[singhg5]

Some members have been discussing and questioning about parking and headlight switch on RE motorcycles.  It is here on youtube -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhQUNMKRix4

[Sub]

Thanks Singh! That made it really clear.

[Arizoni]

singhg:  Well done!
Clear and concise.

If I ever get into that area I'll modify it as you have shown.

I'm in favor of running my headlight when I'm rideing in the city but when I'm working on the bike in my back yard with the engine idling or I'm on a lonely road with no oncoming traffic I would rather have those 35 watts going into my battery.

[kingrock]

Holy cow! Does this work for the c5 as well? I thought my switch was broke and about to give dealer a ration of something unpleasant.

[GSS]

Holy cow! Does this work for the c5 as well? I thought my switch was broke and about to give dealer a ration of something unpleasant.

Yup. Pulling the jumper cable after removing the C5 headlight will activate your switch, but make sure you manually switch on your headlight......definite safety issue and also required by law......whether you agree with it or not.

[TWinOKC]

singhg you are really good with the DIY things.  Do you have any plans to do a video about the right side engine cover remove & reinstall?   It would really be handy for guys thinking about changing the front sprocket.    Also guys like me getting ready to do the sight glass R & R.

Thanks for posting  

[greggers]

Awesome as always Singh, thanks. At this rate I won't have to fork over 100 bucks for the ScooterBob's Gone Wild DVD 

[barenekd]

Beautiful timing!, I had my headlight cover off when I saw this post as I was trying to figure out how I was going to rewire that switch.
Looking at the schematic in the "Service Manual" is tough because the print is so poor, the text is illegible. It's hard to tell what anything is on it. Even tried the magnifying glass and that just enhanced the blurriness. Enfield definitely needs to work on this one!
Anyway, pulled the jumper and all is as I wanted it.
I'm just about finished with all the mods I wanted to make make on the Beast!
Thank you for that fine video, Singh.
Bare

[Ducati Scotty]

Looking at the schematic in the "Service Manual" is tough because the print is so poor, the text is illegible. It's hard to tell what anything is on it. Even tried the magnifying glass and that just enhanced the blurriness.

+1 

[drbvac]

Singhg5:

Very professional - great coverage  and easy to watch - you are a videographer of the first class.

[mikesince1974]

  Thank you.  Clear, informative and to the point.   

[singhg5]

Glad to see that you all liked the video.

The bike starts easier by taking the headlight load off the battery. Once the engine is running, I turn on all the lights as required here.

Do you have any plans to do a video about the right side engine cover remove & reinstall?     

Yes, it is very much there. Hope to do so in a month.

[DC Bullet]

Very cool. I am doing that tomorrow. It will be good to have some control of the lights. I thought the switch was broken on my C5.

[Okie Enfield]

As always Singhg5, that was concise and easy to follow, very informative and practical information,you are a prince among men. Thanx man! 

[Andy]

Very cool. I am doing that tomorrow. It will be good to have some control of the lights. I thought the switch was broken on my C5.

I was going to do this and then decided against it.  Auto-on headlights have been a part of my riding experience since I first took it up 25 years ago.  Never once have I had to turn on my lights.

I never forget to put my kickstand up.  I never forget to cancel my turn signal.  I will almost certainly forget to switch on my headlight.

I think I'll be the safe one this time and just leave the damn thing alone.   

[GSS]

I never forget to put my kickstand up.  I never forget to cancel my turn signal.  I will almost certainly forget to switch on my headlight.

I think I'll be the safe one this time and just leave the damn thing alone.   

Agreed. Sensible decision. I have gone back and forth with my harness twice because of the same concern.

[Ducati Scotty]

I felt the same way but since I was having starter trouble I disabled it.  Whenever it wouldn't start just turn off the headlight and that little extra juice got me rolling.  I've left it like this and haven't turned it off by accident yet.

Scott

[r80rt]

Removing it makes more room in the nacelle for the rest of the wires and eliminates  potential problems, Mines been gone since the day I bought he bike.

[kingrock]

Planning to pull it out when I put in the 7 inch light. It will need the room.

[Andy]

I felt the same way but since I was having starter trouble I disabled it.  Whenever it wouldn't start just turn off the headlight and that little extra juice got me rolling. 

That's  precisely the reason I was going to do it.  I don't like precious amps going to lighting during start-up, especially when it's below zero celsius (I'll ride down to minus ten if the roads are clear and dry).

But I know me.  I'd just forget to turn it on again. 

[barenekd]

I forget occasionally  to turn it on as I pull out of the garage, but I've always caught it before I got a block or so down the road. I like the option. I generally turn mine off when I park, so it becomes a natural response to turn it on.
Bare

[higgins]

Thank you. Very reassuring when I swapped out for the 7 inch beam.

