After completing my spline lube and main seal replacement I took my bike out for a spin and everything was (and is) running great but I still had the issue of that annoying red brake warning indicator staying lit on my instrument cluster and noticed that I had no brake light but the tail light was working (or so I thought).

I took the two bulbs out and noticed that the top bulb was a large, single element bulb and intact but my license plate bulb was out. I assumed that the license plate bulb was just that, a license plate bulb and the top bulb was my tail/brake light. After searching this out online I noticed that there are some conflicting answers. Most seem to believe that the top bulb is a double element bulb used as a tail light and a brake light.

Well, it's not. The bottom bulb identified as the license plate light bulb is in fact your license light bulb and your tail light when your lights are on. The top bulb is a single element bulb and it is solely the brake light. I assumed that I had no brake light because the light just stayed on but in fact it was my brake light that was stuck on due to a bad brake switch. My tail light/license light bulb was out.

Either way, thanks to moto-bins.com for my parts. They were way less expensive than parts here in the states. I ordered two new brake switches and a rebuild kit for my master cylinder and they made it here in ten days.

The kicker was the rear brake switch was responsible for the light staying on because it was so soiled due to the engine oil leak combined with the master cylinder leak. The front brake switch was fried and the plunger wouldn't even move and that switch was keeping the red warning light on.

Everything's good to go now. She's been down for a month and a half and I'm so glad to be back on the road.

Slowride

Glad to see all is working as advertised but just to confuse the issue my bike uses a dual filament bulb.

Nothing, like consistency.

Regards,

Phil

Phil,
If it is standard and not been messed with it should be exactly as slowride says. suggest you try it with a single bulb or is the holder staggered pin?
Something strange there.
Ajays

Hi Ajays,

It is possible as it had trailer wiring when I bought it but having said that it looks authentic and works perfectly and yes it has the staggered pin arrangement so as always "if it ain't broke...."

Regards,

Phil

Well god knows what I was visualising but I could clearly see it in my head.
Trouble is I had the seat off for other work today and thought I would take a look.
Sure enough two single filament bulbs.
God I hate getting old.

Beats the alternative my friend!! :-)

I have just had a nice run to St Ives..Huntington...where Oliver Cromwell was born and it has his statue in the town centre warts and all. 85 mile round trip. Lots of fast bends and straights. Felt like a Young "50 year old"...Phil you aint old unless you think you are.
Sounds as if it is standard after all.
Cheers Ajays

Good on you Ajays fantastic to think that we hopefully can look forward to be still riding our bikes when we are your age!
Regards,
K-BIKE