Topic: Cheap Koito H4 Headlamp

[newday777]

Half a century ago I once heard that there were states in the US where not only always-headlamp-on was law for motorbikes, but also that at day the light had to alternate between high and low beam in a certain frequency. I wonder what the wiring was on such bikes, as you wouldn't want that flickering at nighttime ofcourse. I only heard it once, so... urban myth maybe?

Hi low was not a requirement

[willbird]

Half a century ago I once heard that there were states in the US where not only always-headlamp-on was law for motorbikes, but also that at day the light had to alternate between high and low beam in a certain frequency. I wonder what the wiring was on such bikes, as you wouldn't want that flickering at nighttime ofcourse. I only heard it once, so... urban myth maybe?

Hi low was not a requirement

I remember seeing the accessory to accomplish it advertised quite a bit in the back of Popular Science magazine. I do not remember seeing a LOT of bikes with them but they for sure drew attention from what seemed like miles away in traffic.

Bill

[newday777]

Half a century ago I once heard that there were states in the US where not only always-headlamp-on was law for motorbikes, but also that at day the light had to alternate between high and low beam in a certain frequency. I wonder what the wiring was on such bikes, as you wouldn't want that flickering at nighttime ofcourse. I only heard it once, so... urban myth maybe?

Hi low was not a requirement

I remember seeing the accessory to accomplish it advertised quite a bit in the back of Popular Science magazine. I do not remember seeing a LOT of bikes with them but they for sure drew attention from what seemed like miles away in traffic.

Bill

People would pull over thinking they had a cop behind them if it was a big goldwing or bemer

[willbird]

Half a century ago I once heard that there were states in the US where not only always-headlamp-on was law for motorbikes, but also that at day the light had to alternate between high and low beam in a certain frequency. I wonder what the wiring was on such bikes, as you wouldn't want that flickering at nighttime ofcourse. I only heard it once, so... urban myth maybe?

Hi low was not a requirement

I remember seeing the accessory to accomplish it advertised quite a bit in the back of Popular Science magazine. I do not remember seeing a LOT of bikes with them but they for sure drew attention from what seemed like miles away in traffic.

Bill

People would pull over thinking they had a cop behind them if it was a big goldwing or bemer

I thought it made the bike look like the headlight was falling out :-).

[Don R]

 A couple years ago I passed a group of BMW's going the other way on I80, they all had the same driving lights that were so bright it almost made me squint, and it was still daytime. No way would I not see them.

[newday777]

A couple years ago I passed a group of BMW's going the other way on I80, they all had the same driving lights that were so bright it almost made me squint, and it was still daytime. No way would I not see them.

Yellow LED driving lights? I passed one like that on a back road that I saw him blinding my at over 1/2 mile in the afternoon shade  😎

[eldar]

Gotta remember 50 years was just 1974 now! About 72-ish, was when laws changed for the headlight to always be on. Somewhere around there anyways. Nothing about low/high. However, you could add a module that would do that. I remember seeing them advertised even into the 90s. I can see ho it would work, but I also see how it would burn out your bulb much faster!

[Oddjob]

IIRC it was much later, around 1978 it became mandatory, some states making it mandatory before 78 but it went state wide in 78 IIRC.

It wasn't 72 as the 500-4 has no provision for always on headlight, and it would have needed to have it if it was 72.

I'm in the UK and I've often wondered if bikes manufactured before then are exempt from having lights always on when on the road, or is it just something owners have to remember to do? What happens if the bulb blows, are you not allowed to ride it home, even in sunlight? I don't disagree with the principle, I'm just seeing if there are grey areas for certain situations. In the UK we are not required to run with lights on during daylight but bikes after a certain date are required to have them always on, you could however easily remove that function and it would still be legal, whether the insurance company would pay out in the event of an accident though tends to stop people doing that.

[MauiK3]

My US 73 K3 750 still has an on off switch for the light.
I also use a Marchal with the extra "parking" bulb, I have it wired to always be on when running. I may try to find an LED bulb to fit both locations.

