Headlights flicker??

[robk]

2005 XB9R Ok so I first noticed this back on Memorial weekend as I was riding home from the track (Indy 500). On the highway and all of a sudden my headlights went out completely for just a few seconds, then BAM right back on!! So fast forward to a week or so ago and It does the same thing on me (this time im out in the middle of corn fields, lol), but I now noticed that its the entire dash that goes out as well. So I noticed that while holding the switch that it didn't do it as much, so I assumed it was the switch itself. Ended up buy a used switch off of ebay (I know, I know) But no sooner do I replace the switch and fire the bike up, BOOM headlights go out. So fast forward to just this past weekend and I let my buddy borrow it (he was the original owner) and he noticed that a few times after turning the key on and flipping the ign switch that the fuel pump didn't prime. So he wiggled the switch and instantly it would come on. Now ive done some reading on here and it looks as tho the ignition switch can be a normal culprit of a lot of odd hiccups and bugs. So my question is this Does it sound like I might be having a faulty ignition switch, a shorted wire somewhere, or possibly 2 different issues now showing their faces on a bike that has given me little to no issues in the last 8 years of ownership. Also the battery was replaced at the end of last year and when not being ridden its on a tender. Thanks in advance everyone!!

robk

 

[BambamXB12r]

The very first thing I would do is go through and check/clean every ground on the bike. I had very similar symptoms and it was a bad ground.

 

[oh9bolt]

Headlight pigtail connector is probably arching. Look under your fairing and find the main connector for your headlights and wiggle it and see if your lights turn on and off. The pigtail is under $20 from harley.

 

[robk]

oh9bolt would that cause the dash lights to go out as well, tho?? I was leaning towards a ground like Bambam mentioned or a short in the actual harness. Thanks for the replies guys

robk
05 XB9R

 

[snrusnak]

Check batter connections, grounds, etc. Check all the connectors under the fairing also. I had my headlights flickering due to the connections at the lights themselves not being tight, but that won't cause the other issues you're describing. I also had a bad connection to my horn at one of the plastic connectors under the fairing, the pin inside the connector was bent causing it to not make contact. Bent the pin down inside the connector with a small screwdriver and never had another problem. Sounds like you definitely have a bad connection somewhere.

 

[robk]

Thanks everyone. Ill let ya know what I come up with

robk
05 XB9R