What are "location lights" for?

[Nogrey]

Probably a silly question, but on the roadster there are 2 headlights. In each headlight there is a little incandescent bulb at the lower front portion of the lamp housing, just beneathe the real headlamp. This little lamp is probably no more than 5w and is identified in the Triumph manual as "location light". My question (as the title of this blog implies) is: What are their purpose?

 

[idk]

When parking in an unlit area, you can turn the key in the ignition switch to the left, then remove it. This will turn on the tail light and the "location lights" in the headlamp assembly. This will allow your bike to be seen and thus prevent it from being run over by a truck. However, the downside is that your battery will run flat and you will then have to leave the bike there in its darkened stake, at the mercy of any and all passing trucks.

 

[Bob R]

Most likely another invention by the Prince of Darkness himself. "If we can't get the magical smoke to release spontaneously then we will make people think they need to turn on "location" lights that will allow the darkness to settle over the motorbike rendering it inoperative." ...... Joseph Lucas

bob

 

[baadactor]

Most likely another invention by the Prince of Darkness himself. "If we can't get the magical smoke to release spontaneously then we will make people think they need to turn on "location" lights that will allow the darkness to settle over the motorbike rendering it inoperative." ...... Joseph Lucas

Used to get stranded all the time when my headlights on the '69 Bonny would blink out. I'd usually wait in the dark until another car came along and jump in behind them for a bit. Of course there was the time when, in the rain, my electrics fried into a mess from the switch up behind the headlight to to battery under the seat.

 

[Joesmoe]

My Suzuki V-650 had a position past off reminiscent of the old "Accessory" switch position, that was explicitly for turning on the flashers.

The salesman explicitly warned me about it when I bought the bike -- to pay attention every time turning the bike off, because one could inadvertently turn past off to emergency flash, and pull the key out, and return to a dead bike.

 

[scot in exile]

Most likely another invention by the Prince of Darkness himself. "If we can't get the magical smoke to release spontaneously then we will make people think they need to turn on "location" lights that will allow the darkness to settle over the motorbike rendering it inoperative." ...... Joseph Lucas

bob

Not sure we have any Lucas stuff on the Rockets? just remember if not for Lucas we would not have flashing headlights, turn signals, and intermittent windshield wipers.

 

[Nogrey]

Thanks for all the input. I do recall the owners manual making a statement about the position lights now. It also warned against the possibility of battery drain if used excessively.

 

[Al Burdon]

In OZ commonly referred to as "Parkers"

But googled below.

"Front position lamps", known as "parking lamps" or "parking lights" in the US and Canada, and "front sidelights" in British English, provide nighttime standing-vehicle conspicuity. They were designed to use little electricity, so they could be left on for periods of time while parked."

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

I changed mine to amber LED lights. Being cheap Chinese made, they broke rather quickly. I changed them to amber incandescent bulbs. They have lasted a long time.

 

[1olbull]

Most likely another invention by the Prince of Darkness himself. "If we can't get the magical smoke to release spontaneously then we will make people think they need to turn on "location" lights that will allow the darkness to settle over the motorbike rendering it inoperative." ...... Joseph Lucas

bob