Anyone except Harley?
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 577
Likes: 20
From: Reno
Ever since 1885, when Gottlieb and Mayback put together the their version of a motorcycle... people have ridden in the dark just fine without handle bar illumination and now... "they are a must have" if you ride in the dark.
Good Grief.
If you have the money... and you want to add another trick to your whip... sure... all for it brother... but it isn't essential and finding your buttons or not finding them should have nothing to do their illumination.
Horn... I wouldn't remove it and know that I have maneuvered away from a situation or two in 30 years of riding without thinking about using the horn. But it does have its purpose.
Guns... eeeks. I do have a conceal and carry but to be honest... my days of using a weapons are best left for when I was in the military and the horrific memories that plague me to this day... having said that... they too do have their purpose.
Ride on and be safe...
Good Grief.
If you have the money... and you want to add another trick to your whip... sure... all for it brother... but it isn't essential and finding your buttons or not finding them should have nothing to do their illumination.
Horn... I wouldn't remove it and know that I have maneuvered away from a situation or two in 30 years of riding without thinking about using the horn. But it does have its purpose.
Guns... eeeks. I do have a conceal and carry but to be honest... my days of using a weapons are best left for when I was in the military and the horrific memories that plague me to this day... having said that... they too do have their purpose.
Ride on and be safe...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 2,990
From: Charleston, SC
Yep, totally agree with that. It's what I do too. I won't knock anyone who wants to use the horn for little stuff but yeah, I'm way faster reaction time wise with my brake and it's curious that I think of that when I sometimes go to use my horn - like when someone is about to pull out on me from a side road... I think, what's this horn going to do?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3,369
From: Idaho Panhandle
When I need a horn, I don't normally have time to look for the button whether it is lighted or not. When I turn on my blinker, I do not take my eyes off traffic to find the left or right button. When I go from hi beam to low beam or vice versa, I do not look for that rocker button. My fingers know where to go.
In your car, do you have a lighted horn button or blinker or do you just know where it is in an emergency.
I ride all winter, in the dark often enough, sometimes two up getting home late. I think a lighted switch is cool, but would not help in any emergency where you needed to honk, blink, or hi-lo beam.
I think spending a few minutes moving your fingers to each should train you so that you don't have to look.
In your car, do you have a lighted horn button or blinker or do you just know where it is in an emergency.
I ride all winter, in the dark often enough, sometimes two up getting home late. I think a lighted switch is cool, but would not help in any emergency where you needed to honk, blink, or hi-lo beam.
I think spending a few minutes moving your fingers to each should train you so that you don't have to look.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 921
Likes: 8
From: Junction City, Kansas
I think I and anyone else who rides would agree that it's a great idea to be able to operate your controls without having to look at them but that comes with putting miles and time on the bike and until then it is nice to see the controls in the dark. Thank you for taking the time to inform me of the dangers of taking my eyes off of the road though.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 344
Likes: 4
From: USA
When I need a horn, I don't normally have time to look for the button whether it is lighted or not. When I turn on my blinker, I do not take my eyes off traffic to find the left or right button. When I go from hi beam to low beam or vice versa, I do not look for that rocker button. My fingers know where to go.
In your car, do you have a lighted horn button or blinker or do you just know where it is in an emergency.
I ride all winter, in the dark often enough, sometimes two up getting home late. I think a lighted switch is cool, but would not help in any emergency where you needed to honk, blink, or hi-lo beam.
I think spending a few minutes moving your fingers to each should train you so that you don't have to look.
In your car, do you have a lighted horn button or blinker or do you just know where it is in an emergency.
I ride all winter, in the dark often enough, sometimes two up getting home late. I think a lighted switch is cool, but would not help in any emergency where you needed to honk, blink, or hi-lo beam.
I think spending a few minutes moving your fingers to each should train you so that you don't have to look.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 254
Likes: 13
From: Stanwood, WA
I've got them on my bike and I love them. They came on my bike. I've never had any issues finding what I need in the dark while riding. That's for sure. Check out https://shop.newcastlehd.com, http://www.boardtrackerharleyonline.com or https://www.surdyke.com. They're 3 of the cheapest places I've found genuine Harley parts up to 20% off. I usually shop through board tracker Harley. Anthony always finds me what I need. If it's not on the site shoot him an email and he'll add it and let you know when it's been added. Great customer service through board tracker.
Last edited by rocknride71; Nov 2, 2015 at 07:15 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,270
Likes: 3,369
From: Idaho Panhandle
If you need to look at your switches in daylight to use them, having lighted ones at night makes sense. For me, they would be a minor nighttime distraction. I could live with it if they were subdued enough. I am a country rider. Not many streetlights, lighted signs, lines of traffic. My nighttime riding needs extra vigilance for deer, turkey's, elk, etc and an occasional pile of leaves or sand during bad weather. Anything that detracts from my night vision is a concern.
If I was a city boy, the extra lighted buttons would not matter. But I still think they are cool, but should remain optional/aftermarket. (I think the high beam indicator is TOO Bright.)
If I was a city boy, the extra lighted buttons would not matter. But I still think they are cool, but should remain optional/aftermarket. (I think the high beam indicator is TOO Bright.)
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