Log in

View Full Version : Headlight laws in Europe

F4LL3N
18-07-12, 08:13 PM
Anyone seen this thing about having to adjust your headlights to shine the other way when driving through Europe?

Do we really have to and has anyone bothered? Surely we'll end up re-adjusting when we get back to the UK? What's the deal with this?

Cheers!
Specialone
18-07-12, 08:35 PM
I've never bothered tbh, even with my triumph, blind everybody, lights I never had any issues, I've since adjusted my lights down now so should be less dazzling.
Tim in Belgium
18-07-12, 08:45 PM
A lot of bikes have flat dips so it's not an issue. Although I don't know about FI Svs.
F4LL3N
18-07-12, 08:46 PM
Thats fine, thanks for the info guys !
Luckypants
19-07-12, 11:07 AM
A lot of bikes have flat dips so it's not an issue. Although I don't know about FI Svs.My VFR has this and have never had an issue over there. Did a long trip over there with a pointy SV for company and had no problem.

No need to adjust beam IMO.
Runako
19-07-12, 11:31 AM
I'd say no, having somehow traversed France without any headlights! Doesn't seem to be a big deal ... until you get stopped and then they'll pick it up. The easist thing to do is take the deflectors you can stick over the lights. Even better, take some PVC tape with you and stick some in the right corner as a token gesture. This should be better than nothing at all should you be so unfortunate as to get stopped.
F4LL3N
19-07-12, 11:40 AM
Cheers guys, thanks for the help =)
Mark_h
20-07-12, 09:03 AM
Point your bike at a wall or garage door when it's dark and turn on the lights. If the pattern has a flat or more or less symmetrical top then no need. If it slopes so is significantly higher on the left then legally you are supposed to mask it off.

Apart from the lowish risk of being pulled and fined you also risk dazzling oncoming drivers over there who will then more than likely just run you off the road in their Cognac fueled state.
Dicky Ticker
20-07-12, 09:25 AM
Do you get upset when somebody dazzles you with their lights?----if so get a tape over kit----if not take your chances.
On some bikes it is the configuration of the headlight glass that determines the beam and no matter how you set them the spread will be wrong so the simplest answer is to get a kit from Halfords.
Loopydog
22-07-12, 08:10 PM
I live over here, but use my UK bikes. It's only an issue if you ride at night time, when you will constantly be flashed by oncoming traffic as it dazzles them. Unless, as has been mentioned, you have a flat beam.
F4LL3N
23-07-12, 07:08 AM
I think I will bring some tape in case I do ride at night and the rest of the time leave it. Cheers :)
Loopydog
23-07-12, 10:57 AM
Wise - if it's an SV your on, it's definitely a left-dipping beam (unless you've got an EU spec unit of an import), so if you do ride at night, tape will help and is easy to fit/remove.
Thunderace
06-08-12, 08:22 PM
Flat dip lights are where its at, doesn't matter where you go you still cant see bugger all at night, thus not blinding anyone else!
mufman
31-08-12, 12:52 PM
A bit too late for this, but still.

I put this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eurolites-Headlamp-Beam-Adaptors-Benders/dp/B00143ASKE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346417406&sr=8-2 on my headlights when I travelled in Europe and it worked well. Against the wall it was a horizontal line (so no excessive light on the left top side), noone complaint (no high beam blinking from other people on the road) and I didn't notice any drastic effect on the headllights performance in the dark.
Easy, quick, cheap, working.
F4LL3N
02-09-12, 09:38 PM
A bit too late for this, but still.

I put this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eurolites-Headlamp-Beam-Adaptors-Benders/dp/B00143ASKE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346417406&sr=8-2 on my headlights when I travelled in Europe and it worked well. Against the wall it was a horizontal line (so no excessive light on the left top side), noone complaint (no high beam blinking from other people on the road) and I didn't notice any drastic effect on the headllights performance in the dark.
Easy, quick, cheap, working.

Will look into that next time perhaps seeing as the French are getting stricter as the years pass. We didnt get any problems whilst over there, no one flashed us nor were we stopped. We did bring some tape just in case so that we could at least block out the corners though if we needed to !