[BerndM]

I am still learning the ins and outs of my 2012 650 Executive and have some serious (IMHO) concerns.

1) has anyone rewired the headlights so that they will only come on when the engine is actually running?
I find it remarkably silly to have 2 power sucking headlights come on as soon as the key is turned on.

2) this one is related to, but different from #1. As insane as it sounds, WHY, for dog's sake, does the key have to be in the ON position for the EMERGENCY flasher to
operate??????????? Who's the genius that came up with THAT scenario? Would you want to leave the key IN the ignition, so that the emergency flashers will operate
while you trudge off to find some help for your broken ride?
To make matters infinitely more ridiculous, as mentioned in #1, your HEADLIGHTS will also be ON sucking the life out of your battery, while your emergency
flashers are operating.

Inquiring mind wants (needs) to know :shock:

 

[ErikDK]

#1: You could use the signal to the fuel pump. That way you would shut off the lights with the engine off button.



#2: If you turn the ignition one notch further from "park" you get "parking light" and the emergency flasher can also be activated.

You don't want random bypassers to be able to turn on the emergency flashers while your bike is parked and find the battery drained when you want to leave.

If you're really creative, you make the emergency flashers turn on automatically if the tip-over-sensor gets trigged in a crash.

 

[Duster]

I find it remarkably silly to have 2 power sucking headlights come on as soon as the key is turned on.

Some of that has to do with the way US Federal laws are written....
since sometime back in the '70's, motorcycle headlights are required
to be ON any time the ignition key is ON.....you can thank our
congressmen for that one.....that's why there is no longer a switch
for LIGHTS, (headlights/taillights) on a motorcycle in the US.
In States that have required annual motor vehicle safety inspections,
this is one of the things that they check...that this system is operating
correctly....the inspectors checked mine every year when I lived in Texas.

 

[MJR]

#1: You could use the signal to the fuel pump. That way you would shut off the lights with the engine off button.

Well not the actual fuel pump wire but through a relay powered by the Run/Stop switch would be good.

#2: If you turn the ignition one notch further from "park" you get "parking light" and the emergency flasher can also be activated.

You don't want random bypassers to be able to turn on the emergency flashers while your bike is parked and find the battery drained when you want to leave.

Makes sense to me as a car can be locked.

 

[BerndM]

Thanks for the responses!
I will look into rewiring the headlight relay trigger to a engine on circuit.
There are times when doing various electrical work on the bike that you may need the ignition on but not the headlights.

I have learned that the emergency flashers WILL work in the PARK position even with the key removed, so that issue is resolved. Thanks!

Ride safe

 

[bikerdoc]

An alternative trick way to cheat the headlights on situation only when wanted/needed is to remove either the high beam or low beam fuse, found in the front fuse box beside the main "glove" box. What I did was, remove the high beam fuse on several rides during daylight hours, just so as I had the option of not running the headlights at all - simply by moving the switch from low beam to high beam - thus having the headlights "off" worked well for me. AT the time, when it got to dusk and I knew the high beam would be needed, was simply put the fuse back in. Bit fiddly but worked OK.
This gave me an idea of splicing in a two way toggle switch wired into the back of the high beam fuse. With the switch fitted into the front tupperware just above the same glove box, below the handle bars.