My brake lights dont work?
 

A friend just noticed that my brake lights are not working. I looked at the bulbs and they looked fine, anybody have any ideas where I should look next? I have the OEM taillight, in fact my 2001 is completely stock.

The brake light switches. Either one should trigger it. (foot or hand) If neither one works, check your fuses.

Fuses are in your tail in a little box on the left side of the bike.

Neither the front or back brake are working, I have pulled every fuse and none of them appear to be bad.

On the top of the box should be a diagram of which one is the brake light fuse. I'd switch that fuse with another one just to be sure. I've had blown fuses that I couldn't see before... spent hours trying to find a missing connection when a 2 minute check could have saved me!

If you swap fuses, make sure you use a fuse of the same amp rating, to avoid burning up anything.

Better yet, use an ohmmeter to check the fuse. It should read 0 ohms.

And just because the bulbs look good doesn't mean they are. Check them with an ohmmeter as well.

Is the bike stored outside?

I had a similar problem on my bike. I had to adjust the trigger point for the rear switch to make it work and disconnect the front switch altogether as it was not working and was keeping the high light on at all times. I always use both brakes and had forgotten I had this problem until this thread. hooray for another weekend project.

- Pull the fuses and check fro continuity on the fuse (or just use a fresh one)
- disconnect the rear brake switch
- toggle the brake and check for function. if it works then your rear brake light is engaged at all times and needs to be adjusted.
- disconnect the front brake and connect the rear and check for function.

you should be able to find the faulty component this way.

Another thing you can do is connect a voltometer and check the high and low voltage lead on the tail bulb connector while shorting the switch leads.

Does that make sense?

Unplug each brake switch one at a time to see if the light dims to a normal taillight. My rear brake switch was out of adjustment causing the brake light to be lit all the time so it didnt trigger on when the lever or pedal was used.

The bike is stored outside once in a while, most of the time it is in the garage. It does see rain once in a while.

I replaced the fuse and the bulbs, now the brake lights are on and will not dim.

Seems like one of the switches might have failed in the "on" mode.

are there other fuses other than the ones directly under the seat?

Nope. Just the main. But if that one goes, nothing works.

If they're always on, I'm sure it's one of your switches. Check your rear brake and front brake switches... I think the rear one even can be adjusted and may be set too tight (so that it's always on)

where is that at? where is the adjustment? Sorry I am an idiot but I just would like avoid giving the dealer my money if I can. Thank you all for your help.

Down by the rear brake pedal there is a little cylindrical switch mounted on or near your rearset (can't quite remember). It has a plastic ribbed ring that you can twist with your fingers to adjust the length of pull. Try giving it more slack.

You'll see a little plastic piston thing that when you press on the brake pedal, it pulls and activates the switch. Hope this is enough description... it's #5 in this diagram:

Ronayers.com Microfiche Honda>Motorcycle>1998>VTR1000F>PEDAL

pull them one at a time to see which switch is bad or miss adjusted... once you find out what one is bad then you can go from there to adjust them. the foot switch is not to hard to adjust, just brake the jam nut loose and adjust as required then tighten it all back down. if it is the front switch, cant help with that one i think you have to change that one out, not sure if it can be adjusted.

Also, if that doesn't work, just unplug it. That'll at least tell you if the rear switch is the problem.

If unplugging it doesn't work, then unplug the front one.

7more7... you are the man, that's what the problem was. Thank you

No problem ;)