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On/off switch for headlight, taillight

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    On/off switch for headlight, taillight

    Has anyone wired in an on/off switch for the headlight and taillight? Not a fan of them always being on anytime the ignition on my 82 750t is on

    #2
    The early models, like my 77's, had a factory installed off/on switch. Turned everything off except the brake light. Now when I had my race cars in my youth, we had switches for our brake/tail lights for purposes that my lawyer has asked me not to discuss
    Current:
    1993 ZX11 - 2nd build in progress
    1977 GS750 (710 is getting closer)
    1998 Kawasaki Voyager - selling
    1998 Chevy C2500
    1999 Rav4

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      #3
      Originally posted by unfocused View Post
      The early models, like my 77's, had a factory installed off/on switch. Turned everything off except the brake light. Now when I had my race cars in my youth, we had switches for our brake/tail lights for purposes that my lawyer has asked me not to discuss
      Right lol, I'd imagine that's a sought after feature in the crotch rocket crowd. That along with their flip up license plates.
      I'm wondering if anyone with a tscc era gs has wired in a switch like your older one has.

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        #4
        I put one on one of my my "80" GS1100E Lunchboxes, just for headlight, not tail. On that bike there was a space on the center of the dash, straight above the trip reset button. I just put a black push on push off switch on there, cut the ground wire to the headlight and wired it through that switch. No trouble and worked great. It just didn't make sense having the headlight on while cranking the eng. I think Suzuki was the last UJM to quit doing it.
        1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

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          #5
          Originally posted by rphillips View Post
          I put one on one of my my "80" GS1100E Lunchboxes, just for headlight, not tail. On that bike there was a space on the center of the dash, straight above the trip reset button. I just put a black push on push off switch on there, cut the ground wire to the headlight and wired it through that switch. No trouble and worked great. It just didn't make sense having the headlight on while cranking the eng. I think Suzuki was the last UJM to quit doing it.
          Yeah I don't like it either, especially with all the troubleshooting I've had to do it's annoying to have it on constantly. I had it where I was having trouble with it stalling and the first time I started it after rebuilding the carb I let it idle for like 5 minutes and then went inside and when I came back out it had stalled and the stupid headlight and taillight were of course still on, sitting there draining the battery. I wonder if there'd be a good way to wire them both through the same switch, I see on the wiring diagram they're on separate circuits. My Toyota car has drl's that can't be shut of and I hate that too.
          Sounds like you have a sweet setup
          Last edited by longranger44; 11-02-2024, 09:14 PM.

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            #6
            My 1980 GS 750 has a light switch but it was locked in the on position. I didn't like the headlight on when hitting the starter, either. I was able to open the light switch and remove the little thingy the factory put in there to make it an always on switch. Now I can turn the headlight on when I want it on and off when I want it off. I don't recall if it had an effect on the number of stator poles, as I did this like 30 years ago.
            Jim, in Central New York State.

            1980 GS750E (bought used June,1983)
            1968 CB350 Super Sport (bought new Oct,1968)
            1962 CA77 305 Dream (bought used Feb,1963)

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              #7
              Yep, 1979 was the first yr. the U.S. govt required all motorcycle headlights had to stay on. Easiest way for Suzuki to do it was put a stop on the headlight slide switch. Most everybody around me either trimmed off the plastic stop or just installed a slide switch from a "78" model that didn't have the stop thing on it.
              1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by rphillips View Post
                Yep, 1979 was the first yr. the U.S. govt required all motorcycle headlights had to stay on. Easiest way for Suzuki to do it was put a stop on the headlight slide switch. Most everybody around me either trimmed off the plastic stop or just installed a slide switch from a "78" model that didn't have the stop thing on it.
                I wonder what year they eliminated the switch altogether because my 82 doesn't have it

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                  #9
                  Evidently different GS's were different yrs. The GS1100's, GS1000's, and GS850's had no headlight switch in "80". I was surprised to see the GS750's did still have one.
                  1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by longranger44 View Post

                    Yeah I don't like it either, especially with all the troubleshooting I've had to do it's annoying to have it on constantly. I had it where I was having trouble with it stalling and the first time I started it after rebuilding the carb I let it idle for like 5 minutes and then went inside and when I came back out it had stalled and the stupid headlight and taillight were of course still on, sitting there draining the battery. I wonder if there'd be a good way to wire them both through the same switch, I see on the wiring diagram they're on separate circuits. My Toyota car has drl's that can't be shut of and I hate that too.
                    Sounds like you have a sweet setup
                    Pull the fuse. Oh and the mod you want will nullify insurance.
                    1983 GS 550 LD
                    2009 BMW K1300s

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                      #11
                      Not wanting to kill permanently, just never saw a need to have the large draw for the lights at the same time as the large draw from the starter. Lights off, start eng. then lights back on. Flip a switch, not fooling with a fuse.
                      1983 GS1100E, 1983 CB1100F, 1991 GSX1100G, 1996 Kaw. ZL600 Eliminator, 1999 Bandit 1200S, 2005 Bandit 1200S, 2000 Kaw. ZRX 1100

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by Cipher View Post

                        Pull the fuse. Oh and the mod you want will nullify insurance.
                        Sounds like the fuse to your brain has been pulled

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by longranger44 View Post

                          Sounds like the fuse to your brain has been pulled
                          Sounds like an incompetent neophyte needs to learn how laws for modding work.
                          ah and GFY.
                          1983 GS 550 LD
                          2009 BMW K1300s

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