I was riding home on Sunday night through the woods when all of a sudden, my headlights turned off instantly. No low beam or hi beams. Also, when I turn the high beams on, the high beam light on the dash doesn't light up. I pulled off the road and had a buddy give my bike and I a lift back. I've checked the fuses, which were fine. I've checked the headlight relay on the tail of the bike, still nothing. The only other reason I could think of is the starter stop switch on the right handlebar or the headlight/ horn switch on the left handlebar. I've looked into other posts but I was riding the motorcycle normally when they just cut out. I doubt a wire could get magically snagged at 21000 miles to "just now" bring this problem to my door step. Any advice or ideas? Thanks!

 

I'd replace the fuse and relay anyway. Fuses can get a crack too small to see but big enough to cause problems. And it's a cheap fix...

Otherwise, I would check the connector going to the headlight to see if it has 12 volts. Check it at every connection back (after you find a wiring diagram). It could also be some crappy splicing that finally gave way. Start with the easiest stuff!

 

i hadnt ridden my bike for a while. and my bike got wet.. well when i would turn on the key.. the lights would go on..but after it started. the lights would go out.. im like WTF. anyways. after breaking out my shop manual and skim reading . actually i was so pissed i think i was just flipping pages.. but my starter switch was sticking or staying in. so when i pulled it .. TADA lights came on .. i went and got some teflon slippery spray stuff. NO clue what it was called but its for my guns...and squirted some of that in....that fixed it..
I HATE electronics. i have such a hard time troubleshooting that stuff.
i can hear a broken rod or bad lifter..or something mechanical.. but some goofy wire under some black tape.... HELLO MCFLY...!!!!!!

 

Get your volt meter and have a fun afternoon.. do you have the shop manual or a wiring diagram?

 

I took the starter switch on on the right handlebar apart last night and got a really nice view of the solder connection in two.lol I guess after 21,100 miles and a stiff suspension, it happens! I re-soldered the connection and the bike runs fantastic!

 

well cool congrats man. glad you could figure it out

 

mine did the same thing last summer and was a pain to get solder to hold . had to do it a couple times but, so far so good

 

Wow I read this thread this morning for GP and now my lights did the exact same thing! No light on the dash for low and hi beams and no headlights! I'll check the switch right now. I'm no longer reading any forum problems!!!!! Could be the stiff suspension and 15k miles!

 

Yup that was the exact problem with mine as well! Thanks for the help!

 

lol. no problem... My suspension is super stiff too, so I'm thinking that after so many bumps and pot holes... it happens. Let me just say though, it's waay cheaper to fix than having to go out and buy a new starter switch or something else.