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Daytime Running Lights in the U.S.

20K views 50 replies 26 participants last post by  ZabDevin 
#1 ·
There's been several threads regarding the availability, or lack of, DRLs on the T120.

Here's the deal, at least in the U.S.: 49 CFR Part 571.108 is a regulation that states mosickles have to have headlights on all the time. Hard wired. Can't turn them off. This came into effect back in...oh.... I want to say 1972 or so, but maybe earlier. The reg also dictates requirements for all headlights, from Smart Cars to Semis.

The U.S. model of the T120 does indeed have DRLs. They are on all the time, along with the headlight. These are the "lazy W" row of LCDs on the lower half. Since the above quoted law won't let us turn off the headlight, they just stay on all the time.

This same part of the Code of Federal Regulations also dictates the location of the throttle, shifter and clutch and brake levers. It also dictates the requirement for the red KILL switch. It dictates the exact color and luminescence of tail lights and stop lights and all that.

The reg was written long before LEDs and such, and long before DRLs on minivans and Audi's came into being. Someday the reg may be changed to allow headlights to be turned off if the DRLs are bright enough.

In the meantime, write to your congressman. Good luck with that.
 
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#2 ·
#7 ·
The LED "DRL" on the US spec bikes has a much lower wattage than the Euro bikes that actually use the LED as a DRL. I just consider the US LED to be a park light and not a DRL.
 
#9 ·
The year for mandated always on lights was 1978. While the FED code says all new bikes have to have a hard wired headlight, there is nothing stopping you from adding the headlight switch. I had a 95 BMW R bike and the owner had added the headlight switch.
 
#10 ·
Since you're a LEO, suppose you'd know but guessing that was SC? While living in NJ, sometime in the 70's headlight on became law for bikes and NJ posted signs on the PA border where it wasn't.

Can't seem to find the US DOT mandate for hardwired from manufacturers. Obviously it was much later as my '85 1/2 K100RT was delivered with an on/off switch which made starting without more reassuring. (See above). BMW wouldn't ever take chances with the Feds!

Hardwired for European must have come much later as IIRC on/off switches could be purchased for some marques after 2000.
 
#15 ·
My 2012 Yamaha S10 has dual filament turn signals in front that act as DRL's. It also has small (194) bulbs in the headlight assm. that are called parking lights. Also the bike did not come with hazard lights feature that so many other brands have.
I don't understand the rhyme or reason of all these standards but I'm all for being more visible to cagers!

Since I haven't taken delivery of my T120, I really don't know what it's going to come with?
 
#16 ·
Since I haven't taken delivery of my T120, I really don't know what it's going to come with?
You won't have DRLs, but I think you'll otherwise be very impressed with the bike.

Another difference is that you'll have turn signals with incandescent bulbs, vs. the LED units that the rest of the world gets. You will have the LED tail light/stop light, though, which is very bright and highly visible.

A few guys have ordered the parts necessary for conversion to rest-of-world spec lighting. It was expensive, but probably worth it!
 
#25 ·
I'd remind anyone who wants cruise control and is considering this rest-of-world DRL mod on a US/Canada/Japan spec T120 that you'll need the CC kit for DRL equipped bikes. The kit should be fitted after DRL is installed and functional. The dealer activation process is the same for all versions of the CC kit, so activation won't be a problem. I think Motard-menace is our resident expert on this process. His T120 was delivered with DRL.

I'd love to install DRL, but I already have a non-DRL CC kit that functions fine. I don't want to buy another version of it for $382US, plus $480 for the DRL parts SUPERCRUZ mentions.
 
#26 · (Edited)
Hello all,

I figured I'd ask in this thread about DRL wiring.

I have a US Spec Thruxton R. I recently installed a new 7" headlight with better light output. The new aftermarket headlight does have seperate DRL wire which I just tapped into the Yellow and Black wires using a new male plug and it works.

I am wondering however, the stock harness on the bikes end of the female plug has three wires (Yellow, Yellow/Blue, and Black). The stock halogen headlight only uses two out of the three (Yellow and Black)

What is the center wire for (the Yellow/Blue, it's not used on the stock headlight)?
 

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#27 · (Edited)
Your headlight there is a US spec one with only two wires being Yellow - Running light (low intensity, dim) and Black - Ground. the three wire in your wiring is the same but with the extra pin for the Euro headlight assembly in which the third pin is for the bright daytime DRL. It is activated by the different left hand switch that the European bikes also have that allows them to turn their headlight on and off.
 
