Headlight laws in Europe

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!

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.

A lot of bikes have flat dips so it's not an issue. Although I don't know about FI Svs.

Thats fine, thanks for the info guys !

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Tim in Belgium

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.

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.

Cheers guys, thanks for the help =)

[Mark_h]

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.

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.

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.