There is no doubt that when riding a motorcycle, safety should be of the utmost importance and as such, there are measures that can be taken to ensure that safety is increased.

There are a number of accessories that can be added to the motorcycle to take safety to the next level and one that stands out in particular is a set of fog lights.

It is perfectly well stating a motorbike should make use of fog lights and while this may seem like standard advice to a seasoned rider, a beginner may have no prior knowledge of what they are and why they may need them. So, here is a quick guide to become better acquainted with fog lights and help you stay safe on the roads:

What Are Motorcycle Fog Lights?

Motorcycle fog lights are an additional light source that can be added to a motorbike to illuminate the road and increase the field of vision. They can be fitted to existing parts of the bike and are designed to increase safety and visibility, acting as a light source in more extreme weather conditions when the headlight is not quite as effective. In fact, fog lights will be your best friend when the weather is not in your favour.

Why Should I Add Fog Lights To My Motorcycle?

Puig's fog lights illuminate the road with LED lighting.

In times when you encounter fog or the rain is more significant than usual, a standard motorcycle headlight simply may not be able to permeate through the conditions and as a result, you are going to lose visibility. Thankfully, motorcycle fog lights have been created to help tackle such situations.

Fog lights enhance the range of vision, helping you to ride safely with the confidence that you can see what is in front of you on the road whilst also appearing more visible to other road users. This is ideal for riding at night or in, you guessed it, foggy conditions (I wonder what gives that away).

There are many options to choose from when searching for a set of motorbike fog lights, but the one that stands out in particular is Puig. Their ‘Beam 2.0 Auxiliary Lights’ use low consumption LED lighting which is not just effective at improving visibility, but also less straining on the battery. Moreover, they come equipped with a fuse and wiring for an easier connection to the battery as well as an aluminium exterior and a waterproof switch to mitigate water breaching the lights internally.

Are Fog Lights Easy To Install?

While the benefits of motorcycle fog lights are certainly attractive, they may not be quite as desirable if they are difficult to install. Thankfully, that is not the case as fog lights fit to existing parts of the motorbike and do not require additional mounting hardware.

Take Puig’s beam 2.0 fog lights for example, they can be attached to 25mm diameter tubing before adjusting the positioning and come with all the components required for installation on one of Puig’s engine guards or frame sliders as well as the necessary fuse and wiring to connect to the battery. Additionally, they are delivered with detailed, visual instructions which outline how to mount the lights and how to hook them up to the battery, making the installation process just that little bit easier.

Does It Matter Where Fog Lights Are Positioned?

Finding the best positioning is the key to fog lights.

If and when motorcycle fog lights are required, it is best to know where to position them to ensure they are used to the best of their ability. Ideally, fog lights should be positioned low on the motorbike in order to offer an alternative beam of light to that of the headlight and avoid impacting the vision of other road users. No one wants to have their eyes blasted with a full beam of light and it is certainly not best practice when it comes to safety.

The key to getting the best out of a set of fog lights is finding the best balance in their placement. If positioned too high and they could pose a danger to oncoming traffic or in a less extreme scenario, they will be made somewhat redundant by blending in with the headlight’s beam. On the other hand, if too low, they might not have the desired effect of illuminating the road in front.

Now that everyone is more familiar with motorcycle fog lights, what they have to offer and even how to best install them, you should have all the information you need to take safety up a gear on your motorbike.

With the ability to illuminate the road in those more adverse conditions when the headlight does not quite cut it, fog lights would be a welcomed addition to any motorcycle and the only thing left to do is securing a set for yourself.