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R 1200 GS/GSA : Headlight Alternative

Peter

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  • "Peter" started this thread

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Motorbike: R1200GS-07

Mileage: 47,000 km

Location: Singapore

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Wednesday, June 20th 2007, 2:49pm

Headlight Alternative

In my opinion the GS's headlight unit is poor and not adequate for this bike. Has anyone ever seen an exchange headlight unit?

  1. At around 15,000 km on average the GS mainlight bulb is done. Did you know the H7 bulb's life span is less than 50 % of the life span compared to a similar H4 bulb? (*update: see post below)

  2. The ball joints do disengage too easily. If this happened, the friendly BMW dealer will prescribe you a new headlight. Costs is ~ Euro 300. Another choice is to fiddle the joints back together yourself. (also check here: Ball joints in the headlight assembly popped out )

  3. If the center adjustment screw is set more onto the tight side (e.g. if the rider is heavy), and then the flip lever set to the 'pillion' position, the resulting tension will overstretch the adjusting mechanism, and as a result the adjustment rod will break. No warning about what will be too much. With a broken rod the headlight will illuminate the trees along your area, but not the road ahead. The medicine for this sickness is the same as above, because there is no way for repairing this.

  4. The light output is not contemporary. I mean - I beg you pardon, BMW - a single 55 Watts H7 light for a motorcycle which runs 200 kph, and 0 - 100 kph in less than 4 seconds ... ?


It is a surprising bad choice, considering that BMW traditionally wants to set high standards in terms of safety. Lights are one of the most important safety items. What is wrong with a double H4 headlight?
Peter .PEOPLE WHO HAVE VISIONS SHOULD GO TO SEE THEIR DOCTOR

drmajor

Too Many Roads, Too Little Time

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Location: Charleston, SC

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Monday, July 23rd 2007, 12:30am

RE: Headlight Alternative

http://bestrestproducts.com/celestia/products/lighting/
These might work for you. I am considering them for my 1150 GSA.

I haven't called them yet, but there were some issues with higher wattage bulbs on the older RTs. Seems some melted the housing..

If that is an issue, the HID is the way to go and their prices have fallen.

Some times I don't like the HID High Beam as HID takes a little time to come up and that keeps you from using the HIGH as a flash to on coming cars.
David Major
Charleston, SC
'02 GSA, '03 LT

Peter

Candyman

  • "Peter" started this thread

Posts: 1,053

Motorbike: R1200GS-07

Mileage: 47,000 km

Location: Singapore

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3

Wednesday, September 10th 2008, 2:04pm

The source of the following data is the German Osram website. In many parts of the world Osram is known under the name Silvana. Both bulbs are comparable OEM quality.

Osram H7 (product code 64210L)
B3 at test voltage 13,2 V : 450 h
Tc at test voltage 13,2 V : 930 h

Osram H4 (product code 64193L)
B3 at test voltage 13,2 V : 1100 h
Tc at test voltage 13,2 V : 2400 h

B3 = the time when 3 % of test bulbs had failed
Tc = the time when 63.2 % of the test bulbs had failed
Peter .PEOPLE WHO HAVE VISIONS SHOULD GO TO SEE THEIR DOCTOR

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