Not interested in stirring up a hornets nest, but I would really prefer my front headlight to NOT be on all of the time. Does anybody know of way to disable it until I want to put it on?
Turning OFF Daytime Running Headlight
- Thread starter JTJersey
- Start date
I can tell by your keystroke you already know the answer but here it goes anyway
..Have you ever been riding in light rain are you stopped at an intersection section and there’s a whole row of cars coming down and you have to wait for an opening and see an opening and you start to go and then you realize it’s one car in the pack that doesn’t have his lights on I’ve had that happen to me a few times I know you mentioned Hornets nest !.But everybody’s trying to put more lights on and you want you take lights off…
Jack Klarich
Gold Member
I dunno about the M8 bikes , I do know how to disable it on Evo models, but if I tell you and you get a ticket or crash I would feel terrible
Old Road Dog
650+ Posts
Down and dirty:at the headlamp harness there are 3 wires black, yellow( low)and white( high). You could use a posi tap on the yellow,run the wire back out the bucket to a switch mounted either side of the handlebar cover- plastic bungs are aleasy there. But you already know most states require lights on for motorcycles right?
In my part of Jersey a motorcycle without a headlight on Will never make it past the first cop 
*
That notices it…
* That notices it…
Not legal in my "neck of the woods". Don't think I want to do that anyways. It seems to hard for a lot of cagers to see a motorcycle even WITH a headlight on.
- Thread starter
- #7
SOME state require lights on, not MOST. My home state of NJ has never had a lights on law. If the weathers bad or it's getting dark I'm old enough to know to turn the headlight on. In the middle of the day with blazing afternoon sunlight I don't feel comfortable with it on. Never have and still don't. Thanks for the tip.
- Thread starter
- #8
My point exactly. I ride like I'm invisible and if somebody does see me they're actively trying to kill me. The light is irrelevant. Between my NJ and TN where I usually run only VA has day time lights laws.
- Thread starter
- #9
In my part of Jersey a motorcycle without a headlight on Will never make it past the first cop
Not required in NJ and never take legal advice from a cop.
Headlight’s are required to be illuminated on motorcycles At all times ….
Automobiles and trucks only at night unless it’s raining (wipers on lights on)…
- Thread starter
- #11
NJ DOT
- Headlights must be in use from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.
- Headlights are required when you cannot see more than 500 feet in front of you.
- Headlights must also be in use whenever windshield wipers are in use.
- Headlights are also necessary when driving through fog, smoke, mist, or other weather conditions that reduce visibility.
Not required for always on.
Go to the DOT motorcycle regulations….
- Thread starter
- #13
I did. I'm not going to pursue this anymore here. I don't want to rile things up. Thanks anyway.
Woody
800+ Posts
I don't consider you riling things up, it appears to be educational for now. I did not realize there were any states left that did not require lights on.
I have to ask........why? Not trying to rile things up but just curious why you don't feel comfortable with it on. I run in the daytime with my headlight on bright. I certainly see a bike coming at me better if the headlight is on.
Sunman
mighty mike
80+ Posts
mighty mike
I run with my lights on during the day including the fog lights so the people driving cars can see me.
To me it's a safety thing.
I run with my lights on during the day including the fog lights so the people driving cars can see me.
To me it's a safety thing.
vwbug72501
700+ Posts
I don't live in NJ, have only been there once "way back in the day", but this thread got me curious. I searched the NJ laws with LexixNexis and couldn't find any law or regulation requiring daytime headlight use for motorcycles. I then went to the NJ MVC website and downloaded their Motorcycles Driver's Manual and couldn't find any mention of the daytime headlight requirement there either. So I've got to agree with John, it's not required.
That being said, I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN THE SAFETY OF DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. (I even run my car with the headlights on all the time.)
Are any of our members a NJ LEO or Lawyer who can site the NJ code for this "assumed" requirement?
Not trying to rile anything up, just inspired by Rhino2's Rainy Day Thoughts (No Moonpies Please!!!). Weather here is ugly for us right now.
We’re dealing with semantics here look up headlight not daylight running lights on a motorcycle…
Here in Illinois, it states all motorcycles require headlights all the time. I keep mine on with my fog lights. Like other have said the more visible the better.
