Boxerworks.com

I have a 1982 R65. The taillight assembly has separate running and brake light bulbs. The running light is listed in the manual as a 12v 5w. The bulb I pulled out (ancient) has no stock number on it. R. Fleischer's site (http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/lamps.htm) says:

"The rear running lamp, BMW 07-11-9-978-227, rated at a NOMINAL 12 volt and 5 watts, can be substituted by a very commonly available #97 lamp, which is rated at 13.5 volts at .69 ampere, which means that at THAT voltage, it would draw 9.3 watts, it will draw less at 12 volts."

What about the #89 bulb? Rated at 13v 7.5W. Housing looks the same as the bulb I pulled out. Or other suggestions?

There is only one logical course of action here - an LED panel to replace them.

http://www.motoelekt.com/lighting.htm

Scroll down to the Beacon 2

You'll love it - it's a way of life!

Either of the smaller bulbs should work for you. Just avoid the larger 1156 bulbs that I found in both tail light sockets in my '81 and '83 R65s. These larger, higher wattage bulbs position the glass globe just an RCH from the plastic lens -the bulb's heat was actually melting the '81's lens.

Granted, their light output is rather wimpy. A proper LED replacement system, as those from Rick Jones, are very nice.

Monte Miller
Denton, Texas, y'all