Is there not some kind of latching system and a relay on the headlights? I'm sure the Ninja 500 in the US is supposed to have some system where the lights are switched on by the starter switch?
Quoting Haynes
"US and Canada EX500S models use an additional relay in the system, called the reserve lighting device. On these models, the headlight doesn't come on when the ignition switch is first turned on but comes on when the starter button is pressed and stays on until the ignition is turned off. The light will go out whenever the starter is operated after the engine has stalled (this prevents excessive strain on the battery).
So I guess they did this for a while and then gave up?
In europe we got a switch OFF, Sidelights, Headlights... Well we did up to about 2003 when it was decided we too were not to have the choice.
Have seen some new bikes since (think it was a ZX6) that had a switch below the kill switch but could not work out what it was for, any idea?