Motorcycle Repair: brake light, rear caliper, light bracket

Question
Own a 1997 Harley heritage the problem with my bike is that the brake light stays on.  I took off the bulb and checked wiring with a test lamp and I have power to both wires feeding the sensor and the light bracket. don't know if the front bike has a brake switch or not.  Any info. appreciate.

Answer
Martin,
  Sounds to me like you have a faulty brake lite switch...it should be a two post switch located on or near your rear master cylinder(switch number one)...  Trace your hydraulic brake line from the rear caliper up to the rear master and you should run across it....you may also have a similar switch on your front brake master...one of the two are probably faulty.Locate each switch and unhook the wires from one of them at a time.  The best way is to use a ohm meter and check for continuity at the switch..if you have it between the two posts, the switch is faulty(turn your key on and if your brake lite is out that is another good conformation.)  Replace the faulty switch and it should solve your problem.....

 The switch is pressure activated, when they stick, the light stays on .

  If both switches check out good then it is possible that you have a short in the wiring, but check the switches first, this is most common


good luck

D