Headlamp/sidelight switch

[AndyRob]

It's not in the least bit important but I'd be interested to know . . . .

Was it legislation somewhere, or what, that made BMW omit the R1100s combination light switch next to the twistgrip - somewhere around 2001?

You know, the one that makes it necessary to use the starter motor when there's already a substantial load on the battery from the lights which are turned on automatically with the ignition.

It's not that I'd ride without lights, nor would never need a reminder to put the lights on when moving off but, for me, an audible or visual warning would be preferable- as for the seat belt in your car (a BMW anyway).
For example, when my engine is ticking over in the garage to warm up (or down) or even when I'm riding without lights somewhere by my own deliberate choice. There are such places. Examples?

[dysondiver]

one of the old tips for starting a car with a battery that was .. on its way out ,, on a cold day or frosty morn , was to turn on the dipped lights for twenty seconds or so , then try , the reasoning was that the lesser load started the chemical reaction in the battery and the heat it generated made the cranking load easier ,,,, wether its true or not , i dont know , but it sounds good in theory , but there was no canbus or abs on a mk1 escort.

[AndyRob]

Yes, I remember that - but that also, just before you started cranking, you'd turn off the lights again (having got those juices in the battery going) and so maximise the wattage available to the starter and coils.

I still think one country - probably our cousins over the ocean - was responsible for the auto-lights. Following on from cars having to have high bumpers, repeater indicators and warning labels everywhere etc, etc. Surely back then even the EU wasn't interfering this much ?

[Bruno]

I might be wrong, but I thought that there was a load relief relay that drops out and interupts supply to loads like the headlamp and heated grips when the starter button is pressed.

Mark

[Topcat]

The compulsory use of head lights for bikes was an EC directive in and around 2001/2. Directive97/24/EC I believe.

My first BM had no light switch (2003) but my Bandit has! (1999)

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/ ... -ec_en.htm