headlight isn't coming on, just parking light -Thoughts?

[Bill]

I'm no electrical wizard. When I turn on my 2008 R3 tour I have no power to my Headlight - Tail light and everything else seems fine. Bulb and fuse are good (I'm not that useless) The park bulb comes on instead. Anyone ever have this problem?

 

[tdragger]

One other question, even thought the headlight is out, will the bike start?

 

[Bill]

yes, bike starts and runs fine.

 

[Bill]

No, light doesn't come on any beam. I replaced the bulb as well, just to make sure that I wasn't missing a break in the element that I could not see. When the bulb is out of the socket I put a meter to the light wires and got nearly 12 volts with the engine off ignition on, but when I put the bulb in those readings dropped to zero? A friend thought it might be a grounding problem?