Streetglide tail lights burning out
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
I am on my 5th (left) bulb on my '11 SG.I took it in and the dealer said everything checked out.They have given me 4 free bulbs,but this is a pain in the *** and I don't want a ticket.These LED bulbs y'all are talking about,are they a definite fix? Do you simply change to the LED bulbs? How much do they cost over the regular bulbs? Any help much appreciated.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
I am on my 5th (left) bulb on my '11 SG.I took it in and the dealer said everything checked out.They have given me 4 free bulbs,but this is a pain in the *** and I don't want a ticket.These LED bulbs y'all are talking about,are they a definite fix? Do you simply change to the LED bulbs? How much do they cost over the regular bulbs? Any help much appreciated.
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 934
Likes: 54
From: SE Wisconsin
Guys, Just to update;
The dealer got info back from the factory techs on this issue.
They acknowledged 2011-2012 Streetglides are known to blow bulbs often and credited it to vibration. They said they suppliers of the bulbs, sockets, and wiring have not changed. Only Streetglides are affected of those years. They recommend replacing bulb to LED style.
Those 1157 LED bulbs range from $10 - $50. My dealer offered install the $10 ones foe free or to split cost of a better upgrade.
A link to what we will try below;
http://www.dragspecialties.com/part/...alties&partIds[]=107460
The dealer got info back from the factory techs on this issue.
They acknowledged 2011-2012 Streetglides are known to blow bulbs often and credited it to vibration. They said they suppliers of the bulbs, sockets, and wiring have not changed. Only Streetglides are affected of those years. They recommend replacing bulb to LED style.
Those 1157 LED bulbs range from $10 - $50. My dealer offered install the $10 ones foe free or to split cost of a better upgrade.
A link to what we will try below;
http://www.dragspecialties.com/part/...alties&partIds[]=107460
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 69
From: Al Bu Ker Key, New Mexico
I have a 2010 StreetGlide. Dealer set me up with red bulbs with red lenses on the rear. One of the bulbs burned out while riding to Sturgis in 2010. Went to three different Harley dealers on the way looking for a replacement bulb. Everyone of them (3) looked at the bulb like they had never seen one before. I wound up going to AutoZone and bought a LED bulb for about $20 for the pair. They worked and got me home but were not very bright when brakes applied. I bit the bullet and went to CustomDynamics for a full LED kit with load balancer. 48 LEDS in each light! They ARE BRIGHT and I am very happy with them. Not happy about spending $200 bucks though.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
The dealer got info back from the factory techs on this issue. They acknowledged 2011-2012 Streetglides are known to blow bulbs often and credited it to vibration. They said they suppliers of the bulbs, sockets, and wiring have not changed. Only Streetglides are affected of those years. They recommend replacing bulb to LED style.
Last edited by iclick; Aug 31, 2011 at 03:26 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 934
Likes: 54
From: SE Wisconsin
HD's explanation doesn't make sense to me. The '10 SG used the same bullet lights in the rear and '06-'09 are essentially the same with an added center section that shouldn't affect the their integrity. So why all of a sudden do the '11 and '12 models break bulbs? Do these vibrate any more than my '07, or for that matter a '10 model? So far Hoethree is the only '10-model owner who's reported a problem, and I think his was using a non-stock (red) bulb.
Not to defend the MoCo (really not happy with their argue-for-warranty-service policy, to put it nicely) but that is what they said. Just passing on the message here.
To help make sense of it, some history. I traded in my 09 Streetglide with over 17k miles, with the same bulbs the factory installed, for a 2011 Streetglide that can't hold a bulb for a month. You would think those bikes are nearly identical, the 09 had a 96cu, the 2011 has a 103cu, perhaps the motor contributes, but the taillight is very different. The big center light was removed in 2011 and maybe it resonates vibration just a little more. That center light might just have been enough of a vibration dampener to make the difference, same thinking could go for the tour packs on the Ultras, as they are not seeing this problem either. Just guessing on why.
I have now heard numerous identical problems.
One thing is for sure, there is a problem with 2011 -2012 Street glide tail lights and MoCo has Acknowledged it, at least to me.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
To help make sense of it, some history. I traded in my 09 Streetglide with over 17k miles, with the same bulbs the factory installed, for a 2011 Streetglide that can't hold a bulb for a month. You would think those bikes are nearly identical, the 09 had a 96cu, the 2011 has a 103cu, perhaps the motor contributes, but the taillight is very different. The big center light was removed in 2011 and maybe it resonates vibration just a little more. That center light might just have been enough of a vibration dampener to make the difference....
...same thinking could go for the tour packs on the Ultras, as they are not seeing this problem either. Just guessing on why. I have now heard numerous identical problems.
One thing is for sure, there is a problem with 2011 -2012 Street glide tail lights and MoCo has Acknowledged it, at least to me.
Last edited by iclick; Sep 1, 2011 at 09:30 PM.