First Post here! Love reading on this forum and watching the youtube vids. I had a electrical question regarding my 1990 GL1500 SE. I bought some fork lights for it to install on the rotor, 3 lights total on the mount which I cut stripped and spiced together to make One wire. The ring of fire around the rotor was working before taking everything apart. To test I cut and stripped the main wire that was orginally attached to the ring of fire. I turned on the key all lights turned on execpt when I touched the wires to the light mount nothing happened. So I tried to touch the wire to the ring of fire and nothing happened. I am at a loss I really suck at electrical issues and was wanting these to be installed for better visibility. Thank you guys for any advice you could give me.
Fork Lights Gl1500 Goldwing
- PegasusRider
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:50 pm
- Location: Clarksville,TN
- Motorcycle: 1990 GL1500 SE
- PegasusRider
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:50 pm
- Location: Clarksville,TN
- Motorcycle: 1990 GL1500 SE
Re: Fork Lights Gl1500 Goldwing
Here are some more pics. Hopefully the damage isnt to severe. I have done quite alot of my work on my bike from this forum.
- Swagonmaster
- Posts: 470
- Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2017 3:30 pm
- Location: Stokesdale, NC
- Motorcycle: 1990 gl1500 SE
Re: Fork Lights Gl1500 Goldwing
I would start by checking the fuses, you may have accidently touched the hot to the ground and blown one. Using a test light to see where there is (or is not) power would make the job easier.
Try to learn from the mistakes of others..... you won't live long enough to make them all yourself!
- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
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- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:16 pm
- Location: Strongsville, OH
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SE
1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (sold)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2012 Suzuki Burgman 400 (wife's!)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer - Contact:
Re: Fork Lights Gl1500 Goldwing
When you say you "touched the wire to..." - were the fork lights and ring of fire actually ON the bike at the time?
The lights use the mounting bracketry to connect the ground. So the power flows in over the wire, through the lights, and out through the bracket to the fork, and from there back to the battery. If they're not mounted, that means no ground connection.
The lights use the mounting bracketry to connect the ground. So the power flows in over the wire, through the lights, and out through the bracket to the fork, and from there back to the battery. If they're not mounted, that means no ground connection.
- PegasusRider
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:50 pm
- Location: Clarksville,TN
- Motorcycle: 1990 GL1500 SE
Re: Fork Lights Gl1500 Goldwing
I was holding the lights in my hand when I put the light wire to the hot wire coming from the motorcycle. I did see the ground wire connected to the rotor. So I should connect them install it then test it so it has a ground?
- Rambozo
- Posts: 2085
- Joined: Sun Apr 01, 2018 8:36 pm
- Location: Disneyland
- Motorcycle: 1992 GL1500 Aspencade
Ducati Monster
Re: Fork Lights Gl1500 Goldwing
The metal bracket the lights are mounted on will need to be grounded before they will work. If electrical is not your thing you might want to get some help on this. You can read here the many many many issues people have with poorly installed accessory lights. Especially with incandescent bulbs, the stock bike wiring may not be up to the task of adding more lights without a fused relay to take the extra load. The last thing you want is to be on the side of the road on a rainy night with no lights because something shorted out. Talk about poor visibility.
- PegasusRider
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:50 pm
- Location: Clarksville,TN
- Motorcycle: 1990 GL1500 SE
Re: Fork Lights Gl1500 Goldwing
Yea I am going to have the bike shop install it. Electrical is my weak point mechanically speaking. Thank you for your help.
- PegasusRider
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:50 pm
- Location: Clarksville,TN
- Motorcycle: 1990 GL1500 SE
Re: Fork Lights Gl1500 Goldwing
Thank you guys got them wired and yes it was not grounded. Learning as I go they work and look great now!
- PegasusRider
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:50 pm
- Location: Clarksville,TN
- Motorcycle: 1990 GL1500 SE
Re: Fork Lights Gl1500 Goldwing
Thank you guys got them wired and yes it was not grounded. Learning as I go they work and look great now!