High beam issue

[rogueleader_92]

I was on a dark spot of freeway and when I hit my high beam it didn't come on, no indicator light, nothing. Flipped it twice more and it finally came on. I played with it a bit and it tends to come on now but takes a second or a bump in the road. I can tap on the switch while it's on and it flickers. Anyone have this issue so I know what to tell them when I take it in?

[Robert]

I was on a dark spot of freeway and when I hit my high beam it didn't come on, no indicator light, nothing. Flipped it twice more and it finally came on. I played with it a bit and it tends to come on now but takes a second or a bump in the road. I can tap on the switch while it's on and it flickers. Anyone have this issue so I know what to tell them when I take it in?

Yup had the same problem also check your kill switch it may cut out the bike on a light touch or not work properly. Spray some WD40 into the switch and work them and do that once in awhile and all should be fine. That is the only thing on the bike that annoyed me, the fact that Honda did such a good job on the rest of the bike then puts these crappy switches on them really should be a duh moment to Honda

[rudymsmith]

As a new 2014 Valkyrie owner - this is the info I crave. Any more wisdom out there like this?

[Robert]

As a new 2014 Valkyrie owner - this is the info I crave. Any more wisdom out there like this?

 
Yup know what you mean about the information, the only problem is the bike is so well designed and engineered that there are not many areas like this that need addressing. Now maintenance we could go into or personal changes but after 8500k miles I have not had the need to do to much else. I have put on new tires, grips,seat,bags, spark plugs platinum, windshield, oil, diff oil and changed the coolant but that to me is personal preference and maintenance.  Hell when I bought the bike I thought now what air horns should I get. That was till I pressed the horn button and crap that thing is loud. 

[woofred1832]

                 I have not yet had any problems with the switches, I added LED lites that I found on line in the lower front couling, I used Hondas wire harness for the switch ,But mounted the lites to existing bolts and ran the wire leads back to the connection point. Works fine. I have the Honda bags, back rest, and pad. For the windshield again I got one one line and cut it to fit using the mounts from the short shield, For those longer trips I got a Viking hard trunk, I remove the rear seat pad and mount trunk close behind me so I can lean on it myself
                 Alittle harder geting on the bike but great while riding. The stock seat has been OK after all you are riding a motorcycle, not sitting in your lounge chair in your living room. I love the bike, have over 14, 000 miles on it now, did replace the front tire, the motor is just now really running great, changed to all cynthetic oils, made thing even smoother than before...... I think now that there are more1832 Valkyries out there it will become the bike to be noticed, not just for the motor but, how you can make it to your oun style and not just be an assembly line same as others out there.
           Enjoy it I do mine........ ride on life is good.

[postoak]

I have this problem now too.  I flip the high-beam switch on and get neither high-beams nor the blue indicator light coming on.  If I flip the switch several times it will come on.  Also, pressing down (inward) on the switch seems to help it come on.

I hate to take this in to Honda.  Has anyone opened the switch housing and fixed this?

[Shrubbo]

Hey all, first post on these forum so howdy from Australia I s'pose

I had this same problem. Hit high beam and nothing. Flicked it a couple of times and it was then ok. The next week same problem and I then found I had better luck pushing down (flash/pass) a few times and then all ok again. I figured it is something to do with the contacts as I do all weather riding so I wasn't really concerned with it. I will spray it with something I said to myself and then forgot about it.

Next week the same again and I still hadn't done anything with a spray of any kind so I turned the bike off and rammed that switch from high to pass a dozen or so times to teach it a lesson!

That was about 4 weeks ago and no problems since then. The switch is doing as it should when it should. That says to me a bit of corrosion on the contacts. I will spray it one day when I get my lazy butt to do it but until then that rapid violent flicking through full range many times seems to have done the trick

[SteveC]

I have this too, putting a little 'side pressure' when I flip the switch makes it fail 1/3 of the time.  I believe this is a design problem, so will report it to the dealer at my next visit. 

We should all report it, or Honda won't know it's a widespread problem.
Steve

[Robert]

So did any one read spray a bit of WD40 in the switch and work it a few times, posted above? The other solution is use silicone grease when you take the switch housing apart and that will do it for a longer period.

[brew1brew]

Personally I feel that should be a warranty item, these are new bikes! Make Honda fix it.

[Robert]

Personally I feel that should be a warranty item, these are new bikes! Make Honda fix it.

Totally agree but who wants to part with the bike long enough to let the dealer repair it? Or who wants to put their bike back in the dealers hands?

[postoak]

Exactly.  It's a 45 minute drive each way and I have to arrange a ride.  Then, although it would take a technician 15 minutes to fix, they might keep the bike for several days because they're "behind".

Spraying WD40 as a fix implies that you think the switch isn't moving fully.  I'm not sure that is the problem.  I'll have to open up the housing and see if I can figure out what is wrong.  I was hoping someone had already done this.

[rogueleader_92]

I haven't yet, the riding season was just kicking off when it happened to me, I was gunna have a look at it in a month or so when the weather turns cold.

[Robert]

Exactly.  It's a 45 minute drive each way and I have to arrange a ride.  Then, although it would take a technician 15 minutes to fix, they might keep the bike for several days because they're "behind".

Spraying WD40 as a fix implies that you think the switch isn't moving fully.  I'm not sure that is the problem.  I'll have to open up the housing and see if I can figure out what is wrong.  I was hoping someone had already done this.

WD40 helps to get rid of and stop corrosion, I am not implying the switch is not moving enough, I am stating its corrosion or dirt on the contacts. BTW already been there done that, I don't know why this isn't getting across but use some silicon lubricant to protect it for a longer period.

[dhaile]

My bike does the same thing.   I have to firmly press the switch a couple of times.  It must be a defective part.

[Shrubbo]

It looks like I can confirm spraying some RP7 (Or WD40) in there seems to have fixed the problem as I have had zero issues since I did that. It should be noted I ride all weather and I don't mess about when I am washing, it all gets wet