Low Beam on 2014 R1200RT

[ekonuk]

My bike has 23000 miles as of yesterday and my low beam bulb went again. This will be the third in one year. Any body else have the same problem? Seems to often to me. Something is not right. Cheers. :

 

[lkchris]

Everybody in the USA with a motorcycle newer than 1977 has this problem because USA regulation requires motorcycle headlights be always on.

Except for the 2005-2013 RTs, Euro versions have always had headlight on/off switches. That generation bikes had dual low beams to compensate. When DRL (daytime running lights) became mandatory for model year 2009 in Europe, the solution was separate LED units rather than always-on headlight low beams. Euro Wetheads have the angel eyes as DRLs, but that's inconveniently not enough for USA regulations.

USA still doesn't have a DRL requirement for cars, but Canada does, and cheapskate GM started the trend of having them on USA cars to rationalize north American production. VW, for one, followed, as must maintain the "safety" image. Earlier VWs have lots of burned out headlights, too, and of course GM owners are lucky if they aren't replacing bulbs before they get their permanent license plates.

 

[elgin mary]

bulbs

Everybody in the USA with a motorcycle newer than 1977 has this problem because USA regulation requires motorcycle headlights be always on.

Except for the 2005-2013 RTs, Euro versions have always had headlight on/off switches. That generation bikes had dual low beams to compensate. When DRL (daytime running lights) became mandatory for model year 2009 in Europe, the solution was separate LED units rather than always-on headlight low beams. Euro Wetheads have the angel eyes as DRLs, but that's inconveniently not enough for USA regulations.

USA still doesn't have a DRL requirement for cars, but Canada does, and cheapskate GM started the trend of having them on USA cars to rationalize north American production. VW, for one, followed, as must maintain the "safety" image. Earlier VWs have lots of burned out headlights, too, and of course GM owners are lucky if they aren't replacing bulbs before they get their permanent license plates.

That doesn't make much sense to me. I too have already replaced my low beam on my 2014 RT, only a year old. I rode previous bikes with headlights that were always on and seldom had to replace the bulb.

Seems to me its the bulb and not the regulation.

 

[exgman]

Does anyone know which brand and model of H7 55W bulb to use to get closer to the color temperature of the Angel Eyes?

 

[henzilla]

My bike has 23000 miles as of yesterday and my low beam bulb went again. This will be the third in one year. Any body else have the same problem? Seems to often to me. Something is not right. Cheers. :

My 05 RT used to go thru bulbs...found me being the culprit a few times by not cleaning the bulb from my oily hands on occasion fighting the bulb retainers. Started being way more careful with alcohol wipe and latex gloves and lo and behold...longer life for me. Also using OEM Osram bulbs, though expensive in their little BMW logoed box, instead of Sylvania Ultras seeemed to increase life...the bulb sockets were very brittle with any additional heat added.
23 K is a lot of hours, but does seem a bit frequent .

 

[strataj]

snip -23 K is a lot of hours, but does seem a bit frequent .

The original poster wrote he is on his 3rd bulb at 23K. Mine went out about 10k still working on that bulb (15K on the bike). Something is up with this bike and H7 bulbs, it eats them and since it's a pain to change it's bad.

Jay

 

[NowOrNever]

Does anyone know which brand and model of H7 55W bulb to use to get closer to the color temperature of the Angel Eyes?

I replaced the low beam on my 2014 RT after about 8K miles. I used the Phillips Diamond Vision (Ultimate White Light). It provides a nice white light that matches the LED Angel Eyes.