GSA headlamp adjustments for riding in France

[richmondrider]

Bit random but looking at uk weather for next week I might take the plunge and go to French alps tomorrow - googled headlamp adjustment for riding in France and found advice below.


Please Note on the that some motorcycle are fitted with a led headlamp like the BMW R1200 GS/GSA 2013 TE onwards, these have a daytime horseshoe light please switch this off while riding in France you could be fined on the spot by the local and french authorities.

Also read this so assume no tape or converter needed? (I have a 17 TB)


Beam pattern is rectangular and as such works on either l/h drive or r/h drive.

Other than that I think it's reflective tape on helmet and hi viz vest.

Cheers




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mr K]

Recently returned from a long week around France - No reflective tape used and hi viz vest not worn or carried . Same as my travelling companion.

 

[Sea Dog]

Hi viz vests don't need to be worn, just carried in case of breakdown. If you don't break down you're fine but if a cop stops to help you and you don't have them that's a different matter.

I hadn't seen that note about the led halo, so perhaps I just got lucky? Seems an odd one. I have read (in the manual, iirc) that it should be off and dipped bean used instead in tunnels where its brightness is such that it may dazzle oncoming drivers.

I think the helmet reflectors thing didn't make it as far as foreign visitors. My C3 has that built in though.

My late '16 manual states that there is a beam pattern difference between bikes in left and right hand markets as opposed to the commonly held belief that the dipped beam is flat. It doesn't help with any usable advice though.

 

[Alan R]

Please Note on the that some motorcycle are fitted with a led headlamp like the BMW R1200 GS/GSA 2013 TE onwards, these have a daytime horseshoe light please switch this off while riding in France you could be fined on the spot by the local and french authorities

Cheers




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not heard of this - source please?
Alan

 

[MaDPRoFF]

I Doubt you could switch it off? it is law in UK to have daylight headlight on after a certain yr manufactuere

 

[XPilot]

If you turn the daytime running light off, the dipped main headlight will come on. If you have the daytime running light in auto when you enter a tunnel it automatically switches to dipped headlight, and reverts when you're out the tunnel.

 

[RobBM]

I live in France and have a 2017 R1200GS bought in France with the horse shoe light, and have them on all the time, so that cannot be a problem. Don't know about right or left orientated lights. As a tourist it seems difficult to me to change lights just for some weeks vacation?


Envoyé de mon iPad en utilisant Tapatalk

 

[richmondrider]

Thanks guys - source was found here
http://www.worldmotorcycletours.co.uk/travel-information/french-advise



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MaDPRoFF]

Thanks for the post
So they want you to turn it off and use headlights just in France.
An interesting one about Fluorescent Jackets LOL.

 

[fred_jb]

Thanks for the post
So they want you to turn it off and use headlights just in France.
An interesting one about Fluorescent Jackets LOL.

I think the bit about needing jackets with reflective material is out of date - I'm pretty sure I've read elsewhere that this regulation was either never introduced, or was withdrawn, leaving just the requirement to put on hi-viz if stopped due to a vehicle breakdown.

 

[MaDPRoFF]

I actually meant you had to have it at hand before you get off the bike regarding the hi viz jackets, so in a top box is of no use. that said I have been to EU loads of times and done many 1000's of miles and never had any issues with police yet.

 

[Sea Dog]

I actually meant you had to have it at hand before you get off the bike regarding the hi viz jackets, so in a top box is of no use. that said I have been to EU loads of times and done many 1000's of miles and never had any issues with police yet.

I believe that its a requirement to have reflective vests accessible from within the passenger compartment as opposed to needing to get out and ferret about in the boot for them. That doesn't seem altogether unreasonable, since you'd have to enter the 'danger zone' without a vest just to get the vest.

With no passenger compartment on a bike, my guess is that Monsieur Le Plod will be using common sense regarding feasibile carrying places.

