Stupid Headlight Question

[mortation]

OK... This is gonna sound stupid... But are the lights supposed be always on? I thought my left hand switch was "Stuck" on so I got another set and they too are on all the time. Everything works, but I cant turn the lights off... Is that normal and if so anyone need a good set of left hand switches LOL.

[tfb]

Doesn't sound normal to me; I think you must have some sort of shorting-out happening in your switch, or somewhere else in the circuit.

[Tom MLC]

Your headlight should always be on. By '83 all bikes had headlights on with the ignition on. Some of our bikes have switches which can be "modified" to defeat the always on feature.

I have 3 '78 GS1000's. Two have headlights I can turn on/off. One has a switch, but I can't move it to the off position. On my '80 GS1100 I don't even have a headlight switch. Only high/low.

tfb, Aussie models may not have had this requirement.

[mortation]

Cool thanks!

[andrewclaycomb]

i recently had to replace mine and the old one was a working on/off switch, but the repacement is permanently on.

[tfb]

That must be a pain when the battery is 1/2 flat and you're desperately trying to start the bike...

[salty_monk]

My 1980 is permanently on too. Just a high low switch.

Dan

[salty_monk]

My 1980 is permanently on too. Just a high low switch.

If you want it to switch off when cranking you could wire the earth up to ground out through the coils on the starter, that way when you push the ignition button the light goes out & then comes back on when it's started.....
We do the same thing with fans on our kit cars to stop them drawing current when you're trying to get it started.

Dan

[Tarbash 27]

My 1979 GS750L has an on and off switch. I turn the lights off when starting it, especially when the battery is low. I usually end up riding a bit with the lights off by accident though.

[spchips]

suzuki had a bunch of switches they wanted to use, so they just locked the switch on and didn't show the off option

[mortation]

suzuki had a bunch of switches they wanted to use, so they just locked the switch on and didn't show the off option

lol, nothing like getting the left overs

[TwistedRoads]

If you take a small screwdriver and remove the screw on the side of the switch you will see a small tab...........file it off and the switch will work. Did it on my '81 650

[Pearson]

If you take a small screwdriver and remove the screw on the side of the switch you will see a small tab...........file it off and the switch will work. Did it on my '81 650

Someone's gotta say it...don't do it. Bikes are hard enough to see by cagers with the lights on. Take every advantage.

[Zooks]

I've never heard of this on Aussie bikes before.

Headlights on (in the daytime) is a clever move but it's not mandatory for older bikes to have it. I think they have to be built that way now though.

[madjack57754]

Wiring pigtails are in place up to at least '86 to make a switch set work I changed all 3 of my gs1100s to '78 &'79 gs1000 control switches from that came from a salvage yard. Bought them for $10 each