The Yellow Headlight

Topics related to the ownership, maintenance, equipping, operation, and riding of the R1200R.

Moderator: Moderators

User avatar
Lost Rider
Basic User
Posts: 1629
Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 1:31 am
Donating Member #: 514
Location: Ventura County, California
Contact:

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by Lost Rider »

Cool!

I was wondering how it was going for others that wanted to swap.

I've had a few more night rides with the yellow lamp and have to say I'm pleased and see no problem for night time travel.
Matter of fact I like the color quite a bit at night.
Get Lost!
User avatar
Rrider
Member
Posts: 207
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:23 pm
Donating Member #: 744
Location: Austin, TX

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by Rrider »

Just put mine in too. Looks like plenty of yellow comes through.
07 Black R1200R
User avatar
Rrider
Member
Posts: 207
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:23 pm
Donating Member #: 744
Location: Austin, TX

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by Rrider »

I'm happy with the one yellow bulb in the low beam socket.


Image
07 Black R1200R
User avatar
Rrider
Member
Posts: 207
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:23 pm
Donating Member #: 744
Location: Austin, TX

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by Rrider »

It's good to hear it works ok at night too.
07 Black R1200R
nylife
Lifer
Posts: 476
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 9:37 am
Donating Member #: 956
Location: Brooklyn, NY

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by nylife »

yep thats what i did just a low beam for now to see how it will work, sorry to ask again who knows what is the model of that tiny parking bulb in there?
Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects handlebars to the saddle.
2009 R12R
User avatar
Lost Rider
Basic User
Posts: 1629
Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 1:31 am
Donating Member #: 514
Location: Ventura County, California
Contact:

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by Lost Rider »

The manual says W5W / 12v / 5 w for the parking lamp, hope that helps.


That makes sense with only using low beam, seems like a logical compromise. I only tried yellow in high with low white, wasn't yellow enough for me.

Glad you folks are happy with the optional look.
Get Lost!
cycl2day
Member
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:54 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: The Berkshires

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by cycl2day »

We change headlight bulbs for two reasons, to be seen better and to see better. The yelow bulbs are better for them to see you but are they better for you to better see the road?? Or is the bright white bulb better for that?
User avatar
Lost Rider
Basic User
Posts: 1629
Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 1:31 am
Donating Member #: 514
Location: Ventura County, California
Contact:

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by Lost Rider »

Well, I believe that most would agree the yellow light helps you be seen better, as for seeing the road, I don't believe it's any less of illumination, just a different color. Reflective signs and road markings reflect yellow.
I feel just as safe while traveling at high speeds on the freeway and back roads at night with seeing far enough down the road to be safe with the yellow lights. That part didn't change for me when I swapped lamps.
It's still too subjective as our eyes are all different, I have 20/10 eyesight with good night vision. Just had an eye test last month and started with the companies copyright under the bottom row at the bottom of the test. :D


The good thing is this mod is pretty cheap and easily reversed if you don't feel the same as I. Give it a try. :)
Get Lost!
nylife
Lifer
Posts: 476
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 9:37 am
Donating Member #: 956
Location: Brooklyn, NY

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by nylife »

Lost Rider wrote:The manual says W5W / 12v / 5 w for the parking lamp, hope that helps.


That makes sense with only using low beam, seems like a logical compromise. I only tried yellow in high with low white, wasn't yellow enough for me.

Glad you folks are happy with the optional look.

yes it does, thinking of this
http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Automotive-S ... 936&sr=1-2
Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects handlebars to the saddle.
2009 R12R
Caroanbill
Lifer
Posts: 547
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:29 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by Caroanbill »

Where's Don E? There's quite a school of thought to say that yellow is actually better for night vision than white (and yellow-ish white is better that blue-ish white). Don used to be a dab hand at posting those articles and links .. couldn't find them in a search.

