Rear Turn signals also acting as marker lights?

[Saboon]

Have a new-to-me 1984 Aspencade I’m getting back together after a resto. All electronics function as they should, but I notice that when I turn on the bike, the rear turn signals glow as marker lights. When switched on they blink brighter and at a normal speed.
I know the front ts also act as marker lights, but it seems strange the rear ones should do so also.
The service manual only shows two wires and a single filament bulb in the rear. Mine has a dual filament bulb with three wires ( including a brown one) going into the socket. It does not appear that any wiring has been molested, the attached photo shows right rear light assembly with the lower socket being for the turn signal.
Can someone with a 1200 answer if this is normal?
Thank you.
attachment=0]FB4FAEB3-0C44-4477-85BF-408EC8B66B15.jpeg[/attachment]

[CrystalPistol]

Not like my '85 Aspencade.

Has it got dual filament bulbs in tail / stop light positions?

My '85 has dual filament bulbs and wireing for red tail / brake lamps, but just a single filament bulb for the amber signals back there.

Maybe some long ago forgotten aftermarket harness kit added?

[Saboon]

Crystal pistol,
My red brake/tail lights are dual filament (top socket in pictures) I guess someone may have switched out the tail socket wiring harnesses, but don’t know why don’t think it is legal to have amber and red tail lights.
Guess I could remove the brown wire from the ts sockets allowing the ts wires (lt blue or orange) to power one of the elements of the existing dual filament bulb?

[CrystalPistol]

Crystal pistol,
My red brake/tail lights are dual filament (top socket in pictures) I guess someone may have switched out the tail socket wiring harnesses, but don’t know why don’t think it is legal to have amber and red tail lights.
Guess I could remove the brown wire from the ts sockets allowing the ts wires (lt blue or orange) to power one of the elements of the existing dual filament bulb?

I agree and would much rather have amber signals that alternated between "off-on bright" than some that went from "on-on bright", but people like to add a light in anyplace they can, often without thinking a lot about how / what signal they send.

You could determine which wire is from tail, just clip it and leave bright filament to work and leave dual filament bulbs in place and note in your notes?

[Saboon]

CrystalPistol,
I wholeheartedly agree wit you. I cut the brown wire going to each ts, and double shrink wrapped the ends. Works . I’m so thankful that the issue was not in the deep recesses of the main wiring harness! Just part of the joy of correcting what others have done.
Thanks for your input!

[CrystalPistol]

More I think on it, it do seem to me that once was a kit offered to convert signal lamps to running & signal lamps. I'll look in old catalog (big book of paper pages with pics they used to make) I have.

I did put some smaller side lights on my 1200 about 20 years ago, cut lenses, made housings, adapted …. but I left signals alone. I also added some bulbs in a kit behind top trunk corner reflectors, but hardly noticeable.

Red to rear, amber to front.

[julimike54]

SNIP
I also added some bulbs in a kit behind top trunk corner reflectors, but hardly noticeable.

Did you remove the silver paint from the inside? I've been told mine are I catching!

[CrystalPistol]

Did you remove the silver paint from the inside? I've been told mine are I catching!

Yes Sir, sure did. They can be seen easily, but hardly anyone will notice because few remain on the road so folk have forget what they look like OEM I think.

[AngolaGoldwing]

My 87 Interstate has the running light turn signals in the rear. No idea if stock or not.

[CrystalPistol]

My 87 Interstate has the running light turn signals in the rear. No idea if stock or not.

No, not stock. It was a kit at one time 20 year or more ago, and really was / is not even legal to have rear amber turn signals lit as running lights too, sort of defeats the purpose.