Yellow Headlight Glass

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  • csw55
    • Feb 2026

    #1

    Yellow Headlight Glass

    I did a search for this, but turned up nothing.

    What's your guys's opinions on yellow headlight glass? Have you ever seen one on a GS? I'm away from my bike right now, so while we're on the subject: are our headlights a sealed beam or one where you just replace a bulb?

    But curiosity has got me wondering what your guys's opinion on yellow headlight glass is. I'm strongly thinking about doing it to my gs650 bobber.
  • eil
    Forum Sage
    • Dec 2012
    • 3062
    • SE Michigan

    #2
    Depends, what kind of bike do you have?

    Neither my 850GL and 750E have sealed beam lights.

    Most areas have laws against headlights being the same color as emergency vehicle signals (red, blue, yellow, etc).
    Charles
    --
    1979 Suzuki GS850G

    Read BassCliff's GSR Greeting and Mega-Welcome!

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    • csw55

      #3
      Originally posted by eil
      Depends, what kind of bike do you have?
      I have an 82 GS650gl. I'll figure out, but what's your opinion on a yellow light? (laws aside haha)

      Comment

      • Guest

        #4
        Originally posted by csw55
        But curiosity has got me wondering what your guys's opinion on yellow headlight glass is. I'm strongly thinking about doing it to my gs650 bobber.
        I have never thought there was anything wrong with the OEM headlight, but I am a function over style kind of guy.


        Mark

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        • Big Rich

          #5
          Yellow headlight were used in Europe before. But by changing the color of the light output, you'll be losing light (you won't see as well at night).

          Comment

          • Steve
            GS Whisperer
            • Jun 2005
            • 35927
            • southwest oHIo

            #6
            I have used yellow for fog lamps and seen the advantage, but I'm not sure that there is any functional advantage of a yellow headlamp.

            Ironic, isn't it? Most everybody else is going to ever-bluer lights because they are "closer to daylight" in color, and you want to go the other way, to yellow.

            Several European countries allow (maybe even encourage) yellow headlamps, but I don't know about any legal issues here.
            Not sure if you would get cited for it or not, would probably depend on whether the LEO has had any donuts recently.

            Your lights are not sealed-beam. You might be able to find a clear yellow "cling" film that will allow you to un-tint the headlamp with a flick of the wrist if the need should arise.

            .
            sigpic
            mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
            hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
            #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
            #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
            Family Portrait
            Siblings and Spouses
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            Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
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            • csw55

              #7
              Originally posted by Steve
              I have used yellow for fog lamps and seen the advantage, but I'm not sure that there is any functional advantage of a yellow headlamp.

              Ironic, isn't it? Most everybody else is going to ever-bluer lights because they are "closer to daylight" in color, and you want to go the other way, to yellow.

              Several European countries allow (maybe even encourage) yellow headlamps, but I don't know about any legal issues here.
              Not sure if you would get cited for it or not, would probably depend on whether the LEO has had any donuts recently.

              Your lights are not sealed-beam. You might be able to find a clear yellow "cling" film that will allow you to un-tint the headlamp with a flick of the wrist if the need should arise.

              .
              VERY good points! I can't find a yellow oem direct fitment housing, so I was going to buy a type of spray paint specifically for tinting lenses.. but the more I research yellow lamps, the more I read "they're illegal in the states". Which brings me to your idea- clear yellow adhesive film! I do a lot of vinyl decals and window tinting (practically same material as the headlight film). If I ever get pulled over, I'll just go "sorry officer, didn't realize they were illegal- here, let me fix this right now *peel off film*" haha.

              I think I'm a little past the point of worrying about function rather than looks haha. I'll be sure to post a pic up once I'm finished thanks for the help!

              Comment

              • Guest

                #8
                At one time it was mandatory to have yellow headlights in France, even for foreign vehicles. UK motor factors used to sell yellow tint for headlight glass so that you could paint your lights before travelling.

                I took my VFR750 to France once, and when I returned I left the lights yellow for a few months. It seemed as though the yellow lights were much more noticeable to other road users, probably because of the unusual colour compared to other vehicles. Illumination on unlit roads was still ok, but a VFR has two 65/55 watt halogen bulbs...

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                • MatBirch

                  #9

                  This place has taught me alot about lights. They used to have a really interesting article about the blue headlight craze. Basically, it makes you fatigue much faster

                  Comment

                  • Steve
                    GS Whisperer
                    • Jun 2005
                    • 35927
                    • southwest oHIo

                    #10
                    Originally posted by MatBirch
                    http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...ght_color.html
                    This place has taught me alot about lights. They used to have a really interesting article about the blue headlight craze.
                    It's still there, you just have to poke around a bit.



                    .
                    sigpic
                    mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
                    hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
                    #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
                    #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
                    Family Portrait
                    Siblings and Spouses
                    Mom's first ride
                    Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
                    (Click on my username in the upper-left corner for e-mail info.)

                    Comment

                    • Big Rich

                      #11
                      Mat, I've never seen that article about yellow lights. I never would've guessed to use Duplicolor Metalcast paint on a headlight.....

                      Comment

                      • MatBirch

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Big Rich
                        Mat, I've never seen that article about yellow lights. I never would've guessed to use Duplicolor Metalcast paint on a headlight.....
                        Well... I was going to try it on a pair of fogs formy Jetta, but it is (or was) nearly impossible to find. Even online vendors kept showing out of stock. Never got a chance to try it.

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                        • wymple
                          Forum Sage
                          Past Site Supporter
                          • Apr 2014
                          • 1893
                          • SE Iowa

                          #13
                          Those blinding blue headlights should be shoved up the creator's arse.

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                          • dorkburger
                            Forum LongTimer
                            Past Site Supporter
                            • Jan 2013
                            • 10779
                            • Stupid Freehold Boro NJ

                            #14
                            Back in older times when the sportbikes of the day had 2 round headlights I recall seeing bikes with one yellow and one regular headlight....dont know if it was the bulb or lens though.
                            I seem to think it was the bulb.
                            sigpic
                            When consulting the magic 8 ball for advice, one must first ask it "will your answers be accurate?"

                            Glen
                            -85 1150 es - Plus size supermodel.
                            -Rusty old scooter.
                            Other things I like to photograph.....instagram.com/gs_junkie
                            https://www.instagram.com/glen_brenner/
                            https://www.flickr.com/photos/152267...7713345317771/

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                            • 2BRacing
                              Forum Mentor
                              • Jan 2009
                              • 798
                              • Onrus, near Hermanus, South Africa

                              #15
                              It has become quite common here in South Africa to fit an orange-coloured piece of plastic onto the front of the bike's headlight. This makes the bike more visible in the rear view mirrors of cagers, because the yellow/orange light is not the same as the cagers' headlights.
                              1981 GS850G "Blue Magic" (Bike Of The Month April 2009)

                              1981 GS1000G "Leo" (Bike Of The Month August 2023)

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