tail chop = no headlight and tail light!!!

[DUC of LA]

was finishing up a tail chop for my s2r1000.
started her up to see if the vibrations from being on would cause anything to come loose.
I was tucking away the wires in the tail, then grabbed the license plate light wire and trying to figure out where to stuff it because I won't be mounting and using the light.
THEN the tail and headlight started to flicker, then turned off. bike was still on.
turned off the bike, turned it back on. brake light works, signals work fine, BUT headlight and taillights wouldn't come on anymore. also, the "pass light" high beam flasher works, but not the high beam/low beam switch. also the (P)arking light works as well.
are the tail and low beam bulbs busted?
appreciate any advice

[take risks]

Either

A) You did it. Retrace your steps.
B) You didn't do it. Check the fuses.
C) It is more complicated. Test your wires to find where you lose power.

Good luck. Hope it is easy.

[memper]

I vote A. Human interference with machines is probably the #1 cause of failure.

[DUC of LA]

Either

A) You did it. Retrace your steps.
B) You didn't do it. Check the fuses.
C) It is more complicated. Test your wires to find where you lose power.

Good luck. Hope it is easy.

i'm sure it was human error. I was holding the plate bulb connector and had removed the bulb. (i forgot to mention that the plate bulb wasn't already working. if that makes a difference.)
so when i had removed the bulb, the head and tail light flickered and then went out.

[Howie]

The answer is A or B lead to the same first step.  Check the fuses.

[militar3rd]

I had the same problem when I did my tail chop and the bare wires grounded.

+1 on the fuse, it was fuse #3 that disabled my headlight taillight and cluster gauge light.

[oldsquid]

Electrical is pretty much black magic in my book, but I have found that a lot of mysterious issues--like yours--end up being a poor grounding issue. I'd make sure that during the "trimming" process, every component has retained a proper ground.

[DUC of LA]

***UPDATE from the novice here:
it was just a busted fuse. easy fix with a new one.
thanks for everyone's help!