Headlight lameness / confusion

I've got a '99 UK SV650S and the headlights are, well, crap.

Each side as a 45/55W H4 bulb in but only one element is actually powered - only two wires to each bulb. When in dip mode only the left light is lit up and in high beam the right hand one comes on as well. According to all the wiring diagrams i've seen both lights are wired in parallel AND switching between dip and main should switch between them, not just adding in the high beam on top of the dip?

Anyone got any clues or describe how there lights behave?

cheers

[fastdruid]

On my UK y2k SV650S both sides come on at the same time for both hi and lo beam.

Are you sure it's a UK bike and not a parallel import?

If it is just two wires to each bulb then you can either re-wire it or get the front sub-loom and replace it[1].

Druid

[1] Although this is a bit of a PITA.

[dirtydog]

Sounds like you've got a euro spec bike

edit: have you actually checked that both bulbs are working ok? As i don't think the euro spec ones use H4 type bulbs

Originally Posted by fastdruid

On my UK y2k SV650S both sides come on at the same time for both hi and lo beam.

Are you sure it's a UK bike and not a parallel import?

If it is just two wires to each bulb then you can either re-wire it or get the front sub-loom and replace it[1].

Druid

[1] Although this is a bit of a PITA.

Cheers mate. Pretty sure the bikes not a parallel - all the paper work ties up ok. Just done a bit of loom chasing and it does just seem to be the front instrument/lights loom that is weired - the wires which disapear into the chassis harness for the dip light fuse comes from the lighting switch (W/Y) rather than the dip switch (Y). Think I'll be modding this loom as everything else looks fine. Still a mystery why though.

Explains why the lights were **** though, I was starting to think it was just me being an old git....

[Dave20046]

I think you've misunderstood bomber, I took it to mean each bulb (both lit) have two elements or fillaments in but bomber's only noticed 1 is lit.
Sorry I have no advice on the subject I'm a newb

[fastdruid]

First thing though is to swap for 55/60's, that's 10w of extra light even with one bulb for a start.

Druid

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by fastdruid

First thing though is to swap for 55/60's, that's 10w of extra light even with one bulb for a start.

Druid

fastdruid out of interest are you actually a druid?

[fastdruid]

Originally Posted by Dave20046

fastdruid out of interest are you actually a druid?

No, it's a nickname I picked up at uni based on a misspelling of my first name. Fastdruid is just because I started to find other people had created logins as 'druid' and after trying a few combinations came up with that as something that was reasonable unique.

Druid

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by fastdruid

No, it's a nickname I picked up at uni based on a misspelling of my first name. Fastdruid is just because I started to find other people had created logins as 'druid' and after trying a few combinations came up with that as something that was reasonable unique.

Druid

Ah fair play, just wondered. Had a bit of trouble with the druids round these parts..