Keep ahead of any warnings with Infinity Motorcycles’ guide to bike warning lights. Expert tips for knowing when to fix your bike. Ride on in style today.

Almost all vehicles feature a dashboard but no matter how clear every light can be it is still difficult making sense of what to do when one starts shining. But have no fear Infinity is here to help explain what the dashboard warning lights mean and the actions you should take when they do turn on.

Most motor vehicles feature a dashboard, which serves as a key component in communicating messages from the vehicle to its operator, or in our case, ride. Motorcycles are no different.

Motorcycle warning lights follow a common, easy-to-read, three-colour pattern much like the traffic light system that cause us endless joy and frustration on the road. The three colours indicate either a normally functioning system or danger warning.

  • Blue or Green lights indicated a system functioning under normal conditions
  • Amber or Yellow lights highlight potential faults that may need attention
  • A Red light is usually indicative of a serious fault - demanding you bring the motorcycle to a stop as soon as it is safe to do

Although a standard set of symbols and colours are used across all manufacturers, there may be small variations in features, depending on the types of technology present on your specific motorcycle. These features will be highlighted in your owner's manual so it is best to take a look at this when you are ever unsure.

 

ENGINE TEMPERATURE LIGHT

This light will illuminate when the motorcycle engine reaches a temperature beyond the recommended safety guidelines as set out by the manufacturer. Common causes are low coolant levels, coolant leaks, insufficient flow in the cooling system and, more seriously, a cooling system malfunction.

This should generally be checked by any motorcycle specialist or can be dealt with through a selection of motorcycle maintenance tools.

 

Outfit 1


ENGINE IGNITION LIGHT

The engine ignition light will be illuminated once the motorcycle's ignition is turned on but should turn off a few seconds after the engine has started. If this light stays on for a period of time after the engine has started or lights up while you are riding, there may be a fault in the electrical system.

You can ride with the ignition light on but it is recommend to stop your ride as soon as safely possible if this light has lit up.
 
Ignition light


OIL PRESSURE LIGHT

Oil is required in engines to lubricate the moving internal parts. Optimum oil pressure is required to reduce friction which could lead to excessive wear. This light usually only illuminates when the ignition is turned on, and goes off as soon as the engine is running and producing enough oil pressure to run safely. If this light is illuminated during normal operation, the motorcycle should be stopped and turned off as soon as it is safe to do so.

Running the engine while the oil pressure light is on may result in damaged engine internals which could be very costly and inconvenient. Common causes for the oil pressure light to illuminate are low oil levels or unhealthy oil. This should also ultimately be handled by any motorcycle specialist.

 
Ignition light


NEUTRAL LIGHT

The neutral light simply indicates when the gear selector is in the neutral position - if the neutral light is lit whilst you are riding, it most likely will be a problem with the light itself.
 
Ignition light


ABS LIGHT

Some motorcycles come fitted with an anti-lock braking system which is a safety feature designed to prevent possible skidding when the brakes are suddenly applied.

The ABS light will illuminate if there are possible problems within the system and requires diagnoses from a trained professional. In some cases, the ABS light will not turn off immediately once the engine is running but will turn off when the motorcycle reaches a certain speed.
 
Ignition light


ENGINE MANAGEMENT WARNING

More modern motorcycles are equipped with advanced engine management systems that monitor a wide range of engine parameters such as fuelling, timing, air intake and emissions. This warning light, much like other systems, will come on when the ignition is turned on but will turn off once the engine is running and the ECU has completed all its checks.

The presence of the neutral light while the engine is running could be a sign of errors with any of the above-mentioned engine parameters. A diagnostic motorcycle tool is generally required to read any possible fault codes stored in the ECU to determine where the problem may be.
 
engine management warning

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AND THAT'S IT!

The motorcycle dashboard will include a number of other relevant lights and indicators showing the normal function of any motorbike. Examples of these lights are those such as motorcycle headlights (dipped or full beam), turn signals, hazard lights, the fuel reserve indicator and other electronic systems that provide any rider with relevant driving data.

This article serves only as a guide to general information around warning indicators and what they mean. The owner's manual for your specific bike should always be consulted when you are uncertain about warning indicators.

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