[teighlor]

anyone here swithced from a key type ignition to a toggle switch instead?? any hints on changing that?? the key hangs down on the downtube and interrupts the flow of the frame and looks junky.. i also hid the horn which also hung down low, and relocated it to behind the headlight....now to get rid of that battery...........

 

[robertob]

Depends on the bike. Got a wiring diagram? I know on the CB450 it would be easy since there is only two positions - tail only, and ignition/tail, etc. You don't need the first position so a simple dpst switch would work perfectly. A dpdt switch could be used to add the tail-only position with OFF in the middle.

 

[teighlor]

so what was the point of the tail only position on that ignition anyway???

 

[robertob]

I think it's like a "hazard" or parking position - so someone doesn't hit you when the bike's parked.

So for no tail light you need to wire a double-pole, single-throw switch like this:

Red - Black (one pole)
Red - Brown/white (other pole)

For tail-only position wire a double-pole double-throw switch like this:
---- - Red - Black
Brown - Red - Brown/white

one direction is ignition ON, other direction is tail only, center is OFF.

 

[teighlor]

Thanks that seems easy enough...which side of the coupler or ignition plug would you guys recommend putting the toggle on?? sorry for all the questions, but id rather be safe than sorry...electronics is not my favorite.....

 

[robertob]

Either one - there are two things to consider, though: Is your stock harness nice? If not, wire it on the harness side. If it is, you might think twice about hacking it up. That said, the stock Honda brown circular connector is a total POS. It has lots of resistance from the tiny pins, which causes heat, which causes the insulation to fail, which cause corrosion, which causes more heat, etc, etc.

I re-used mine because I'm anal and I wanted to keep it relatively intact.