Headlights and Radar

**MazTLR** · 7th December 2006, 21:18

I was riding on the weekend during the day, and with the TLR the headlights are on all the time. Well I was in a 100k zone, had just over taken about 4 cars at one go, to get to the front of the line,when in the distance the car coming toward me looked like a police car,it was my radar went off, (instant on), so slowed down till he passed. Right what I was wondering is I know it's a good safety thing to have your headlights on to warn motorist your coming , but are you to easy a target to be spotted for police radar with your lights on, if you want to go fast, Should they be off what do you think.

**lukelin250** · 7th December 2006, 21:44

ive been wondering the exact same thing, i reckon it would

**Toaster** · 7th December 2006, 21:44

Nope... I recommend leaving the lights on - most are hard wired anyway. Increased safety from headlights being seen is far more important than risking getting seen by the police earlier than you may expect.

**Toaster** · 7th December 2006, 21:46

another issue is that it is harder to be locked onto as a biker, the target presented id much smaller and more difficult to reflect off than cars.... they make a point of it in the training manual. Trucks are the opposite and reflect radar the best.... and my fat ass.

**Big Dog** · 7th December 2006, 21:54

Originally Posted by MazTLR

I was riding on the weekend during the day, and with the TLR the headlights are on all the time. Well I was in a 100k zone, had just over taken about 4 cars at one go, to get to the front of the line,when in the distance the car coming toward me looked like a police car,it was my radar went off, (instant on), so slowed down till he passed. Right what I was wondering is I know it's a good safety thing to have your headlights on to warn motorist your coming , but are you to easy a target to be spotted for police radar with your lights on, if you want to go fast, Should they be off what do you think.

Radar works off of mass not light.
Your spine comes before your wallet.
Do your lights attract any extra attention from the police.
Quite the opposite in my experience. if you ever wanna get tailed disco your headlight. Very noticable when I was without a headlight for 24 hours this week every police car I passed at least slowed down (when going the other way) or followed me off the motorway until I left the public road (3 times in 8 hours is not a coincidence.)

**Lou Girardin** · 8th December 2006, 05:59

I need to think about this;
On one hand you have a headlight on to warn traffic of your presence and perhaps save your life - on the other you want to turn it off to avoid a fine!
Tough choice.

**SixPackBack** · 8th December 2006, 06:04

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

I need to think about this;
On one hand you have a headlight on to warn traffic of your presence and perhaps save your life - on the other you want to turn it off to avoid a fine!
Tough choice.

Do I detect just the slightest hint of sarcasm Lou.

**Edbear** · 8th December 2006, 06:07

Originally Posted by Big Dog

Radar works off of mass not light.

Yup! No effect on radar at all. Does get you noticed, though, and that's why most ride with it on, of course. By the time you've seen the cop, if no detector, he's already had you on his radar anyway.

**madandy** · 8th December 2006, 06:28

Keep ya lights on...If you make yaself harder to see for the police think of the cop car to non cop car ratio and do you really want to make yerself more difficult to see for all those thousands of metal objects?