Parking lights? On v9, maybe v7 too?

[bad Chad]

I can hardly think of a time when I have used parking lights for what they are intended for.   That being said, I got to wondering how they work on the v9?

On every other motor vehicle I can think of,  there has ben a spot on the ignition or light switch to turn on only the parking lights, but on the v9 they seem to only come on  when the ignition is turned on, along with the computer and fuel pump.   That is, there seems no dedicated circuit for only the parking lights.  In order to use them, one would need to turn on the ignition system, leave the key in, and presumably walk away to go find another beer.

I thought that parking lights were a DOT thing and thus seting up a system as it is on the v9 seems like it wouldn't even be legal, but what do I know?

[Moparnut72]

On my Audace I can turn on the parking by yurning the ignition switch to the far left after pushing it down. This the first bike I have owned to have a parking light since my 1958 R50/2. I have never used it nut it is nice to know that it is there. Not having the headlight come on until the bike has started is a major plus to me. I had a110" Harley prior to my Guzzi, the headlight was on when ever the ignition was on. It was questionable if it would start when the temperature dropped belpw 40*. Even then it was murder on the starter. I put a 500 amp battery in it. It was a lot better but not great. When I first got it the compression releases had't been  activated and most times it wouldn't start.
kk

[Kiwi_Roy]

Is it possible it also required the bars to be locked, try wiggling them while pushing the key and turning backwards.
The park light on my new V7 comes on with the key, the headlight with the motor running.

[bad Chad]

The headlight doesn't come on until the motor is running.

[MiGomes]

I found out that the headlight turns on with the engine off and key turned on IF you walk the bike a little.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I found out that the headlight turns on with the engine off and key turned on IF you walk the bike a little.

Thats the same on my new V7iii the wiring may be identical perhaps.

[Cdn850T5NT]

I have "standing lights" - as I THINK they're known as in the UK on my Series 3 850T5 (1985). Now it is a Eurospec model (and never was sold in North America). It has a low wattage clear bulb in the headlamp (off to the side... not the central bulb) and it plus the tail-lamp (not brake lamp) is lit with the 3rd position of the ignition switch (which allows key removal) plus actuation of the handlebar switch "Park".





As a side-bar comment - my Dad had a 1977 Mercedes that had a light switch with Standing Lights RHS and Standing Lights LHS capability... to mark the "outside" edge of the car while parked and to not waste batterry power by illuminating the inside edge of the car needlessly.