#28 ·
I recently had cruise control added to my T120.
Since then, when i turn on the bike i get only LED DRL strips. (No normal beam bulb, very dark at night)
If i turn on the "Brights", they function as normal.
I don't have any normal headlight functioning at this point. (Either LED DRL or high beams.)
I have reached out to the dealer at this point, but, am curious if anybody knows what i need to do to return normal headlight function or add the drl option.
 
#32 ·
the headlights (set to A for automatic) on my Porsche only come on at dusk(by the ambient light sensor). the led DRLs which are pretty bright and below the headlight, are the only front lights on in daytime unless i chose to turn on the actual headlights ( also leds) manually.
 
#34 ·
A Porsche is not a motorcycle. The regulation only calls for motorcycles to have headlights on at all times. The reg DOES cover aspects of headlights such as focus points, brightness and such, but only motorcycles sold in the U.S. are required to have full-time headlights.

Stupid law, but it is there, it's cheap for the manufacturers to comply with, and congressmen get to go to sleep every night satisfied they are keeping the world safe from invisible motorcycles.
 
#35 ·
My 2018 Bonne T120 has a headlight which stays lit whenever the key is on. So have the last 10 or more motorcycles I've owned and I wouldn't have it any other way. Even so, people in cars and even on motorcycles keep trying to kill me, but odds are good that the lit headlight has cut the number down some. I've seen compelling evidence to that effect and any one of those incidents it prevented could have been the one that crippled or killed me.

I can't see whether the headlight is lit or not when I'm riding anyway, so it doesn't bother me and it may have saved my a$$.

Pete
 
#36 ·
My 2018 Bonne T120 has a headlight which stays lit whenever the key is on. So have the last 10 or more motorcycles I've owned and I wouldn't have it any other way. Even so, people in cars and even on motorcycles keep trying to kill me, but odds are good that the lit headlight has cut the number down some. I've seen compelling evidence to that effect and any one of those incidents it prevented could have been the one that crippled or killed me.



I can't see whether the headlight is lit or not when I'm riding anyway, so it doesn't bother me and it may have saved my a$$.



Pete


With the plethora of cars running DRLs these days, odds are your single headlight would be lost in the crowd.
 
#39 ·
As a rider and a vehicle driver anything that helps riders be seen and anything that helps me see riders certainly can't hurt.
I don't like more and more laws but the headlight law I believe was one that helps drivers not hit riders.

I also am seeing more and more riders wearing the bright safety vest - I believe it helps them to be seen but I certainly don't want to see it made a law.

Just my opinion.
 
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#40 ·
Well..., this is a complex topic. When these headlight laws were proliferating in the late 80's, headlight on was shown in insurance crash statistics to be advantageous. Whether the same would apply today remains to be proven, given wide use of auto DRL's and distracted driving in 2019. I'd still ride with my headlight on if off were an option as improving my odds can't hurt.

IMO the largest issue is motorcycle recognition by auto drivers whose brains don't process/interpret a single headlight, or a bike for that matter. Experienced riders have all experienced close calls after making direct eye contact with a driver who then still pulls out or makes a turn across your bow. Appears to be a brain wiring issue with no simple answer. Just assume they are all out to mow you down.

As for reflective clothing, might be more useful for visibility on Interstates. In dense traffic with lots of visual distractions, I'd question its usefulness. YMMV...
 
#42 ·
Agree Mr. lambroving.
I still support anything that might help me see bikes when I'm driving and anything to might help drivers see me when I'm riding can't hurt in my opinion.
 
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#43 ·
In Cambodia it’s against the law to ride/drive with headlights on during daytime. That ‘privilege’ is reserved only for government vehicles.
When I last went there on my motorbike, I had to cover my headlight lens!!! Crazy or what??


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#45 ·
What really saves lives is assuming that any vehicle at an intersection is going to pull out in front of you. Ride defensively, in other words. Maybe lights on works, maybe it doesn't. I want a headlight switch so I can make the decision to run lights on myself, rather than have the decision made by nameless government apparatchiks.
 
#47 ·
I ordered a module that plugs in series between the headlight socket and the light on my street cup. When I turn on the ignition, only the driving/parking light comes on, no low beam. If I want the headlight I just need to work the dimmer switch and the high beam comes on. From there on the dimmer switch works like normal, toggling between high and low beams, until shut down.

The only downside that I see is that I often forget to initially activate the light using the dimmer switch. No problem with the light on, just wanted the option to control it. I don't see any reason to have the headlight on before I start the bike.
 
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