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[CTcvorider]

Does anyone know the reasoning behind wiring the Spots to go off when the highbeam is on?  I've found the wiring modification to allow the spots to be on full time when the switch is on, but I was just wondering why the Mo Co would wire it that way in the first place.  Seems to me if you're using the highbeam, you'd want all the light you can get.

[Fired00d]

I'm thinking it is a DOT thing. Every car I've had that came w/OEM fog lights would automatically turn those off when I had the high beams on.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[BIGDOG]

I believe firedOOd is spot on , an other issue to look at could be power draw .

[outrider]

Dang good question...NYS VTL mentions 32 candlepower as max headlamp luminosity, but there are several caveats i.e. emergency vehicles exempt and or approved by comm of motor veh.s, and this does not seem to apply to high beams and I've always wondered why any truck I've ever driven w/ fog lights had the same (fog light) shut off for High beams...On a bike power consumption would seem to be a larger issue than in a pickup, so I'd still vote that it'd be something in law, but I'm not really sure having re-read and further appreciated the ambiguity of section 375 of that great bastion of justice. 

[SPIDERMAN]

DOT for sure, but it varies from state to state . In Florida, I believe the law states you can't have three white lights of a certain candlepower on at the same time. I got warned back in 85 by the Daytona Cops not to run my spots with my headlight in town. I think the key was the " in town" part. Anyway, with these new HID headlights, I don't think they're bothering to enforce the candlepower laws (if there are any )

As usual, just my $0.02

B B

[AXIL]

well let me try to explain,  stock lights only, it is legal to operate high beam and spots at the same time, how ever with the high beam on you cant see the spots so there is no need to have them on. so now lets go back to the 70s when you only had a 18 amp charging system(and damn lucky to get 15amps @ peak rpms),when all three are on plus every thing else you were sucking the battery dry so to speak. then go back to the generater even less amps.harley just never changed the wiring because you still cant see the spots with the high beam on. and thats my story and I'm sticking to it.                axil

[BIGDOG]

Dang good question...NYS VTL mentions 32 candlepower as max headlamp luminosity, but there are several caveats i.e. emergency vehicles exempt and or approved by comm of motor veh.s, and this does not seem to apply to high beams and I've always wondered why any truck I've ever driven w/ fog lights had the same (fog light) shut off for High beams...On a bike power consumption would seem to be a larger issue than in a pickup, so I'd still vote that it'd be something in law, but I'm not really sure having re-read and further appreciated the ambiguity of section 375 of that great bastion of justice. 

You gotta be a lawyer cause I read all that and I'm still reeling. Good job

[Hugh Janis]

Does anyone know the reasoning behind wiring the Spots to go off when the highbeam is on?  I've found the wiring modification to allow the spots to be on full time when the switch is on, but I was just wondering why the Mo Co would wire it that way in the first place.  Seems to me if you're using the highbeam, you'd want all the light you can get.

BECAUSE...........     that's the way it is

[LRebel]

I like Jim's answer

[mr_magoo]

Does anyone know the reasoning behind wiring the Spots to go off when the highbeam is on?  I've found the wiring modification to allow the spots to be on full time when the switch is on, but I was just wondering why the Mo Co would wire it that way in the first place.  Seems to me if you're using the highbeam, you'd want all the light you can get.

You can bypass that feature and have them on with the high beams if you would like.

[BIGDOG]

BECAUSE...........     that's the way it is

That should be the answer for MOCO when we ask , Why does my head leak.