I think this applies to all the 1200s. My illumination festoon bulb blew I think its cos the thing bounces around alot when driving. Beware when removing the clear plastic lens it just shatters, if you have to do it try warming with a hairdryer first. I replaced the filament bulb with an LED one from Halfrauds, that should withstand the shakes better. Can only buy in pairs though, at least I can carry a spare.
Out of interest , have you fixed the rear end with washers/shims to remove the rear end bounce ? I have noticed many people do this. Whilst it is an option I am considering, I have not done it yet as I would imagine it's designed to do so for a reason. Could well be to preserve the filament in the rear bulbs ?
No i havent done that, im the same as you in thinking it is probably better to leave it as designed, hopefully the LED festoon bulb will last longer than the original did (about 5000 miles).
The earlier bikes had a verrrry loose fixing, there were new thicker washers made to take up some of the slack, I thought that all later bikes were fitted with these as standard.
The bikes may be better than the earlier ones catweazle, but the rear still jumps around. Hopefully the LED replacement bulb will last longer.
Jeee-zzzusss what fun they must have had laughing at the poor schmucks like us who would try to replace that number plate light bulb with the tail unit still on the bike! It took me HOURS of fiddling trying to get it to locate between those spring clips! Finally did it by making a tool out of a bent and cut tweezers with the tips wrapped in insulating tape so as not to break the bulb. F*ck it was a pain!!!
I noticed mine has been replaced with an R&G LED strip from another tail tidy by the previous owner. Doesn't quit fit upon close inspection but does the job even if it does look a bit bodge
Yeap - it's easier to drop the rear number plate / mudguard assembly to change the bulb. While it's off you can sort out the floppy indicators or even change them for LED replacements - there was a thread on this a couple of years ago.
Best to replace the bulb with an led type, that can handle the vibration and it wont blow as easy Loads on e-bay
Yeah, I'd just taken it all apart to replace the Tail light and re-assembled without No. Plate bulb as I didn't have a replacement. Wasn't going to take it all apart again for bloody number plate light!!
I changed to an Osram LED replacement as the cheaper ones from eBay kept blowing. I then managed to wrap a cable tie around the two holding pins to keep the bulb in more securely. So far, so good.
Same here, fitted the Osram led and the great thing about it is that unlike most led bulbs it doesn't care which way around you install it
