How to have Aux. driving lights on with High beams

[scuba1954]

I have a rare Free Mod...Yes I said Free!!! In the past it cost about $30 for an adaptor that plugged into your headlight harness so you could have your axillary driving lights stay on even with High beams. Well I took my 14 Trike in for its 5000 mile service and requested the dealer flash my ECU with the modification that allows my auxiliary driving lights to be on with High or Low beams. No problem, and they do it for free. I have never heard of a free mod from Harley. Woohoo.

[KindaOldTriker]

I have a rare Free Mod...Yes I said Free!!! In the past it cost about $30 for an adaptor that plugged into your headlight harness so you could have your axillary driving lights stay on even with High beams. Well I took my 14 Trike in for its 5000 mile service and requested the dealer flash my ECU with the modification that allows my auxiliary driving lights to be on with High or Low beams. No problem, and they do it for free. I have never heard of a free mod from Harley. Woohoo.

Is that just with the 2014s with LED lights?

Was looking at a new 2014 today and told no run/brake/turn modules for it? Darn, those are a must for safety. Have it on my 2012. Must be a prob with the LEDs?

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I have a rare Free Mod...Yes I said Free!!! In the past it cost about $30 for an adaptor that plugged into your headlight harness so you could have your axillary driving lights stay on even with High beams. Well I took my 14 Trike in for its 5000 mile service and requested the dealer flash my ECU with the modification that allows my auxiliary driving lights to be on with High or Low beams. No problem, and they do it for free. I have never heard of a free mod from Harley. Woohoo.

Is that just with the 2014s with LED lights?

Was looking at a new 2014 today and told no run/brake/turn modules for it? Darn, those are a must for safety. Have it on my 2012. Must be a prob with the LEDs?

[vettriker68]

I have a rare Free Mod...Yes I said Free!!! In the past it cost about $30 for an adaptor that plugged into your headlight harness so you could have your axillary driving lights stay on even with High beams. Well I took my 14 Trike in for its 5000 mile service and requested the dealer flash my ECU with the modification that allows my auxiliary driving lights to be on with High or Low beams. No problem, and they do it for free. I have never heard of a free mod from Harley. Woohoo.

thanks for the heads up, I really miss not having the axillary lights with the bright lights. the led lights are a great improvement for night riding..

[Condor Spirit]

Some states it's illegal to have those lights operating when high beam is on. Not sure you would pass inspection.

[rhino 2]

Some states it's illegal to have those lights operating when high beam is on. Not sure you would pass inspection.

Just put covers on them when going though inspection..
That's how the Yahoo's with 5 sets of fog lights on their trucks get though inspections...

Safety first ; Blind the other guy...

[KindaOldTriker]

Just put covers on them when going though inspection..
That's how the Yahoo's with 5 sets of fog lights on their trucks get though inspections...

Safety first ; Blind the other guy...

I never worry about my brights on at night and cars coming at me. They don't die if they hit a deer! I'm leaving mine on!

[msocko3]

I never worry about my brights on at night and cars coming at me. They don't die if they hit a deer! I'm leaving mine on!

Only problem with this train of thought is the truck coming at you could have a few million candle power worth of light to click on and blind you, which could make you crash and burn.

I once had a setup close to that on a car, I had a guy in a car coming towards me with his high beams on. I gave my high beams a quick flick, he ignored me so I turned my high beams on. He still didn't get the hint, so I smacked him with about 1 million candle power. He couldn't see and started to swerve, I turned the big lights off before he crashed, he then turned his high beams off. I guess he got the message.

[tournado]

I was able to adjust my headlights on my 2011 Tri Glide by hand to where I felt comfortable dimming. My 2014 LED headlights have a completely different pattern, and I am not able to. The high beam is more a spot beam, and to be honest, I just don't like it. The low beam lights are just that, "low", and don't seem to spray high at all. You can see a flat line of light at the top of the beam. I'm considering a different main light if one is available.

[HDB0B]

Is that just with the 2014s with LED lights?

