Easy mod to disable headlights till you want them on (help: poor charge, V cold starts)

I've just done a quick mod to the light circuit that causes the headlights to be disabled until you want them on!.

Reasons:
1) The mod' will "extend the useable life of your battery" (currently you have to replace the battery once it refuses to crank)
2) Will greatly assist very cold starts.

WARNINGS:
1) It will be UP TO YOU to turn your lights ON, I recommend you do so prior to riding, for all the obvious reasons!.
2) In hot weather, should you NOT turn your lights on and go riding, you may overheat your regulator-rectifier AND OR boil your battery to the point that it is permanently damaged.

How to turn your LoBeam on once you've done the mod?:
Just press the "PASSING" button OR momentarily flick ON the HiBeam (only a few tenths of a second will do). The LoBeam will now stay on till you turn the ignition OFF.

Scope:
2002 + VFR800

Equipment Needed:
1) Normal bike tool kit
2) Soldering iron, solder
3) wire cutters
4) about 1 Meter of 10Amp wire
5) Heat shrink (assorted sizes) or electrical tape
6) A 12V automotive relay
7) 2 off power diodes (like 1N4004, these are cheap!)
8) 4 fem' tab terminals and a ring terminal
9) some cable ties


Instructions:
1) Remove the front fairing of the bike
2) locate the LO beam relay,
3) cut the Blue/White wire leaving enough wire to do a splice on both sides of the cut
4) add a ground wire to one side of the new relay coil
5) connect both of the diode cathodes to a Tab terminal and connect this to the other side of the new relay coil
6) connect one of the diode anodes to the Blue/Black wire coming from the HiBeam relay (some wire will be needed and a splice)
7) on the remaining diode anode add two wires, one going to the normally open side of the new relay and the other going to the Blue/White wire coming from the LoBeam relay (again some wire needed here)
8) the remaining (unterminated) end of the Blue/White wire goes to the as of yet unconnected side of the new relay coil
9) now mount the new relay, being careful not mount it where water can easily get into it. And make sure nothing can short circuit.
10) Test then re-assemble the bike. Done.

Schematic is attached below. The YELLOW bits are NEW.

Comments:
My mod is tidy and weather proof. Now I'll be not so stressed if I need to clutch her and know that she's more likely to start after I've been away and without having to leave a charger connected...

 

Well done ChrisT... I've been wondering about how to disable daytime running lights on my 06 for awhile now. This is a step in the right direction for sure... when you say passing button do you mean your indicators? you should make a video of start up and then put on one of the indicators and show the lights coming on...

 

The button I have used is the momentary HiBeam switch, you normally use it to pulse the HiBeam headlights on. Though you can also use the HiBeam rocker switch to acheive the same end. In short "just flick ON-OFF your Hi Beam and the Lo Beams come on till next time you shut her down".
Regards
Chris Turner

 

The passing circuitry may not be hooked up on bi US markets. I have an old Mercedes that has the horn/flasher circuit. Although possibly not against the law, it's not used much in the US and would tend to generate road rage with many drivers.

Sounds like maybe all that is needed is a new battery. I am sure the circuitry outlined is great and probably works, the flaw is in the potential to turn the lights back on just from forgetfullness and attracting the attention of a LEO who may be a nice guy and issue a warning or may be a total asshole and write you up for all sorts of things.

Without checking each and every state this link will allow an overview of several areas of motorcycle traffic laws by plugging in one's own state. I think it will be found that it is mandatory to have the head and taillights lit at all time when the bike is on the road.

How all this applies to UK, Canada, OZ, NZ and other parts should be investigated. Getting busted is not fun and can be expensive anywhere.

Unless of course we have a few preverts here who get off on getting busted.

Oregon state motorcycle laws

 

ChrisT: The 2002 Service Manual shows that the passing switch is fitted and does not offer any alternatives for different countries.

Chris: My battery is fine. The mod simply EXTENDS the usefull life of a battery, will assist very cold starts and allows for longer periods of non-use with no trickle charger.

ChrisT

 

If my US model 07 VFR800 has a passing switch I haven't found it yet. It's typical for Honda to use slightly different lighting systems in different countries.

On US models the headlight circuit has a cut out switch so it goes out when the starter button is depressed.

Aside from being the law (assumedly in most if not every US state), The main goal in traffic is to be noticed...the headlight on really helps. To me, it's a safety issue.

In case of a charging problems, which don't occur THAT often...IMO, it's just as easy to pull a headligiht fuse as go to the trouble of rewiring. I've never had any problem starting my bike in any kind of weather I care to ride in. If the battery is questionable, it should be charged or replaced. It's really hard on charging systems to run with a discharged or chronically weak battery...tends to melt wires.

It looks like you did a neat and well thought out mod. For my purposes, adding extra diodes and relay sacrifice reliability (more things to fail) for not much added benifit.

 

Is this button only on the 08+ VFR's? To be honest... I either haven't found it yet or am a dumbass... just looked through the 07 owners manual and couldn't find it either.... help?

 

If you don't have a "passing" switch (on the Australian model it's at your LH index finger, on the opposite side of the bar) then simply use a flick ON-OFF of the HiBeam switch to activate LoBeam. You only need a few 10th's of a second to get the LoBeam on, and as stated the LoBeam stays on untill you turn the IGN off.

 

My 1978 Suzuki has an on/off switch for the headlight, it came that way from Japan. The headlight switch also disconnects one phase of the stator so it doesn't overheat the rectifier when the headlight is off.

I think if I were going to switch mine on the VFR I'd hook it up to the side stand. Side stand down, headlight off. Side stand up, headlight on. That way you know it's always on when you're riding.

 

Great idea. One small problem there are some short dudes who ride with thier sidestands down to keep from pitching over at stoplights. This could be dangerous at night.