ST1100 Rear Light Wiring

essjay

Hi guys....

Just wondering can someone share the knowledge in relation to the rear light wiring on the ST1100.

I have a set of rear running lights and a brake light to wire up. From a quick scan at the wiring diagram it seem that there are 3 wires going to the lights. Are these ground, +12v running, +12v brake? The colors seem to be brown, green, green & white from the wiring diagram I found on the net, but I'm not sure which colour is which wire.

Also, where is the best place to access these wires? I'm only knew to this bike so I've not tackled the job of removing fairings.

thanks
 
From further investigation of the wiring diagram, my current train of thought is the following:

Brown - running
Green - ground
Green & Yellow/White - brake

Is this correct?
 
ESSJAY - According to Haynes, you appear to be correct. Inside the tailpiece, you can pull down the black plastic cover and get to the wires. Also on the left side of the tailpiece is where the wiring bundle comes in near the frame, wrapped in black wire wrap. Just have to be careful when removing the outside wrap that you don't skin the internal wires. Good luck!
 
Uncle Phil said:
ESSJAY - According to Haynes, you appear to be correct. Inside the tailpiece, you can pull down the black plastic cover and get to the wires.
Click to expand...
Yes, the sides pop past plastic nubs and fold in like a camping stove, then it folds down.

Green is ground
Green/yellow is brake
Brown is taillight
 
Essjay:

Below is a picture of the plastic tray assembly in the tailpiece of the ST 1100. Disregard the fusebox sitting in it, I took the picture when I was in the process of installing an aftermarket auxiliary fusebox.

The big red arrow points to where you "fold" the black plastic tray (on both sides) to get access to the bulbs in the tail light. You pull inwards on the little tabs on both sides, once they disengage, you fold the wings in 90 degrees and then you can tip the entire rear portion of the black tray forward and get access to the tail light bulbs.

I had the rear end of my motorcycle fully disassembled to enable me to run wires, but no disassembly of any kind is needed to fold the black plastic tray forward to get access to the tail light bulbs.

Be aware that the internal design of the tail light on UK spec bikes is different than the internal design of the tail light on North American spec bikes. See the second photo, which shows a UK spec bike beside my North American spec bike. I suspect that the difference is internal to the lens assembly only and that the outside dimensions are probably identical. I don't know if there is any difference in number of bulbs, etc. You can see there is quite a bit of difference in the appearance when lit.

Michael

Rear Tray (forward of tail light)
Rear fusebox area folding.jpg

UK tail light vs. North American tail light
taillight.jpg
 
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Essay, the boys have pretty much covered it, but.....
I'm guessing it's cold in Dublin and old plastic doesn't like being moved/twisted/bent in the cold. Try to do it in some heat and the wires run down the frame before they get to the light....obviously.
The rear cluster doesn't take much removing anyway with the tailpiece if the mood takes you. I'm guessing it takes no more than 30 minutes including Guinness time to remove it, although it's a while since I've done it.
Good look fella.
Upt'North.
 
CYYJ said:
UK tail light vs. North American tail light
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Nah, EC spec taillight... (two dual filament 5/21W bulbs in a shared space)

I always wondered why you guys have that dark spot in the center of the taillight (caused by separation plates extending from the reflector base)
A singe track vehicle is supposed to have one marker/light source (front and rear) ID-ing as single track...
 
ST1100Y said:
I always wondered why you guys have that dark spot in the center of the taillight (caused by separation plates extending from the reflector base)
Click to expand...
It is to allow following drivers to judge closure rate and distance from the motorcycle.

The two illuminated sections of the tail light are close enough together that from more than 30 meters (30 yards) back, it appears as a single light. But once you get closer than that, it is a lot easier for a following driver to judge closure rate and distance if you have two lights and a small dark space between them.

Michael
 
CYYJ said:
The two illuminated sections of the tail light are close enough together that from more than 30 meters (30 yards) back, it appears as a single light.
Click to expand...
Whilst I can grasp the "navigation lights" concept behind this, is this contradicted by the numberless car designs featuring one massive light bar spreading across the entire width of the vehicle...

I also never spotted such on other bikes like 70ies SOHC Hondas or HD's, where the latter now even have those fancy tail/brake/indicator combines dangling out on rods left and right, with no centered position light at all...
 
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