OK, enough with the "lights out" already!

OK, I know a few of you took this personally when I asked why some
Harley riders on modern, newer bikes seem to ride around with their
lights out during the day. Noone here admitted to doing it, or knowing
much more than hypothesis about why it is. But damnit, what did I see
Saturday about 3:00pm southbound on 101 in Sonoma county? First one,
then another, then about 6 more...maybe a few miles/minutes apart so I
don't think they were together...ALL with their lights OUT! Was there a
"stupid convention" in the Wine Country Saturday or something?

 

Harley riders are a contrary lot, Tell 'em to do sumpin, and even if
it's smart, they won't do it. Not cause they think it's dumb, but
because someone told them to do it. Then they think up a good-sounding
reason for it.

The other day at Meisterburger I saw this biker with one of those
DOT-rated Yarmulkes. It had a chin strap that fastened ... but he
casually slid the helmet forward off his head. Well, clearly his brain's
not worth saving.

 

It depends on the species. Predators and scavengers can't be kosher:
anything that roots around in the dirt or in dead animals is unclean.

 

No doubt ridin' around without your your headlight on in the daylight is
pretty dumb. But there may be an explanation for why those bad boy HD types
like having the ability to off the headlight. Imagine if you were being
pursued by an alien down a windy road on a dark and stormy night......the
ability to shut down the lights and disappear could be very handy........

 

yeah: you could disappear into some bushes or over some cliff, and the
aliens in their alien-technology space suits suits on their
alien-technology bikes and their creepy alien-technology lights that
work on some secret power source so they can be on all the time wouldn't
follow you.

 

Well then, it sounds like the solution is simple: tell the Harley guys that
they cannot, under any circumstances, use their headlights during the day.

Problem solved.

 

Pardon my stupidity but I have to ask a question. Do these newer
Harleys have light switches? I mean is it once again legal to put
light switches on bikes? (My newest bike is a 1993 so maybe I'm a
little out of touch). Or are Harley owners installing the switches
themselves?

If there are switches on the bikes, then it's just logical to think
you turn them off during the day and on at night.

But it's kind of funny since conspicuity is obviously very important
to Harley riders (for purposes other than safety)!

 

Not speaking for the list, but I personally don't ride a Harley. Nor do
I wear a beanie helmet. I don't think a lot of people on this forum
adhere to the predescribed "Harley lifestyle"...
Those guys prolly have their own forum tho.

--
--
Barb
Chaplain, ARSCC



"Comparing Scientology to a motorcycle gang is a gross, unpardonable
insult to bikers everywhere. Even at our worst, we are never as bad as
Scientology."
-ex-member, Thunderclouds motorcycle "club"

 

As long as it hasn't split hoofs and doesn't chew the cud, it is.

--
--
Barb
Chaplain, ARSCC



"Comparing Scientology to a motorcycle gang is a gross, unpardonable
insult to bikers everywhere. Even at our worst, we are never as bad as
Scientology."
-ex-member, Thunderclouds motorcycle "club"

 

That would explain why catfish often taste like shit. But the reason I
won't eat them isn't because it's against my religion. It's because they
taste like shit.

I have eaten cougar, though. Not bad. Weirdly, the texture is a lot like
lamb. It is the "other white meat." Mild. Delicate. Okay. Bring 'em on!

--
--
Barb "I'll eat cougar over catfish"
Chaplain, ARSCC



"Comparing Scientology to a motorcycle gang is a gross, unpardonable
insult to bikers everywhere. Even at our worst, we are never as bad as
Scientology."
-ex-member, Thunderclouds motorcycle "club"

 

You been ridin' with Doc Wong again?

--
--
Barb
Chaplain, ARSCC



"Comparing Scientology to a motorcycle gang is a gross, unpardonable
insult to bikers everywhere. Even at our worst, we are never as bad as
Scientology."
-ex-member, Thunderclouds motorcycle "club"

 

Beware the Xenucycles! Upside, they have Eternal Batteries. Yow.

--
--
Barb
Chaplain, ARSCC



"Comparing Scientology to a motorcycle gang is a gross, unpardonable
insult to bikers everywhere. Even at our worst, we are never as bad as
Scientology."
-ex-member, Thunderclouds motorcycle "club"

 

I have heard the rider of an old BMW say that the charging system isn 't
up to keeping the headlight lit and the battery charged. Maybe Harley
riders are adding switches so they can turn the lights off so t hey can
pretend they're riding an older bike. (But I don't understand the
"pretend" part. }

Well, maybe at first glance.

 

Feh. Just remove the wire from the brake pedal; that way the back brake
light doesn't light up. You can leave the wire from the handbrake,
though. First, everybody knows that Harley riders only use their back
brakes, and second, have you ever seen the front brake light on a
harley? See? There you go.


I just realized that this post isn't a very good endorsement of my FAQ.

 

My BMW is a 1978 and has no problems there. Actually it does have a
headlight switch, installed by a PO, but I wondered why.

I think that's a large part of the Harley mystique. 8^)

Also God forbid you should give the appearance that you care about
safety.

 

I have heard some say that if you look like you care about safety,
cagers will hit you.

 

Remember that the CHP beemers often have the Euro headlamp switch so
they can turn their headlight off during the day. They say it reduces
the chance that you'll notice them coming up behind you when you're
speeding.

What year did the DOT legislate "headlights on when ignition is on"? My
'77 BMW and '78 Ducati don't have that feature. My '91 BMW turns on the
headlight as soon as you turn the key to ON, though BMW cuts the power
to the headlight while you engage the starter.

Ken

 

'74 maybe? I just read a post on another channel where someone actually
said he wired it to turn it off, so on start-up he has enough
juice!!!!!!! This is necessary on a $18K bike?

 

Oh, crap. I took honors astronomy in college. =

 

And it works even better at night.