Modern Vespa

The headlight on my LXV has stopped working. The panel warning light for high beam is lit, but the headlight itself doesn't illuminate in either full or dipped mode.

Everything else is fine and all fuses are OK. The only electrical mod I've done is to fit a plug n play Stebel horn (not air) but that was a month ago and the light's been fine since.

The scoots still in warranty but the dealer (any dealer) is some distance away. Whether a bulb is actually covered anyway isn't clear from the booklet. It excludes wearing parts.

Anyway, for what it is, (Halogen H4 55/60W) I'll just replace it, then if it's a relay problem, take it in.

Does that sound a sensible plan ?

Incidentally, there's a tiny sidelight type bulb in there too. Is this universal for use in countries where always on dipped beam isn't required ?

Does the bulb appear to have a "burn" spot on the side? Normally whn they burn out, they get darker.

I was able to find the H4 bulbs at the local Wal-Mart but you may not have those where you live. I may be worth buying a bulb locally and installing it yourself as opposed to riding 4 hours to save so little money. I would expect them to deny a warranty claim on the bulb (unless something else caused the bulb to fail)

Unfortunately you'll probably find it is the bulb. The fuse for the lighting is under the horncast, have you checked there?

The Piaggio owner's manual is incorrect. Brit models are fitted with a crappy 35w globe Ba20d fitting (if the bulb is oval this is what you've got). Euro models have an H4 fitting. Best upgrade is to pop into halfords, look in their motorcycle section and buy a 35/35 halogen.

I think it's universal, period. Some of us get creative with it:
My Very Cool Unnecessary Vespa mod that you haven't seen

Yes, it does seem darker. We've a local Moto World with a good stock of bulbs. I'll just nip down, or cage it to Halfords. Thanks Doug. The book says the high/low bulb fuse is 15A, so by the battery. I've checked both 7.5's under the horncast and both 15A's by the battery and they're all OK, and everything else is working.

It's an oval bulb so looks like it's the 35W. So a 35/35 halogen but in the Ba20d fitting, yes ?

Ba20d yes. They are hard to come by, especially the halogen ones, but they are a big improvement. Halfords is one of the only places you'll find one on the shelf, but only in the motorcycle area.

That's given me an idea for extra lighting, seeing as I posted a thread earlier today. How ironic I was asking about extra lights this morning, and now I don't have any

I think the bulb fairy has visited. There's 3 just gone in the house. Doesn't any bugger make a bulb which lasts these days ?

Thanks Doug. Halfords tomorrow then.

That small bulb on the side...I believe is officially called the "City Light".

I replaced mine with an LED. Doesn't do much anyway; why not take 5W of load off the anemic charging system.

Got the halogen 35/35 BA20D straight off at Halfords. Rated OK for plastic lenses. Right performance with the LXV but now in and, lo - there was light !

Thanks again Doug.

Glad you're sorted. You can source a 55w one, but I melted my headlight

Shouldn't laugh, but.....

If you ever need a headlight, I've still got a few UK halogen H4 units as I changed them at PDI as the Bosch fitment ones where so naff...

Oh cheers CT. That's worth remembering. The H4's you can get anywhere. Whereas those BA wosnames are rarer than rocking horse plopsies.