Position Lights

[k12smitty]

My wife recently had an accident on her '09 xCiting 500ri and I had to replace the front fairing and the headlight assembly. I bought this scooter new a few months ago and only while replacing the headlight assembly did I notice that there are two bulbs in the headlight that I can't figure out how to turn on. In the manual they are called position lights which I assume would be parking lights. The problem is the manual shows a control switch on the right handle bar that controls these lights. My scooter does not have this switch which also turns the headlight off. I guess U.S. models don't allow the headlight to be turned off. There are also two additional wiring harnesses under the fairing that match the wiring and connectors that connect to the turn signals. Has anyone else noticed these bulbs and figured out a way to power them without the switch mechanism. Also, any idea why there are extra wires for the turn signals?
Thanks,
Steve
Warner Robins, GA U.S.A.

[BigOrange]

Please attach a picture. I have the same bike.  Are the lights the turn signals?

[k12smitty]

I will post a pic when I get a chance, but the two bulbs I am talking about are inside the headlight assembly and are located on each side of the main headlight bulb. They plug into the wiring harness that connects to the main headlight bulb.
Check out the wiring on this parts list for the headlight assembly.
http://www.chaparral-racing.com/oem-parts-model/KYM/SBA0AG%20XCITING%20R500i%20(2009)/s5gl5AsDEKN_6DO0UpKEhg2

[Urbestfriend]

Yes...My 2009 Xciting has the single headlight also with the aux. lights on either side.  However these two lenses are chromed over and it doesn't appear to be easily removed.   Several Kymco models have this set up which does not appear to be used in the U.S.   I've had my cowl on and off 15-20 times.

[sissy mary]

Maybe they do come on, but are used to focus the center beam? Or to make it brighter?

[k12smitty]

Like I said, they are connected a wiring harness so they are designed to get power at some time. All I can guess is they would work if the European handle bar switches that are shown in the owners manual were there to connect to. They are called position lights in the manual, which I would interpret to mean parking lights. I am thinking about rewiring them to come on with my headlight. Also, I still don't know why there is an additional set of wires for blinkers. Maybe the European models have some additional lights too? Certainly someone else has noticed this and wondered about it before.

[k12smitty]

WOW, the Kymco forum is not nearly as informative as other forums I use. 129 views and only a couple of replies. Surely someone else has an idea why the U.S. models have the lights but not the switches to turn them on. I thought for sure someone had wondered about this and found a source for the European switching. Maybe there aren't as many Kymco scooters out there as I thought. Maybe I posted in the wrong category?

[ScooterCommuter]

You'll see that on many US scoots and bikes. The base model often has blinkers integrated into the fairing that do not meet US standards for separation from other lights or minimum distance from the bikes centerline. To convert the base model to meet US standards they install alternate blinkers that do meet the placement standards, disconnect the standard blinker connections and connect the alternate ones in their place.

The connectors built into the standard wiring harness are not used, although if there are usable housings or bulbs in place for the standard blinkers a common farkle is to hook them up, either as running lights or additional blinkers.

[mnpugdog]

In non US models they are position lights that you can turn on and off. In the US they are to close together and light's must stay on at all times by law so they disconnect them and don't put the switch on.

[gctkaz]

I believe ScooterCommuter and mnpugdog have it right.

This headlight module has been discussed in an older thread here.

I don't know why your position lights won't turn on if you just connect them; I installed this headlight lens on a Canadian model and the position lights stay permanently on (as I want them to).