High Beam Troubleshooting

[reesedp]

So the high beams are not working.  Fuse is good. High beam indicator still lights up.  I read in some other posts that it is possible for the lights to have BOTH burned out at the same time or that I didnt notice that one had burned out until both did.  As a final test before buying new bulbs, how about swapping the identical low and high beam relays to eliminate them? 

[VirginiaJim]

Buy one bulb and see if that works.   Do you generally run with the high beams on?

[MAN OF BLUES]

..... As a final test before buying new bulbs, how about .....

uh.... pull the bulbs out and look at them.......??
I mean it ain't rocket science here.... if the filaments are intact check the grip switch, they tend to short in the housing when subjected to intense water ingress.... spray some wd-40 in there and work it back and forth.

relays on this bike don't fail.... of course yours may have.

Keep it simple.

[chap]

If the Hi Beam indicator is coming on your switch is fine. All it can be is Bulbs, Relay, Light sockets, or the wires are burnt up. My bet is the bulbs.

[maxtog]

I read in some other posts that it is possible for the lights to have BOTH burned out at the same time

I suppose that is possible, but it seems unlikely.  Since the high beams are used so much less than low beams, one would think at least one low beam would burn out first.  I suppose anything is possible, though.

[B.D.F.]

Yep, I think you already diagnosed it.

Next, I like Jim's idea best- buy one bulb and see if that works. Then again, buy two bulbs and they can sit on the shelf if you don't need them- they won't go bad like lettuce does :-)  Of course if you are really, really serious about avoiding purchasing a bulb(s), you could always go to a Concours (or FJR or any one of dozens of other bikes- H4 headlights are really quite common) gathering and steal borrow a couple of headlight bulbs from the bikes in the parking lot. It would be best to wait until very late at night and wear dark clothes but if you just cannot stay up late, just get near the bike you want to steal borrow the bulbs from, point away and scream "Hey, is that ELVIS?" and grab the bulb(s) while everyone looks for Elvis.....

It is possible that it is something else but not likely IMO or experience. Headlight bulbs on motorcycles don't have the longest possible lifespan, even on modern bikes that don't vibrate as much as older bikes tended to do.

Brian

So the high beams are not working.  Fuse is good. High beam indicator still lights up.  I read in some other posts that it is possible for the lights to have BOTH burned out at the same time or that I didnt notice that one had burned out until both did.  As a final test before buying new bulbs, how about swapping the identical low and high beam relays to eliminate them?

[VirginiaJim]

 

[reesedp]

I, have a, confession to make...  I knew that it was the bulbs...  It's just that, owning one of the first ones, I hadnt really had anything go wrong in a while.  And I missed you guys...  Brian. Jim. Max. Zg...  I stood close to the bike the other day looking at the burned out bulbs, and I think it was KiPass that made me lightheaded and to feel like I just needed to POST SOMETHING!!!  SOMETHING THAT WOULD ADD MEANING to an otherwise... Sigh...

Not really.  I just went out and the high beam filaments that the Army recommends I use during daylight hours were done.  Went to the parts store and now theyre fine.  Lots of good reading though.

REALLY liked the Elvis suggestion though!!

[VirginiaJim]

Glad to hear from you as well!

[Gabriel]

I run my lights on bright always during the day, it helps.

[maxtog]

I run my lights on bright always during the day, it helps.

Yep, it helps to blind people and make others LESS likely to know exactly where you are and how fast you are moving and obscure your turn signals.  But whatever.

 

[B.D.F.]

Hey, it works in stores too but you have to run faster once you grab the merchandise. Then again it is NEW merchandise so it might be worth it?

Brian

<snip>

REALLY liked the Elvis suggestion though!!

[Conrad]

Yep, it helps to blind people and make others LESS likely to know exactly where you are and how fast you are moving and obscure your turn signals.  But whatever.

 

Max, is this one of those posts of yours that we can safely ignore?   

[Cuda]

Headlight Modulator is what I like, It really gets peoples attention, they move out of the way 

Also have white Hyper lights front next to rearview mirrors , red and amber Hyper-lights rear.


And a VERY HYPER dog

[maxtog]

Max, is this one of those posts of yours that we can safely ignore?   

Absolutely not.  It is one thing to do something to oneself or one's own property, it is different when that choice is inflicted on others.

[VirginiaJim]

It's a personal opinion and Max is entitled to espouse (word of the day) his sentiments on the subject as we all are.  I've gone back and forth on using the high beams.  People certainly get out of my way in the left lane of the interstate when I run them but as a cage driver I can't tell if they're turning as I can't see the turn signals at all.  Currently I am not riding with the high beams on.  That may change tomorrow though, as I'm extremely fickle.

[gPink]

I'm with Max on this one.

[PH14]

I will ride with high beams on a bike with only one light that uses one bulb so there is less of a chance the low beam would burn out before the high beam. Other than that, I don't, unless I feel like it, or not. 

[martin_14]

I will ride with high beams on a bike with only one light that uses one bulb so there is less of a chance the low beam would burn out before the high beam. Other than that, I don't, unless I feel like it, or not.

that was enlightening, PH14. Thanks!

On a serious note: I'm too with Max on this one. High beams increase you visibility in a way that can be achieved by other means more effectively and more efficiently, and it sure effectively and stupidly annoys other road users.