pilot light question

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seattle##gs

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Question...the stock pilot light circuit has a tiny 2 watt bulb in the headlight and the tail light come on with nothing else activated. It is called "parking lights". Does ANYONE use this? I assume the idea is to leave the parking lights on while you're off, on foot, doing something else. I also assume this was a British thing, not an American thing. It is a useless function like having tonsils or an appendix...life goes on quite well without them. When I wire a bike I leave this circuit out to simplify the wiring...always a good thing. I repeat...does ANYONE rely on the pilot (parking) light circuit?
 
Have never used a pilot light in all my 50 years of owning bikes and they always had one installed.
 
I used it in the past to legally qualify for having my headlamp on when I did not want to use the main or high beams.
 
Jdub said:
I used it in the past to legally qualify for having my headlamp on when I did not want to use the main or high beams.
Click to expand...
Yes , I've also used this Pilot/tail light circuit to keep the coppers off , daytime running only of course . Headlights must be on at all times legally here at all times in Canada . Mind you last time I checked regulations , 1970 and older were exempt . Don't know what today's rules state . That was using a higher output 10 W. halogen type bulb in the little socket instead of the 2 W. original filament type . It cooked itself and cracked the ceramic surround . A second replacement did the same . Nowadays the socket stays empty , LED on front and rear lights consume the same power draw !
 
Not motorcycle, But I remember having cars that didn't have 4 way flashers. First notch out on the headlight switch was for Parking Lights. All the way out was for headlights with a dimmer switch on the floor. If having to stop along side the road, the parking lights were used.
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When were Emergency flashers mandated?

Does anyone (Dave@Moon?) know exactly when the Feds required the automobile manufacturers to include emergency flashers as standard equipment?The only information I've been able to find gives a February 1966 date to the mandate, but I can't figure out if that was an immediate order or if the gove...
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seattle##gs said:
Question...the stock pilot light circuit has a tiny 2 watt bulb in the headlight and the tail light come on with nothing else activated. It is called "parking lights". Does ANYONE use this? I assume the idea is to leave the parking lights on while you're off, on foot, doing something else. I also assume this was a British thing, not an American thing. It is a useless function like having tonsils or an appendix...life goes on quite well without them. When I wire a bike I leave this circuit out to simplify the wiring...always a good thing. I repeat...does ANYONE rely on the pilot (parking) light circuit?
Click to expand...
Not just British, German too. I bought a 99 BMW in Germany and if you put on the left turn signal with the car off the left side tail and running lights stayed on. Small roads and fog makes that really useful when parked on the side of the road.
 
I always ride with the headlight on. While the parking light might be barely legal the headlight does the job making me visible. I've never had a need for it so I eliminate it from the wiring. Same goes for the 12v port next to the rear iso, right side.
 
seattle##gs said:
Question...the stock pilot light circuit has a tiny 2 watt bulb in the headlight and the tail light come on with nothing else activated. It is called "parking lights". Does ANYONE use this? I assume the idea is to leave the parking lights on while you're off, on foot, doing something else. I also assume this was a British thing, not an American thing. It is a useless function like having tonsils or an appendix...life goes on quite well without them. When I wire a bike I leave this circuit out to simplify the wiring...always a good thing. I repeat...does ANYONE rely on the pilot (parking) light circuit?
Click to expand...
Never used it and not legally required in NZ. Even if you tried I doubt the battery would last very long. The only pilot light I have wired up is the high beam. Never bothered with the ignition light either.

I think NZ law says trucks must show parking lights when parked by a road.
 
I fitted two cheapo Chinese LED lights to my commando
I've definitely noticed that car drivers notice you more
Particularly on motorways where they start to change lanes in front of you then see you and change back
 
marshg246 said:
Not just British, German too. I bought a 99 BMW in Germany and if you put on the left turn signal with the car off the left side tail and running lights stayed on. Small roads and fog makes that really useful when parked on the side of the road.
Click to expand...
same with a mk 3 cortina
 
There are Halogen 23W bulbs for scooters that fit that socket, they are bright and as the pilot fitting is in an unfocused position easily seen from the side which is where the danger comes from. A focused beam is great for seeing ahead but in daylight will not put much light out to the side.
 
Response to my earlier post: high beam on day time. I don't ride at all at night on a bike.
 
lazyeye6 said:
Gentlemen don't ride at night
Click to expand...
♬

But first, are you a gentlemen? Oh, have you ever been a gentlemen? Well, I am!
Confused:
But first, are you experienced? Oh, have you ever been experienced? Well, I have!

I prefer driving at night, and riding at night with less traffic on a warm night is quite nice.

Not necessarily stoned, but beautiful.
 
kommando said:
There are Halogen 23W bulbs for scooters that fit that socket, they are bright and as the pilot fitting is in an unfocused position easily seen from the side which is where the danger comes from. A focused beam is great for seeing ahead but in daylight will not put much light out to the side.
Click to expand...
more details on this bulb please
 
Jdub said:
I used it in the past to legally qualify for having my headlamp on when I did not want to use the main or high beams.
Click to expand...
I use this tiny light as am "lights on" legal dodge. To be fair I have installed an LED 2 watt bulb in my Triumph and the pilot LED is every bit as powerful as the OEM incandescent bulb.
 

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