It is amusing to see yellow coming back after blue-white got to be soooo fashionable.
#584 Crystal Grey tour-farkelled Vespa GTS250 PX150
xF650CS R1150RS R80 K1100LT R65LS K100RT
User avatar
mogu83
Lifer
Posts: 1695
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:40 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Harry Costello Jersey Shore, NJ

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by mogu83 »

Caroanbill wrote: It is amusing to see yellow coming back after blue-white got to be soooo fashionable.
That was my thought also. Well you guys in the far South are going into your winter season while us up here are heading toward our riding season so hash it out and let us know in September.
Harry Costello -- Jersey Shore
2007 R1200R
1974 + 75 CB125S
1971 R75
2020 Guzzi V85TT
BMWMOA 57358
User avatar
BLAIR1200R
Basic User
Posts: 113
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:45 pm
Location: Aledo, Texas

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by BLAIR1200R »

nylife wrote:...... sorry to ask again who knows what is the model of that tiny parking bulb in there?
I think this is the bulb you're looking for to go "all yellow" -->
http://www.piaa.com/automotive-bulbs/mini-wedge.html
bLaIr1200R
2012 Grey Matt R1200R
"The universe rings true wherever you fairly test it."
nylife
Lifer
Posts: 476
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 9:37 am
Donating Member #: 956
Location: Brooklyn, NY

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by nylife »

Yellow headlight update.
So i decided to update the little wedge bulb as well and here are the results
Image
and both on together
Image

happy with result and being more visible, next step is BMW supplemental brake light
Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects handlebars to the saddle.
2009 R12R
User avatar
Rrider
Member
Posts: 207
Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2007 12:23 pm
Donating Member #: 744
Location: Austin, TX

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by Rrider »

Looks great. I'll post a photo of my Swedish yellow cover when it arrives!
07 Black R1200R
User avatar
Lost Rider
Basic User
Posts: 1629
Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 1:31 am
Donating Member #: 514
Location: Ventura County, California
Contact:

More Yellow Headlight happytime

Post by Lost Rider »

Image
Get Lost!
User avatar
abambach
Quadruple Lifer
Posts: 28
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2011 8:52 pm
Donating Member #: 992
Location: Dallas, TX

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by abambach »

nylife, the link you posted is for a 12v 5w bulb. do you have the link for the driving lights? thanks
--------------------------------
2009 R1200R
deilenberger
Honorary Lifer
Posts: 4210
Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 9:21 pm
Donating Member #: 0
Location: New Jersey USA
Contact:

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by deilenberger »

For the little wedge light - visit any big-box auto parts store. Commonly used for sidemarker lights (a bit more orange then yellow, but close enough for government work..) About $0.49/each.
Don Eilenberger - NJ Shore
2012 R1200R - I love this bike!
nylife
Lifer
Posts: 476
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 9:37 am
Donating Member #: 956
Location: Brooklyn, NY

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by nylife »

abambach wrote:nylife, the link you posted is for a 12v 5w bulb. do you have the link for the driving lights? thanks
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064F ... 00_details
Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects handlebars to the saddle.
2009 R12R
Bamblys
Basic User
Posts: 95
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:45 pm
Donating Member #: 1
Location: Chicago, IL

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by Bamblys »

I always thought that yellow light was made for the use in fog. If you add yellow fog lights to your car you can see the difference right a way.
User avatar
mogu83
Lifer
Posts: 1695
Joined: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:40 am
Donating Member #: 0
Location: Harry Costello Jersey Shore, NJ

Re: The Yellow Headlight

Post by mogu83 »

I was talking with a police friend about yellow lights and he came up with this out of the notebook he carries:

39:3-50.Color of lights,.
39:3-50. All lamps and reflectors, which display a light visible from directly in front of a vehicle as authorized by this subtitle, shall exhibit lights substantially white, yellow or amber in color.

(a) The color of light emitted or reflected by exterior lamps or reflectors on a vehicle shall be as follows, except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this section:

White when the lamp is a headlamp, or spot lamp, or illuminates a license plate or a destination sign; or is located on the outside limit of a side car or other attachment on a motor cycle;
Substantially white or amber when the lamp is a side-cowl or fender lamp, running-board or other courtesy lamp, front parking lamp, back-up lamp, auxiliary driving lamp; or a turn signal on or facing the front;


It went on to explain where amber and red lamps are allowed. He said he most likely wouldn't issue a ticket for just a yellow headlight but if he did a stop for speeding or something else and the driver had an attitude he might throw in a violation for lights just as an extra bonus.

BTW: This is New Jersey Motor Vehicle Code Title 39 the basis for all NJ motor vrehicle laws. Your state may be different.
Harry Costello -- Jersey Shore
2007 R1200R
1974 + 75 CB125S
1971 R75
2020 Guzzi V85TT
BMWMOA 57358
Post Reply