Front Drum Brake Light Switch | Honda CB175 / CB200

Front Drum Brake Light Switch | Honda CB175, CL175, SL175, CB200, CL200

Front Drum Brake Light Switch for vintage Honda twins equipped with forward drum brakes.

Why You Need This

Decades of regular brake lever movement can eventually take a toll on the front brake light switch, causing it to wear, crack, or fail. Replace your worn-out drum brake light switch with one of our high-quality front drum brake light switches and restore proper brake light function.

When swapping out the old switch, it is also a smart time to look over the rest of your front brake system for correct operation and excessive wear. We carry replacement Front Brake Shoes, CB175 Front Brake Cable, CL175 / CL200 Front Brake Cable, Brake Levers, and Power Brake Levers to help keep your vintage Honda braking smoothly and stopping safely.

Specifications

Note: *Requires Modification - This part requires a minimal modification to fit in the drum brake perch. Please see our installation instructions below for how to modify the brake light switch during installation.

Model-Specific Notes

• CB175 K0 - K4, CL175 K0 - K4: These early models were shipped without a front drum brake switch so original handlebar perches do not have the provision for this brake light switch. A brake light switch can be added to these models by replacing the original right handlebar switch with a separated right handlebar switch and front drum brake perch.

Installation

Difficulty: Beginner

Tools needed: A sharp knife or box cutter

1. This brake light switch needs a slight adjustment before it is installed and may not fit every front drum brake switch perch straight out of the package. Once the switch is removed from the packaging, look for the small locating notch at the end of the switch housing.
2. Using a sharp knife, carefully shave off the thin raised ridge along both sides of the brake switch housing. The front area with the locating notch does not need to be trimmed, and neither does the rear of the switch. For a closer look at the process, refer to our short installation video. After trimming, the switch is ready for installation.
3. Remove the drum brake lever, then guide the brake light switch wires through the drum brake perch from the inside of the perch outward.
4. The switch should sit in the perch housing with the small locating notch lined up in the matching notch on the perch. Press the switch fully into place so it sits flush with the perch housing and does not stick up above the surface.

Take care to not pull the brake light switch through the perch by its wires as that can break the switch and cause them to pull out of the switch body. Instead, feed the wires by pushing them into the housing.

This video shows how to slightly modify the CMC #1038 front drum brake light switch so that it can be properly installed in the from drum brake perch on the motorcycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this fit in my original handlebar perch?

Yes, but there are 2 things to note. First, this switch will require a small modification to fit into certain brake drum perches. Please see our installation instructions for further details. Second, the CB175 K0 - K4 and CL175 K0 - K4 did not come stock with the provision for a front drum brake light switch. See the product description for the parts you will need to install this switch on those models.

Will this brake light switch fix my brake light?

It might. The brake light circuit on these Honda motorcycles has two brake light switches in it, a front and rear, and also runs through the keyswitch. We recommend fully testing the components of your brake light circuit before ordering any replacement parts so you order exactly the parts that are broken. See our full troubleshooting guide to know how.

You Might Also Need

• CB175 Front Brake Cable — Replace if showing signs of wear or corrosion
• Front Brake Shoes — Replace is worn out or aging
• Drum Brake Lever — Replace if broken or in need of a spare
• Drum Brake Power Lever — Replace for an easier to reach drum brake lever
• CL175 / CL200 Front Brake Cable — Replace if showing signs of wear or corrosion

Last updated: May 2026