Parking lights?

[yechave]

The tiny bulb that lights under the headlight when the key is one position to the left of the steering lock position, is for what? I must have missed that in the manual. I saw this faint light after coming out from a meal, and was not sure if it was sunlight or what. Just having checked now that it is dark out, I see that both front and back lights are on....just curious what the purpose of using the lights are in that position?

 

Thanks!

[Bprimm]

Visibility for short term parking

[Ken H.]

Not used to much in North America, but in other areas of the world it is more common to park a bike in places such as in a walking area with the lamps on.

[NoHeat]

It's a 5W bulb that I replaced with a 3W since it doesn't matter much anyway.

 

IMHO it's useful for two purposes:

 

1. Keeping water out of the nose fairing. If you didn't have the bulb there, there would be a hole.

 

2. When you add an aftermarket accessory that requires a relay, you can tap into the parking lamp wire, and the relay will be activated only when the key is turned.

[MAT2CHI]

Say you ran out of gas or had another problem and you were stranded on the side of a narrow dark road, would you feel more comfortable with the parking lights on when you went to get help, or having your motorcycle sitting there in the dark.

[milesandmiles]

I use it for a headlight. No reason to give them any more warning than you have to.