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Rear Brake Not Engaging Brake Light

15K views 16 replies 10 participants last post by  SimpleThings  
#1 ·
I was sitting at a light in traffic on the way to work, with only my rear brake engaged, when I took a quick glance in my mirror and noticed I could see the reflection of my rear end in the chrome grill of the truck behind me. Specifically, I noticed my brake light seemed really dim. I released and reapplied the rear brake and saw no difference. I applied the front brake, and saw it light up. I released both brakes and then applied only the front brake, and the brake light lit up.

I am not ashamed to admit that electrical things make my brain hurt. I look at bike wiring, and it's all just technicolor spaghetti to me, and anyone explaining wiring tends to sound like Charlie Brown's teacher. I'm a "learn by seeing/doing" kind of gal, so I hit up the interwebz to find out if there's some kind of quickie adjustment I need to make that will fix this issue. Seems like there is. I've seen a couple of YouTube videos that indicate the issue is with the brake light sensor. It seems very simple to adjust, but I'm not exactly sure where the sensor is on my 2017 Versys 650. I did, however, find a video for this adjustment for a 2013-17 Ninja 636.

I have following questions: Are these two bikes similar enough that the brake light sensor is in the same place on my Versys? If not, where is it? Are these two bikes similar enough that the brake light sensor looks/operates the same on the Versys as the Ninja 636?

Thanks for the help. Hopefully, I can make this adjustment in the parking garage before I leave work this afternoon.
 
#2 · (Edited)
#5 · (Edited)
Hear that? It's me kicking myself. I didn't check the manual, because I thought something like this is more service manual related, rather than owner's manual related. Want to know why else I'm kicking myself? I'm a tech writer, and I'm the biggest RTFMer on the planet. Yeesh. <waves hand> Nothing to see here.
 
#3 ·
No offense, but most riding coaches will say you should use almost exclusively your front brake. So, problem solved. I never make a stop with only my rear brake, and because I have one of those things (I have the same electric skills as you) that flashes some lights as I start braking, when I sit at stop and somebody comes up behind me, I pull my front brake again so the lights flash as the vehicle approaches me. I am sure the technical folks here will have some solutions for you - but at least you don't have to fool with anything before your trip home - just use your front brake!
 
#4 ·
No offense taken. I don't usually *make* stops with only my rear brake. My front brake is *almost* always engaged in conjunction with the rear...just like I learned in the MSF 15 years ago. I do, however, sometimes sit at lights with only the rear brake. In addition, in the lovely traffic-clogged situations I ride in during my commute, I feather my rear brake and clutch for low-speed stability and will stop with only the rear brake if I was moving slow enough. I want the brake light working in that situation. What can I say? I'm picky. The brake light is supposed to work properly, so I want it to work properly.
 
#8 ·
I found with mine, I had to push down farther then I like to activate the brake light. I like it to come on without really applying the rear brake. A warning for the cager behind me. Just put a center stand on, so I adjusted it when I had the peg mount off. There's not much room in there, so pulling the mount is the easiest way to get to it.
 
#10 ·
Like many others - I stop using BOTH brakes, then at the end of the "stop-process" I release the rear, taking my feet off the 'pegs (then they are acting as outriggers) to steady me as I complete the stop w/ front brakes.

VERY seldom do I have only one foot down while the other holds the rear brakes ON.
 
#17 · (Edited)
I was sitting at a light in traffic on the way to work, with only my rear brake engaged, when I took a quick glance in my mirror and noticed I could see the reflection of my rear end in the chrome grill of the truck behind me. Specifically, I noticed my brake light seemed really dim. I released and reapplied the rear brake and saw no difference. I applied the front brake, and saw it light up. I released both brakes and then applied only the front brake, and the brake light lit up.

I am not ashamed to admit that electrical things make my brain hurt. I look at bike wiring, and it's all just technicolor spaghetti to me, and anyone explaining wiring tends to sound like Charlie Brown's teacher. I'm a "learn by seeing/doing" kind of gal, so I hit up the interwebz to find out if there's some kind of quickie adjustment I need to make that will fix this issue. Seems like there is. I've seen a couple of YouTube videos that indicate the issue is with the brake light sensor. It seems very simple to adjust, but I'm not exactly sure where the sensor is on my 2017 Versys 650. I did, however, find a video for this adjustment for a 2013-17 Ninja 636.

I have following questions: Are these two bikes similar enough that the brake light sensor is in the same place on my Versys? If not, where is it? Are these two bikes similar enough that the brake light sensor looks/operates the same on the Versys as the Ninja 636?

Thanks for the help. Hopefully, I can make this adjustment in the parking garage before I leave work this afternoon.
In the video he is screwing the brake light switch. This will twist wires coming out from the brake light switch and possibly damage them. What you should do is hold the brake switch tightly and rotate the hex nut instead.