Twin headlight warning

fac191

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I think most of the time what actually happens is that the first bulb has blown a while back and gone unnoticed. Later the second one blows and suddenly no light at all. That’s when both are found blown out and a natural assumption is they both went out together. That scenario is probably quite rare.


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Lol if you can tell when 1 light goes out on this bike you must be eating carrots for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
 

Checkswrecks

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How about LED bulbs? Are they more resistant to blowing than conventional bulbs?
Usually yes by a lot, once they get past infant mortality. Heat and excessive voltage can kill them pretty fast though.

Tungsten filament bulbs are an analog device, in that when you apply more power resistance makes them hotter.

LEDs are a solid state device like any other diode or transistor and more of the current goes into light, so they run cooler, which helps them last longer. Electrons hit a semiconductor that is designed to have a controlled amount of leakage relating to the light desired. Too much heat or voltage basically increases the leakage at a certain and sudden point and can burn them out.
 

Sierra1

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I also think that little "high beam" cut off devise reflects heat back at the bulb when you have it on "low beam". More heat. . . . less life.
 
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RonH

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I think they get a certain amount of miles/hours they eventually are prone to failure from vibration more than a new bulb, so one big jolt you may feel was no big deal can cause both bulbs to go out the same time. GL1800 uses the exact same bulb and lots of them go out the same time also according to guys on that forum.
That being said, I've never had both go out the same time. I replace one at a time, but usually the second one will fail whithin a couple thousand miles.
Guys recommend replace both the same time generally. I kind of think replacing one at a time works better, as if one is significantly older than the other, even a couple thousand miles, the chance of both failing the same time is much less.
 

Sierra1

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. . . . Guys recommend replace both the same time generally. I kind of think replacing one at a time works better, . . . .
CW mentioned filament aging. I always replace both bulbs, but keep the old one. Then. . . . the next time a bulb burns out. . . . I replace it with the previously saved bulb. On average, it'll be close in condition to the remaining bulb. . . . reducing the volt/amp differential. And, I'm not throwing out bulbs that are still working. "Waste not, want not".
 

PhilPhilippines

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Agree ^^^ I replace them one at a time, to avoid having them both burn out on the same ride. I’m always checking for a burned bulb, looking at my reflection from the vehicle in front of me when stopped in traffic, and quite noticeable to see my light pattern when riding into my garage.
Agreed. A pre-ride/drive check takes little time to complete.

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Static and moving brake test, frequent lights and instrument checks along the way.

As an instructor in the UK, I always carried a selection of bulbs in my car and all regular students knew where they were and how to change them. It never happened, but if a bulb had blown in a driving test, a few minutes are allowed for the candidate to change a blown bulb and complete the test.
 

Dshane

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Speaking of bulbs....does anyone replace those little lights above the headlights? If so, is it a PIA?
 

bimota

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Speaking of bulbs....does anyone replace those little lights above the headlights? If so, is it a PIA?
i,ve done it a few times to put leds in there to match the novosight leds, but had to remove headlight to get at them its not that hard to do screen off the black triangle under the screen off, then the headlight cover off 4 bolts plus 4 bolts for headlight and pull out easy enough

rob
 
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Hello folks,
Just a general heads-up after a recent hiccup.
Went to visit family one winter evening last week.
On starting up to come home, both headlamps blew instantly.
I assumed it was a fuse, as the likelihood of both bulbs going was slim (I thought).
Allen key and side panel off. Fuse ok. NOTE- Single fuse supplies headlamp relay and both headlamps and the dip shield solenoids.
Got both lamps out and sure enough, both blown.
Never occurred to me that they would both go together, so wasn't carrying a spare.
These are single filament bulbs with a shield to provide a dip beam, so no backup if they both blow. Poor design thinking.
I had to follow my sisters vehicle back home. Lucky this didn't happen in the middle of Rannoch Moor.
I now carry spare bulbs. You should too !
rgds Alan
I had mine both blow on me a few months ago. First the right one popped while out on a ride and then the left one the next day. It wasn't just the filament that blew either, it was the actual bulb, the pop was audible through my helmet and while at idle. I assumed the first went due to the heat (it was a scorcher) and the second went because it was handling the current meant for two bulbs, but I've since upgraded to LEDs and they seem to be running trouble-free.
 

Checkswrecks

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CW mentioned filament aging. I always replace both bulbs, but keep the old one. Then. . . . the next time a bulb burns out. . . . I replace it with the previously saved bulb. On average, it'll be close in condition to the remaining bulb. . . . reducing the volt/amp differential. And, I'm not throwing out bulbs that are still working. "Waste not, want not".
That's exactly what do too.
 

SparrowHawkxx

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Speaking of bulbs....does anyone replace those little lights above the headlights? If so, is it a PIA?
I had one go out at 89,500 miles.
I replaced both bulbs and so far, have 25,000 miles on this second set.

It was easier to replace than what I thought it was going to be.
My windshield was on the high position so I was able pull the headlight assembly out the front without removing it, as per the instructions in the Owners Manual.

See the thread below for what I did. There is also some info in the thread on led replacements:
Auxiliary Light Bulb Replacement Option - Reply #16
 
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