Parking light =(

[Flash]

Sooooo! How many people here have left their parking light on on accident and killed the battery?? Come on, be honest!
....Is there an easy way to disable this feature? I've cought myself a few times now turning the key a bit too far when locking the forks.

I learned my lesson real quick the first (and only) time I left my parking light on.
First, I turn the key all the way to the left. Then, I observe the parking lot is on. Next, I turn the key back one click as I watch the light go out.
You have to force yourself to make this part of your normal routine until it becomes 2nd nature.

It's funny how there is not a better way to engaging the parking light safely without incident. My dad's '83 Honda CX650 has the placement of the steering lock and parking light feature switched (compared to our GS500). You would think there would be some kind of standard at least.

[dorian chapman]

i did this once, and the battery was done, wouldn't hold a charge, had to buy another one.
I asked the guy at the bike shop "what the hell does the "P" mean anyway ?"

shop guy - "it means PUSH....cause that's what you'll be doing if you leave it there !! "

[TOMIMOTO]

On my 2004 you have to pull the clutch in in order for the parking lights to go on while locking the handle bars.

EDIT: I just went and double checked this and I guess I don't have to pull the clutch in. It's weird sometimes it doesn't let me put the parking lights on after locking it and I pull the clutch in and it works. This has happened twice already but I was just able to do it without pulling the clutch in. Weird.

[Keloran]

Left on Parking Light: I've done that once, and only once. Luckily, I wasn't gone long enough for my battery to drain. Now I take a quick look when I'm walking away from my bike to make sure I haven't done it again.

-Kel

[cay]

first .. everytime i see someone with a parking light on.. i turn it off for them..

i have turned off lights for all kind of bikes with my gs500 key, just push it half way and turn... it goes off.

Err...  Doesn't that mean that a malicious individual could easily run around turning folks' parking lights *on*?

[Cal Price]

I've done it twice, dead lucky both times. First time outside my house and a guy knocks my door and tells me, he was walking past and, of course he turned out to be a biker. Second time outside my office at work and one of the troops tells me, he's a biker too. So on th basis of cosmic khama I always keep a look out, good to hear about the key trick.
Be Lucky.

[Unnamed]

I'm bringing this thread out of cold storage because I searched and its the only relevant one I found.

Why the hell do bike manufacturers put parking switches into bikes? I can't possibly think of a reason why I would ever want to have one of these, they're totally unnecessary and have probably ruined more than a few people's days. I almost killed my battery yesterday with it, I was going to bed when I looked out the window and saw that my light was on, nearly resulting in an awful morning for me.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I'm bringing this thread out of cold storage because I searched and its the only relevant one I found.

Why the hell do bike manufacturers put parking switches into bikes? I can't possibly think of a reason why I would ever want to have one of these, they're totally unnecessary and have probably ruined more than a few people's days. I almost killed my battery yesterday with it, I was going to bed when I looked out the window and saw that my light was on, nearly resulting in an awful morning for me.

In the US, it's a legal issue. They're required to. The reasoning is that if the bike dies for some reason, and you need to leave it on the side of the road, you leave the tail light illuminated, to make the bike more visible, and thus, safer.

[highnoonhunter]

In the US, it's a legal issue. They're required to. The reasoning is that if the bike dies for some reason, and you need to leave it on the side of the road, you leave the tail light illuminated, to make the bike more visible, and thus, safer.

Thanks for explaining that! I just did this very thing last night at church. Some others came in and told me I left my lights on. I went out and thought one of my brake switches was stuck. I had never noticed the little "park" indicator just past the lock position. I messed with the keyswitch and noticed the lights went out. But it was today that I finally figured out why they went out.

hnh

[Unnamed]

I can accept that that law exists. It is, however, retarded. I can't imagine a scenario when I would actually use the light for that. If I ran out of gas I wouldn't, because if it took me two hours to get back I might have run down my battery too and then I would be totally screwed. If I had an accident the chances are good that my electrical system would be somehow damaged. I know when I crashed last year I bent the gauges down so far that I couldn't move my key. Has anyone EVER intentionally used their parking light?

Also, it would be nice if the manufacturers would move it farther away from commonly used features like the steering lock.

[pandy]

My bike has emergency flashers....I wonder why IT needs a parking light...   

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

My bike has emergency flashers....I wonder why IT needs a parking light...   

Cuz it's easier to turn the parking light on than to hit the flashers, when it's laying on its side.

[pandy]

If you don't like the way I park, then get out of the ditch! 

[spc]

Flashers?? Parking lights>  I'm happy when my headlight works   just disconnect everything but the head and tail/brake lights and pray for the best    

[Gibby]

I did it Yesterday and I havn't had the bike a week yet!
Doh!

Luckily the recovery vehicle was there 15 mins with some jump leads!
Sorted.

[ohgood]

first .. everytime i see someone with a parking light on.. i turn it off for them..

i have turned off lights for all kind of bikes with my gs500 key, just push it half way and turn... it goes off.

Second to push start, use 3rd or 4th gear.. or you will never get it started.  Dont ask me why but it always push starts on the higher gears.

i have jeffd's tail lights so i dont worry.

Dude, you rock. I've seen folks like you, picking up dropped cash for folks, dropped kids' toys, keys, turning off headlights in cars (befor everyone installed stupid alarms), helping ladies change tires.

hats off man, you absolutely rock.       

[pandy]

first .. everytime i see someone with a parking light on.. i turn it off for them..

hats off man, you absolutely rock.       

I second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth this motion!

[John Bates]

I'm bringing this thread out of cold storage because I searched and its the only relevant one I found.

Why the hell do bike manufacturers put parking switches into bikes? I can't possibly think of a reason why I would ever want to have one of these, they're totally unnecessary and have probably ruined more than a few people's days. I almost killed my battery yesterday with it, I was going to bed when I looked out the window and saw that my light was on, nearly resulting in an awful morning for me.

here's the solution

[RVertigo]

Nice one John Bates!


I went to visit my sister when she was taking her MSF.  An SV was parked there with the parking light on....  So, being the nice guy that I am (ha ha ha ha), I pulled out my key and turned it off for him.  Some of the other people at the MSF thought I was trying to steal his bike.    Silly kids...  But, at least the guy didn't have to bump-start his bike after the MSF.

[97dime]

these things have a steering lock?  didn't know that.  i can't get my key to turn more than half a click backwards. doesn't do anything.  i see where it says lock and park but it won't turn that far back. mine's an 04 if it makes any diff.