Reflector thing above headlights

[robm]

Anyone know what the reflector thing is above the headlights? I *THINK* it's a headlight but it has power connected to it... what is it?

[Black_peter]

In the Euro market headlights can be switched off..
(in fact I think the have to have the ability)
However they also must have a marker light on at all times.. (wierd) so right above the headlights
they have a little headlight that stays on all the time.
(Cyberpoet or some of our Euro-pals will better explain it)

[JoeCool]

Hi Robm,
I think your referring to the parking light...it also stays on when the ignition and lights are on.
If you turn your bike off, then one more clock to lock the handle bars, then one last click to activate the parking lights, you will see it and a rear light stay on.
Hope that helps, wishing you and everyone on KR the best 8)

[BarMatt80]

is it flash to pass light?

[robm]

Does help, thanks all... BarMatt, I think you are refering to the highbeams?

[timbales]

That light works together with the rear light as a parking light...It is very handy when you're park at night in a parking lot for a short period of time. Let say you're goint to the grocery store ,etc. It helps prevent cars to park on top of your bike; specialy if they're not paying attention while pulling into your spot.

[The CyberPoet]

Re: Reflector thing above headlights

Anyone know what the reflector thing is above the headlights? I *THINK* it's a headlight but it has power connected to it... what is it?

If you are on a 98+ Katana, it's called the third-eye, and it's a low-power running/position light if it's working as it should be. Everyone pretty much nailed it on the head. It is designed to be on any time your running lights are on, including in the park position of the keyswitch. As for what it's for:

(A) estimated distance to object improvements. Adding more lights at the front of a bike makes car drivers more accurately estimate the distance to a motorcycle or other vehicle that's headed towards them. Thus, in that sense, it's an active safety feature.

(B) Imagine you are in some foggy-bottomed little town with a narrow main street slightly after dusk (or shortly before dawn). The weather is crap, drizzling, foggy as pea-green soup. The only parking is on the street. You want the running lights on to keep anyone from hitting your bike inadvertently as they drive by, so this illuminates the front end of the bike as a postional warning. This can be a real issue esp. in old European small-towns, where the main street may be 12 feet across and have no sidewalk space (cities built before about 1200 AD, especially those that cropped up on Roman roads during the Roman empire).
Here's some great examples (imagine them on a foggy or drizzelynight):



Same applies in some parts of the American Interstate system where there's virtually no run-off area to the side to stop on during a break-down or other need to stop (gear up, etc).

Cheers,
=-= The CyberPoet

[rwcreigh]

what joecool said.if you brake down and lock the steering wheel and turn the key all the way the parking lights will come on for safty