[Don R]

My US 73 K3 750 still has an on off switch for the light.
I also use a Marchal with the extra "parking" bulb, I have it wired to always be on when running. I may try to find an LED bulb to fit both locations.

I tried a blue LED in the park position, it was a little too blue so I went with yellow, it's also on with the key. I have also used the park light switches, DSS has them.

[spotty]

England also has a provision that allows you to have no lights and still be legal, obviously can only be driven/ridden in daylight hours. i think you still have to have a brakelight

[bryanj]

Yes if lights are fitted they must work and a brakelight is obligatory if lights fitted.
A red reflector to a British Stantard is also obligatory.
You also can not show white light to the rear except number plate lights, also obligatory, and no red lights to front.
Police will try and tell you blue lights are illegal but there is no actual law on that.

By the way do you know the difference between illegal and unlawfull?




Illegal is a sick bird

[RAFster122s]

In the US neither blue or red lights are legal on the bike. Seems someone at Polaris decided the slingshot would have blue under lighting as a custom option on one of their models tricked out. Knew of someone who had one in Sierra Vista AZ and she kept getting tickets from local cops. Polaris was forced to change out the lighting package on their dime to change the color to something that was legal...

[Oddjob]

If red lights are not legal why is the rear light lens red? Surely that would be illegal? Plus I’ve seen indicators with red lenses before now from the states.

[bryanj]

Red to front not legal nor white to rear

[RAFster122s]

Sorry, Only on the rear brake is the red lense legal in US, anywhere else they will cite you or try to cite you for illegal illumination...

Nobody said things were logical , size of reflectors increased due to DOT regs, that's why 75 and later bikes moved to the bigger turn signals and why the taillamp grew.

The little blue dot jewels people liked to add to their taillamps got cracked down on too...
The EPA could stand by letting DOT have all the fun either, they instituted changes as well.

[dave500]

yeah i never understood those red dots?made your
lights go pink?very bright though.

[69cb750]

Half a century ago I once heard that there were states in the US where not only always-headlamp-on was law for motorbikes, but also that at day the light had to alternate between high and low beam in a certain frequency. I wonder what the wiring was on such bikes, as you wouldn't want that flickering at nighttime ofcourse. I only heard it once, so... urban myth maybe?

Few years back we were riding our bikes in Ohio, police came behind us and blasting on loud speaker lights on in Ohio! It's the law!
No such law in Michigan.

[BenelliSEI]

I still have a small collection of red turn signal lenses (1969-74). Were they actually required in any states? Or just a fad?

[Deltarider]

I've ordered them from Taiwan. I have removed all amber plastic.

[69cb750]

I still have a small collection of red turn signal lenses (1969-74). Were they actually required in any states? Or just a fad?

All usa cb750 turn signals were amber.
Probably dot required, red probably illegal.

[newday777]

I still have a small collection of red turn signal lenses (1969-74). Were they actually required in any states? Or just a fad?

All usa cb750 turn signals were amber.
Probably dot required, red probably illegal.

Actually.....some states in the USA required red turn lens to the rear and I had them in stock in NH in the mid 70s.
I think I have a screenshot of the list but couldn't find it yet to post

[Don R]

 We used to swap the rear turn lights to the later model front turn signals with a running light and a dual filament bulb, then make up a small jumper to run the turn signals as extra taillights, hence the red lenses. My brother still thinks it's mandatory so cars behind you can see you better. 
 The fronts still need to be amber. Yamiya sells the clear lenses that can have amber bulbs inside.

[Don R]

Gotta remember 50 years was just 1974 now! About 72-ish, was when laws changed for the headlight to always be on. Somewhere around there anyways. Nothing about low/high. However, you could add a module that would do that. I remember seeing them advertised even into the 90s. I can see how it would work, but I also see how it would burn out your bulb much faster!

 Our Honda shop owner encouraged everyone to run the high beam during the day and save the low beam for night.

[Oddjob]

I've ordered them from Taiwan. I have removed all amber plastic.

That's got to be illegal in Europe, they are anal about everything over there.