Senility or running light problem

[troegs550l]

Am I loosing my marbles or do I have a running light problem? Seems I recall the rear running lights (side lights) burning while key on, running or not. Mine are not. Front is ok and all blinkers are fine. I searched high and low for a wiring problem and found nothing. New bulbs made no difference. Before I go completely nuts could someone confirm whether these are supposed be on or not? If so, any suggestions? Could something be cooked? Thanks

[Steve]

Hi,


I am going to take a wild stab here and guess that we are discussing the bike that is part of your username?

Depending on what you are calling "rear running lights", you don't have any.

All you have on the rear of the bike is a single red fixture with tail and brake lights, and two yellow turn signals.

.

[JEEPRUSTY]

Am I loosing my marbles or do I have a running light problem? Seems I recall the rear running lights (side lights) burning while key on, running or not. Mine are not. Front is ok and all blinkers are fine. I searched high and low for a wiring problem and found nothing. New bulbs made no difference. Before I go completely nuts could someone confirm whether these are supposed be on or not? If so, any suggestions? Could something be cooked? Thanks

I do not think blinkers on these bikes are dual filament used as running lights.

[chef1366]

Chalk it up to senility

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. troegs550l,

In the stock configuration, your bike (GS550L - ?) was not equipped with running lights, neither front nor rear. The blinkers are all single filament. With dual filament bulbs you can have running lights with momentary flashers, similar to your tail light configuration. But this would have to be an aftermarket upgrade for your bike.

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BassCliff

[bakalorz]

Am I loosing my marbles or do I have a running light problem? Seems I recall the rear running lights (side lights) burning while key on, running or not. Mine are not. Front is ok and all blinkers are fine. I searched high and low for a wiring problem and found nothing. New bulbs made no difference. Before I go completely nuts could someone confirm whether these are supposed be on or not? If so, any suggestions? Could something be cooked? Thanks

Also, FWIW, it's illegal in the US to have any rear facing lights that are amber be constantly on.

If you want to run your rear turns as running lights, you must change them to red lenses or you risk being pulled over by any cop thats having a slow night or has a bug up his butt.

But red rear turns are somewhat less safe because they are easily confused with brake signals, and other drivers respond slower to them.

The best solution is probably to add a seperate small red lamp attached near the turn signal ... maybe a LED one.
With the turns off it functions as a running light, when the yellow turns come on they totally swamp it.