So, I was thinking as part of my lighting for safety, don't pull out in front of me, either day or night, if I ran a better headlight, and/or a modulator, maybe that would help, but I also liked the idea of adding some small lights maybe on the crash bar, and even made a thread about which ones to buy on here...

However, in searching some other lighting related posts on here, some have mentioned the legality, or illegality, of running more than 3 or 4 lights in some states.

I'd mostly be concerned with NC, SC, although I do intend to do some touring. Some were pretty specific on here about running more than 4 lights. I wonder if it's illegal anywhere around here to run the headlight, passing lamp, and fog lights on my bike?

I was hoping to get a larger footprint/triangle appearance w/ the added fog/running lights on the crash bars, but wouldn't necessarily want to turn off the passing lamps to do it.

Any thoughts, or even better, facts?

Thanks.

 

My response is based on the law and motor vehicle inspection standards in Virginia. Your laws may be different, but, probably not by much. Quite a few folks will disagree with my advice, however, the laws generally parallel the SAE standards. The vehicle is manufactured with limits built in. You can normally run your low beams and fog lights/passing lamps (auxiliary lamps) at the same time. The electrical system is normally designed to cut off the auxiliary lamps when you activate the high beams....just like on your car or truck with factory installed auxiliary lamps. The reason this occurs is by design and to comply with the laws in most states. Some of the folks on this forum have advocated some wiring changes to allow the auxiliary lamps to operate with the high beams on. The short version.....if you have to alter the electrical system to get more light output, you probably have exceeded the design standards.

While everyone would like some extra light, the laws and SAE standards are designed to take into account the visibility of the driver approaching you. An oncoming driver who is blinded by your lights becomes dangerous to you and others. If that driver crashes, and it is determined that your lights (improperly or illegally modified) caused the crash, you could have a liability problem. I recognize the chances of that occurring are slim.

When adding lamps to a vehicle, keep in mind that each lamp has a specific purpose and must be installed as designed. Some youngsters have been observed operating cars with aircraft landing lights mounted and wired as fog lamps...really! Generally...each lamp is marked with an SAE code that determines its intended use and mounting location.

I don't recall seeing any SAE standards on headlight modulators and cannot give any advice on that issue.

Before others criticize my response, keep in mind that I am simply answering the question that was asked. I am no longer in the enforcement business and have no dog in this fight. I am not being critical of anyone else who decides to modify their lights.

Andy

 

I would honestly say go for it. But keep in mind what Andy has said above. You may have a issue, but then again you may have a issue if you say.... modify the exhaust. I know here in Illinois anything other than the factory exhaust is illegal. That is not to say that the Police will mess with you, I know that I feel LOUD is safe. So I would say go for it, but as Andy has said there is a reason that the lights are wired the way they are...

 

thoughts only here...safety 1st...deal with the law later, i'm sure you'd just get a warning...the real test is see how many people flash their lights at you

 

In WI you cant have more then 4 white lights to the front. If you have more then 4 the others need to be covered. It just gives us a reason to stop you. Something to think about.

 

If an oncomming driver doesn't see 3 lights, he probably won't see 5 or seven either. Remember to make sure not to overload the charging system or you may end up riding with no lights.

 

just a thought, have you checked the ajustment on your bike per the owner's manual? It really improved my visability to the point that I don't feel a need for more lighting. I had set the lights without me sitting on the bike I had my son holding it up and he weighs quite a bit less than me we did a reajustment with my fat a** on it and I can really see a improvement. any how good luck and ride safe!

 

I ran headlamp, passing lamps, running lights, and HD fog lamps for 3+ years in Metro Atlanta, and most of the Southeast. Georgia law says a max of four white lights. Never had a problem with leo's and, frankly, except for the inconvenience, could care less about being stopped for the violation--much rather be seen on the streets with the extra lights.

 

I'll be honest, I really hadn't thought about the extra lighting being illeagal as long as they were not pointed to high to blind oncoming traffic. I am one of the people who has upgraded my headlight to the dual bulb halogen and modified my passing lamps to stay on on high beam and wish I had more lighting. A group of us were coming home last night right after dark and guess what????? I was in the front watching carefully as always and didn't see a huge deer standing right in the left lane until I was about 50 yards from it and that's not near soon enough even at 50mph. I do run extra lighting and I make sure it is not pointed to where it blinds oncoming traffic so if I'm riding and get stopped for to many lights I'll just have to pay the stupid fine, or possibly bail when I'm done speaking my mind to them about some of the important things they could be doing instead wasting time with someone trying to be safer.

 

Well, I appreciate the feedback.

* Andy, I understand what you're saying about the intended purposes, and not rewiring the bike to run the passing lamps w/ the high beams. If I were to ever attempt that, it would only be for daylight, not to ride around at night trying to blind people. My main goal here was to see what, if any, issues one might have running low beams, w/ the factory round 'passing lamps' on the Road King Classic, along w/ the Fog Lamps on the crash bars. Take the ones HD sells for example, there's no warning about running them w/ certain other lights on their website, but then again, I don't know how they're wired in w/ the factory plug and play harness. Like do you have to choose between the passing lamps or the fog lamps, or w/ the stock HD set up, can you run all 4 plus the low beam?

I would think if the stock HD headlight, passing lamps, and HD sold fog lamps all were installed w/ no warnings or wiring restrictions from running all 5 at one time, then it would seem they at least think it's acceptable, both from an electrical point of view, and a legal one. However, if there are warnings or wiring restrictions wither their set up, then maybe further scrutiny of their motivation, either electrically or legally, would be needed.


* Lucky13, you're probably right, but after having a driver wait at a gas station for what seemed like an eternity, only to pull out and hit me, injuring me and totaling my last bike in September, I'm just trying to do everything I can. Even a small increase in visibility would be a good thing. The lady that hit me wasn't looking at me, or even in my direction when she pulled out, she was looking in the opposite direction, assuming the closest lanes to her were clear, and worrying about the lanes on the other side of the center lane. I can only think that had I been a little bit more visible, maybe there's a chance she would have seen me when I was further away, before she turned to look the other direction. Maybe not, but I'm sure you can't blame me for wanting to do what I can to prevent a similar accident from happening to me twice.

* rcartie, I agree it's important to make sure the lights are adjusted properly. I never had much problem seeing where I was going, but am more concerned about being seen. As a matter of fact, I had done just that (adjusted the lights) about a week before the lady mentioned above rammed me, so my thinking is additional lighting pointed in slightly different directions could catch another driver's eye from more than one angle. My thinking is that with five lights hitting slightly different points of aim, that there's a better chance of another driver catching at least one of the lights at one of it's brighter angles, depending on the elevation and curve of the road.

Sure, if they're not looking they're not gonna see ya, but in reading many of these light related threads, someone pointed something out I hadn't thought of, that a lot of cars today have daytime running lights, so the motorcycles aren't as noticeable during the day, compared to the cars. And I think at night, the wider the footprint of the lights, theoretically, the better speed and distance awareness another driver might have.

ETA: I mean, when I look at the front of my bike, I don't understand how anyone could not see me, especially at night, but apparently it wasn't enough. While there's no guarantee that adding a couple lights will make a difference, I don't mind trying to go above and beyond a little, if there's a chance of making a difference w/ an inattentive driver.



Hope that makes sense, and thanks for the feedback so far...