1981 XJ650: Signal flash when bike not moving

My motorcycle signal is solid when in neutral but blinks when moving. Is this normal?

Also, is there something I can change to make it blink when in neutral OR when motorcycle is not moving but engine is still running?

 

It should blink when the switch is pushed "up or down" and stop blinking when either you push the switch "center" or when rolling appx 400 feet (if the auto off is still working)

It should blink and switch off regardless of gear or neutral as long as the ignition key is in the first position to provide battery power to the bike's electrical system.

I have experienced one gremlin - non resistor plugs cause problems for my flashing unit and cause it to work intermittently or flash the bulbs in a rapid random manner.

 

If you mean the lights don't flash when you're AT A STOP AND AT IDLE, that's normal.

If you mean that the lights don't flash if you're still at speed and shift into neutral, that's weird.

If you have the idle set a little low, yeah......the flasher may not flash. Try this, when you come to an idle (obviously in neutral, or clutch lever pulled) and the flashers just stay solid, give just a touch of throttle to bring the rpm's back up a bit. I bet they start to blink again.

Its just a simple matter of the flasher unit needs enough juice to start the blinking part of it.

I kept my idle just at the dividing line where on warmer days it would blink just fine but on cooler days I might have to keep a touch of the throttle to maintain the blink.

Not a big deal.

dave fox

 

Change? Sure. Your battery. Or possibly your alternator brushes.

 

Thanks Dave that's what i thought. my brother's 82 XJ650 does the same.

The problem is that i'm trying to do my motorcycle exam and the instructor didn't like that my lights didn't blink when i was stopped.

 

It's not "normal" it means your battery is slightly "soft." If your battery was 100% fully charged and in tip-top shape, the lights will flash when the bike is idling (mine do.) Albeit more slowly than when running above 2200rpm.

 

I checked again last night and you're right. When you rev it up on neutral >2500RPM, the lights flash and the horn also works.

 

Next step: using a meter, check the alternator's output (take a reading across the battery terminals) at 2500rpm. If you get 14.5V ~14.7V then your alternator is functioning properly and it's simply time for a new battery.

If you get less than that, the alternator isn't going to keep any battery properly charged and you need to have a peek at the brushes.

 

I have confirmed this morning, that when my Tecmate3 charger says 'charged', the signal lights blink regardless of RPM when in NEUTRAL or in the stop light (clutch lever in). The ability to flash is the function of the battery power.

 

If the battery is in really tip-top shape they will even flash WITH THE MOTOR OFF.