Was looking at a new 2014 today and told no run/brake/turn modules for it? Darn, those are a must for safety. Have it on my 2012. Must be a prob with the LEDs?

I have radiantz LED strobe flash tail lamps P/N 9903-18 and they work great! plug & play units.

Bob

[DTR 11TG]

I never worry about my brights on at night and cars coming at me. They don't die if they hit a deer! I'm leaving mine on!

​​WOW!!!
I won't waste the space with the comment that I would really like to make, but if there are bikers out there that wonder why other drivers seem to have it out for all bikers, I think all they need to do is read your comment/attitude toward others on the road as just one reason.

"They don't die if they hit a deer!" That would be a hard statement to backup when you talk to the relatives of those that were killed by a deer coming thru the windshield of their car, pickup or 18 wheeler!

OR maybe you were trying to be humorous, but just forgot to use a smiley face or 3 in your comment!!??

scuba1954, sorry, I didn't mean to highjack your thread, it has some great info.

[Sloufoot]

The driving lights need to be focused lower than the high beam headlight. After all they are to light the highway not hunting Owls ! If they are high they won't help you at all anyway ! If set correctly they shouldn't bother oncoming traffic. Besides, with the stock set-up when you go to low beam your driving (passing) lights come on if you have the switch on. Unless people are familiar with HD lighting they just think you just turned on your driving lights in their face.

I do agree on the new LED headlights not going very high with the beam. They are very focused, & as M3 made an observation, they are harder to see in the daylight unless you are directly in front of them. But that might help some in fog, rain, or any bad weather.
I run the dual halogen headlight along with the mod for the driving lights & find the driving lights give a good light out to the sides for watching for deer & other critters !
Good information on the '14's !

[KindaOldTriker]

Only problem with this train of thought is the truck coming at you could have a few million candle power worth of light to click on and blind you, which could make you crash and burn.

I once had a setup close to that on a car, I had a guy in a car coming towards me with his high beams on. I gave my high beams a quick flick, he ignored me so I turned my high beams on. He still didn't get the hint, so I smacked him with about 1 million candle power. He couldn't see and started to swerve, I turned the big lights off before he crashed, he then turned his high beams off. I guess he got the message.

That just sounded dangerous to me? and , well you know....
Do you throw ball bearings at drivers who tick you off also?

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​​WOW!!!
I won't waste the space with the comment that I would really like to make, but if there are bikers out there that wonder why other drivers seem to have it out for all bikers, I think all they need to do is read your comment/attitude toward others on the road as just one reason.

"They don't die if they hit a deer!" That would be a hard statement to backup when you talk to the relatives of those that were killed by a deer coming thru the windshield of their car, pickup or 18 wheeler!

OR maybe you were trying to be humorous, but just forgot to use a smiley face or 3 in your comment!!??

scuba1954, sorry, I didn't mean to highjack your thread, it has some great info.

Uh??
I'm not training deer to jump into their windows....
I'm just saying that I'd rather discomfort some car/truck driver for a few seconds with my SINGLE bright light than run into a deer out in the boonies some night because I turned off my brights to accomodate a car. They seem to drop from the sky sometimes and a car/truck sure has a better chance if he doesn't see them dropping?
But, Thanks for the big WOW

[DTR 11TG]

Only problem with this train of thought is the truck coming at you could have a few million candle power worth of light to click on and blind you, which could make you crash and burn.

I once had a setup close to that on a car, I had a guy in a car coming towards me with his high beams on. I gave my high beams a quick flick, he ignored me so I turned my high beams on. He still didn't get the hint, so I smacked him with about 1 million candle power. He couldn't see and started to swerve, I turned the big lights off before he crashed, he then turned his high beams off. I guess he got the message.

Well M3, it would seem that you may have found your high beam driver, but the sad thing is, the "1 million candle power" message seemed to only work the 1 time. I'm just glad he was too busy swerving and didn't have time to try throwing his ball bearings at you.
Wouldn't it be great if common courtesy could be trained to jump into the windows of high beam drivers. I guess that would be about as big of a waste of time as trying to explain that a big red WOW really has the meaning of a little itty-bitty tiny ​wow!