 

[fred_jb]

I believe that its a requirement to have reflective vests accessible from within the passenger compartment as opposed to needing to get out and ferret about in the boot for them. That doesn't seem altogether unreasonable, since you'd have to enter the 'danger zone' without a vest just to get the vest.

With no passenger compartment on a bike, my guess is that Monsieur Le Plod will be using common sense regarding feasibile carrying places.

This all seems a bit silly - after all how long will it take to get off and get vests out of the topbox or pannier which is the most convenient storage place for most motorcyclists. I suppose I might fit one vest in a tankbag to be accessible without getting off the bike, but if so, do you suppose that having donned that, I am expected to dismount and get a vest for my pillion out of the topbox, in the meantime leaving her in danger sitting on the back of the bike, with the whole process meaning that neither of us can do what is the safest thing, which is to move away from the broken down vehicle to a safer location immediately.

 

[gramshep]

If you are not wearing one then, keep a vest in the tank bag. French police are like ours, vary from Le Utter Bastard....to Monsieur Laid Back. In the car though, keep your vests in the car, in the door pockets for everybody in the car and put them on before you get out if stopped.
Got stopped last year, booze check, (and was given a well done by Monsieur in-between Utter Bastard and laid back) remembered to get out wearing vest.. He then checked to see if the others had access to them and, we were waved on our way, unlike the poor GB bugger in front of us with NO vests. "Amex, that will do nicely Sir. Merci." Kerr-ching!"

 

[gramshep]

Actually, as I wear a reflective vest all the time. Mainly to give myself a chance that eventually somebody may miss seeing the sheer size of the bike the shiny white colour, road postition, headlights, spots, no baffle Akrapovich, this is all academic but: Do you all not bother with High Vis riding gear then? I know there are lots of debates about its effectiveness but I would definitely do it abroad. Have you ever ridden/driven on a holiday Saturday on the A10 or A6 in France....? Character forming Id say...!lol.

 

[fujack]

led headlamps don't need a converter because it has a flat beam

 

[fred_jb]

Actually, as I wear a reflective vest all the time. Mainly to give myself a chance that eventually somebody may miss seeing the sheer size of the bike the shiny white colour, road postition, headlights, spots, no baffle Akrapovich, this is all academic but: Do you all not bother with High Vis riding gear then? I know there are lots of debates about its effectiveness but I would definitely do it abroad. Have you ever ridden/driven on a holiday Saturday on the A10 or A6 in France....? Character forming Id say...!lol.

I plan my journeys in France to avoid the horrendous traffic on what the French designate as black and red days on the major routes - you only have to experience that once to avoid it for life! These days I always try to use back roads or less less busy main routes, for example I usually cross via Portsmouth-Caen and if travelling to the south take the A75 which is free, for a motorway is quite entertaining to ride due to the varied topology, and crosses the Millau viaduct which does charge a toll but is well worth seeing.

Regarding the hi-viz, I tend to agree that it is worth putting over my jacket, but on my latest trip in 35+ temperatures I found it was stopping the airflow through the perforated panels on my leather jacket so took it off.

 

[Sea Dog]

led headlamps don't need a converter because it has a flat beam

From the R1200GS LC User Manual:

Adjusting headlight for
RHD/LHD traffic
If the motorcycle is ridden in a
country where vehicles are driven
in the opposite lane relative to
your own country, its asymmetric
low-beam headlight will tend to
blind oncoming traffic.
Have the headlight adjusted for
these conditions by an authorized
service facility, preferably an au-
thorized BMW retailer.


Section 4, Page 59.

 

[fujack]

I asked at BMW service and they said u don't have to


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sea Dog]

I asked at BMW service and they said u don't have to


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

To be fair, I'm blown if I know what adjustments they could do anyway, but according to the manual the flat beam thing is a myth. I didn't take any action on mine when in France last month, but I'd simply suggest it would be unwise to enter into an argument with Monsieur Le Plod when our bike's manual clearly states action is required. A strategically placed, wedge shaped piece of purely decorative black tape might be a wise precaution?