What causes the tail light of a underbone motorcycle not to light up?
2 Answers
Motorcycle tail light not lighting up is usually caused by a burnt-out bulb or poor contact in the wiring. Check whether the bulb is functioning properly and if the ground wire has good contact. Introduction to motorcycle tail lights: In professional terminology, they are called "position lights," which indicates their function is to show the position of the motorcycle on the road at night. This makes it easier for vehicles behind to notice when the front vehicle brakes, helping to prevent rear-end collisions. Tail light specifications: Motorcycle tail lights and brake lights usually share the same bulb with two filaments. The tail light filament is typically 8W or 10W, while the brake light filament is usually 28W or 35W. This is why the tail light is not very bright, while the brake light is much brighter, serving as a prominent warning signal.
I've been riding motorcycles for several years, and it's quite common for the taillight to suddenly stop working. The most frequent cause is a burnt-out bulb, as the strong vibrations and bumpy roads can easily break the filament. Another possibility is a blown fuse—check the fuse box for the one corresponding to the taillight, gently pull it out, and see if it's broken. If it is, try replacing it with a new one. Wiring issues are also not uncommon, such as loose connectors or aged wires with exposed insulation leading to short circuits. You can try wiggling the connector to check for poor contact. Additionally, insufficient battery power might cause the light to dim or not work at all, so inspect the battery connections for any corrosion. When this happens, I recommend first checking the bulb and fuse yourself—it doesn't cost much, but timely repairs are crucial to avoid the high risk of being rear-ended while riding at night. Paying attention to these details during motorcycle maintenance can save you a lot of trouble.
