KZ1300 A1. US Spec. Headlight Question.

Can anyone answer this question. ??

I have a 1979 KZ1300A1 US Spec Model.
When the ignition on this bike is turned ON, the Headlight comes ON automatically, as it is a legal requirement for that model / country. It does NOT have a Headlight ON/OFF Switch like the Euro Model does.

Can anyone confirm if the bike is factory wired so that the Headlight is automatically switched OFF when the Starter Button is pressed, or is the battery feeding the Starter AND Headlight at the same time when starting. ?????

The reason I ask, is my 2003 ZRX1200 is the same..............but is wired from the factory so when the Starter Button is pressed, the Headlight is not powered, just the starter.

Any info very welcome !

Pete F
UK

on my 1980 kz US model, the headlight stays on while the engine is cranking.

It is wired so the headlight is on all the time. What I did was to take the switch apart and file the rotating disk that the button is fastened to so the switch would rotate past the low beam position enough that the headlight would go off. Giving me the option to turn the headlight off if desired. However if you go to Electrical Connections website they sell a headlight bypass relay for the Honda Goldwing ( I have an 06 model among others...:woohoo: ) so the headlight will not turn on until the relay is energized after starting. I'm sure it could be incorporated into the 1300's headlight circuit.

electricalconnection.com/index.php/brand...da/goldwing-tour-18/

electricalconnection.com/?s=headlight+relay

Hope this helps

Thanks for the confirmation and advice lads..........the Goldwing Relay Fix is an interesting solution which must be similar to the way my ZRX1200 is wired from the factory ?

Now I know how its wired, I think I will just wire a simple ON/OFF switch into the Negative side of the headlight circuit so I can turn it off for starting then back on once running.
This way the starter will get all the battery power for starting (which it really needs) but I can still have the Headlight on when riding, which I always prefer to have anyway.

Thanks again

Pete F
UK

With some old Hondas of similar vintage, the N/A models were not equipped with headlight switches but the Euro/Everywhere else models were and the Euro switch are plug and play on the N/A models. Not sure if that's the case with the 1300's or not

Now I know how its wired, I think I will just wire a simple ON/OFF switch into the Negative side of the headlight circuit so I can turn it off for starting then back on once running.

You have to use a double pole switch...... basically 2 stitches in one. This switch will allow power to the high beam and low beam to be interrupted independently/simultaneously.
I can't remember the specifics but I do remember on mine (Canadian) that interrupting the common (ground) to the headlight caused issues with the headlight default control unit.
#1 - High-beam power IN
#2 - Low beam power IN
#3 - High- beam power OUT (to headlight)
#4 - Low beam power OUT ( to headlight)