Lights or No lights

[BigFootIsBlurry]

Originally Posted by Kinvig

The garage I used to take the SV to used to always turn the lights off.

Luckily other bikers would always point this out to me. Which is handy at 6am in December!

Surely the fact that you couldn't see where you were going gave it away first?

Originally Posted by Kilted Ginger

Always on. Anything that increases the slim chance of a cager actually noticing me is a bonus.

+1

[Sid Squid]

There are circumstances in which you are more visible without lights, few it's true but they do exist.

Even though the UK has no specific daytime headlight requirement the manufacturers have adopted the legislation that requires most Euro-zone countries to have daytime lights on bikes, simply it's a cost-cutting exercise as they're now not making two different electrical systems for the UK and elsewhere. To those who think it must be safer as newer bikes have no option, or think it must be so because Suzuki removed the off possibility it ain't necessarily so.

Viva the option - mine are usually on, but not always as it isn't always best.

Note also that the Euro legislation for cars from, (I think), 2011 onwards will require daytime lights with no option too - so any benefit you may now have by using daytime lights will be severly reduced as yours will be lost in a sea of lights from other vehicles.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Guess I'm the odd one then.

Edited for you!

its is illegal to switch the lights off on bikes with them wired to stay on permanently

[Mr Speirs]

I always ride with no lights. For the same reason as YC. Would rather assume nobody has seen me and ride accordingly than ride with my lights on and inadvertanly appear to flash someone.

Personal choice really.

As far as modifying bikes that have been wired permenantly on, are you sure it's illegal? So can you not put a pointy on a daytime MOT???

[G]

Originally Posted by Mr Speirs

I always ride with no lights. For the same reason as YC. Would rather assume nobody has seen me and ride accordingly than ride with my lights on and inadvertanly appear to flash someone.

Personal choice really.

Seems a sensible idea, mine are always on because thats how the bike comes and I cant be arsed pulling out the plug then putting it in again when it gets dark.

But I know of two people who have been knocked off because somebody though they had been flashed out because of the stiff suspension over bumpy roads so it is a good arguement.

Trouble is, flashing your headlight is to warn other road users of your presence, NOT inform someone that it's ok for them to pass you!

Always on, the pointy is wired that way and the K I choose to ride that way.

Any risk of some one actually seeing you, at the same time as you happen to be going over a bump, and them interprating that as a flash, and them then hitting you is, in my opinion vanishingly small.

Always on. Especially in town on main beam during the day with half blind cage drivers... sod them..... they can see you then and don't have an excuse "I didn't see you mate.."