turn your lights on!

subway

just a reminder people,
if its grey, raning and dark out,
and youve made the choice to wear black gear,
turn your ****ing headlight on before you go filtering down the middle.

i had 2 near misses this morning with chaps that obviously thought the idea was not to be seen.
i had my headlamp on so maybe they thought we were playing chicken as they weaved in and out of cars before scaring the bejaysus out of me.

after having a maniac woman run thorugh a red light in order to give me a surprise reaction time + wet braking test im a bit surpirsed that any biker would be tearing it up with no lights on.

if not for the cars, and not for you, do it for the other bikers your invisibly driving towards

cormie

Every vehicle should always have their lights on when in use, sun, rain, day, night, always.

:cool:

KTRIC

I just bought a new bike last week and according to some new EU directive the lights physically can't be turned off.

When I put the key in the ignition the parking lights come on (front and rear) and when I start the bike the normal lights come on.

This is going to be standard on all bikes sold from now on in the EU. So no more mid-night bank jobs

deman

KTRIC wrote:

This is going to be standard on all bikes sold from now on in the EU.

Not only bikes but cars too.

subway

KTRIC wrote:

I just bought a new bike last week and according to some new EU directive the lights physically can't be turned off.

When I put the key in the ignition the parking lights come on (front and rear) and when I start the bike the normal lights come on.

This is going to be standard on all bikes sold from now on in the EU. So no more mid-night bank jobs

well thats a good sign.

while im on the subject, do those new nisan micras, the ones that look like noddy cars, come with headlights, or just two christmas tree lights on the front?

everytime i see them they just have two little pin pricks at the front corners

Garibaldi

KTRIC wrote:

When I put the key in the ignition the parking lights come on (front and rear) and when I start the bike the normal lights come on.

Same here, and mine's an '03.

subway

musnt be all manufacturers,
were either of yours imports?

one of the bikes this morning was a fairly new ktm, probably 04 by the style.
there so narrow that theyre hard enough to see from the front anyway.

everyone should drive zzr1400's, they look impossible to miss

art

I had an 03 Triumph with them "always on". My 05 Triumph also is wired that way. So, might be the other way round - bikes that are not imports are wired this way?

KTRIC

Well I know that my bike is an EU model because of the name (its sold under a different name in the US), so its not an import.

Garibaldi

A little metal plate on mine tells me it's an EU model. UK, to be precise.

Tabnabs

Can I just ask as a motorist who has the utmost respect for bikers and their sneaky ways of getting through traffic, please don't sit on the left hand side of the car just hanging back (on the M50). Your in the blind spot and when the outside lane is clear I will move back into it. I have had a few bikes sit in this position just keeping pace with me and only for me watching them come up in the rear view mirror I would have indicated and moved across and probably taken the guy out or at least make him pi$$ himself...

Also, lights-on is fantastic, but please angle them down if possible, it's like a bloody search light in my eyes when I've got a big bike behind me with the reflection in the rear view mirror. (in fairness, SUV's and truck are just as bad on this one!)

subway

any biker sitting on the left of a car is an idiot.
sittong on the right however, usually is an indication that your car is too close to the white line.
its a common trait amongst bmw and other "expensive" car owners
the main reason you spot other vehicles is by watchin for them,
your required to do this, its not a favor your doing anyone.

Idleater

Dyflin wrote:

Can I just ask as a motorist who has the utmost respect for bikers and their sneaky ways of getting through traffic, please don't sit on the left hand side of the car just hanging back (on the M50).

erm, if that is me, I apologise.

I normally just go by, but I wait till there is room on the left. To be honest, (if it was me) I don't think I was there long, and where I position myself is to the left of the car, actually "near" the white lines so I think I would be about 30 cm away from the edge of your car.

subway wrote:

any biker sitting on the left of a car is an idiot.

I disagree.

Driving where I can control and manage the space around me keeps me safe.

I don't go to the right unless the car is being an idiot and doing 90kmph with no one in front of them (like you said)

At least at the left, I can brake or accelerate or turn, if I am on the right, my only option is brake.

L.

subway

at the left rear corner of a car you have 2 options, kerb or car.
undertaking is dodgy at the best of times so no point hanging around, do it or dont tbh.

if your hanging around the right rear corner, your main option is overtake.
you have a whole other lane to play with.
if worst comes to the worst and your making a mad dash to the right of a car into oncoming traffic youll have a much better chance of them giving you room than a kerb somehow moving out of your way.

Idleater

subway wrote:

at the left rear corner of a car you have 2 options, kerb or car.
undertaking is dodgy at the best of times so no point hanging around, do it or dont tbh.

Not on the M50 (which is the point I was addressing).

I agree with the undertaking and not hanging around though.

L.

subway

on the m50 you have 2 wide lanes so why you would be hanging around anyones bumper is beyond me.
straight up the middle tbh.

im completely baffled by the car drivers post.

Garibaldi

Passed a guy on a Dullesville this morning on the N7. He was wearing a big hi-vis jacket, but lights were off. After about 100m, I had a look at him in the mirror, and he was almost invisible in the gloom (at about 08:30). The hi-vis was useless as it was obscured by the fairing. Seems there really is something to this "lights on" malarky.

subway

well that particular honda is exempt as even if its was painted bright pink and had a psotlight aimed at it would be hard to notice

Idleater

subway wrote:

on the m50 you have 2 wide lanes so why you would be hanging around anyones bumper is beyond me.
straight up the middle tbh.

Yeah, I normally do, but at 120kmph i do tend to wait sometimes behind if the sods in the "fast" lane are towards the left of it and the sods in the left lane are a bit to the right.

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH Muppets! You are not going anywhere! Just follow the car in front damn it!!!

L.

faceman

cormie wrote:

Every vehicle should always have their lights on when in use, sun, rain, day, night, always.

:cool:

its the law in some countries. Funny though, I saw MAG ireland had issues with this from what i remember.

faceman

Garibaldi wrote:

Passed a guy on a Dullesville this morning on the N7. He was wearing a big hi-vis jacket, but lights were off. After about 100m, I had a look at him in the mirror, and he was almost invisible in the gloom (at about 08:30). The hi-vis was useless as it was obscured by the fairing. Seems there really is something to this "lights on" malarky.

Er i drive a dullesville n i bet i get hotter women than you!

subway

another rreminder, even though the weather may make you think its summer out - its not.
its still dark and i still cant see you.
3 so far this week filtering with no lights on.

MrPudding

Dyflin wrote:

I have had a few bikes sit in this position just keeping pace with me and only for me watching them come up in the rear view mirror I would have indicated and moved across and probably taken the guy out or at least make him pi$$ himself...

Do you not carry out a blind spot check before changing lane? Taking out a biker is one thing but you can fit a car into your blind spot so it is in your interest.

MrP

saobh_ie

Caught myself out driving with no lights on recently, when the bikes been parked up for a week I switch everything off before turning on the ignition and starting. Copped it before I left the cover of street lights (two minutes into the ride) and I was sitting high up with an enormous orange jacket on, (sleeves, the lot).

As for the M50 and other motorways...

You have the hardshoulder, lane one, lane two, and then theres the little verge then grass. _._._._

I'm always so tempted to get into that little verge and just open it up but it would be incrediblally stupid because if a gust of wind or anything would put you half a foot off your line your into the grass at 160kmh and shortly after that dead.