Small red light on 86' dash?

[Tron]

G'day all,
I've just bought an 86' FJ1200 with 16,000kms on the clock.
As I was riding to work a small red light just below the speedo came on. It stayed on for a few mins then went out. It continued to come on then go off. The bike is starting and running fine but I've stopped riding it til I work this out. I dont have the owners handbook and 2 people I've asked dont know what the light is (prev owner and mechanic). There are separate oil level and low fuel lights at the top of the instrument cluster so I know it's not that.
I'm guessing there's a simple answer but any help would be much appreciated?
Thanks for your time.

[flips]

Hi Tron

I also have an 86 (Australian or uk 1tx).Mine doesnt have any kind of indicator light below the speedo.



Is it actually in the cluster or on the cowling?...does it come on at certain rpm?....maybe a shift light from a dyna ignition?

Dont know mate

Cheers

Jeff P

[Dads_FJ]

Sounds like something aftermarket, alarm perhaps? Take a pic of it can you?  Or maybe it was a red siren from the police officer behind you reflecting off your dash.  Kid with a laser pointer messing with you?   

okay I'll stop.

[Tron]

I'm in Australia but the bike is a Japanese import - originally sold new in Japan then shipped to Oz before 10,000kms.(that's why the kms are so low).
Dont know if that makes a diffrence re dash?
Light is in the black plastic below the speedo. It's very small, about the size of a tic-tac - if they made round tic-tacs that is.
Not sure if it was linked to rpm/speed. It just came on very slowly, stayed on a few mins then went off slowly. (bit like my love life - married).
I was wondering if it was a warning light linked to the electrics etc? The FJ's a pretty simple beast so if it's not oil or fuel then what else?
Maybe it's the 'saki time' light? NOS button? Ejector seat button?
Nice one re police/laser pointer - thanks for the laugh!
I took a pic of the dash this morn with my i.phone but I'm not sure if I can upload it to this post?
Cheers, Wayne.

[Tron]

I tell a lie. It's actually within the speedo just under the trip meter.

[Tron]

Anyone else out there with a Red light under their speedo? Any Japanese members maybe? Def a factory fitted thing as its sealed under same plastic as speedo.

[Harvy]

Tron, I have a '91 Jap Domestic model.......no red light.

Harvy

[Tron]

Thanks Harvy.
Anyone with an 86' model Jap import or an idea of what light's for?
I'm paranoid about riding it til I know. Red lights on the dash of a bike or car usually = problem.

[yampug]

i was intrigued what the light is for that you've mentioned had a google and came up with this from an old fj forum - http://lists.teamrc17.net/pipermail/teamrc17/2011-November/003306.html

The red light is for markets (primarily the Japanese) where an 80 kph
> limit
> applies. A sensor on the Japanese-market model turns it on at that speed,
> but your bike  (unless it is a restricted import) won't have the sensor.
> Your speed, torque and power output will not change.

[Pat Conlon]

i was intrigued what the light is for that you've mentioned had a google and came up with this from an old fj forum - http://lists.teamrc17.net/pipermail/teamrc17/2011-November/003306.html

A very very nice piece of detective work Yampug! What a cool first post... Kudos laddie

My kind of guy...Roll up your sleeves and get right to work solving the mystery.

In all my years with FJ's,  I never knew that the JDM FJ's had that little red light . How annoying, a red light that comes on when you go over 49mph....Kinda silly on a bike that can do 3X that speed..... Learn something every day.

[racerman_27410]

 i would take that speedo apart and replace that red light with a green one...... green for GO FASTER!

just sayin.   


KOokaloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

[Pat Conlon]

The red light is for markets (primarily the Japanese) where an 80 kph limit applies. A sensor on the Japanese-market model turns it on at that speed.......

I wonder which Japanese bureaucrat thought of this one.... I now understand the meaning of the term "Idiot Light"

[Tron]

A thousand thankyous Yampug. I was up to my 3rd bike shop (including Yamaha dealer) and no one could tell me.
Your bloods worth bottling my friend.

[ELIMINATOR]

yampug! Small world. LOL I've ridden a few Jap imports with the 50mph 80KPH idiot light.

[Dads_FJ]

Now we just need to find a better use of the light.  Shift light - RPM red line?