Fog lights for R1200GSA - how good?

[bmwbikeruk]

Are fog lights for R1200GSA worth an option adding to? As I have never ridden a bike with fog lights in 32 years, many thousands of hours in the dark as well as daylight , I have a few questions:

I wonder if this is merely a safety feature in foggy weather.

Do the light beams being white improve visibility in front of you in fog? Would yellow paint make a huge difference?

Or are they just an ego factor or a good selling point in the future?

Your comments from your experience would be most appreciated before I make up my mind!

 

[WindyChuffer]

I ticked all the boxes on the order form for my bike and got the fog lights. Havent used them in fog at all yet, but I do use them as driving lights around London...naughty I know, but you get seen with them. I've been pulled once by the rozzers and told to turn them off.

With hindsight, I wouldn't bother ordering them if ordering the bike again. Instead, I'd go for aftermarket driving lights controlled by an autoswitch instead of that stupid oversize ugly foglight switch...which has now been moved to a a very silly place on the handlebar bolts....

It is interesting to note that the R1200GSA brochure lists "driving lights" as an option, when in fact they are fog lights. I'm told this is a translation error...

 

[bmwbikeruk]

Thanks for your comments...how do you mean by autoswitch? Do you mean button on the handlebar switchgear housing like "INFO" or "BC"?

 

[WindyChuffer]

Autoswitch is a gadget sold by NippyNormans (see their online store). This allows the indicator cancel switch to be used to turn gadgets on or off. Pressing the cancel switch and holding it for a second or so toggles the accessory on or off. No ugly visible switches...

 

[darkhorse]

they are the first things to break when you drop it, mine did

 

[ScottyKM]

According to the guy I ride with the most
They are extremely bright, makes my bike stand out easily and can be quite annoying over a long time.

So i drive with them on all the time, and with a reflective/ fluro vest, and a reflective band around my helmet.

Hopefully the combination will avoid a 'SMIDSY'

 

[charlie bimmerman]

I've got em on my GSA and I use them all the time. Why? Because the human eye and brain is very poor at working out how fast a single light source is moving. The SMIDSY effect is partly due to this. Three light sources is far more noticeable and when riding in Brum I like to be noticed by half asleep drivers every morning.

They also make a big improvement to the pool of light to either side of the bike which helps ther rather feeble headlamp.

So in my view - well worth it.

 

[dronning]

I upgrade my factory fogs to HIDs 3000K true yellow fogs - fog tested & they are fantastic!

Dave

 

[GSmonkey]

You'd think a rear fog light would be a higher priority than front foglights.