I've got a wierd question

[Dragonslayer]

I would like to use the front fork lock position on my ignition switch from time to time and have noticed that when I do the blinker lights come on and stay on. They dont blink they just come on. What's up with that?

[nyjerry]

From what I remember there is a position just before that one that lets you lock the forks with out the parking lights on.

[Dmnordin]

You mean these have a front fork lock on the ignition? What years? Do you push in the key or something? Never noticed it on my '83.

 

Doug

[6m459]

Aren't there two lock positions, one with lights on (front and back) and one without? Turn key one way for one and opposite for the other, or one click and then another click in the same direction?

 

I have always rationalized that the lit position was to allow you to park the bike locked but lit, so as to be secure yet not a hazard to other traffic in road side emergency unattended stop situations, like going for gas or similar. The unlit position, in my world at least, is for everyday use.

 

Likely the owners manual would explain, but I have never had one.

 

Frankly on 26 y.o. bikes, I don't think I have ever locked the steering head in the field. Heck, I sometimes even leave the key in the ignition over night. Who the he11 wants to steal one of these old boats?

 

 

 

Any other theories on this?

 

Hope this helps.

 

Brian H.

Edited August 11, 2010 by 6m459
'cause I just can't leave anything alone till its broke!

[skydoc_17]

Hey Bob,

Earl Says that when using the front fork lock, you have two options, front froks locked, no lights, front forks locked, Right and left "running light" on. He thinks it would be for if you broke down, you could lock the forks, and still have lights on, (but not headlight, and not flashers) and take the keys with you. Neat option, just not talked about very much. His thought on it is, if you are having a problem why compound it by draining the battery as well.

Jean

[Snaggletooth]

Yep....all the way over is the lock and lit position. Come back one click and you lock just the forks, no lights.

 

Mike

[MasterGuns]

Aren't there two lock positions, one with lights on (front and back) and one without? Turn key one way for one and opposite for the other, or one click and then another click in the same direction?

 

I have always rationalized that the lit position was to allow you to park the bike locked but lit, so as to be secure yet not a hazard to other traffic in road side emergency unattended stop situations, like going for gas or similar. The unlit position, in my world at least, is for everyday use.

 

Likely the owners manual would explain, but I have never had one.

 

Frankly on 26 y.o. bikes, I don't think I have ever locked the steering head in the field. Heck, I sometimes even leave the key in the ignition over night. Who the he11 wants to steal one of these old boats?

 

 

Any other theories on this?

 

Hope this helps.

 

Brian H.

 

You're kiddin, right? Heck, around these parts you have to keep an eye on your underware hanging on the cloths line.

[YamaDuck]

That was a problem on the 1st gen They fixed it when they came out with the second gen.:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

[Rocket]

That was a problem on the 1st gen They fixed it when they came out with the second gen.:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Sorry, I don't have a weird answer ....

 

Yup locked with, or without park lights on, depending on switch position.

 

With the 2nd gen, your key needs to be in to operate the 4 ways (unlike a 1st gen)... Heard of a 2nd gen stolen from an accident scene, while the owner was assisting at the scene.

[YamaDuck]

Sorry, I don't have a weird answer ....

 

Yup locked with, or without park lights on, depending on switch position.

 

With the 2nd gen, your key needs to be in to operate the 4 ways (unlike a 1st gen)... Heard of a 2nd gen stolen from an accident scene, while the owner was assisting at the scene.

That is a shame. I never lock mine. Most of the time I just take the key but I have also forgot and left the key in the ignition. My bad. I need to be more careful.

[painterman67]

you guys made me go outside and look for nyself. With the key in locked position all the way to the left the lights are on. One click back and the lights go out. I knew it had a lock but didnt know it would light it up too. I had a 87 vfr interceptor that would do that . I came in handy on e night on the highway as iot broke down and had me stranded on the side of the road in a dark lit area.A fellow actually stopped to help as he seen the lights without the head light and stopped to see if I kneeded help to get a new headlight.

 

 

David

[greg_in_london]

I always used to worry about locking the Venture and took the radio out every time I parked, but now I just don't bother. Kids don't seem interested in nicking radios any more (fortunately) and the bike is too imposing for kids and too old for professional thieves. That and the sidecar that the g/f refers to as the anti-theft device....

When travelling with the trailer tent, we've started using a trailer lock, but whether it is to stop somebody taking the bike or the trailer is a moot point.

 

Back to the lights, though, in the UK (and probably elsewhere too) it is supposedly a legal requirement that vehicles parked on unlit roads at night show sidelights. I say supposedly because nobody does it - if they did then their vehicles would never start because of flat batteries and then their lights wouldn't show anyway. Plus people would crash into the back of them (or queue!) because they would assume they were being driven on the road.

[CMIKE]

You 1st gen guys never miss an opportunity to get us 2nd Gen guys...so here goes.

 

They put this second key lock position with the parks lights on the 1st gen cause they knew you was gonna break down on the road and have to leave it overnight.

[greg_in_london]

Well yeah I suppose there's a problem with that - you have to count how many positions you've turned the switch to know which setting it's on and as you know, there's only three types of Venture owners - there's the ones that can count and then there's the ones that can't count. For second gen owners there's just no hope. Besides,the speed we pass you all at, it looks like you're brken down anyway...

[mrich12000]

"Who the he11 wants to steal one of these old boats?"

 

Well not to counsel Theft..

The bike is over 25 yrs, so could have vintage plates , new insurance estimate as a high value vehicle..freinds named Vinni or Vince..:rotfl:

[safetyguy]

Greg is correct about the legal reason for this switch position in some countries. Besides UK, I am pretty sure that I saw parked bikes with illuminated lights in France a few years ago as well. A lot of old japanese bikes have this "feature" and I can only assume that it was cheaper to have one set of parts/wiring than design these things for the US only.

 

 

Back to the lights, though, in the UK (and probably elsewhere too) it is supposedly a legal requirement that vehicles parked on unlit roads at night show sidelights. I say supposedly because nobody does it - if they did then their vehicles would never start because of flat batteries and then their lights wouldn't show anyway. Plus people would crash into the back of them (or queue!) because they would assume they were being driven on the road.

[Dragonslayer]

Thanks once again your input has been invaluable.It took me 5 years since ownership to realize it had a fork lock position and now another 3 years to find out it in fact had 2 fork lock positions.

Someday I will have finally learned everything about the intricate details of this 23 year old cutting edge technology of the 1st Gen Ventures.