I have concluded that my bike is possessed

[MistressOfMayhem]

I have.

So a couple of months ago the bike started doing something tricky. More specifically, the headlight. It seems that "randomly" my headlight will turn itself off after hitting a bump. It happens once in a while (albeit frequently) and completely random. For instance, I could go over a speedbump in a parking lot at 25 and it wouldn't happen, but if I hit even the slightest bump on a freeway it will. And I could hit the same bump again and it won't happen.

Not to mention that the way to turn it back on is to downshift into second and only upon upshifting into third (during the transition between 2nd and 3rd) will it come back on. The bike has been pulled apart and put back together, headlights changed, battery cables checked, wiring connections secured, you name it. The highbeam switch has no apparent affect one way or the other. The only thing that hasn't been done is completely screwing with the wiring system to check for kinks or pinches in the wires.

I heard of something similar happening to another rider and he said that his headlights would only come on if he flipped on a turn signal. If it were that convenient I wouldn't really bother with it, but having to click through the gears every time it happens is a real pain in the ass, not to mention the danger of riding with no headlight.

Any suggestions? Anyone else have this problem with their ZX?

[Pippi]

I'm not familiar with a ZX, and don't know how the shifting between 2 & 3rd would fix it but definitely sounds like an electrical problem - and one kink or loose connection disturbed by bumps in the road is a big indicator for me.

Did you buy the bike new or used and how long have you had it? Had any work or mods done?

[ncdixie]

It does sound like a pinched wire or something. Fall/winter is a good time to go over it. Good luck.

[Aracheon]

Shoulda bought a Honda. :D

[R1Gurl]

sounds like you have a pinched wire or a short in your wiring somewhere. My bike did similar things a couple months after my tail light integrator was installed, took a couple weeks to go through it and find the problem.

[krazy kustumz]

check the chassis ground wire, make sure its clean and tight.

[Aracheon]

make sure its clean and tight.


*Note to self: Perform this same check on future girlfriend candidates*

:aBigROLFMAO:

[MistressOfMayhem]

Hahah I was waiting for someone to go there!

As for the bike, bought it used from a guy who didn't do much to modify it except put an aftermarket slip-on on it. It gets pulled apart and put back together from time to time when it goes to the track and it's possible that it happened after I wrecked but there wasn't a lot of damage and it didn't start doing it for a long time after the fact (a few track days in between). I'm thinking its a pinched wire or something I was just holding out some delusion of reprieve, thinking that maybe it might not be so complicated.

Thanks for all the tips guys.

As for gettin' a honda. I'm actually exploring the options at the moment. Honda was my first love until the 03-04 636 came out. Now that I have this bike I can start expanding my collection ;-). Just gotta make some space in the garage.

[Aracheon]

As for gettin' a honda. I'm actually exploring the options at the moment. Honda was my first love until the 03-04 636 came out. Now that I have this bike I can start expanding my collection ;-). Just gotta make some space in the garage.


You just can't go wrong with a 954RR. :D

[Jay]

Check the relay. If you wrecked then something inside the relay box might have come loose.

[COtruckchick]

You got it lucky if all it does is the lights.... My old one had it out for blood... everyone who owned her went to the hopsital

[MistressOfMayhem]

Haha yeah she's already taken blood from me. We're close like that now. I don't think I'll let anyone else ride her for the simple fact that I don't want the burden on my conscience if she bites them.

Well okay that and I don't want to have to give someone I love a colorectal foot implant for thrashing my baby. ;-)

[COtruckchick]

Such big words for a hick brain like me to understand.


Naw I miss the R6... its gotten to the point that the orig owner who i sold it back to me and him are the only one's who will ride it. His current fiance will not even sit on it after hearing what its done to everyone.

HEHEHE I walk on the dangerous side!!



But I know how you feel bout it weighting on your mind. One of my trucks the ONLY people sides me I will allow or think of allowing to drive it is the actual owner (my fiance) and my father cause they know what their doing. Know one else does. Not even my green beast.



If you ever need a mechanic n your in CO I know three really good bike ones.

[MistressOfMayhem]

I appreciate that.

One of these days I'll get back out there to visit my mom in Denver.

As far as the bike goes. It looks like I'm going to be replacing a bunch of stuff. My best friend is in the process of putting together a ZX-6R from the ground up (other than the engine) to use on the track. So we're going to swap out some things on my bike and hope that it fixes the problem.

Until then I'm livin' dangerously as well :smile3:.

[StealthBlackRR]

Just a thought, if the bike was ever stored outdoors(or damp garage), sometimes where the wires are connected in the plug, they can get a thin layer of corrosion on them...sometimes just pulling the bulb out and cleaning with a thin wire brush,(or pick tool)can help. That same thing actually happened with my car....replaced the bulbs,checked the wires,fuses, etc.....it was just dirty enough to have a connection that made the light come on and off over bumps.

[MistressOfMayhem]

Hm... dunno.

So far we have changed the bulbs, swapped the junction box, swapped the ECU, tinkered with the fuses, checked the connections, examined the wiring harness for damages and probably some other crap I'm not remembering offhand. But I'm convinced it's a pinched wire somewhere and until I can make it go off and STAY off, its going to be hard to diagnose the problem. That's what sucks is that it's completely random.

[98RedCamaro]

Eek, need some holy water?

[MistressOfMayhem]

Eek, need some holy water?

Hahaha at this point I'll take anything. We switched out all of the relays this weekend and it did it again tonight. LAME!!!!

[Cutty72]

Hahaha at this point I'll take anything. We switched out all of the relays this weekend and it did it again tonight. LAME!!!!

Did you get it figured out yet?
I got no ideas... i hate electrical work. Best of luck!!!

[MistressOfMayhem]

Well... I've been reluctant to make any declarations so as not to jinx it but I think that after a couple of weeks with no problems the issue has finally been resolved. A buddy of mine had the idea that it had something to do with the starter switch/relay so he tinkered with it a bit and so far so good.

That or its been going out and I've just become used to riding blind! :-D

[Cutty72]

Good deal if it's fixed...

Good luck if it breaks again!!