question about gs500f headlight... there are two bulbs...

cheesy · April 23, 2005, 02:04:58 AM

Okay... there are two bulbs... one is the 'normal' h3 (I think?) bulb... then below it there is a smaller bulb... maybe a 194 or something... really small. WTF is that bulb for?

davipu · April 23, 2005, 02:14:01 AM

wtf are you talking about?

cheesy · April 23, 2005, 02:43:44 AM

http://www.parl.clemson.edu/~mspeth/personal/pictures/gs500F/farring_damage/front.png

see how there is a smaller bulb underneath the large one? WTF is it for?

starwalt · April 23, 2005, 07:09:19 AM

Quote from: cheesy....see how there is a smaller bulb underneath the large one? WTF is it for?

TF it is for is this. When your ignition key is in the "P" position (if you have a "P" position on the switch), the small bulb illuminates as well as the tail light. This is a "Park" or "Position" feature. The general idea is to provide some visibility, at night, to the bike if it is on the side of the road for some reason.

I refer to this as the "P - stands for push start your bike when you forget to turn this off" feature.

This is referred to on the schematics as a "side" light or "position" light. Most of the USA models I have seen do not have the bulb but do have the wiring. The schematics for the 04+ US model do not show the position light. Have you actually pulled the lamp from the mount to verify it is there? Is this an original US model?

R U in Clemson? And finally, were you taking this bike to the Suz store in Anderson for a "noise" it was making? If so, I sat on it to get a feel for the difference between my 90 and the 04.

raylarrabee · April 23, 2005, 07:30:33 AM

Clemson class of '99 here

I wish I'd had the bike down there--millions of cool places to ride around there. The Road up to Bald Rock/Ceaser's Head would be amazing.

Phaedrus · April 23, 2005, 07:45:34 AM

I have an 04 F and have the main bulb and the little bulb under it also. Never really gave it much thought though. :lol: Now I know what it does!

starwalt · April 23, 2005, 07:56:36 AM

Quote from: raylarrabeeClemson class of '99 here...I wish I'd had the bike down there--millions of cool places to ride around there. The Road up to Bald Rock/Ceaser's Head would be amazing.

Small planet eh? The ride to Balsom Grove, NC on NC-215 was made for two wheels. This is a super part of these United States to enjoy the twisties. It is on my list of things to do.

starwalt · April 23, 2005, 08:02:43 AM

Quote from: PhaedrusI have an 04 F and have the main bulb and the little bulb under it also. Never really gave it much thought though. Now I know what it does!

I checked the 04 shematic again...the bulb does not show on the US model so this must be a mid run change or a screw up by someone new on the assembly line. Mercedes autos often have that feature so that while parked on the street, it gives the vehicle visibility.

My wife and I were having dinner in downtown Anderson with another couple. I drive a Dodge fleet vehicle, they were in their 2003 M-Benz sedan

. Someone walked into the restaurant and announced there was an M-Benz parked with funny light on. :lol:

Just seems like a feature for the sake of having a feature to me. Why stop there? Why not have it flash "S-E-E--M-E" in morse code?

Phaedrus · April 23, 2005, 10:48:24 AM

Is it possible that those of us with the weird little bulb have non US models? I bought mine brand new from a Suzuki dealer in Upstate NY. Could it be a Canadian model? Or..?

starwalt · April 23, 2005, 12:33:25 PM

Quote from: PhaedrusIs it possible that those of us with the weird little bulb have non US models? I bought mine brand new from a Suzuki dealer in Upstate NY. Could it be a Canadian model? Or..?

I have no knowledge of how these things are distributed. Some markets would have features required by the motor vehicle laws, i.e. California bikes vs the other 49 states. It could be that Suzuki found it better to put the feature on the bike, charge more and have less to keep up with rather than worry they sent the wrong bike to the wrong market. :dunno:

davipu · April 23, 2005, 01:39:19 PM

I guess I should have read the title first, but on Starwalt's last note, it is cheeper to make them all the same than to take something off

Eklipse · April 23, 2005, 02:14:20 PM

It's just a little peanut bulb. The same kind that goes in the instrument lights and speedometer.

I changed it to an amber bulb and got 8000K Xenon color H4 from Ebay. I think it looks nice.

It pulls out from the back under the head light.

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question about gs500f headlight... there are two bulbs...

davipu

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