Well, maybe not. When the law was passed here in the States that riders must ride with their headlights on, Harley designed their wiring harnesses so that the headlight came on whenever the switch was turned on. On some of the earlier models with the mechanical igntion switch, this was accomplished by the use of a jumper wire that was easily cut or simply removed. Then in the late 1990's, Harley went to an electronic switch and the wiring for the headlight was changed but still it came on whenever the ignition switch was turned on. The logic was that by wiring the bikes in this manner, it would reduce the chances of a rider being stopped and ticketed because he was riding without the headlight being on. I've been riding for over 45 years and of all the laws passed, I think the headlight on law is the best thing the law could have done to increase safety when riding a motorcycle. I didn't like it at first but I've seen that it makes a difference as a motorcyclist is better seen by other motorist with the light on. On some makes of bikes, they've went to the "pulser" on the headlight which I think is better. If your battery is good in your bike, starting the engine with the headlight on makes no difference. Even most cars have "daylight driving lights" that do the same thing these days. If you wire a simple switch to turn the headlight off with, I think I'd wire in in series with the ground wire from the headlight. That way, it kills both the high beam and low beam instead of having to wire the switch in before it goes to the handlebar switch.
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