Some sources represent NJ requires motorcycles to maintain a lit headlight while in operation- though, as yet, I have been unable to dig out the statute code number (instead of being explicit, NJ code may reference adherence to Federal standards); the states of Road Island, Maryland, and Hawaii have no such restriction. Included here are a link and image for possible edification and amusement-
https://www.motorcyclelegalfoundation.com/state-by-state-guide-to-motorcycle-laws/#daytimeheadlights
There have been multiple studies demonstrating the requirement correlates directly to fewer incidents.
Motorcycle Mike
800+ Posts
This is just a bad idea.
I used to ride with my high beams on all the time and people still pull out in front of me.
I put a modulator on and they still pull out in front of. Not as often but they still do.
Why take off something that makes you more visible.
Legal or not. Bad, BAD idea.
I used to ride with my high beams on all the time and people still pull out in front of me.
I put a modulator on and they still pull out in front of. Not as often but they still do.
Why take off something that makes you more visible.
Legal or not. Bad, BAD idea.
- Thread starter
- #22
All it says is that "modulating head lights are permitted". There is nothing there that says "required". I've lived in NJ for 70 years and have ridden since I was 16 and have disabled the headlights on every motorcycle I've ever owned. Both my triumphs had an add on connector that would allow me to turn on the headlight when I wanted it on. My '78 Lowrider was a simple snip of a crossover wire on the light switch.
My understanding is the NJ motorcycle headlight code has been amended several times since you were 16. I don’t doubt that you’ve done as you’ve said, or the features of the cycles you’ve owned.
The American Motorcycle Association and several other sources concur with you that day time use is not required (citing 2012 code- https://americanmotorcyclist.com/state-laws-database-temp-page ) while there are several sources, such as the Motorcycle Legal Foundation (on closer inspection, just a front for a lawyer referral service) contesting that notion.
Just to add to the conversation, albeit not specific to running straight daytime headlights or running lights….
As to modulating headlights on a motorcycle… I found this on Signaldynamics.com (they sell modulator equipment and I have purchased from them several times for different bikes) website, printed it out, and took it to the Texas motorcycle inspector at the dealership who said they were illegal and would not pass the inspection…. He recanted his position after reading it and passed the inspection. That was several years ago. I just looked out on Signal Dynamics website and it is still there. Copied and attached below.
Are flashing headlight(s) legal?
Yes they are! There is a federal law supersedes all state laws and makes motorcycle headlight modulators legal in all 50 states. FMVSS 108 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) (49 CFR Part 571.108 S7.9.4) allows motorcycle headlight modulation systems in all 50 states provided they comply with the standards set forth in this section:
A headlamp on a motorcycle may be wired to modulate either the upper beam or the lower beam from its maximum intensity to a lesser intensity provided that:
(a) The rate of modulation shall be 240 plus-or-minus 40 cycles per minute.
(b) The headlamp shall be operated at maximum power for 50 to 70 percent of each cycle.
(c) The lowest intensity at any test point shall not be less than 17 percent of the maximum intensity measured at the same point.
For other countries, such as Canada, please consult with your local departmant of motor vehicles.
As to modulating headlights on a motorcycle… I found this on Signaldynamics.com (they sell modulator equipment and I have purchased from them several times for different bikes) website, printed it out, and took it to the Texas motorcycle inspector at the dealership who said they were illegal and would not pass the inspection…. He recanted his position after reading it and passed the inspection. That was several years ago. I just looked out on Signal Dynamics website and it is still there. Copied and attached below.
Are flashing headlight(s) legal?
Yes they are! There is a federal law supersedes all state laws and makes motorcycle headlight modulators legal in all 50 states. FMVSS 108 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) (49 CFR Part 571.108 S7.9.4) allows motorcycle headlight modulation systems in all 50 states provided they comply with the standards set forth in this section:
A headlamp on a motorcycle may be wired to modulate either the upper beam or the lower beam from its maximum intensity to a lesser intensity provided that:
(a) The rate of modulation shall be 240 plus-or-minus 40 cycles per minute.
(b) The headlamp shall be operated at maximum power for 50 to 70 percent of each cycle.
(c) The lowest intensity at any test point shall not be less than 17 percent of the maximum intensity measured at the same point.
For other countries, such as Canada, please consult with your local departmant of motor vehicles.
- Thread starter
- #25
The reason this is such a contentious subject is because the Internet is one giant copy and paste response to everything. Very few people actually consider the response before replying. It's just based on what everybody else "feels" the proper response is. Several of you have responded that people pull out in front of you even with daytime lights, driving lights or flashing lights, so clearly there's more involved here. I’ve experienced this as well with and without daytime lights on.
