BMW K bikes (Bricks)


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1Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Changing a headlight bulb Mon Nov 18, 2013 8:59 am

Mike101

Mike101
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Yesterday i tried to change my headlight bulb for somehting a little brighter and also to learn how they come out.  I have always found that they blow at night in the middle of nowhere so i thought it a good idea i learnt how to do it.

I can get to the bulb, get the plug off the back and peel back the rubber boot but how the hell does the bulb come out.

I can't see any springs, clips or anything to move or flick or lever to get the thing out.

Also what is a good buld to put back in.  I have the standard H4 and i want somehting a bit better...any ideas please.

Mike


__________________________________________________
K100LT 1987 Gold and not Beige
XT660Z Tenere
    

2Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Mon Nov 18, 2013 9:47 am

dutchie

dutchie
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Hi Mike,

To replace the bulb:

1- Pull the connector off of the back of the bulb.

2- Pull off the rubber boot.

3- Remove the bulb. 

Earlier K bikes have a retainer ring that needs to be turned about 20 degrees counterclockwise to remove the bulb:
Later K bikes have a clip that you push in and pinch.  Then it rotates back and to the left.


Dick


__________________________________________________
K75RT 1996 Changing a headlight bulb Klettern
K100RT 1986
    

3Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Mon Nov 18, 2013 10:39 am

Brad-Man

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Mike:

Unless you put in a Bi-Xenon HID conversion kit (not sure if legal where you live), if you put in a more powerful H4 bulb I would put in a relay kit to avoid overheating your switch and wiring.

For that matter, putting a relay kit in may brighten you up, so I'd start with that, and see if you even need a higher wattage bulb.

Just a suggestion...

    

4Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Mon Nov 18, 2013 11:17 am

mike d

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1. Philips X-TremeVision
2. Ring Xenomax
3. GE Megalight Ultra +120
4. Osram Nightbreaker plus

All available in 55/60w H4, so no need to upgrade with relay switching (but you could do that as well!)


Mike

    

5Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Mon Nov 18, 2013 5:28 pm

sidecar paul

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Here's a pic of the retaining ring that dutchie mentioned, Mike 101


 Changing a headlight bulb Sam_0719

And +1 to the Philips X-TremeVision, mike d.Changing a headlight bulb 112350


__________________________________________________
'84 K100RS (0014643) (owned since '85), 86 K100RS (0018891) with Martello sidecar (built as an outfit in '88),
'51 Vincent (since '67),'72 Montesa Cota (from new), '87 Honda RS125R NF4 (bought 2015) 
....No CARS never ever!
    

6Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Tue Nov 19, 2013 5:57 am

Mike101

Mike101
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sidecar paul wrote:Here's a pic of the retaining ring that dutchie mentioned, Mike 101


 Changing a headlight bulb Sam_0719

And +1 to the Philips X-TremeVision, mike d.Changing a headlight bulb 112350
Thats the beastie i have...thanks.

I'll have another play this weekend.

Cheers all for the info. Again lots of good help on here.

Mike


__________________________________________________
K100LT 1987 Gold and not Beige
XT660Z Tenere
    

7Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Tue Nov 19, 2013 6:58 am

Rick G

Rick G
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Mike you will find them quite easy to get out if you have seven fingers with 4 universal knuckles in each finger.
If you don't meet those parrameters then have a ready supply of bandaids


__________________________________________________
"Man sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.
And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."   Dalai Lama


Bikes 1999 K1100 LT with a Big Block 1200
    

8Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Tue Nov 19, 2013 7:11 am

Arlina

Arlina
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Nowdays I take the window away, no matter manual or electric, gives me more space to change the bulb from above.
Also a good chance to replace the little bulb, I'm already there.

Once you found your own trick to replace, it's as easy as placing panniers  Cool

    

9Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Tue Nov 19, 2013 8:48 am

92KK 84WW Olaf

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For that matter, putting a relay kit in may brighten you up, so I'd start with that, and see if you even need a higher wattage bulb.

I agree with this one, it can make a big difference. I just got some ceramic bulb connectors and even that made a difference.


__________________________________________________
1992 K100LT 0193214 Bertha Blue 101,000 miles
1984 K100RT 0022575 Brutus Baja Red 578 bought 36,000 now 89,150 miles
1997 K1100LT 0188024 Wotan Mystic Red 689 58,645 now 106,950 miles Deceased.
1983 K100RS 0011157 Fricka 606 Alaska Blue 29,495 miles Damn K Pox Its a Bat outta Hell Now 58,200 miles. 
1996 K1100LT 0233004 Lohengrin Mystic Red 38,000 miles currently 51,800 miles.
1983 K100RS 0004449 Odette R100 colours 58,000 miles. Sprint fairing now 63,390 miles

Past:
1968 Yamaha 80 YG1
1971 Yamaha 125 YAS-1
1968 Honda 125 SS
1970 Honda CD 175
1973 Honda CB500-4
Honda CX 500
    

10Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:51 am

the.postman

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RicK G wrote:Mike you will find them quite easy to get out if you have seven fingers with 4 universal knuckles in each finger.
If you don't meet those parrameters then have a ready supply of bandaids
The dexterity of a gynecologist helps,

Deff. "GYNECOLOGIST"..a person who can decorate his hallway from through the letter-box. Laughing


__________________________________________________
1985 K100 RS   104EA49840092        #0081788     SILVERish (Madison) Prod. date 05/12/84
1984 srx 600
1986 cbr1000f/h
    

11Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Tue Nov 19, 2013 11:13 am

Mike101

Mike101
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Wheeldigger wrote:Nowdays I take the window away, no matter manual or electric, gives me more space to change the bulb from above.
Also a good chance to replace the little bulb, I'm already there.

