As Murray said, the relay system drops the headlamp during cranking. The advantage to the Euro switchgear is to run along with only the 'city lamp', a 4watt bulb in the headlamp shell. This, ostensibly, saves charging power when doodling around Rome and should be OK where 'drivers' are aware of motorcycle traffic.
Here in the States, where folks tend to pull out in front of Fire Trucks and Trains, I think I'll run my PIAA on hi-beam with a thumb on the Fiamms.