Tail light not working, brake lights okay

Hi all, need some help with something. Last night a kind motorist told me that my tail light is out. I got the bulbs out today and checked everything, and I'm a bit mixed up.

Looking at the wiring diagram in my Haynes manual, there is only 1 set of wires to the bulbs. When pressing either brake the bulbs come on no bother, but nothing when the lights are switched on as normal. I looked online for the bulb part number, and I'm confused now.

The bulb I found on the usual UK Honda bike parts supplier is showing as a double filament:

But it looks like from my bulbs only have 1 filament there, so the pic may be correct. But I can't see any burnt out wires or any wee bits in there, hence the confusion.

Is there a possibility that a wire/fuse has bust? Or am I over-thinking it and it's just that both bulbs have blown a filament?

(I'm gonna keep looking tonight, as my dad's going to get new bulbs for me tomorrow if needed, but if someone can confirm then that will put my mind at rest at least.)

 

Those bulbs should be dual filament. The dim one (tail light) is on all the time and burns out first. The brighter filament comes on for brakes.

There should be 3 wires feeding into the connector. One ground, a constant 12v (tail filament), and brake switch wire

 

fur gob's sake, maTE, check the bulb filament continuity with an ohmmeter b4 anything else. Next look for 12volts at the socket.

 

I thought as much, just weird that both of the bulbs had burnt out the same part, gave me no taillight at all. Instructions sent to my dad as to what to get, I'll get the lights changed tomorrow. Cheers man

 

The bulb should be double filament. Get the right bulbs

 

One's been probably toast for a while and you didn't notice.

T-CLOCS man, T-CLOCS :nono:

 

I replaced all the signal lights and running lights on my bike a couple years back now and IIRC the rear tail/stop lamps and turn signal lamps (front and rear) on the 5th gen are 7443 wedge style bulbs. Hence a quick check of your tail lights might be to remove a turn signal bulb from the rear light and use it to replace one of the tail/stop lamps. If it works you'll know it's the bulb.

 

I've gone through bulbs pretty regularly on my tail light. I dont know why. Oh well, I'll either switch to LED or just replace occasionally.

I think I'll go check them now actually.

Edit:
My bottom bulb is burnt. Again. WTF? I think I 'might' get 6 months from a bulb. Anyone recommend a good LED replacement?

 

I replaced my tail/brake light several years ago with LED. At least 2008 or earlier. There has never been an issue since. I just took the stock bulb into ky local autoparts store and they did the checking for the proper LED bulb. Even though I have a flashing modulator on my brake light, I did not need a resistor for that. I do think I would need a resistor for my signal lights if I changed them over to LED.