An interesting experience with running lights.

[FROSTY]

Thought an experience I had last night might be of interest.
Jorja has just got a new (to her) Honda VTR250.
I rode the bike back for her because it was getting pretty late at night.
In Papakura a car turned directly in front of me at an intersection.
Scarey moment and no reason for it.
5 minutes later it happened again.
Turns out that one of the orange running lights (in the indicators) had just blown. It looked like I was indicating a left turn.
Hmm ya learn something new every day.

[Cayman911]

Most bikes with two separate lights at the front, (round ones) usually only have one on during the day...

that technically shouldnt happen, the people that tried to run you over were either thick or colourblind.

[nodrog]

Most bikes with two separate lights at the front, (round ones) usually only have one on during the day...

that technically shouldnt happen, the people that tried to run you over were either thick or colourblind.

i think hes talking about those indicators that double as running lights. hence if one is blown it looks like one is stuck on solid.

[blackdog]

i think hes talking about those indicators that double as running lights. hence if one is blown it looks like one is stuck on solid.

wot i thought. stupid idea if u ask me, esp since most have hard wired headlights too....

[FROSTY]

yea sorry--the hardwired on indicator lights.

[kwaka_crasher]

Honda indicator disease. A terrible afliction.

[blackdog]

Honda indicator disease. A terrible afliction.

now that you mention it i think it is only hondas.....

[R-Soul]

yea sorry--the hardwired on indicator lights.

Another reason why that bloody stupid rule must be changed.

I had a bit of an experience on the regular sunday ride north of auckland. A car was approaching and had its indicator on. I started turning in front of it, as it was slowing down. It then hooted and flashed its headlights at mas if I was doing something wrong.

One of the other riders told me after that, that there is a second left turn soon after that the car was probably indicating for. now some will say that I should have seen this. But it begs the question: How do you know a car is turning left THERE, and not into a driveway after it, or a dairy car park or something?

Now in my opinion, any law that requires mind-reading to avoid an accident is a non-starter. How the hell it even made it into the boooks is beyond me...

[breakaway]

Guy I knew on a CBR250RR with running lights reported the same; When one of the bulbs blew cars kept turning in front of him all day every day.


But it begs the question: How do you know a car is turning left THERE, and not into a driveway after it, or a dairy car park or something?

Never trust another road user to be competent. If you do you'll pay with your life or limbs one day.


How the hell it even made it into the boooks is beyond me...

By assuming every road user has a basic level of competence.

[kwaka_crasher]

now that you mention it i think it is only hondas.....

IIRC it began around the time of the VFR700 Interceptor. I can't think of one any earlier. Perhaps the VF750F.

[hayd3n]

my old 1995 yzf 600r yamaha had them but its not hard to cut the running wire

[FROSTY]

How do you know a car is turning left THERE, and not into a driveway after it, or a dairy car park or something?
I guess you assume the worst -ie all of the above

[george formby]

I guess you assume the worst -ie all of the above

Always! Never assume. This thread has answered a question yet to be asked. Their were a large group of riders in town a few weeks ago & I had what I think was a BMW ridden by a lady person (pink jacket) behind me with the indicators hard wired on. Thought it looked quite funky, took me a while to figure out what the lights were.
I think i will stick to white lights though.

[blackdog]

i think it only applies to imports. should be disconnected for compliance is my 2c

[FROSTY]

Gee george make ya mind up--is it always assume or never assume ?. Personally I ALWAYS assume the worst in that senario.

[CookMySock]

yea sorry--the hardwired on indicator lights.Wow, safety lights ay. What will these americans thing of next? So clever! :rolleyes:

Steve

[george formby]

Gee george make ya mind up--is it always assume or never assume ?. Personally I ALWAYS assume the worst in that senario.

I can't do it! Is always assume the worst the same as never assume anything? Makes my head hurt. Anyway, I agree with you, I have no idea what another vehicle will do next & try to keep myself out the way.
Do some bikes come standard with their indicators like this or is it an aftermarket thing?

[R-Soul]

Guy I knew on a CBR250RR with running lights reported the same; When one of the bulbs blew cars kept turning in front of him all day every day.



Never trust another road user to be competent. If you do you'll pay with your life or limbs one day.



By assuming every road user has a basic level of competence.

The thing is in those scenarios, neither user is being incopmetent per se. Both are acting reasonably given their own particular situation. Its the law that is a fuckup.

[Insanity_rules]

I guess you assume the worst -ie all of the above

Have a VTZ that did the same thing, got annoying after I cussed out the 4th Driver to do it to me in a 15 k ride.

