Comments on: Installing 35W bulbs in fogs on Cal Vintage

By: John

John — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 01:30:59 +0000

Dave, since I installed the 35 Watt bulbs many miles ago, my low battery issues went away. I also installed a Battery Tender Junior cable which I plug in occasionally. I don’t want to jinx myself, but I use my auxiliary lights almost all the time and I’m still running the original battery. I rarely ever reach 5000 rpm, and if I do, it is just for a second. So, my recommendation is this exact combination because it has proven to work really well for me. Also, my side stand kill switch works fine and so do my auxiliary lights. I recently had to re-adjust the side stand switch stop screw because it was not pushing in the switch quite far enough when I put the side stand up, so was killing the engine when I put it in gear. A very easy adjustment (about one half turn with a wrench) and all is fine again. Not use the lights and no safety switch = rubbish.
John

By: Dave Hanks

Dave Hanks — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:49:25 +0000

I experimented with the bike and sure enough… I found that if I switched on the auxiliary lights the battery went dead and I could not start the bike. I took it to the dealer for its 1000 mile service and explained the situation. I asked them to put 35 Watt bulbs in ( which they forgot to do) However, they did perform a voltage test on the bike. They told me that even if I installed 35 watt bulbs I should not run the auxiliary lights as the alternator is not powerful enough to power them and keep the battery charged. ( Even at 5,000 RPM) The dealer said that they called Moto Guzzi and the answer they were given was “not to use the lights” As the auxiliary lights are standard factory installed equipment ( and one of the reasons I initially bought the bike) it seems the factory should have a better answer

I have an additional problem that is not a big deal, but still a safety issue. The side stand cut-off switch does not work, the dealer told me that the bike is wired that way and there is nothing that can be done, additionally the dealer told me that the bike will start while in gear…..

Anyway….I installed 35 Watt bulbs and bought a Jump Start Box which fits nicely in the side bags. I now switch the lights on ” Very Occasionally” in heavy traffic and use the Jump Box to start the bike….So far so good

By: John

John — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 13:05:48 +0000

Dave, sorry to hear that. I’m guessing fuel line and/or drained battery due to running the 55 Watt auxiliary lights. Please let us know what you find out.
John

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 22:15:28 +0000

I have been stranded twice since getting my brand new California 3 weeks ago, It was towed back to the dealer once now I am stuck again. Obviously there is some major communication problem between the manufacturer and dealer..

I will change the bulbs and see if I can ride more than two days on this bike without it breaking down

By: andreas

andreas — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:23:32 +0000

I experienced that problem with the california vintage. the bike runs out of battery very fast and doesn’t really recharge will driving! TELL YOUR DEALER TO CHANGE THE BULBS RIGHT WHEN YOU BUY THE BIKE unless you wanna get stranded like me…

By: Gavin Wilby

Gavin Wilby — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:20:13 +0000

Having looked at the lights on the original bike pics I though that there was a nice chromed bracket holding them on, it appears by your shots and the parts catalog (which can be found here: http://www.motosportaprilia.com/MGParts.asp?mod=GU07900&tbl=30&tblname=30%20Lights%20II) that its just a piece of angled metal.

I wanted to get some spots for my Aqulia Nera, however at £80 for a bit of bent steel, and EEK amounts for the lights themselves Im not sure Ill bother.

Amusingly the Aquila Nera has the switch for the fogs, but just doesnt fit them, it was obviously too much money to provide a different switch gear!

Gavin.