Lights on the Road

[Drunken Monkey]

Hard wired on the gixxer, and they made the 'standard' low beam run only from one bulb, so everyone keeps stopping you to tell you your headlight is out. actually, I leave it on high beam all the time anyway. I'd rather dazzle and annoy an another driver than not be seen at all.

[Jackrat]

I think it's more likely that the charging system in modern bikes is designed for the constant load of a headlight. If it's hardwired and you put a switch in to turn it off you may end up frying your regulator/rectifier because it has to dissipate a lot more heat.

Yes I did wonder about that before I put in the switch but I did some research and found out the only difference between my bike and the previous
model that is not hard wired is the switch it's self,Nothing else.
It was Yamahas first atempt at hard wiringing a bike and it lead to a lot of problems with the system not keeping up.It was never a very good system to begin with an they just added to the problem by hard wiring it.
There is an out fit in OZ that is working on modding the RD400 system to replace the XS system with.If they ever get it togeather I will buy one for my bike and then use the lights at all times.I don't rely on the enemy seeing anything at all but every little bit helps I guess.
As hard as it is to belive my bike still uses the same system that the XS1 came out with in 1970 and even that was designed in 68.I have the diagrams for every model and apart from a few minor bits they are all the same.
Modern?? I wish

[Holy Roller]

Allways use the headlight usually on full as I've had many a close call by not being seen so hi beam it is and no excuse for not seeing me, also usually wear Hi Viz jacket with reflective stripes ( a requirement for work, its easier to wear the vest over the leathers so I can walk on site without having to put it on before I enter.) the benefit is more cars pull over to let you pass with it on than with out it, on roads outside the Kawerau Whakatane areas. May just be the bright light coming up behind them

[LB]

The Duc is hard wired, the Beemer isn't. When I used to ride the Beemer I always rode with the lights on. the Beemer is almost history now and the new Duc will be hard wired as well.

I always use low beam, never high.

Not sure if headlights make us more visible to cage drivers or not, but I figure that it can't do any harm.

[madandy]

Lights on low beam on everything I ride or drive during daylight hours.

I always see an on-coming headlight before I identify the bike itself, so if you reckon it doesnt help visibility to othere guess again.
How many times have you all been about to overtake, maybe on a cloudy day or slighty misty/drizzly and realise that a car/bike (usually grey or silver or black in colour) is coming towards you, with no lights on.As it is in Sweeden(?) I mthink running lights should be compulsory on all road going vehicles.

[Lou Girardin]

I always used high beam on the RF. I had too many close calls when using dip. Didn't get flashed either. I don't know about the Bandit headlight though, a couple of people have flashed me, so it must be brighter. So, I apologise if I've annoyed someone, but I prefer to stay alive.

[Ms Piggy]

what about the option of when its not night time but there is low vis eg raining, fog, dull day etc

Are you meaning using high beam? My understanding from driving is that high beam in fog is even worse.

[Motu]

I've cooked 3 stators and a reg on the XLV750 - modern bikes need to have the lights on,so I do.I've fitted an LED battery monitor to keep an eye on the charge rate.The XT400 is hard wired so no choice.The XS1 as Jack points out is not made to run with the light on so I don't - these things won't even push start with a flat battery.

I don't believe in the being visible thing - I always ride as if they can't see me,saves a lot of selfincrimination later - duh....didn't you see me? I had my lights on! Although I might fit a wierd bulb in the XT400 just to stand out from all you other riders on the road.

[toads]

my lights aren't hardwired but I do use them, I figure it makes me easier to see, I have a single headlight with a pathetic beam I only have it on low beam but high isn't much better, the other day I saw a couple of cbr's coming towards me with their lights on and I could see them from 1km away, lovely twin lights and very visible. I think I might get a halogen bulb for mine if I can find one that will fit it, cos it does make a difference saftey wise.

[pete376403]

Are you meaning using high beam? My understanding from driving is that high beam in fog is even worse.

thats right. High beam just reflects back from the water droplets suspended in the air (which is what fog is). There is ususally a clear layer down by the road and low beam is better at shining underrneath the fog, in the clear.
Real fog lights are mounted down low, for this reason. And I dont believe yeloow lenses or bulbs do anything for "cutting through the fog"

[Hitcher]

Hardwired. The front indicators acted as running lights before the accident. The parts that Kawasaki ships to NZ are different to the ones that get fitted in the factory, so when the new front right indicator unit was fitted, the running lights had to get disconnected.

[Coldkiwi]

Hard wired on the gixxer, and they made the 'standard' low beam run only from one bulb, so everyone keeps stopping you to tell you your headlight is out. actually, I leave it on high beam all the time anyway. I'd rather dazzle and annoy an another driver than not be seen at all.

thats the only thing I don't like about the pre 2003 gsxrs. mines hardwired of course too but I regularly use indicator and full beam when lane splitting... seems to work well and I get more people moving over for me.

[Cajun]

harded wires, but both bulbs are on even on low beam.

I sometimes have it on high beam during the day only really if i am going for it and wanna make people get out of the way/and or see me better, but not like it be hard on the new gsxr bright yellow with bright yellow leathers.

BTW coldkiwi i was planning on wireing my lights up so they are both on low, when i was looking for one of those corona's. its a simple enough job to do

[Skyryder]

thats right. High beam just reflects back from the water droplets suspended in the air (which is what fog is). There is ususally a clear layer down by the road and low beam is better at shining underrneath the fog, in the clear.
Real fog lights are mounted down low, for this reason. And I dont believe yeloow lenses or bulbs do anything for "cutting through the fog"

Your are right. Go to http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF5/593.html

Skyryder

[DrHook]

Headlights hardwired so always on, so are my front indicators.