Author Topic: Newbie Question  (Read 3010 times)

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NorEaster

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on: November 09, 2013, 01:16:09 am
Have a newbie question. Hope someone can tell me the answer. What are the pilot lights for? What was their original function? Were they at one time turn signals?
Thank you!


GreenMachine

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Reply #1 on: November 09, 2013, 02:09:58 am
I was under the impression they were just marking lights to be seen at night...especially in  those dark no street light villages of merry old England where this bike originated from....cheers
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REpozer

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Reply #2 on: November 09, 2013, 02:20:11 am
One story is , the lights are for thumping through ally ways after dark.
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Royalista

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Reply #3 on: November 09, 2013, 02:21:26 am
Correct, parking lights.
Cars had them too.
In France you'd use these even in illuminated streets, to save your battery.

Today those tiger eyes protect you from gremlins.  ;D
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gremlin

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Reply #4 on: November 09, 2013, 03:14:13 am
Correct, parking lights.
Cars had them too.
In France you'd use these even in illuminated streets, to save your battery.

Today those tiger eyes protect you from gremlins.  ;D

protect ?
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Arizoni

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Reply #5 on: November 09, 2013, 04:36:53 am
I think the 'eyes' were Royal Enfields answer to the night-time parking requirements that England had (has?) following WW II.

A lot of Brit bikes used a small bulb inside the headlight and some of the 7" headlights available for the RE still have them.  That's what the small gray wire inside the Casquette is for.

Digging on the web I found these British laws concering parking at night.  As far as I know, they still apply (although many don't follow them).

Parking at night
248
You MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.


[Laws CUR reg 101 & RVLR reg 24]

249
All vehicles MUST display parking lights when parked on a road or a lay-by on a road with a speed limit greater than 30 mph (48 km/h).


[Law RVLR reg 24]

250
Cars, goods vehicles not exceeding 1525 kg unladen weight, invalid carriages, motorcycles and pedal cycles may be parked without lights on a road (or lay-by) with a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) or less if they are

at least 10 metres (32 feet) away from any junction, close to the kerb and facing in the direction of the traffic flow
in a recognised parking place or lay-by
Other vehicles and trailers, and all vehicles with projecting loads, MUST NOT be left on a road at night without lights.
Jim
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NorEaster

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Reply #6 on: November 09, 2013, 01:41:50 pm
Thanks all... I have seen posts about swapping them out with LED bulbs and changing the color; but wasn't sure why they were there in the first place.
If they were more visible, they could be turn signals. I don't think they would pass inspection in my neck of the woods


barenekd

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Reply #7 on: November 09, 2013, 05:37:13 pm
They're a little too close to the headlight to be used as turn signals. I had white LEDS in mine. They worked well. Any other color would also be illegal.
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Royalista

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Reply #8 on: November 09, 2013, 07:22:08 pm
protect ?

Positive vibes, man... positive vibes...  ;D
moriunt omnes pauci vivunt


Ducati Scotty

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Reply #9 on: November 09, 2013, 07:24:04 pm
Must be all those positive vibes that cause them to blow out so much ;)


Desi Bike

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Reply #10 on: November 09, 2013, 07:26:53 pm
They are there to burn out and to give the RE owner practical experience at changing light bulbs.
میں نہیں چاہتا کہ ایک اچار
میں صرف اپنی موٹر سائیکل پر سوار کرنا چاہتے ہیں


Craig McClure

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Reply #11 on: November 09, 2013, 09:13:32 pm
Any other color would also be illegal.
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Arizoni

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Reply #12 on: November 09, 2013, 11:09:58 pm
Chances are, they would probably ignore them but the police in my neck of the woods seem to think that only they  can have blue lights visible on the front of a vehicle. :(
Jim
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Roeland

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Reply #13 on: November 10, 2013, 12:21:31 pm
I was under the impression they where called tiger eyes and were standard issue in the world war - very low illumination so other road users can see the bike but very hard to spot from an airplane - or is this an urban myth?


barenekd

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Reply #14 on: November 10, 2013, 08:25:12 pm
Probably some truth to that. The lighting was always rather muffled on military bikes, even if it was just taping the headlight down to a small slot.
And the LEDs won't burn out!
Bare
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