Weird headlight wiring question

[Laitch]

I connect to the "bike side" because it makes life easier if the left combo switch ever needs to be replaced.

Hell, yeah! 
 

[frankenduck]

Let’s see if I’ve got this straight… I tap into this White/Yellow wire in the left handlebar connector (bike-side ). That goes to the yellow signal wire on my relay. Solid white high beam wire (from H4 connector or tapped from further back) goes to solid white signal wire on the relay. Low beam is always on, stays on when the high beam is on, and my left-hand switches still work in a way that makes sense?

The white/yellow wire is headlight power to the switch. (Always on for US bikes.)
The white wire has power when high beam or "flash to pass" button is depressed.
The yellow wire has power when switch is in the low beam position.

If you want the low beam to always be on then tap the low beam relay trigger wire into the white/yellow wire.
Tap the high beam relay trigger wire into the white wire.

[rbm]

Franenduck and I both concur with your description.  Those are the correct connections to make and that is the behaviour to expect.

[arotaryphone]

Thanks so much, guys. I only got as far as Posi-tapping the white/yellow wire before getting rained out last night. It also looks like I may need to shorten the relay and/or wiring harness to fit everything under the tank. Yikes…

[Laitch]

It also looks like I may need to shorten the relay and/or wiring harness to fit everything under the tank. Yikes…

That's doable but usually shouldn't be necessary. Maybe you could clarify the type the obstacles in your way and which kit you acquired.

[arotaryphone]

That's doable but usually shouldn't be necessary. Maybe you could clarify the type the obstacles in your way and which kit you acquired.

I have an EB H4 conversion relay kit. I think part of my issue is that I’ve removed the “S” fairings for a more naked look. The headlight/turn signals/horn portion of the wiring harness seems too long now that it doesn’t have to go through the fairing. The relay kit is also pretty long- I can barely stuff it into where the handlebar switch connector lives if I coil it a few times. Pretty tight in there.

[rbm]

Instead of coiling,  can you find a long circuitous route where the excess winds its way under the tank area, doubling back as necessary?  you're bound to find spaces around the harness.

[arotaryphone]

I might be getting ahead of myself here, I should make sure everything works and THEN tidy it up. On that note, I visited the bike today and connected the headlight and relays for testing. After connecting the battery, I’m not seeing any signs of life besides the clock on the instrument box. The gas tank is off the bike, does the fuel pump connector need to be plugged in to turn on the bike without starting the engine? I don’t think I left anything else unplugged.

[arotaryphone]

Gonna try to bring the fuel tank to where the bike is stored soon to try the lights again with the fuel pump  hooked up. Hopefully the fuel pump can handle running dry for a second for testing.

[frankenduck]

Gonna try to bring the fuel tank to where the bike is stored soon to try the lights again with the fuel pump  hooked up. Hopefully the fuel pump can handle running dry for a second for testing.

I've tested lots of fuel pumps dry and outside of the tank.  Never seemed to hurt any of them.

[Laitch]

. . . does the fuel pump connector need to be plugged in to turn on the bike without starting the engine?

No, if by "turning on the bike" you mean "turning the ignition key to the On position to see if the headlight operates."

[frankenduck]

does the fuel pump connector need to be plugged in to turn on the bike without starting the engine?

No, you can even spin up the motor with the starter button if the tank electric plug is disconnected. But without any fuel pressure it won't start.

[arotaryphone]

Hrm. Sounds like I messed something up somewhere. Will do some more investigating.