Tall_gal

Thank you both X_fish and 'Bike' - Its still under warranty so I shall suggest a voltage check when I take her in as it needs some replacement plates too (paint peeling off big time). As you both have suggested the same thing I feel you may be correct on this one. Its not blown anything else though (touch wood). The bulbs have been a mix of top of the range Japanese halogen to some crappy ones with 'made in India' stamped on them (which ironically lasted a long time - must be all those Enfields with their interesting electrics...)

I've got a YBR custom and have had a different problem - my bulbs keep blowing. Not both, usually just the dipped, although this week the main beam went pop and after removing it was stunned to discover that it had melted elements inside. I've gone though 10 in the last 8 months, the Halogen ones last even less longer than the basic ones. Yamaha mechanics can't find an obvious fault, so any suggestions what else it could be? I can now change a bulb in about 5 minutes, but its really beginning to annoy me now. Have I been unlucky with crap bulbs or do you think there's a serious problem with perhaps my alternator? I briefly experimented with a higher wattage and it blew in less than two days. The cheap basic ones last the longest but as I have to regularly travel in the middle of nowhere in the dark I would prefer more powerful lights.