Should the rear brake pedal activate the taillight?

[Guest]

The front brake lever activates the brake light, but the rear one doesn't. The rear brake itself functions just fine.
I'm wondering if this is normal for GS bikes, or if there is a fault somewhere.
Can I just get by with just having the light from the front brake?

[Rijko]

Look for a brake light switch above the brake pedal.
It looks like this : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUZUKI-GS...-/183912600820

If the pedal is pressed it should activate the switch.

You can do without it, but if something goes wrong with
the front you have no brake light ...

[Brendan W]

There should be a switch there right above the pedal pivot, hanging off the frame tube.
Have a look here from 9:50 onwards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wwcXHH2P-4

[Who Dat?]

Should the rear brake pedal activate the taillight?

The answer is NO.

The rest of the answer is No, it should not activate the TAIL light (which is the dimmer filament), but it should activate the BRAKE light (which is the brighter filament).

[rphillips]

Been wondering when that would be brought out, & it is a politically correct point.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Safety issue aside (it is a major one), I posted a thread a while back about PA requiring a chain guard to pass inspection. They do, some states don’t. Someone responded with a document that listed all of the inspection requirements for motorcycles for every state. I’m pretty sure a working switch is required for front and rear brakes to activate the BRAKE light by every state that has a safety inspection. But I’d like to have that document. The sites search function did me in again. Anyone have that document?

[Rijko]

Something like this ?

(Page 70)

The stop lamps shall be operated through a switching arrangement so that any motion of brake towards applied position immediately illuminates the stop lamp.

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Nah, I can find PA and other individual states’ requirements individually. Looking for one that had a nice chart that showed what is/isn’t required by state.

[Guest]

The answer is NO.

The rest of the answer is No, it should not activate the TAIL light (which is the dimmer filament), but it should activate the BRAKE light (which is the brighter filament).

That was my mistake, that I only just realized after I submitted the post. I meant brake light, but the word didn't come to my head at the time.

[Brendan W]

That was my mistake, that I only just realized after I submitted the post. I meant brake light, but the word didn't come to my head at the time.

So is it a mistake on my part that I knew what you meant?

[Rob S.]

Consider this: the brake light is so vital that it even works when cars are not running.

[LAB3]

Before you buy a replacement switch, be sure to check a couple of things first. Is the switch mounted to the frame properly? Does the plunger on the switch move when you press the brake? If you disconnect the switch you should be able to use an ohm meter to check if the switch is working or not. If all those things check out, the next thing would be to check out the wiring between the switch and tail light, an ohm meter can be used for that too. Also, you might want to see if the socket that the bulb plugs into is corroded, be sure to check between the socket and the wiring connectors for it to see if there's a problem there.

[rphillips]

OK tater salad, you get a pass this time, just don't let it happen again!!! 2nd time could be a $20 fine. I'm not sure about your switch, but the earlier models had a switch that was adjustable, tighten it up a little & it will put a little more pressure to activate the switch. Good luck.

[Steve]

Been wondering when that would be brought out, & it is a politically correct point.

Have you ever noticed that most things that are "politically correct" are actually neither?

So is it a mistake on my part that I knew what you meant?

Yes, it is. Luckily, these two wrongs (almost) make a right.

Consider this: the brake light is so vital that it even works when cars are not running.

And yet, most motorcycles need to have the ignition key ON.

OK tater salad, you get a pass this time, just don't let it happen again!!! 2nd time could be a $20 fine. I'm not sure about your switch, but the earlier models had a switch that was adjustable, tighten it up a little & it will put a little more pressure to activate the switch. Good luck.

The easiest way to check that is to simply pull sideways on the long spring that pulls on the switch. If that action turns on the light, adjust the switch.

.

[Rob S.]

OK tater salad, you get a pass this time, just don't let it happen again!!!

A.k.a. Ron White, one of the very best.