I must have been speaking a dead language today

[ohiorider]

Well, I'll know soon, and will report back.  Just purchased an H4 bulb from State8, a local multibrand dealer.  Price ....$6.95.  So if its the right one or wrong one, I'm not out a bunch of $$$$.  The box said "H4 - 55/60W.  And it appeared to be a double filament bulb (low/high beam.)

[ohiorider]

Yep, every auto parts store will have H4, AND you really should have helped educate the nimrods at BOTH of those shops They have no business at a parts counter if they don't know what a 1157 or a H4 are.

I believe it would have fallen on deaf ears, Lee.  It's relatively easy to tell when someone wants to learn.   That wasn't the case, and I didn't feel like being a crusader for H4 head lamp bulbs.  Found what I needed today at State8, a local multi-brand dealer, and the young man on the counter said "sure we have them."  And they did.

Bob

[Testarossa]

The H-4's Honda uses are specific to their bikes, they use a different tab set up than a conventional H-4, my friend who owned a Honda dealership explained this to me years ago.  He said its just marketing, selling a $50. Honda bulb is much more profitable than a $15. universal bulb.

then it's not an H4 (9003) bulb.

 :1:

I can't understand why this is an issue. Every auto parts store I've ever been in, plus WalMart, has a rack of bulbs in the electrical section out on the self-service floor. H4 (9003) bulbs are clearly labeled on the bubble card. Look at the rack and grab what you need.  There's no motorcycle-specific H4. Sylvania makes H4 bulbs in several flavors -- brighter/whiter bulbs have a shorter life cycle. Standard H4 is 55/60 watt (DOT approved) but on line you can get 60/90 for "off-road" use.

If you don't want to spend $50 for the Honda bulb, it's easy enough to swap in a standard H4 socket. A dozen companies sell ceramic sockets for under $5.

[Penderic]

I know. I know! Last week I just needed a common muffler bearing ....



Got this instead!

[Tom]

If I can I'll get their part # from their website. 

[RANDM]

We tend to get inflated prices here in Oz, the excuse being
" we're at the arsend of the World and it costs more to get
it here " BS. Add incompetent/lazy servicing and you gravitate
quickly to why bother.

A simple example: R1150R  doing a major service, I wanted to
replace the Sparks - they're the twin electrode in the single Spark.
They wanted $37 for two plugs, I cancelled the whole order and
checked online and ended up getting a pair of Iridiums delivered
to door from a Retail outlet in Ireland for $27.

Never set foot in that store again - they lasted about a year
before closing down and it was no loss to anyone when they did.

Good workshops with good Spannermen with realistic charges are
Are like Gold - and just as hard to find.

Maurie.

[Texas Turnip]

Walk into most places and say you want to buy an air freshener and they will want to know the make and model vehicle you need it for.

Tex

[Lannis]

We tend to get inflated prices here in Oz, the excuse being
" we're at the arsend of the World and it costs more to get
it here " BS. Add incompetent/lazy servicing and you gravitate
quickly to why bother.

A simple example: R1150R  doing a major service, I wanted to
replace the Sparks - they're the twin electrode in the single Spark.
They wanted $37 for two plugs, I cancelled the whole order and
checked online and ended up getting a pair of Iridiums delivered
to door from a Retail outlet in Ireland for $27.

Never set foot in that store again - they lasted about a year
before closing down and it was no loss to anyone when they did.

Good workshops with good Spannermen with realistic charges are
Are like Gold - and just as hard to find.

Maurie.

Everyone has their limit .... $37 at the local dealer and $27 on line doesn't seem too far out of normal experience.   I probably wouldn't have cancelled the purchase over that, but would have taken it as a "lesson learned" for the next time.

I went into a Radio Shack for a Panasonic battery for my cordless phone (I do have one, even though the other phones have long cords!).    They wanted $16.95 for it.    Seemed a bit much, so I came home, typed the battery part number into Google which took me straight to a company's order page, the SAME battery (not a clone, a Panasonic) was $4.50 and free shipping.   

So for a 30% discount I may or may not switch - but for 4 times the price .... ?   What is Radio Shack thinking?   No adults left in the company, I guess.

Lannis

[Chuck in Indiana]

I'll be darned. I've never seen one..

[RANDM]

Everyone has their limit .... $37 at the local dealer and $27 on line doesn't seem too far out of normal experience.   I probably wouldn't have cancelled the purchase over that, but would have taken it as a "lesson learned" for the next time.

I went into a Radio Shack for a Panasonic battery for my cordless phone (I do have one, even though the other phones have long cords!).    They wanted $16.95 for it.    Seemed a bit much, so I came home, typed the battery part number into Google which took me straight to a company's order page, the SAME battery (not a clone, a Panasonic) was $4.50 and free shipping.   

So for a 30% discount I may or may not switch - but for 4 times the price .... ?   What is Radio Shack thinking?   No adults left in the company, I guess.

Lannis

It wasn't just the plugs that were over priced, they were the
proverbial straw - I'm willing to pay a little more to keep a
good workshop going.

But when I can get a superior product from a Brick and Mortar
Retail store on the other side of the World, have it transported
what - 12k/15k miles and have it on my doorstep at a 30%
discount there is something wrong.

Maurie.

[RANDM]

I'll be darned. I've never seen one..

🤔 ?

[Kentktk]

  What is Radio Shack thinking?   No adults left in the company, I guess.

Lannis

I would say lot`s of adults left who just want to fill their pockets with money in the traditional American way. Will it work? Long enough so the CEO makes millions, bankrupts the company and leaves everyone else empty handed.

[LowRyter]

just  remember 9003 bulb.  Look for the wattage for what your electrical system can handle.

I rode my Bandit for 50k miles with 90/100 bulb until I recently switched to an LED.  (I didn't like the brown spot on the lens).

[Muzz]

I'll be darned. I've never seen one..

I had one but the back wheel fell off. (probably due to the mounting I feel)

[oldbike54]

I'll be darned. I've never seen one..

 Geez , you guys disappoint me , that is obviously a Mercedes Benz muffler bearing ...

 Dusty

[Chuck in Indiana]

Speaking of a dead language.. when I was converting the Aero engine I went to a couple of auto parts stores to buy a degree wheel. "A whut?"  So I downloaded one from the net, printed it out, and glued it on a plate. Free. (Guzzi content) 

[oldbike54]

Speaking of a dead language.. when I was converting the Aero engine I went to a couple of auto parts stores to buy a degree wheel. "A whut?"  So I downloaded one from the net, printed it out, and glued it on a plate. Free. (Guzzi content) 

 Torque wrench 

 Dusty

[Testarossa]

BMW left-handed smoke shifter:

[ohiorider]

Speaking of a dead language.. when I was converting the Aero engine I went to a couple of auto parts stores to buy a degree wheel. "A whut?"  So I downloaded one from the net, printed it out, and glued it on a plate. Free. (Guzzi content) 

" ........ a degree wheel?  Sir,  would than be Fahrenheit or Centigrade?"

Bob

[Lee Bruns]

Most modern sportbikes run a variable backpressure valve just ahead of the muffler. This allows for smaller diameter exhaust at lower RPMs for torque, then opens up for higher flow at higher RPM. SO, in the end, muffler bearings are now an actual thing. Sadly, when they go out you have to replace the WHOLE unit, not just the bearings.