Once you found your own trick to replace, it's as easy as placing panniers  Cool
Oh don't get me started on the panniers.  I have no idea how they went back on but they haven't fallen off yet so all's well.

Also the seem to have been made impossible to open in the dark with cold fingers.

Mike


__________________________________________________
K100LT 1987 Gold and not Beige
XT660Z Tenere
    

12Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Tue Nov 19, 2013 8:07 pm

AJ.Valente

AJ.Valente
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Here, my problem is with an old bulb not putting out sufficient light, and so will try one of the newer 60/55 bulbs.* If the electrical wiring is underperforming and the new bulb doesn't help then I'll move up to an Eastern Beaver solution. But, don't mind me, I've got enough on my plate already for this winter and need to stay focused on the job(s) at hand. 

*Recommended from other threads:
1. Philips X-TremeVision (highly rated on this forum)
2. Ring Xenomax
3. GE Megalight Ultra +120
4. Osram Nightbreaker plus


__________________________________________________
'98 K1200RS Marrakesh Red

My old K100 RT Pics and Mods
    

13Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Tue Nov 19, 2013 9:46 pm

duck

duck
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If for no other reason, I'd do HL relays/beefed up wiring just to improve the switch longevity and get more voltage to the headlight.

I run high watt (130/90) cheapos from China (w/ 14 AWG wiring from relays) and they do amazingly well for $4 each.

A few of the K bikes I've purchased have had 60/55 Osram H4s which are noticeably better at night.

The factory wiring is wimpy and halogen technology from 1985 is a bit dated these days.  Kind of like walking in front of a horse with a candle.


__________________________________________________
Current stable:
86 Custom K100 (standard fairing, K75 Belly pan, Ceramic chromed engine covers, paralever)
K75 Frankenbrick (Paralever, K11 front end, hybrid ABS, K1100RS fairing, radial tires)
86 K75C Turbo w/ paralever
94 K1100RS
93 K1100LT
91 K1
93 K75S (K11 front end)
91 K75S (K1 front end)
14 Yamaha WR250R
98 Taxi Cab K1200RS
14 K1600GT
http://www.ClassicKBikes.com
    

14Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:04 pm

Rick G

Rick G
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They arent as bad as the old Lucas (prince of darkness) lights where you had to turn then on and off a few times to be able to tell if they were actually working.


__________________________________________________
"Man sacrifices his health in order to make money.
Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health.
And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived."   Dalai Lama


Bikes 1999 K1100 LT with a Big Block 1200
    

15Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:22 pm

frogy

frogy
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+1 on Eastern Beaver Relays. It is heavy duty-plug and play.
When my bulb burns out I might try one of them new fangled LED bulbs. Shocked

    

16Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:04 pm

Two Wheels Better

Two Wheels Better
Moderator
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I bit the bullet and popped a very bright and white PIAA 'extreme white' globe into my RT. It and the 11.9" LED strip below the headlight brighten my passage through the darkness quite well. In comparo to the wimpy and yellowy output of the Osram halogen I can now see and am now seen. Doesn't mean the buggers don't still cut me off!

Why PIAA when they cost so much and are often so fragile? There's bennies to working in the biz. I'm not paying retail.


__________________________________________________
"A long ride is the answer to a question you will soon forget!" ~ Anonymous
1977 R75/7-100, '93 K11/K12 Big Block, '93 K1100RS, '95 R100 Mystic, '96 K1100RS, 2 x '98 K1200RS, '06 K1200R & '09 K1300GT
    

17Back to top Go down   Changing a headlight bulb Empty Re: Changing a headlight bulb Tue Dec 31, 2013 3:14 am

Sunnyk75

Sunnyk75
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+1 on new relay kit. I ended up beefing up with an Eastern Beaver relay kit as well but it was because my headlight switch suffered the plastic meltdown and I could not go between low beam to high beam without the light cutting out. Unfortunately, when one is riding out on the open road and one or two seconds of total blackness before the high beam engages makes for some real adventurous riding.

Running the new relay kit, replacing a new H4 bulb, after figuring out how to remove the old bulb as described in the above reply on removal of the metal retaining ring, was hugely satisfying when I noticed the circuit really pumped up the light intensity to a noticeable difference even on low beam.

Good luck with the replacement.

Sunny

    

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