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Lane splitting and auxiliary lights

P

Provincial_sweater09

Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2026
Moto(s)
SV650
hello folks!
I (am still a newbie) have been commuting on highways for few weeks now and last few days were real opportunities to split between lanes 1 & 2.
While taking care such as - keeping speed differential in mind (about ~10-12 MPH), split only when rest of the traffic is around 40 MPH, being hyper alert for unannounced lane changes etc., does having auxiliary light help any more? I ride with high beam during day time FWIW.

If so, any ideas for placement on SV650? I am looking at Clearwater model.
any guidance is appreciated!
 
Moved your thread FYI.

Sounds like the approach is solid. Repetition and success will continue to add to your baseline skill set.

Other things like covering the brake, watching mirrors…. Really the small stuff that adds up seems to remain for ya besides repetition.

I believe lights will not hurt based on what I have seen in my mirrors.
 
budman said:
Moved your thread FYI.

Sounds like the approach is solid. Repetition and success will continue to add to your baseline skill set.

Other things like covering the brake, watching mirrors…. Really the small stuff that adds up seems to remain for ya besides repetition.

I believe lights will not hurt based on what I have seen in my mirrors.
Click to expand...
thanks! Yes, watching mirrors - while lane splitting or otherwise - has helped improve my situational awareness.

I could not find a good place to mount the auxiliary lights. Hoping to find tips here!
 
I put a yellow laminate over one or part of my headlight instead of running aux lights. It might help a bit, but I don't rely on it or my aux lights I had on previous bikes. The yellow helps the lights stand out and get attention without being annoying like some aux lights.

On my single headlight bikes I put a section of yellow on them.
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I have had amazing success with a headlight modulator. It's like parting the sea in front of me. Much less expensive than Clearwater lights and easier to install too.
 
The Googles tells me that the current SV650 uses an H4 bulb, you should verify that.

www.signaldynamics.com

Plug & Play™ Headlight Module

Manufacturing Motorcycle Safety products in the USA for nearly 25 years!
www.signaldynamics.com www.signaldynamics.com
 
As said by others use a different color filter. Having bright white lights makes others think someone has high beams on whereas colored filters helps with the double take and WTH is that. I've got Ruby Moto lights now and love them.
 
You can't measure what doesn't occur. Put whatever lights on you like, to think/rely they do a damn bit of good if a fool's errand. Head on a swivel, stay ahead of the bike and always have an out- for the win. The more you ride, the more your spidey sense will develop and you'll recognize things going to shit before they do. Don't doubt- act accordingly.
 
I'd say that the running lights on the one bike that has them help in as much as I see more cars move for me, or move to block me :laughing but as noted, rely on yourself to stay out of issues as there will always be that person on their phone, or otherwise oblivious to your presence. I just figure any car could get me at any point and ride accordingly (this also help keep me from going faster than I should).
 
Trains use a three light pattern- one main headlight at center top, and two lower lights called "ditch lights" that are set to the outside of the train. This allows people to percieve how far away the train is and how fast it's approaching by the change in size of the triangle. When I mounted lights on my VTX1800 I followed this design philosophy and hung them off the crash bars, and I found it improved my rate of being observed significantly. When I did this for the FJR1300 I mounted them on the forks themselves, and I found being able to sweep the lights side to side also improved my observabilityconspicuity.

I suggest this vs. putting them three across as most ADV bikes do.
 
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my take is cagers aren't aware of you till you pass them. I can see auxiliary lights to help you see dark winding roads but don't expect them to help distracted cagers seeing you. Seriously if want to be invisible just put on a motorcycle jacket.
 
I vote for the old tried and true yellow Clearwater lights.
Aside from lane splitting they just make the bike way more conspicuous in all situations.

Everything else is a substitute for Clearwaters in my opinion.

Clearwater Lights LED Motorcycle Lights and Off-road Vehicle

At Clearwater Lights, your safety is our primary concern. Clearwater Lights are the only fully-adjustable high-powered LED auxiliary motorcycle and off-road lights available, allowing you to maximize your ability to see and be seen in constantly changing ambient light conditions.
www.clearwaterlights.com www.clearwaterlights.com
 
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From my many thousands of miles of lane splitting and commuting, my anecdotal opinion is that the triangle of lights works the best. Super bright lights that I see on Beemer GS posers make it difficult to gauge their speed and distance. I see a difference between having the lights off and on. On the rare occasion when I don’t have my aux lights on, it seems that everyone is squeezing me and as soon as I flip them on, everyone settles down and gives me room. As to headlight modulators, I think they annoy cagers and that may translate to negative behaviors. They were pretty popular for a while but are now rare. I think because of the availability of cheap LED aux lights Extra lights are another tool in the toolbox to keep us safer.
 
I disagree with your points on modulators. I, too, have split for many thousands of miles. Most of it in the Silicon Valley. Not only do they work REALLY well, I have never noticed any drivers react negatively to them. I think motorcyclists are vastly overstating negative thoughts about them. And even if a few drivers thought negatively about them, so what? They are extremely effective and if I still rode, I’d still use it all the time.
 
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