My bike, a Honda S-Wing 125, has two headlights - one is the main beam, and the other is the full beam. Fine, I’ve seen the same on other bikes. What surprises me though is that when you turn the full beam on, the main beam goes off. Is that normal? Interestingly, when I use the “flash” button, it activates both headlights, but when using the full beam switch the main beam goes off.
I was expecting the full beam to leave the left light on and add the right light to it. The way it works now, if the full beam is on, I have no light on the ground right in front of me at night - so I have to choose, either light up the road quite a way ahead, or light up the ground in front of me. That seems wrong?
I had similar on one of my bikes, most annoying! I had to hold the pass button, which was interesting when I needed to use the clutch or anything coming up to a corner when the lights would suddenly go out! Not sure it’s a design feature though…
Main beam and low/ dipped beam are the two options most bikes have. Main beam is usually used for fog/ extreme low light conditions.
Riding around with both headlights on wouldn’t really be helpful IMO.
Highway Code:
114You MUST NOT
use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse ridersuse front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226)In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.
use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be seenkeep your headlights dipped when overtaking until you are level with the other vehicle and then change to main beam if necessary, unless this would dazzle oncoming road usersslow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by oncoming headlights
When full beam is switched on, the main beam switches off, causing a significant blind spot directly in front of the bike.
The only way round this is to hold the pass switch, but this restricts the use of left hand from working the clutch.
syzmon is looking for a work-around. Not actually wanting the full beam on permantly, but rather the main beam to stay on when he switches it to full beam…
gonna have a look on R125 forum see if anyone posted wiring diagram…
The argument that things are likely to be too close to react to works for me.
I have only ever used my main beam lights when there has been no street side lighting and there have been no other road users around; for example, I when returning from Brighton on more interesting A roads rather than the motorway, there are long stretches with no streetlights at all and it seemed only right to give myself enough warning of what was coming up by switching to main beam.
When I notice another road user approaching, I (as they usually also do) sacrifice my forward vision and switch back to low beam so as not to blind the oncoming driver/ rider, but only for the time until they have passed.
Mine doesn’t, but the VTEC is the only model I know like it. There are four H7 lights altogether, two dip-beam headlights (the lower ones in my avatar pic) and when you switch to high beam these stay on and the upper pair come on too. They are, quite simply, oustanding as standard and unbelievable when a DID kit is fitted. I don’t have DID but there are some on the VFR forum who do. Why most bikes these days have to rely on a single light with dual filament or two lights, one for dip and one for main, I just don’t understand, unless it’s all down to cost…
I’m with you szymon. My 'prilia has two lamps, one for dipped, one for main beam and both are on when the the latter is selected. Result, a decent puddles of light from the front wheel to way ahead.
Highway Code 114: The 'prilia type arrangement is fine. I’m not on full beam when there is other traffic around so no problem.
Draining battery: That’s a decent point and worth a quick check. Some smaller engines have pretty low alternator output (e.g. Honda CG125) and might be a bit stressed. Pretty simple sums though. Look up the alternator output, add up the total demand from all the lights including one side of indicators on, allow a few amps for keeping the engine running.
If demand exceeds supply, do nothing. If supply exceeds demand, rewire as advised not using Scotchlocks.
As the bike the tread starter mentioned is a 125 I would suggest the reason Dip beam doesn’t stay on with Main is a power issue !
In fact until recently all bikes were wired this way i.e you can have one beam or the other not both fro the very good reason that running both flattens the battery !
If you want to try this mod get someone who knows what there doing to check the bike charges with both beams on
