Headlight bulb life? Sources?

XJers:

Not sure if my little Seca uses the same bulb as your bikes, but anyway...

I bought my bike in March. The light worked when I picked it up, but when I got it home, high beam was blown. I assumed it was from bouncing on the trailer for 800-900 miles.

I replaced the bulb, and since putting the bike on the road in July, have ridden about 1,600 miles.

Yesterday I came home in the rain, and met my wife in the car at the end of our street. She informed me when I pulled up that the light wasn't working. And I had been counting on it to help make me visible! (The high-beam indicator was on, but evidently that doesn't mean that the light is actually on.)

High-beam is blown again.

Is a couple of months and 1,600 miles normal life for a bulb?

Are they a dealer-only part or are "generics" available elsewhere?

Thanks,
Herb

 

ve ridden my bike 6000 miles since i bought it in february, and havent replaced a bulb on it. If the high beam indicator is on, then you have some funky electrical gremlins is my bet. i was having some funky problems with fuses, and the like due to my switch ending up half way between high and low. And when that happened my high beam indicator would never come on, thats how i could be certain my light was working... i would check a wiring diagram and then if possible trace all wires involved in the high beam circuit, check there resistance, and look for possible corrosion.

 

My 750 seca uses the same bulb that is used in some cars, the last bulb I bought was frm NAPA. I was having a problem where my bulb was blowing (literally exploded) whenver it would rain. It turns out the seal around the headlight was bad so after a silicon seal job in a KFC parking lot it is fine.

 

I've got a sealed 7" round Halogen headlight in my Maxim -- it's been there for about 12 years and some 30,000 kms (~19,000 miles).
Still going.....

 

Herb, your in luck. Assuming you have the H-4 bulb, replacements are readily available. If it is the sealed beam, you might have to look a little further toward the bottom shelf (they are an older design, most folks are getting away from them). The bulbs for a car will work fine on your bike. May I suggest the Wagner line from NAPA (or other stores that I don't know about). My wife's Passat used to blow the stupid headlight bulb religiously on the passengers side. The stealership charged us $20 for a new Sylvania/Osram replacement which would last 20,000 miles, more or less (replaced it 3 times). Bought the Wagner, $10, and it is still going 50K later. I believe they make a heavier element, perfect for these applications. I would also suggest you examine the headlight bucket and make sure it isn't loose, vibration kills the bulbs.

 

Even it only lasts for the season ... I popped for the Sylvania SilverStar. Now I can see Highway Signs down the road ... instead of having to stop and shine a flashlight on them. The stock bulb "Glows YELLOW" ... the SilverStar is WHITE !!! By golly ... I could pull-over and actually read a map, now, if I had to ...

I also changed-over all my instrument lights to the blue bulb. MUCH easier on the eyes at night ... no trouble seeing the instruments ... night vision dramatically increased ... and, that Euro-lighting effect is wicked-cool.

 

Robert:

I'm not sure my baby Seca uses the same bulb as the larger bikes.
On Motogrid, my bulb lists for $21.90, while one for an '82 XJ750RJ is only $9.03! May just be a quirk of pricing for the same type bulb, but not sure...

At least my dealer is only charging me $12.99 for the bulb. But they have to order them, so I guess I better buy a couple to keep on hand.

The Yamaha part number is 11H-84314-00-XX. Can anybody cross-reference that number to see if it matches anything else?

I guess I just need to take my old bulb to NAPA and see if they can match it. I was just trying to save some time and steps.

Thanks for all the replies!

Herb

 

Take your bulb to NAPA, they should be able to match it up. Good luck!