Author Topic: Headlight always on? (Read 4038 times)

MasterM3 · « **on:** March 02, 2006, 03:31:50 PM »

I've noticed that the headlight on my b4 is always on. As soon as i turn the ignition it lights up. Is this standard?

duane · « **Reply #1 on:** March 02, 2006, 04:10:19 PM »

Yep.

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A side note, and I hope not to confuse anything, Kawi's are different. There headlight stays off until the engine turns over so that all battery power is available to starting the bike.

PitterB4 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 02, 2006, 04:25:55 PM »

I believe it's a US DOT requirement.

Krautwagen · « **Reply #3 on:** March 02, 2006, 06:06:30 PM »

Yup.

I just wired in a switch on mine so I can turn it off. Suzuki made it very easy to do, you don't even have to cut 1 factory wire. Inside the headlamp bucket, there's a yellow with white tracer wire with a bullet connector on it. Just wire a switch into there and you're set. Unfortunately, it has to be a fairly large switch as that wire carrries full current for the light (10A circuit).

I would like to re-wire it so that the headlight is only on when the sidestand is up. That will require wiring in a relay though.

A ALWAYS ride with the light on, I just wanted a bit more battery preservation for when she's not wanting to start...

Herr Tod · « **Reply #4 on:** March 02, 2006, 07:30:15 PM »

That sucks, lots of extra amps when you're starting. I always turn off the light when I start

Red01 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2006, 11:26:46 AM »

Quote from: "PitterB4"

I believe it's a US DOT requirement.

Yup, since the mid 1970's. My 1977 Suzuki GS750 had that feature, but my 1975 Yamaha RD350 didn't, so I'm guessing it came into effect in '76 or '77. On the GS, you could knock out the blocker under the lo-hi switch to convert into into a world standard off-lo-hi switch... in fact, when I bought the bike, the dealer mechanic asked me if I wanted to be able to turn the headlight off and did the mod for me before I rode it away.

A week or so ago, there was a UK guy on STN that was complaining that the UK was going to be implementing manditory headlights soon. None of us Yanks could understand what he was complaining about - some didn't notice he was from the UK and were asking what rock he'd been under for the last 30 years...

b4cruz · « **Reply #6 on:** March 03, 2006, 01:50:24 PM »

Quote from: "Red01"

world standard off-lo-hi switch...

does such a standard 3 way switch exist on this planet for the
b400? anyone in asia or europe know of such a piece?
Or with our wiring setup could a switch from another older
suzuki work?

Herr Tod · « **Reply #7 on:** March 03, 2006, 04:30:02 PM »

On my right I can switch the lights off, switch off the headlight but switch on the rest of the light and I can switch on all the lights.

Red01 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 03, 2006, 05:45:52 PM »

The 3-way switch was the world standard of the time. Pretty sure the more modern bikes in world markkets that allow you to turn it off use a separate switch now... so you'd have to get the switch gear from a Euro model and wire it up.