Topic: Just occurred to me.....

[cosmicvision]

Are the rear turn signals supposed to be illuminated when the bike is running??? The front ones are but the back ones haven't been since I've owned the bike. Both front & rear come on with the blinker. If it's not right, what could be the cause? Fuse? Seems like something the boys in blue would love to hassle someone for...and I've had my fill of dealing with them lately.

[knowsnothing]

Neither turn signals should be on when the bike is just running.  The should only blink when you flip the switch.  The rear brake however, should be on when the bike is running and get brighter when either brake is depressed.

[flybox1]

some CB models have 3-wire lights for running lights.

[mrrch]

Depends on the year,model and even what country sometimes.

[flybox1]

a brake running light is all you need, and be sure that it is working.
front signal running lights are common.  better to have them, but not illegal if you dont.

[ShermanPain]

My CB is the same as yours cosmovision, the front signals stay on and the backs dont. Mine is canadian and Im not sure if the american  ones are wired the same because our headlights have to always stay on.

[Bankerdanny]

On the US 550's the fronts stay on as running lights and have dual filament bulbs for the turn function. The back only come on when you use the turn signals.

[Dave Voss]

On the US 550's the fronts stay on as running lights and have dual filament bulbs for the turn function. The back only come on when you use the turn signals.

And, when the turn signal is switched on, the low wattage running light filament in the front light is turned off while the higher wattage turn signal filament is blinking, to offer better contrast and visibility.

[Duanob]

I think the only legal issue is if you do have rear running lights then they need to be red lens. You can wire them up if you want. Just get front signals with the extra wire and tie into you front running lights. I believe that would be the orange or light blue wires WITH the white stripe. Or possibly the extra brown connection (taillight) in the headlight bucket.

[cosmicvision]

Alrighty...that would make sense, I've never seen anything with orange lights on the rear going down the road. Both front & rear turn signals function as they should, as well as brakelight & taillight...long as the bacon ain't gonna sweat me I ain't sweatin it!!

...our headlights have to always stay on.

Ours do too in the US, but '75 was the cutoff year for that rule I think...kind of cool having a '74 bike with the on-off switch still. Comes in handy when your battery is on its last leg & you're trying to start it!!

[Bankerdanny]

I'm a fan of the front running lights. Anything that makes me more visible is OK with me. My warm weather jacket is hi-vis orange mesh too.

[bjbuchanan]

I put an inline switch for the headlight. The back of the HL bucket has a perfect flat spot for your james bond toggle

[bollingball]

I put an inline switch for the headlight. The back of the HL bucket has a perfect flat spot for your james bond toggle

What is the switch for?
Ken

[ekpent]

Running lights in the front tell other drivers at night a motorcycle is coming and not a car with just one headlight.Early 750's did not have the feature but it cam later,maybe around 73.

[Powderman]

Alrighty...that would make sense, I've never seen anything with orange lights on the rear going down the road. Both front & rear turn signals function as they should, as well as brakelight & taillight...long as the bacon ain't gonna sweat me I ain't sweatin it!!

...our headlights have to always stay on.

Ours do too in the US, but '75 was the cutoff year for that rule I think...kind of cool having a '74 bike with the on-off switch still. Comes in handy when your battery is on its last leg & you're trying to start it!!

I don't think there is any exemption because of the year of your bike. If you are on public roads you are required to have your headlight on.

[cosmicvision]

What I meant was, I think '74 was the last year you were allowed to MAKE a bike with the option of turning the light off. Starting in 1975 every bike just had the light on if the key was on...pretty sure that's what I read somewhere...........

[Powderman]

Still not true. I remember getting pulled over more than once on my 78 GS750E for not turning my headlight on.

[Schnell]

My 1975 cb750 has a headlight on/off switch on the right hand controls.

Ontario law requires headlight on all the time.

[Powderman]

I guess it still varies by state. In Ga. all bikes have to run headlight during the day, in Ca. all bikes 78 and newer have , and Tx all bikes after 75 are.