Problem with lights on YBR

[Guest]

I am hoping someone here can give me some advice or has had a similar problem with lights. Its starting to get dark early now... dodgy lights = not fun

Basically I have a YBR 125 and have never had a problem with it, until recently. I will be riding down the road, and to me it looks like my headlight would suddenly turn off. Only for a few seconds, but just long enough for me to fill my pants.

I have taken my bike to a Yamaha dealers and I thought as my bike was due a service, I would ask them to look at the lights. My reasoning being, they are Yamaha bods, surely they can fix my bike - its a tiny bike and there is not much there to check - how hard can it be?

Well, on picking up my bike the guy says he couldn't find a fault... he tried everything, taking it apart, jiggling the bike, everything but no fault great ...

Anyway, off I ride (in the dark) and the problem hasn't happened for a few days so I am thinking.. aha whatever Mr Yamaha repair man did seems to have fixed it... and then my lights cut out again.

Sigh... I pull over to the side of the road and start punching my headlight and swearing and realise something. My lights have not been turning off completely.. its just compared to my headlights (not full beam) it might as well be off because I can see bugger all. Its only when I'm standing in front of the bike (and punching it) that I can see that my lights are in fact still on but on the dimmer side lights!

Ok forgive me for the lack of technical terms.. when I turn the key (not start the engine yet) my lights come on, kind of like side lights on a car (are they called that on a bike?) and when I start the engine the lights brighten again and, of course, if I flick the main beam switch, they get even brighter. What has been happening is that the lights change between side lights and headlights.

Is it possible that there is some kind of fault where the bike thinks the engine is off and dims the lights? i.e. a loose connection not located in the lights? Also, now I'm thinking that the garage couldn't find a fault because during the day it is hard to tell the difference between side lights and headlights?

Any ideas anyone?

[Gin]

When my CBR was doing similar, A bulb change sorted that out

Might be same thing?

[Guest]

I had a similar problem on a car - just needed a new headlamp bulb.

[Guest]

Wow that simple huh? I'll try and get a new bulb this weekend.

So how come the experts at the yamaha garage didn't think of this

[Guest]

go for a brighter bulb... you have 3 stages of light..

side light 5W small bulb.

Headlight main.

and high beam,

sounds like your main light is dodgy..

a new bulb will remedy it, if you have a glass lense and metal housing you could get a higher wattage bulb..

[Colin the Bear]

Intermittent electrical problems are a pain. Cos if it won't do it , you can't trace it.

Simplest solution first. Yes. Change the bulb.

And by the way, punching it will only result in a damaged hand and/or a more expensive repair. It may also cause acute embarassment as passers by giggle. Resist the urge.