One glaringly obvious problem motorcycles have to overcome are all the cars, trucks and buses behind them with their headlights on. A motorcycle will typically “become” one of the rearward vehicles headlights and other drivers have a very difficult time determining your speed and distance because of it. Picture any hot summer day going down the road with the sun at your back, a driver at an intersection waiting to pull out and here you come with your headlight on and that tractor trailer behind you at a normal safe distance with his headlights on.
Which one of you do you suppose that waiting driver is going to see? That’s one of the reasons why people still pull out in front of motorcycles. They literally “didn’t see” the biker. In “An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Motorcycle Daytime Headlight Laws” by Andreas Muller PHD he summarizes that “...no statistically significant differences in the proportion of daytime multi-vehicle motorcycle fatalities could be found between states with and without such laws.
The findings of this study are consistent with the conclusion that current daytime headlight use laws are either ineffective or of marginal effectiveness.” (I can provide the 6 page study in PDF format if anyone is so inclined.) In another European paper titled “Review of the evidence for motorcycle and motorcar daytime lights” by Antonio Periot and Stephen Prower they dismantle the notion of the effectiveness of motorcycle daytime headlights entirely. (It’s a 95 page PDF) What “seems” to be a good idea can actually lead to complacency by riders with deadly consequences. Do whatever you feel is best for you, but all I asked was, is there a way to disable the darn thing?
One glaringly obvious problem motorcycles have to overcome are all the cars, trucks and buses behind them with their headlights on. A motorcycle will typically “become” one of the rearward vehicles headlights and other drivers have a very difficult time determining your speed and distance because of it. Picture any hot summer day going down the road with the sun at your back, a driver at an intersection waiting to pull out and here you come with your headlight on and that tractor trailer behind you at a normal safe distance with his headlights on.
Which one of you do you suppose that waiting driver is going to see? That’s one of the reasons why people still pull out in front of motorcycles. They literally “didn’t see” the biker. In “An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Motorcycle Daytime Headlight Laws” by Andreas Muller PHD he summarizes that “...no statistically significant differences in the proportion of daytime multi-vehicle motorcycle fatalities could be found between states with and without such laws.
The findings of this study are consistent with the conclusion that current daytime headlight use laws are either ineffective or of marginal effectiveness.” (I can provide the 6 page study in PDF format if anyone is so inclined.) In another European paper titled “Review of the evidence for motorcycle and motorcar daytime lights” by Antonio Periot and Stephen Prower they dismantle the notion of the effectiveness of motorcycle daytime headlights entirely. (It’s a 95 page PDF) What “seems” to be a good idea can actually lead to complacency by riders with deadly consequences. Do whatever you feel is best for you, but all I asked was, is there a way to disable the darn thing?
Old road dogs idea seems good, easy, cheap and quick. What more do you need.:Shrug:
Do you think this method might work for you? Keep us informed.
- Thread starter
- #28
Thinking of the OldRoadDog approach, I've been looking for an appropriate switch. The most commonly available I've found are these two.
Ain’t that the truth. I suspected as much of myself; faced with your certainty, I read the 2021 NJ Motorcycle Handbook- while it lauds the use of headlights during the day, nowhere does it claim doing so is required. You’d already replied before I had tested my own research to failure.
The other thing illustrated by this is our inclination to turn off critical faculties when a figure presenting as an authority confirms our reckoning.
Jack Klarich
Gold Member
JT, Old Road Dog said 1 way to do it in his post,
That is 1 way we did it in the day, there is a way of doing it with the ignition switch also, how ever it has been years since I did one like that
Good luck in your choice, keep in mind there are 2 plastic caps on the handle bar clamp cover, when you are seated on your trike look just ahead of the fuel tank and look down
That is where the Roadkings and the FLHS Electra Glide Sport had a toggle switch for the passing lamps
Now if it were me that is where I would wire in a lighted toggle switch for the headlight
You would not have to see any ugly wiring this way
# 11 in the diagram
That is 1 way we did it in the day, there is a way of doing it with the ignition switch also, how ever it has been years since I did one like that
Good luck in your choice, keep in mind there are 2 plastic caps on the handle bar clamp cover, when you are seated on your trike look just ahead of the fuel tank and look down
That is where the Roadkings and the FLHS Electra Glide Sport had a toggle switch for the passing lamps
Now if it were me that is where I would wire in a lighted toggle switch for the headlight
You would not have to see any ugly wiring this way
# 11 in the diagram
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