I did a search but couldn't come up with what I was looking for. First, the break light works when I use the hand brake but not the foot break. I checked the connections and everything seems to be ok.

Second, are the rear amber lights supposed to be lit up when the bike is on? They currently are not but the blinkers work fine. The front ambers are on all the time and the blinkers work.

I took them all apart today to take off the sissy bar. Everything was working fine after I put things back together but tonight I took it for a ride and noticed the ambers in the rear not working and break light when I compress the foot break. The connections look ok but I must be missing something.

Any help appreciated!

 

The rear ambers are turn indicators only unless you change it with an add on part. If the brake light isn't working on the pedal, you may have pulled the circuit apart at the harness although it seems unlikely.

 

The wires coming from your rear brake light switch ties directly into the same wires as the ones coming from the front brake light switch in the main harness of the bike (assuming you have the stock wiring still). If the brake light works with the front brake lever than the wiring from the front switch to the tail light are OK (including the wires under the rear fender). The problem must be either in the connection at the rear brake switch or the switch itself. Either that or the wires coming from the rear brake switch up to the main harness under the seat area.

And yes jim425 is correct in the fact that the rear ambers only flash and are not lit during normal running of the bike like the front ones are. If you look at the front amber light bulbs you will notice that they have two filaments like your brake light does, and rear ones only have one filament.

 

Thanks, I'll do some checking today and see if I can find something.

 

What has been said so far is spot on, I assume your rear brake actually works?? If you have air in the line it may not activate the switch.
Most likely the problem is the switch for the rear brake or a wire to it, pull the wires from the switch and test them, if they are good when you press the pedal the problem is the switch.

One other thing, you say you took things apart, what exactly did you take apart?

 

Dis-connect the two wires from the rear brake light switch at the master cyclinder. Turn the ignition on & jumper the two wires. If the brake light illuminates, the wiring is ok. Re-install the wires & press the foot brake (with the ignition on)... if the brake light does not illuminate, the switch is bad.

 

Perfect, thank you all so much for the help. It turns out my switch must be bad.