Headlight Idiot Lamp 83 GS1100E

[BlackandBlue]

Has anyone had a problem with this lamp coming on? The headlight is fine but this lamp is turning on and off unpredicatably. I'm going to start checking and cleaning associated electrical connections.

[bonanzadave]

My stop / tail indicators have been going on and off for 15 years. Im not sure if there related to the headlight indicator. It will probably come back to a bad ground somewhere.

[Red Rocket GS1100]

me too

I get lots of idiot lights going on and off all of the time on my gs1100e.
So long as it is doing well I pay no attention to any of it. I am certain that it has something to do with dirty connectors....but I dont kick a sleeping dog. Ya know what I mean?

[catfishk]

wait... there is an idiot light on that bike to tell you the headlight is on? just curious

[bonanzadave]

wait... there is an idiot light on that bike to tell you the headlight is on? just curious

[catfishk]

wow, there is!

i thought motorcycles had to have the headlight lit always, legally?

thanks for the pic

[Griffin]

That's a nifty little LCD gizmo ya got there. What all does it read?

[catfishk]

how much energon is in the energon cubes, no doubt

[Steve]

wait... there is an idiot light on that bike to tell you the headlight is on? just curious

Not for sure about the light on the GSs, but I have had a "headlight idiot light" on previous Kawasakis, and my son has one on his Yamaha Venture Royale. They have a "Reserve Lighting System" which will automatically switch the headlight if a filament burns out. If your low beam burns out, the high beam will come on at about 80% brightness. If the high beam burns out, the low beam comes on at full intensity. In either case, the idiot light comes on to let you know of the failure. I presume it's similar on the GSs.

That's a nifty little LCD gizmo ya got there. What all does it read?

I have a couple of those on various bikes, too. What you are seeing on the display in the picture is (from left to right), a stopwatch, battery voltage (nice numbers \\/) and air temperature. The stopwatch can be switched to a regular clock display. The temperature can display in F or C. Across the top of the display are red, yellow and green lights that show charging status at a quick glance. There is also an ice warning that can be switched on and off. In the on position, it can flash lights or beep at you when temps get below 35F. There is a backlight for night viewing, but its intensity is directly proportional to input voltage, so at idle, if your voltage drops below 13 or so, you might not be able to read it very well. It is also NOT waterproof, but I have had reasonable success by spraying a couple coats of clear polyurethane over the display to keep most of the moisture out. Cost? Quite reasonable at under $25.
You can get one here.


.

[bonanzadave]

And of course still no answer on why the damn indicators come on for no reason........

[DanTheMan]

And of course still no answer on why the damn indicators come on for no reason........

To complicate your life and lessen the riding pleasure....:-D After all, they are "idiot" lights..... My old GS850L only has four "idiot" lights: neutral, high beam, oil pressure, and the turn signal indicator light. Much less complicated....if my tailight or headlight quits working when I'm riding, the only indication I'll get will be the voltmeter increase, or somebody trying to run me over at night (of course, they do that anyway, lights or no lights)