[Z C]

My 08 Vulcan 2000 has a headlight problem. The other day I took the headlights rim and lens off because of an annoying vibration noise. I fixed the vibration(screw had to be tightened), put it back together and the light wouldn’t turn on. I was freaking out cause I work at night and the bike is my only form of transportation. I ended up taping a flashlight to the fork.
I got on the bike this morning and when I started the engine, the light kicked on… so now it only lights up if the engine is running and will stay on when I use the kill switch, but turns off when I turn the key off?
im happy it is working at all now, but what’s the deal, any ideas?

 

[whoaru99]

I don't know that I've ever checked various conditions of how the stop switch affects the headlight on/off, but it's normal/as designed the headlight doesn't come on until the engine is started.

 

[Kachow]

(my comment below is applicable only if the headlight won’t come on once the bike is running. Otherwise, like whoru said, as long as it comes on after the engine starts, you’re fine.)

If it’s like my Honda Valkyrie, the headlight current passes through the start button, so when I played with the start button (not actually pushing it when it’s running, but just tapping it), that would get the headlight back on. It’s a symptom of it starter switch that needs cleaned.

 

[Sabre-t]

(my comment below is applicable only if the headlight won’t come on once the bike is running. Otherwise, like whoru said, as long as it comes on after the engine starts, you’re fine.)

If it’s like my Honda Valkyrie, the headlight current passes through the start button, so when I played with the start button (not actually pushing it when it’s running, but just tapping it), that would get the headlight back on. It’s a symptom of it starter switch that needs cleaned.

Yep, it was the same way on my Honda Sabre.

 

[coosacounty]

I got on the bike this morning and when I started the engine, the light kicked on… so now it only lights up if the engine is running and will stay on when I use the kill switch, but turns off when I turn the key off.
That’s exactly how both of my vn2000 work.

 

[Fast cheese]

With my 500 the Killswitch doesn't turn off the battery. Also in Georgia those blue lights would be begging to get pulled over. I'm sure you're driving people crazy thinking you're a moto cop. Lol. Good luck with the bike though.

 

[Fast cheese]

. I mean the lights stay on. Only kills the engine.

 

[Z C]

I got on the bike this morning and when I started the engine, the light kicked on… so now it only lights up if the engine is running and will stay on when I use the kill switch, but turns off when I turn the key off.
That’s exactly how both of my vn2000 work.

my 2000 up until a few days ago, the headlight would turn on when I turned the key. Didn’t need to start the engine.

 

[Z C]

With my 500 the Killswitch doesn't turn off the battery. Also in Georgia those blue lights would be begging to get pulled over. I'm sure you're driving people crazy thinking you're a moto cop. Lol. Good luck with the bike though.

Iv gotten a moto cop escort splitting lanes here in California, he didn’t mind the lights.

 

[Kachow]

my 2000 up until a few days ago, the headlight would turn on when I turned the key. Didn’t need to start the engine.

Mine the light doesn’t come on until the engine starts, I just checked and that’s what it was last year which at that time made me think it was screwed up but it is normal I believe

 

[whoaru99]

my 2000 up until a few days ago, the headlight would turn on when I turned the key. Didn’t need to start the engine.

Then something was amiss before (or didn't notice that's the way it actually worked).

The functional check in service manual describes exactly the way you say it is working/should work.

Start the engine.

• The low beam headlight should go on.

Set the dimmer switch to high beam position.

• The high beam headlight should go on.
• The high beam indicator light should go on.

Turn off the engine stop switch.

• The high beam headlight should stay going on.

Turn off the ignition switch.

• The headlight and high beam indicator light should go off.

 

[Fast cheese]

Good to know mines doing rright based on last comment. Also cool you can legally lane split. I honestly do it daily but have to be careful and look around first.

 

[Kachow]

Good to know mines doing rright based on last comment. Also cool you can legally lane split. I honestly do it daily but have to be careful and look around first.

Can a V2K actually fit between lanes though?😆

 

[Fast cheese]

Lol not sure I'd be comfortable trying. I have a really stripped down 500.

 

[countrysg8100]

I have basically the exact same bike (VN2000 '08) and my headlight will only come on once the bike is running. However, if I use the kill switch (not the key!) to turn the engine off, the headlight will stay in, but as soon as I turn off my key and back on, the headlight shuts off UNTIL I restart the bike. I've looked into this myself, and it appears to be that way from the factory, so I'm not sure why it came on with the key on before.