Starting with headlight

[pieter1]

It is understandable that the headlight is always for safety purposes, but for me it is not right the start the bike with the headlight on, as it draws current from the starter and at cold days the battery can not keep up with the additional load. Is there any mod available to cut the current to the headlight for the duration of cranking the engine?.

PS: there is no choke warning light to assist to remember to open it after warming up.

[NoRRmad]

I'm pretty sure that there is already a relay in the fusebox area under the seat that cuts power to the headlight when starting. If yours isn't working, it's pretty easy to replace.

The "choke" is actually just a faster-idle throttle adjuster. No harm (except for a fast idle,) in leaving it on.

[pieter1]

Thanks, will look for the fuse. Any clue on the number?

[NoRRmad]

Perhaps somebody will identify it from this:

You're looking for a bad relay, not a fuse. "Starter Relay" is a good place to start. I don't know if this is the one that cuts power. "Load Relief": next to it sounds promising, too. Sorry I can't be more specific.

[sweatmark]

How about the right hand euro-spec switch assembly? Includes full control of headlight: off-city-on, so you can start the bike in the off position if desired.

Example:
http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=1458

[riceburner]

How about the right hand euro-spec switch assembly? Includes full control of headlight: off-city-on, so you can start the bike in the off position if desired.

Example:
http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=1458

That's interesting - is that a straight fit into the loom on an R1150R?? My UK spec Rockster doesn't have the light switch (I wish it did), and I bought a 2nd hand R1100S switch assembly - but the connections are all different.

[FloridaBeakster]

Your bike does NOT start with the headlight on, unless the relay is bad (or the wiring has been doctored with). The load relief relay custs power to the headlight and a few other things when the starter is going. If your headlight doesn't turn off while the starter motor is going, try replacing the load relief relay. If the relays under there have the same pin layout, they are interchangeable, so you can try swapping it with another if the headlight is not going out while starting.