Headlight wiring / yellow wires

[NoisyDante]

I'm installing a new headlight and I had to use butt splicers to connect a new pigtail harness.  What I'm noticing now is that there isn't a large difference between the lo-beam and hi-bream, and it's inconsistent, hi-beams don't always activate.

There are 4 wires, a black for ground, a white for lo-beams, but there are two yellow wires, one has a black stripe.  I currently have the extraneous black/yellow wire disconnected.  Do both yellow wires connect to the one on the new harness through the butt splicer, or just the one plain yellow?

[Howie]

The yellow/black stripe wire is for the parking light.  If your left side switch does not have the ability to shut off your low beam it won't matter if you join them.  If it does have the ability to shut off the low beam do not join them.

As far as the high beam goes, most of the difference is in pattern.  Working intermittently is most likely your connection or the switch.  Telling us the year of the bike and what the new headlight unit is will help.

[ducpainter]

I think the yellow is low beam and white is high.

[Howie]

I think the yellow is low beam and white is high.

I just looked at the wiring diagram.  Don't trust the memories of us old guys.

White is low
Yellow/black is high
Black is ground
Yellow is parking light

for an '01 or '06.  In other words, do not join the Y/B and Y wire and correct your wiring.

[ducpainter]

I just looked at the wiring diagram.  Don't trust the memories of us old guys.

<snip>

That's what I get for thinking.

[NoisyDante]

My bike is an 07' 695 Dark.  The new headlight is a 5 3/4" dual headlight set from Aztec8.

I don't believe I have the ability to turn off my lobeam, just the standard lo or hi switch.  The current wiring I did last night is both yellows going to the hibeam.  So, with the yellow/black being the hi, and yellow is parking, should I combine the yellow with the white to turn the lo's on when it's parked?

Thanks for the help guys

[ducpainter]

That should give you a parking lamp.

Do you really need it?

[Howie]

My bike is an 07' 695 Dark.  The new headlight is a 5 3/4" dual headlight set from Aztec8.

I don't believe I have the ability to turn off my lobeam, just the standard lo or hi switch.  The current wiring I did last night is both yellows going to the hibeam.  So, with the yellow/black being the hi, and yellow is parking, should I combine the yellow with the white to turn the lo's on when it's parked?

Thanks for the help guys

I wouldn't.  The parking light bulb in the OEM headlight is 5 watts. Assuming you have 55 watt bulbs for low beam, using the parking light will leave you with a dead battery in a short period of time.  My advice should have been not to join them in the first place.  If you feel you need a parking light add a small low watt light to the front.

[NoisyDante]

I can't really say I ever use the parking brake, I will probably just disconnect and if need be get another smaller wattage bulb to do the job.  Apart from that issue the light looks great alongside the new Rizoma Zero's I put on the front as well.

using the parking light will leave you with a dead battery in a short period of time.

Too late, I think I killed the battery while working on the bike over the weekend.  Not an urgent problem since my arm hasn't healed enough yet ride.

I guess since it's my thread I can hijack it; how do I go about charging the battery?     Aside from calling AAA.

[peaveybassist]

My '08 M695, black was ground, white was lo beam and BLUE was high beam. The yellow was the parking light bulb. I dont remember seeing any of this yellow/black wire you speak of.

[DUCMS4]

I've never heard of "ASTEC8's", but I'm running twin headlight mod made from BMW "halo's" so I use the halo as the parking light when required.
My question is what type of fairing , if any; you intend to use for you twins.

[NoisyDante]

I'd really like to see a picture of your headlight, DUCMS4.  The old headlight I had on had a similar Halo going on but I wanted to go with a larger diameter.  I'll post a photo of the Aztec light soon.

I don't plan to use any fairing, just brackets mounted off the forks.