Lights on or off?

[dainesefreak]

I picked up a new bike yesterday and due to some European safety ruling the lights are now permanently on from the ignition.

I personally don't like anything that takes the choice away from me the rider. I'm old enough to decide when my lights need to be on and as far as I'm concerned I passed a test to say so. Don't get me wrong, I'm too lazy to bother doing something about it but surely it should be my choice? I'm not arguing the point of whether you should ride with lights on or off, merely the fact that as an individual I should have the right/common sense to decide for myself.

[WildGoose]

100% agreed on that one mate

makes you feel like a little kid doesnt it? why the fuck should they decide, takes the whole freedom thing away from biking as far as im concerned

next they will be taking gears away


when i got an 05 tiger as a courtesy bike, i did not at all like the fact that the light unit had been sealed, and a triumph badged stamped where the switch used to be, just for insult "no young man you cant touch that, you arent allowed"


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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[steveh]

when i bought a new pannel for my old bike, i think it was 2 years newer than my bike it had a blank over the light switch, simply just popped the blank out and put mine in, didnt like the lights being on constantly, its my bike, i decide when to turn my lights on.


i supose it makes you more visable but, if most of the drivers didnt find there license's in lucky bags we wouldnt have this problem


Steve.
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Current : 06 Zx10r, 07 Wr450f SM, 74 850 norton commando, 63 bsa b40, 1962 Triton 650, 67 Triumph Tr6r, 1955 Triton 750, 1978 TY250E.

[Davo]

[Lone-Wolf]

[Adam_P]

I never even gave it a second thought that the lights are hard wired on all the time. I was/am too busy riding the thing to worry about whether they're on or not. Unless it starts to get dark. In which case it just means I haven't got to fiddle around looking to turn them on.

More important things to think about, like getting out more on that shiney new bike as much as possible in the good weather!
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Colin McRae MBE 1968 - 2007 RIP
Orwell Rolls in his Grave
God is imaginary

[m99dws]

I dug out an old copy of Ride magazine because I remembered seeing something about this:

Taken from issue 93 - 31/01/03

[nick.h]

you have a good memory
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[Italjet MM5A] ll [Rieju RS1 Evolution] ll [Suzuki GS500e] ll [Suzuki GSX600F] ll [Honda CG125] ll [Pug Elyseo 125] ll [Yamaha YZF750R] ll [Yamaha Thunderace] ll [Yamaha R6] ll [Triumph 955i] ll [Hayabusa RZK3] ll [Suzuki RGV250] ll

[stinkwheel]

So do you have the following issue where they say they were going to test to see if lights do make you more visible?
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
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[m99dws]

I knew someone was going to ask that.












No.

[JonB]

Ahhh1 I thought it was just a Suzuki thing! Didn't know it was some sort of EU shite!

When I got my K4 Bandit I was looking for the light switch to turn them off for a good 10 minutes!

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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Flip]

The SV I had recently did this. Doesn't arse me as I ride with dipped beam anyway. It's going to be be law for all vehicles soon.

[bazza]

[Bandito]

my 600rr has the headlight on as default too... was weird at first, but its not a problem as I used to always have the lights on whatever time of day anyway.... so it doesn't change a thing for me... if it adds a little bit more to the noticeability of the bike then I am all for it!

[binge]

I always ride with my lights on. And I like other bikers to ride with lights on too. Even on a nice sunny day, Its sometimes hard to spot a biker when you are pulling out of a junction in a car.

As a biker myself, I do look out for other bikes more when im in the car. Where as car drivers dont.

I dont think it should be a law, But I do think Bikers should have the sense to put atleast their sidelights on when driving.

<|Ben|>

[dainesefreak]

I must admit that there was an underlying issue with me asking the question. If I remember correctly some science boffin types in Sweden or some such place concluded that, other road users find it difficult to judge a bike's speed due to the small frontal area and that by using a head light in good light it actually compounds the problem. I also remember that the advanced riding groups now advise against using a headlight when the conditions do not require it. T.C. also said that if he were to investigate an accident and found a bike to be using lights in good conditions that he could put it down as a contributory factor.

It seems again that the Euro knows best brigade have stormed on in there again.

[winwick]

dont se what the problem is, i always ride with my light on dip beam so for me anyway it wouldnt be an issue.
lots of people will bring up the freedom of choice crap but put it in perspective, its a head lamp, people can see you coming because the light catches their eye when their driving.
wheres the problem???

[jamie192]

i ride with mine on all the time, unless its a very sunny day when u cant see it any way cuz its crap, or when ym battery is running low. do when its even slightly dark though. wouldnt bother me if it was on all the time or not.
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Ride Fast, Brake hard, don't fall off!

[bazza]

I'd have thought that having a black bike, you'd appreciate anything that aids visibility. Aside from the question of whether of not car drivers can judge your speed, the fact that they can see something approaching/in their mirror might make them reconsider/wait.

Personally I don't consider any driver capable of making rational judgements where anything on two wheels is concerned, so I ride with my lights on all the time...
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"That's it. You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college."
'98 Ducati 750SS, '08 Suzuki GSX650F ©2004-2014, Bazza's Harmless Banter

[splinter]

Saw a program on TV a few weeks ago, "Bike Cops" or something along those lines. There was an accident where a van had turned right across a bikes path. The biker was in intensive care, his bike was totalled.

The police investigating the accident spent bloody ages searching for the filament for his lightbulb to see wether he had his headlight on or not. (The copper found it by crawling under the van!) The police were certain it was the van driver at fault but they wanted to see if the bikers light was on, to see if this could be used as a mitigating circumstance.

It made me wonder if, in theory, if you have an accident caused by a SMIDSY and you don't have your light on, could they use this as an excuse to avoid prosecution or pass on part of the responsibility to the biker, thus reducing compensation payouts.

I'm not sure that this is the case, but judging by the police investigator's efforts to determine wether the biker had his light on, it's certainly a consideration.



BTW I usually have my light on in all but the sunniest conditions. I would like it to remain my choice as to wether I use it tho.

[Flip]

The problem I have with the lights on being mandatory is that some riders feel safer with them switched off. They should have left it a choice. But like I said I like 'em on.

[dainesefreak]

I see we already have people making assumptions, I have not commented so far as to whether I ride with my lights on or off anyway. What I did say was this:

[Vespa]

.

[mattsmith95]

When my Courier firm got some new Honda CBF500's I noticed that the centre stand was an optional extra and the lights had no off switch.

That can be a real pain in the arse if you have battery problems.

I don't have my lights on during the day, don't flame me on that, it's my choice, thanks to the EU I will have no choice when I get a newer bike.

[MitoIslander]

i'm glad my bike isn't like that, i left my lights on for 30 mins one day with the engine off, by the time i rememberd, the battery was pretty dead, i now get into the nack of turning my lights off, as i pull into the driveway. if i couldn't turn my lights off, i wouldn't be able to sneak up to people's houses...

Jay
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Passed the test, now for the paint....