Piaggio Zip 50 scooter (2012) Brake light problem?

[SPKonissis]

Firstly,

Hello to everyone, as you can see I am new to this forum so please excuse any ignorance on my part!

I have had my little scooter for a year or so and although the red light at the back is always on, there doesn't appear to be a separate brake light. When I hold the brake/s nothing extra lights up, just the usual red rear light! I checked the bulb and it is a standard 12v 10w bayonet type brake bulb, not the 12v 21w/5w type with the twin filament. I tried one of these bulbs on my bike but only one filament works. I would have thought all bikes, even my glorified 2 wheel lawn mower would have a brake light, am I wrong?

Can anyone please help and point me in the right direction to test if something is broken or even if my model doesn't have a dedicated brake light? I have asked a couple of nearby mechanics but they had no idea whatsoever! There isn't a motorbike mechanic near me so I would like to try to fix this myself if poss.

Many thanks in advance for any help.

[Oasis]

Piaggio's can be a nightmare with parts. But the best place to get advice from is www.fowlersparts.co.uk

[Joeman]

Take the bulb out and look in the socket where the bulb screws in. Are there Two contacts or one?

Photos please

[SPKonissis]

Hi, thanks for the help, there are two contacts (positive and earth/negative), It's a bayonet type fitting with 2 slots for the bulb prongs but only 2 wires going to the socket.

I have since looked at the parts available for my model from the link provided by the previous poster (thanks by the way, a fantastic link and great shop!), and it appears that there are 2 stop switches on the handlebars, one for each side. The stop light bulb in the shop is not with 2 filaments, it's the single 12v 10w brake bulb. So, as there are 3 bulbs in the stop light housing, 2 small ones that are wedge type and are on all the time, it the larger 10w one, that is supposed to be the brake light, it appears that my brake light is on all the time regardless if the brakes are activated or not. I suspect a faulty stop switch on one or both of the brake calipers on the handlebar unless anyone can suggest anything else I should at first? If that's not the problem, then the only other thing I can think of is possibly a short somewhere or maybe a relay problem? I don't know???

Thanks again for all your help!

[Joeman]

Yep, sounds like a brake light switch stuck.

Should be easy enough to figure out which one by disconnecting them one at a time.

If the brake light is still on with both disconnected, you have a short.

[SPKonissis]

Yep, sounds like a brake light switch stuck.

Should be easy enough to figure out which one by disconnecting them one at a time.

If the brake light is still on with both disconnected, you have a short.

 

Yes, makes sense, thanks to everyone for your kind help, it definitely helped!