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Tonight on the way home from work I noticed that the light had not gone out. The bike rides fine but it is annoying, the cut out function does work as I put it in gear and put the stand down and it stopped.
I have a belly pan fitted so before I take it all off and start looking for a reason has anyone any thoughts on why it should be showing as on.

cheers

Possibly the switch is broken - there's a locating pin which can break, allowing the switch to rotate away from it's proper position. If it keeps going, it could cause the cut-out to happen when riding. Be worth taking the switch off and taking a look

Cheers for that.
Just took off the pan and checked the switch, it is fine and solid the pin is OK.
What I have noticed is the light is solid as it should be with the stand down but when you bring it back the light dims slightly as if it is trying to go off but can't.
I traced the wire back to its connector behind the twin spar, if I had it disconnected will the bike run?

Tonyunn wrote: if I had it disconnected will the bike run?

No

...... but .......

The sidestand switch is in fact 2 switches - one for the light and one for the cut out.
If you pull the switch out but connect the 2 outer wires of the 3 at the connector, it will run.
However, be aware that you will have lost your sidestand safety cut-out.

When you say two switches do you mean two actual ones or three wires acting as two.
Apart from the white 3 way connector is that the only break, it looks like it connects at the stand end or is that just the moulding of the plastic.

Also could this be the wires being nipped somewhere along its run, it is tight and tucked away and seems to be flattened in some places.

Well, it's two separate circuits but the switch is a SPDT

Tonyunn wrote: Also could this be the wires being nipped somewhere along its run, it is tight and tucked away and seems to be flattened in some places.

Sounds highly likely

Not sure what SPDT means but as I have just found a bypass connector at Aprilia parts buyer for under a tenner I will see how it goes

Single Pole Double Throw

Mine does that when it gets wet, but I've got LED lights in the dash and I reckon that the water allows just enough current to flow to dimly light the LED.

not sure if that would happen with a normal bulb though.

TBH it's no more than a mild annoyance.

Do you have LED's in the dash? could be the same issue.

Could be a something in the switch that's allowing a slight current leak or as you suspect a potential wire issue.

Once I have the part I will then start to sort it out, I need to trust the thing not to cut out on me. I will lift the tank, remove the BP and then track the whole length of the wire and harness to see if I can spot anything obvious.

when I searched under "Falco Side stand switch" on the net got a couple of good pages about the fault, seemed to be more of a problem on 2000 bikes with a weak pin, but gave me a part number for the bypass loop so it was successful.

I tested the cut out function and with the bike in gear if I put the stand down the engine stops, it does look like some kind of wire rubbing or being bared or possibly dirt allowing some cross current.

Tonyunn wrote:Once I have the part I will then start to sort it out, I need to trust the thing not to cut out on me. I will lift the tank, remove the BP and then track the whole length of the wire and harness to see if I can spot anything obvious.

when I searched under "Falco Side stand switch" on the net got a couple of good pages about the fault, seemed to be more of a problem on 2000 bikes with a weak pin, but gave me a part number for the bypass loop so it was successful.

I tested the cut out function and with the bike in gear if I put the stand down the engine stops, it does look like some kind of wire rubbing or being bared or possibly dirt allowing some cross current.

My bypass loop - find the connector next to the frame spar on the LHS, cut the wires on the connector, and splice the two outer cables together. No more light, but no more cut-out either

Your right but I hate doing stuff like that, if I can find a "proper" solution that I can then put right at a later date then I will.
I don't mind spending money if it is a good fix.
owning a Falco you get to say that a lot.

No need to lift the tank - it's to the left - trace it up from the sidestand

Yes, I had it apart last night but I could not see where it went after that, I take it that it goes into the loom after that.

Yep - behind upper spar left side