Topic: what do people see when they look at your rear?

[hymodyne]

evening,

I just took my written test for a MA motorcycle endorsement (passed ). I answered a question about requirements for an inspection which stated that a bike had to have one headlight, turn signals front and rear, a stop light and a rear light.
when I turn my ignition switch to the first spot, my handlebar indicator lights (oil and neutral) come on, but the rear light only comes on when i hit the brakes or move the ignition switch to the next position, but then it is the only thing that is on.

should my rear lamp come on (low, not stop brightness) when I turn on my headlight? when i'm driving at night, shouldn't my rear lamp be on like it is on my car?

please advise,

hym

[TwoTired]

Your tail running light (the big red one) should be controlled by the headlight on/off switch.  The CB500s have this switch.  The government mandated this switch removal in later years.

[Jonesy]

Yep, if the headlight is turned on, the tail light should come on too. If it operates with the key in the "park" position, it sounds like something is amiss with the connections in the headlight bucket... (where I'd start looking)

Congrats on passing the test!

[TwoTired]

Actually, the tail light only should also come on with the ign, switch in the park position.  It also comes on with the headlight switch, which only works with the ign in "on".
US laws say you have to have 30 minute reserve lighting in case of a breakdown.
The premise is that if you are near the roadway, and leave your bike to go fetch gas, the tail light will warn other motorists of the hazard, should they feel the need to drive on the shoulder of the roadway, at night.

It's all about safety, you know.   

I guess it was better than requiring emergency flashers be placed on the bike.

[Mikeshonda750F]

I had the exact same problem on my K6. Brakelight only while running, tail light only when in the "P" position (i think its P). Started off just running a jumper wire to it to the battery for night riding, then i eventually tied it into the headlight bucket and gave up on the OE Wiring.

[computerpulse]

Question...when you turn on your headlights what lights should come on besides the headlight and tail light?  Should all the blinker lights light up as well?

[Geeto67]

nobody suggested checking the bulb to see if it is good before ripping into the headlight. bulbs go bad on bikes all the time, the rear taillight buld should be a dual stage bulb and it is entirely possible that one stage burned out but not the other. Pull the taillight glass, inspect the bulb (test it if you can). if everything checks out start checking the connections to the running light from the tailight foward.   

[78_SaltLick]

Same question i got. Are your back turn signal lights suppose to be lit at night? Mine are not. My FRONT ones are, so i figure my back ones should be also. Is it illegal to not have them lit? They work when i turn the signals on of course.

[bryanj]

the US went safety made some time back and the headlamp, taillamp. front running lights ALL have to come on when the key is turned BUT ONLY if built (not registered but built--hence the date on the vin plate!) after a certain date, unknown to me and probaly different in different states. The earlier bikes had a lights on off switch on the RH control and this turns on the head/tail. Rear flashers have never had twin filament bulbs and do not function as running lights. Hope that helps

[Raul CB750K1]

The taillight should be a dual filament bulb. The low wattage filament should lit anytime the parking, low or high beam is lit. The higher wattage filament is for the brake light. I would check first wether the filament is burnt out. If the light lit when the key is in "park" position that makes clear that the bulb is OK. That way the ignition switch is giving juice directly to the lamp. I would then check for a loose connection inside the headlamp shell, where in normal circunstances the juice is given by the light switch in the right handlebar.

Raul

[Graham]

I have the same problem with a CB650. My fuse keeps blowing and taking out the taillight. The brake light works when pressed, and the taillight comes on in Park. I figure this means a short somewhere, but don't know where to start looking. Can you help?

People seem to be referring to the headlight bucket? why the headlight bucket?
thanks

[clarkjh]

Another name is "rats nest"  you'll get the idea when you pop the head light.  Look for corroded conections, you take em apart and they don't work when put back together.  I still haven't got mine working correctly yet, RH blinker won't, LH work fine.

Good luck finding the proplem

James