Are All Those Farkles Really Necessary?

Discussion in 'Lounge' started by ajc400, Dec 12, 2025 at 10:43 AM.

  1. ajc400

    ajc400 Senior Member

    Jun 4, 2024
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    Interesting article by Richard Millington in Motorcycle Sport and Leisure where he questions all the additions we make to our adventure bikes, specifically lights.

    He mentions a GS he saw recently - which in addition to the factory LED headlight (and daytime running lights?) had sidelights in the mirrors, a set of yellow tinted spots, a set of white spots and two further spots at the bottom of the fork legs - and compares it to a 60's Lambretta festooned with spotlights! He also surmises that if that is the way we are going will we also start to cover our bikes in additional mirrors just like those 60's mods did (and I was one of them!) - he is already noticing bikes with additional bar end mirrors and overtaking mirrors tacked on....

    So, what do you think.... do we sometimes go too far? :neutral:
     
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  2. Bikerman

    Bikerman Life's not a dress rehearsal.
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    Some possibly do, I've only got 2 extra lights on my V Strom, and none on the Triumph. I guess if it helps you to be seen by the car drivers who've left their guide dogs at home, well it's all well and good. But yes, I guess you can go too far.
     
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  3. MightyBoosh

    MightyBoosh Senior Member

    Mar 29, 2023
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    Absolutely not necessary. Extra lights are more likely to annoy other road users than achieve much else. They can even be counterproductive as our eyes are peak sensitive so all we see is the light and it can reduce our ability to judge speed, for example. But think of all the hours of fun fitting them you'd miss out on, and then coming on here to consult the collective because they don't work....;)
     
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  4. CraigHew

    CraigHew Member

    Jul 25, 2021
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    A triangle of light (headlamp plus 2 additional lights) is much more likely to be seen by oncoming drivers.

    Safety every time over aesthetics for me.
     
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  5. littleade

    littleade The only sane one here
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  6. Bikerman

    Bikerman Life's not a dress rehearsal.
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  7. ajc400

    ajc400 Senior Member

    Jun 4, 2024
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  8. Glenn2926

    Glenn2926 First Class Member
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    Dec 21, 2021
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    The ones that make me laugh are those that fit a new exhaust. The new one is a kilogram lighter than the old one . The rider losing a kilo or two would make a much bigger difference and be much cheaper.
    The original exhaust is also far less annoying to other road users.
     
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  9. Bikerman

    Bikerman Life's not a dress rehearsal.
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    No disrespect, or me preaching to others as to what the do with their own bike, but for me these loud race pipes that some put on their bikes, and create a total racket, really do us all no favours. Just gives brain dead politicians more ammunition to clobber us with more ant motorcycle legislation.
     
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