Quick Stupid Question

[nate]

First yes i haven't posted in awhile but lurk all the time lol

On the Ignition i can't read what all it says,I can read On,Off and barely Lock.
Is there something past lock when you turn the key to the left?I couldn't find the answer on the search engines.If there is i feel about as big as a pin.Locked my forks go to get back on and dead .

[natemoen]

Yes. If you go too far to the left you turn the "Parking" lights on. I dont think its labeled on the ignition (wouldnt know anyways i cant read mine) so if you dont check the lights after locking it you will be dead.

There really is no noticable spot where the key changes from lock to lights either, so its hard to tell.

[nate]

Thank you for the answer So i guess the battery should charge back up

[natemoen]

Thank you for the answer So i guess the battery should charge back up

The charging systems suck so you will probably want to put it on a charger overnight unless you have a long highway drive home!

[DGXSER]

I would also suggest the charger. If you could read the labels on your key switch, which most of us can't after 30 years, it says "OFF" where the key is at when you insert it, "ON" is just to the right, "Lock" os down around 8 o-clock position and then at about 8:30-9 o-clock is "Parking".

If you look when you turn it to parking, it turns on the tail light. Whenever you use the lock function, check the tail light to see if it is on.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

If you turn it all the way to the left ,then one click to the right it will be locked and the park lights will be off.

At least that is the way it is with mine.

[DGXSER]

Thats how it works Greg, but for most of us anyway, there is no feeling or sound of the click. It just moves through.

[fredintoon]

- - - Locked my forks go to get back on and dead .

Hi Nate,
you are not the first. We just had a string about this very "feature" after my son phoned me with the same story.
He got quite hot about the mental processes of someone who'd dream up a trick like that.

[natemoen]

It is a pretty pointless and stupid feature if you ask me, but I guess no one asked me

[zejaybee]

One nice feature of the LED tail/brake light...

Superbright LEDs has a great tail/break light and if you do accidentally leave it on by turning to park, it will not eat your battery. ) I know from experience. The "parking light" was left on for about 12 hours and she started like a charm. Here is the link to the Superbright LED page with the brake/tail light http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...cycle_bulb.htm

You can also do the turn signals much easier now due to the motorcycle right angle bulbs... at this link... http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...2F1156-x30.htm

But don't forget to get the electronic flasher since the LED bulbs don't draw enough to operate the stock flasher. You will also lose the auto-cancel feature, if it still works.

[zejaybee]

One more thing

On the '79 XS1100 SF (Special) you will lose the indicator light for the turn signals as well due to the way it is wired, at least that was my experience. It turns out with LEDs all around in the turn signal lamps and the standard filament bulb in the socket at the indicator for the turn signals there is not enough current drawn through the circuit to fire the indicator lamp but due to the wiring of both circuits through the one lamp you get four way hazard flashers regardless of the direction you push the turn signal switch. I'm working on a mod using a couple 12V LEDs from Radio Shack to separate the two circuits and get my turn signal indicator back.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Zejay,

MikesXS used to carry a wiring jumper with a pair of diodes to place between the two sides of the turn signals and the single indicator lamp, that way the power would NOT bleed from one to the other side, and would still provide the signal indicator to light. However....I can't find it on their site anymore, but I think I saw it also on BikeBandit. Also, some of the electrical gurus have stated that you would just need to get a couple of diodes from RS and wire them in between the wires going to the indicator for each turn side. I don't recall the ratings..just need to handle 12 volts, and about 6 amps or so.

However, separating and putting a separate indicator light for each side should work as well, just not sure where you're going to put the extra indicator light?

T.C.

[zejaybee]

Thank you TC

The 12V LEDs I got from RS were smaller than the original indicator light. The end of the plate that holds the instrument lights just needed a bit of a touch up with a dremel tool to make the hole a bit oblong side to side and viola'!