F model headlight.

[Its Just Me]

The smaller marker light in the headlight assembly, the one below the actual headlamp on my bike keeps burning out.  I've just been replacing it with ones from Canadian Tire but they only last a couple of days,  not sure why.  Just wondering what others have replaced theirs with... I'm tempted to just go to stealership to get one at an inflated price. 

Any ideas as to why it keeps blowing.  I make sure not to get it greasy with my hands, could it be vibration???  When I take the old one (if you can call them old) they are burnt black on the glass of the bulb.

[can_rizla+.]

Make sure you don't touch the bulb...the natural oils form your hand will warm up and some how decrease the life of the bulb. If you have a volt meter make sure the proper voltage is going through, you may have too much. Also i have been looking around for an LED replacement, im trying to change all my bulbs to hyper yellow...so....keep an eye out for the LED bulbs...as an alternative.

[sledge]

Not putting a 6v one in are you?

[Kasumi]

Your problem is defiantly not faulty bulbs its either the wrong bulb or bad wiring, bad voltage to the bulb causing it to "burn out" which is why it is black on the inside. Don't worry about touching the bulb so long as you have reasonable clean hands. The myth about touching bulbs is just an over exaggeration in my own experience it doesn't make any difference.

[starwalt]

I do agree with Kasumi that the problem is either the wrong lamp (probably) or the wrong voltage (not likely unless you have been fiddling with the wiring).

I disagree that skin oil on high wattage halogen lamps is a myth. If, in fact, the lamp is not a halogen, you could pee on it, when cold, and it won't care. Depending on how long you've held your water, you might just get the amber color can_rizla+ is looking for. 

Get an OEM bulb and see if it makes a difference.

BULB (12V 5W) 09471-12216

[Its Just Me]

No they're not 6V and I've always felt the whole touching bulbs bit was a tad exaggerated also.  I don't really care that its out, but I'm feeling a bit vulnerable since its dark when I go to work in the morning and not impressed with the idea of the head lamp blowing and left with no lighting at all on the front.  I'll try a light from Suzuki and see if it lasts longer and will post it up here... just in case.

[sledge]

Yo Doug, nice to seeya mate. What are your view on peeing on spark-plugs?? hahahah

just me?
Before the bulb pops are the headlights flickering on tickover, or going brighter as the revs increase? If so it indicates a problem with the reg/rect.

[starwalt]

Yo Doug, nice to seeya mate. What are your view on peeing on spark-plugs?? hahahah
just me?

Good Evening Sledge! It is good to be seen and not visited. 

The secret is sphincter control.
Pulse. Stop. Pulse. Stop. Repeat until the bladder is empty.
That way you don't make a conductive path. 

When I was a kid, I tried to turn a lawn mower off by pulling the HV lead to the plug.
It only took one experience to convince me it was a bad idea. 

Oh yeah, he might want to try your idea also. There should be little or no change in the headlamp intensity with a fully charged health battery and a correctly operating reg/rect system.

[sledge]

hahah nice one doug.