Adjusting your rear brake light switch

When I learn something "new", I like to share it on this list :-). I'm sure this has passed through the list before but thought I would share (especially when I get caught doing something stupid) ;-).

BACKGROUND: I have the "Priority Lights" module installed on my PC800 which flashes the brake lights every time I stop... blink blink blink. I like having this a LOT! Also, my battery is about ready for replacement (I have to charge it regularly) so at stop lights, even stepping on the brake will cause the neutral light to flash gently along with the brake lights; blink blink blink. No problem.

THE PROBLEM: I was sitting at a stoplight in neutral with my right foot on the rear brake and being kinda bored, I pulled on the front brake... neutral light goes gently blink blink blink. Hmmmm. I pull on the front brake again... blink blink blink. What...?!? Why...?!? I leaned over to the rear and sure enough, the brake lights were not going on when I pressed on the rear brake; only when I engaged the front brake! Yikes! Now, I always use both brakes (wet greasy surface issue aside) ;-) so this was not something one would note while riding with me. How long this has been going on is unknown. How often do you check that the rear brake lights go on when you press just the rear brake pedal? (I know... every ride...) ;-}

 THE SOLUTION: Thinking I had a bad rear brake switch (or loose connection), I started digging into that area of the bike. Gotta give it to the designers, they have it hidden almost under the battery! :-) Once you've done this once, adjustments are a 10 minute job so here are the steps (I had to do it twice to get it "right"): You will need a good sized Phillips screw driver, a 6mm (as I recall) allen wrench, and a flat blade screwdriver.
1) Open the trunk.
2) Remove the right vent cover.
3) Remove the right side cover.
4) Remove the right rear crash guard cover.
5) Remove the Phillips screw holding the lower right plastic and the rear lower right plastic.
6) Remove the oil dip stick cover.
7) Remove the large allen fastener that holds the lower right plastic.
8) Remove the rubber "plug" that holds the lower right plastic and the rear lower right plastic together.
9) You can now bend the lower right plastic and the rear lower right plastic apart giving you a "better" view of the adjustment.
10) Take a flashlight and find the knurled knob that adjusts the tension on the rear brake switch. Press on the rear brake to get a feel for where this all is.
NOTE: I would really hate to replace this switch but adjusting it is doable :-).
11) I used a small flat blade screwdriver to rotate the knurled knob. Rotate it down or toward you to increase the tension (I had to do this) or the other way to release it a bit (I had to do this too after adjusting it too far) ;-).
12) Test out the front and read brakes. If you adjust it too far, the brake light will stay on all the time :-).

FINAL NOTE: In your bike inspection, don't take the brake lights for granted :-). Test out the front brake and rear brake independently. On a PC800, this may mean standing to one side and hitting the brake while leaning toward the rear. On most motorcycles, you can do this by just looking around. On the PC800, it is more difficult and I got caught by this :-).