Motorcycle Repair: Honda Rules!, model hondas, rear marker

Question
My headlight and rear marker lights are not working on my Honda Shadow 2000 VT 750 bike.  Blinkers work (front and rear).  Front marker lights work.  Starts fine. Runs fine. Rear lamps fine.  Fuse location?  Relays?  Haven't checked front headlight yet. Any advice?

Answer
Diana, Most stock Hondas come with front and rear turn signals, headlight and tail light. Front marker lights are part of the turn signal assys. Front marker lights are on when headlight is on low beam and go off when headlight is switched to high beam. They don't have rear marker lights, as part of the turn signals, at least from the factory. If you have some kind of accy lighting installed, then you will have to track down the wiring, going back either to the fuse block or elsewhere in the harness, where wires may have been tapped into.

You can go to www.bikebandit.com and check the OEM parts option, choose Honda, year 2000 and then model. That will take you to illustrations of the parts of the bike, including the fuse block assy, which is generally down with the battery illustrations.

If the high and low beams are not working, then it is probably the fuse or dimmer switch wiring. The headlight circuit is actuated by the starter switch button. Press button in for START and the headlight goes out. Release button and starter disengages and the headlight goes ON.
Older model Hondas, they had a lot of problems with these switches, but I am not that current on the newer models, including cruisers. Add-on items are strictly test and check the wires, as you find them. They won't be on any wiring diagram. If your bike has an owner's manual check for a diagram in the back of the book.

Hope this is helpful..

Bill Silver