[GlennF]

That's  precisely the reason I was going to do it.  I don't like precious amps going to lighting during start-up, especially when it's below zero celsius (I'll ride down to minus ten if the roads are clear and dry).

But I know me.  I'd just forget to turn it on again.  

If the only reason to enable the switch is to have the headlight off during startup a much better solution is a 12v Power-On Time Delay Relay. There are many types available and you can even make your own from a standard driving light relay, power transistor, capacitor and resistor but this commercial one below is typical of what you would use to disable headlight during startup and then, after a delay,  have it  permanently on:

http://www.wolstentech.com/products/timedelayrelay/timedelayrelay.php

Here is a setup that disables the headlight during startup and then reverts to normal headlight switch operations:

http://www.wolstentech.com/products/timedelayrelay/tdr-s.php

If, however, your intention is to have the lights off to conduct clandestine activities stealthily a 12v Power-On Time Delay Relay  will not really help matters

[barenekd]

I took my jumper out to enable me to work on my bike with the switch on and to have to worry about the lights draining the battery. Yeah, that was it, yeah, yeah, it was.

It's also like the helmet laws, if I want my lights on, I can turn them on. I usually do, unless I forget. But I like having the choice.  Leaving them off is my clandestine activity!

Bare

[Desi Bike]

I like the ability to turn off the headlight so I don't shine it into my neighbour's bedroom as I turn into my drive at night. Their bedroom lines up perfectly with my driveway. Oh, and the stealth mode is nice when pulling into the A+W cruise nights parking lot with just the 2 parking eyeballs and the parking light in the 7 inch bulb on thumping exhaust and all. REally turns heads.

[Ducati Scotty]

Glenn, those relays are really nice.  They should be standard equipment on motorcycles IMO.  Still, removing the jumper is free   When my solenoid was going south turning off the headlight was the only way I could start the bike for about a month.

Scott

[drbvac]

All good comments:

 I took my harness out when I put in my 7" Sylvania Halogen for some more room and to save an extra 1.4 volts to turn over my starter according to my voltmeter.

I also always remember to turn it on ( daytime running is the law) because with the lights off ( including pilots) none of the other dash lights come on including my volt light so as soon as I go to start it I have to switch the parking on to see the volts and the engine light for the fuel pump priming.

[Philatawgrapher]

Some members have been discussing and questioning about parking and headlight switch on RE motorcycles.  It is here on youtube -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhQUNMKRix4

Thanks much for posting this. The dealer I bought from mentioned the jumper to preempt any complaint about the inoperative switch. Did it today on my 2014 C5 in less than 10 minutes.

[Craig McClure]

I did this operation right after I bought my bike, at the same time I changed to a 7" headlight. I have a very bright & expensive Xenon Bulb, that I wish to conserve for night time, I also like to be in complete control of my bikes functions. I wired up the LED PILOT LIGHT in my reflector to come on with my LED PARKING LIGHTS, which I run in town during the daylight hours. At night everything is on. Here is a picture of my only parking lights turned on - making me Legal.

[Guaire]

Singh - Great camera work, editing and titling. I watched your spra g clutch removal too. I like the meditative pace and audio track, the way you don't bugger the hardware, not going overboard on torqueing.
  What do I know? I'm just a pensioner retired from the movie industry. Good job.

[dginfw]

Craig, be careful.... in some jurisdictions having a red or a blue light visible from the front is illegal on most vehicles; it is reserved for law enforcement and emergency vehicles.  A cop friend of mine told me most law enforcement officials wouldn't notice or care but if they wanted to be a hard a** they could.....

[tooseevee]

Yup. Pulling the jumper cable after removing the C5 headlight will activate your switch, but make sure you manually switch on your headlight......definite safety issue and also required by law......whether you agree with it or not.

            Be careful with all-encompassing statements about "the law". It is NOT the law in every state.

             And don't assume anything about my "safety"; I'm not saying the safety police are right or wrong. It's just a statement of fact.

[Craig McClure]

Craig, be careful.... in some jurisdictions having a red or a blue light visible from the front is illegal on most vehicles; it is reserved for law enforcement and emergency vehicles.  A cop friend of mine told me most law enforcement officials wouldn't notice or care but if they wanted to be a hard a** they could.....

HAHA, The Headlight Bulb & button in center of Tripod are BLUE also, but I only turn it all on at night (& I don't ride much at night if I can help it) Then I appear to be a mysterious mountain "Haunt Light", out with all the other critters.

[Royalista]

ghostrider
 

[LDHC5]

I pulled the jumper out on my C5, 2011 and the light switch works great. I have the 7" headlight with the internal pilot light. So I have 3 pilot lights on with switch in the mid position. Should have done that long time ago. Also changed battery to the AGM type.