Technically it's illegal (bit strong, but that's the reality) to drive on sidelights alone.
If you have the dim-dip arrangement which was popular during the late 1980's through 'til mid 1990's then you can use sidelights on lit roads at night. Dim-dips are a good idea - with engine running and sidelights on the dipped heads come on at about quarter brightness. That way you have the whole dipped headlamp assembly illuminated, thereby making your car visible from the front, but without the need to light dips to full intensity.
I suggest that using dipped heads ALL THE TIME is good. That way you're never invisible. If the sun is behind you you get lovely contrasty vision.
Sadly, an approaching driver has the sun in their eyes. Dipped lamps shoud come on when the engines running automatically. All current bikes have dips hard wired to the ignition. |