments. either. Oh, I lost a low beam at around 10k miles and another at 31k miles. I will look mine over and see if I can find anything, but the interval that mine are lasting doesn't provide much of a sense of urgency.
I know my stock windshield at the highest setting touches the little tab on top of the high beam housing. Maybe this is the problem.
Just burned out my first PIAA Extreme White Plus H7 headlamp on my R1200GS in only four months. This occurred while riding home from the BMWMOA Rally in VT. Upon calling San Jose BMW, from whom I purchased said bulb, they advised that I should contact PIAA directly. Piaa stated that the bulb in question was for automobiles and that they would send me the bulb recommended for motorcycles and off road vehicles. By the way, I reinstalled the OEM bulb which has been in the bike for upwards of eight months and approximately 11,000 miles.
Had to replace the bulb on my 05 GS last month. The bulb lasted 2 years ~ 13K miles. Just about the same as the H4 bulbs in my 97 R1100RS. I replaced them just about every 12-15K or 24 months. Replaced the GS bulb with a Sylvania Silver Star. It looks brighter on the back of the garage wall. Maybe I will see those damn East Texas wild hogs 5 yards sooner!!!
Rookie question....since I've not had to replace one of these YET. Isn't the low beam lamp an H7? I also have Hella FF50's which I understand to also be an H7. Where do I buy these. If it is true that I have 3 of these then it seems like I should have one or two on the shelf...surely I'm going to blow one of them before long.