[Old Steve]

I think that having a law which makes indicating for 3 seconds before changing direction is preferable to having half the tin tops turning without indicating at all.

At least under the enforced indicating law only about 20% of drivers aren't indicating :angry:

[FROSTY]

old steve--I think to law refered to is the lights on law.

[Slyer]

My left indicator is designed for running lights whereas my right indicator isn't. I have to use a dual filament bulb in the left whereas the right needs a single filament bulb.
This is a pain because my wiring isn't designed to have running lights so my left indicator only flashes using the low filament in the bulb... I'll have to see if I can solder it up or something so both filaments go when indicating.

[FROSTY]

I bet ya a choky fish the issue is that the right indicator has been replaced. If it was me Id work out what wire runs to the indicator function (back at the plug into the loom end) and swap em over down there

[FROSTY]

Guess the point being -Its just another thing to be aware of

[proseuche]

fuuuuuuuuuuuck ittttttttttt. my left one blew tonight on my vtr. where do i take it or how easy is it to fix?

[scumdog]

I guess you assume the worst -ie all of the above

Yup, r sole SOULD have learnt something I'd say...

[BMWST?]

they are very visible i was thinking of wiring some up on the ol GS to save headlight power draw but on second thaoughts the two inicators at twenty watts odd each will draw nearly as much,or do the running lights rub at a lower wattage???

[blackdog]

fuuuuuuuuuuuck ittttttttttt. my left one blew tonight on my vtr. where do i take it or how easy is it to fix?

chuck em all away and replace with led's..........

[Sable]

You don't need front running lights for a motorcycle WOF. The honda indicators have three wires coming out of them, unplug one and the front running lights will no longer bother you. They're dangerous and make you look stupid. Experiment to find which one it is and goddamn pull it out.

[Slyer]

I bet ya a choky fish the issue is that the right indicator has been replaced. If it was me Id work out what wire runs to the indicator function (back at the plug into the loom end) and swap em over down there
Actually the entire rest of the bike except for the left indicator has been replaced. :bleh:
Had 1988 electrics in when I bought it, now has 2007 electrics.

[CookMySock]

You don't need front running lights for a motorcycle WOF. The honda indicators have three wires coming out of them, unplug one and the front running lights will no longer bother you. They're dangerous and make you look stupid. Experiment to find which one it is and goddamn pull it out.You can go to the front of the queue. :niceone:

Disable your running lights now, before the fucking things inadvertently take your life. "Safety lights" my arse.


Steve

[imdying]

Perhaps Honda have had feedback on this and recognise the issue. Some of them now have white LEDs beside the indicators for runnings lights, and conventional amber lights for the indicators.

[SPORK]

I came into this thread hoping for some great tips on running red lights, how dissappointed am I!? ;)

[Urano]

i'm not sure to have completely understood what light are u talkin' of...

let me try: when my bike is on i have the low beam and the white position light on. do you have also both the yellow turn indicator always on? and do they become blinkin on one side when you indicate a turn?

how's stupid is that??

on the other hand the "light point" appearance of a bike at night is a big problem: there are extensive studies about the difficulties of getting the right perception of distance/speed from a light point, way more complex than in the case of a car with light at both bonnet ends. it's a prospective problem. most people are got to think that is a car with a broken lamp too. if you pay attention to a bike overtaking a car line, at night, you probably could have the exact idea of its position at all the time. peugeot tried to solve the problem with an experimental scooter mounting a light at the end of a tall rod, but as you figure is not so cool to have the mainmast on the fairing...

we thought about a solution putting a red or yellow strobolight under the fairing tip, right behind the front wheel: it's the point where it could be more visible all around, it will light up the street below the bike, and in the case of a fallen bike on the lane in would have been of great help, a little bit like airplanes anticollision...
unfortunately here we have very precise (and stupid) regulation about lights, and this could end in a bike confiscation (is that the word??)...
if there is possible, i'd do it immediately...

[kwaka_crasher]

Do you have also both the yellow turn indicator always on? and do they become blinkin on one side when you indicate a turn?

Correct.


how's stupid is that??

Very.

[proseuche]

whoever gave advice about fiddling with the three wires and pulling the constant one out because it looks gay - excellent advice. worked perfectly, and you're right.

not that i did it, but i was good at giving instructions, and the boys were impressed that i semi knew what i was talking about. chur.

p.s. you better be right, we had to cut the wire. and i'd be gutted if i didn't pass my warrant. trust.

[CookMySock]

and the boys were impressed that i semi knew what i was talking about. chur.c'marrrrrrrrrn, you knew exactly what you were talking about. ;)

Steve