Rear turn signals also marker lights?

Hey guys! I obviously didn't pay any attention before I did my latest mod so I come seeking the wisdom of the board (with my hat in hand) :? .

I recently swapped out my rear turn signals. The rubber stalks on the oem turn signals were split resulting in sagging signals and I wasn't all that enamored with the style of the OEMs anyway. So I located these and installed them. They turned out quite nice! They were easy to install. A two-wire system and I just modeled how the OEMs were wired and I wired these the same way. Other than the guage of the wire on the new signals being somewhat thinner, everything connected up fine.

Now the issue:

I noticed that when the bike is running and idling, my front turn signals are lighted as running lights along with the headlight. The rear turn signals are not...they are off. Now when I actuate the signals, they all flash as they should - - no problem there.

Can anyone confirm that this is how it should be? I just assumed that if the fronts are on, the rear's should be lighted to.

Anyway, I'll post pics soon on the new turn signals for the benefit of others interested in doing the same thing. Thanks!

 

Front on, rear off is normal. Some states do not allow the rear turn signals to run full time. Personally, I'd hook them up for visibility issues but you need to check with your state's laws before you proceed.

 

my 85 xj700x also has only the front turn signals as running lights no constant rear..

 

It's against the law to run amber rear running lights.

If you want to use your rear signals also as running lights you will need to replace the amber lenses with red ones.

 

You'll need "three-wire" turn signals to use them as running lights too. Personally, I never understood the need for them in the front as the headlight is bright enough to wash them out. I'm also worried about confusing the average cager, I want them to know a turn signal is a turn signal.

 

My V65 had front running lights.
The 650 has no running lights front or rear.

 

ALl XJ700 and XJ1100 models had front "always-on" running lights that also serve as turn-signal lights.

The rear lights on ALL models are turn-signals only.