[scuba1954]

Is that just with the 2014s with LED lights?

Was looking at a new 2014 today and told no run/brake/turn modules for it? Darn, those are a must for safety. Have it on my 2012. Must be a prob with the LEDs?

I have radiantz LED strobe flash tail lamps P/N 9903-18 and they work great! plug & play units.

Bob

On my other Harleys I always had the panacea tail light system but on this new 14 trike panacea will not work so I designed by own third brake light system. Here is a short video of what it does. It only lights up when brakes are applied. You don't notice anything until brakes then it gets your attention.

[msocko3]

Well M3, it would seem that you may have found your high beam driver, but the sad thing is, the "1 million candle power" message seemed to only work the 1 time. I'm just glad he was too busy swerving and didn't have time to try throwing his ball bearings at you.
Wouldn't it be great if common courtesy could be trained to jump into the windows of high beam drivers. I guess that would be about as big of a waste of time as trying to explain that a big red WOW really has the meaning of a little itty-bitty tiny ​wow!

He wasn't on a bike, it was the dead of winter. Tossing ball bearings would be a bad idea, I've never done it and have no respect for those who do. Now if someone was to toss ball bearings at me, it would be the biggest mistake they ever made in their life. They might be surprised at how quickly they would be apprehended by the local LEO.

The long and short of it is those who roll along with their high beams on when there is on coming traffic at night are inconsiderate and ignorant in my book.

[Sloufoot]

I'm not training deer to jump into their windows....
I'm just saying that I'd rather discomfort some car/truck driver for a few seconds with my SINGLE bright light than run into a deer out in the boonies some night because I turned off my brights to accomodate a car. They seem to drop from the sky sometimes and a car/truck sure has a better chance if he doesn't see them dropping?

Sir, I feel there is a reason for a common courtesy to dim my lights for all oncoming traffic ! It will let them see past me. I expect the oncoming traffic to do the same. If they don't respond in same I feel it my duty to help them out with all the possible lighting I might have on hand It only takes a few seconds of help! Like M3 having 1 million candlepower, I have mounted on my truck 2ea 250 watt aircraft landing lights, they are each rated @ 485,000CP . I use them for driving lights when in bad weather or bad areas while I don't meet traffic. Can't tell if the high beams are on or not.... Kinda pulls on the alternator.
I am sure the people who need the high beam lights on all the time appreciate the help. And for those that drive up behind me the same way I am sure they appreciated when they get past that I may assist ! Further down the road it always seems they can find the dimmer switch. Vision must be improved. Be aware..... Many others will also assist you.....!
Not needed when people are courteous !

[Casper]

Had the 2014 TG flashed today at Bluegrass HD in Louisville Ky, at No Charge, thanks guys....

[HDB0B]

I played around with the lights last night .... and I am going to have mine reflashed. I'll put covers on them here in PA to pass inspection if needed. Having the aux light the road directly in front IMO is very important for road surface awareness .... especially here in PA. Thanks for the "covers to pass inspection" information.

Bob

[KindaOldTriker]

.......and the "Most Dramatic Response To A Thread" award goes to.....


also Scuba1954, thanks for the info. I need to check this out for my 2012 and the 2015 I'm looking at.

[GoSlo]

[QUOTE=scuba1954;244684]On my other Harleys I always had the panacea tail light system but on this new 14 trike panacea will not work so I designed by own third brake light system. Here is a short video of what it does. It only lights up when brakes are applied. You don't notice anything until brakes then it gets your attention.

I wanted addition brake lights on the back of my 2013 (no full wrap tail light, just the tail lights in each corner), and have the same setup as you do. Completely off unless the brakes are applied. I was impressed with how bright it is, and best of all the price is VERY reasonable. Maybe $60 or so, can't remember now for sure. Have received comments on how it catches their attention because they didn't even realize it was there until the brakes are applied.