Do you ride with your high beams on during the day?

[allanoue]

flash does not work if highs are on

[Sirref]

I ride with highbeams on during the day and treat high-lowbeams the same as I would in a car at night (use them, but don't blind people)

I've found that I get fewer smartasses telling me that my headlight is out when I use my highbeams all the time

[Z1R rider]

I started riding when bikes still had headlight switches, and in my own, unscientific, research, it doesn't matter if the headlight is even on! Drivers, bike riders included, just don't recognize bikes on the street with or without a headlight on, much less whether or not it's on high or low beam. Riding around with your high beams on all the time only proves to all the others that you share the road with that you don't care that your blinding them, and you should be given a ticket for failure to dim when meeting oncoming traffic. Same goes for headlights out of adjustment! (adjusted too high)

[Skullz]

High beams are on full time, i have a had few close calls with cars pulling out in front of me thinking i was a car farther away than i was, with the twin light high beams cagers realize it is not a car with a light out and farther away. With my high beams on i have not had one car pull out on me yet and hope it continues like that, even though i know it pisses people off, but i would rather them be pissed about being inconvenienced for a short time than me in a hospital or in a box six feet under.

[cbinker]

thats in interesting justification, but other drivers may think you are still a car, just with a poorly adjusted head light on the right side.

[cadd]

Originally Posted by cbinker

thats in interesting justification, but other drivers may think you are still a car, just with a poorly adjusted head light on the right side.

Problem with that is: because the lights are so close to each other, the driver may think it's a car.......a car that's far far far far far away since the profile of the bike is so slim and the headlights are so close together.

[Flying]

I keep them on all the time because I don't like asymmetry.

[cadd]

Yeah, but one is brighter than the other....

Does that count as asymmetrical?

[LittleRedNinjette]

With the high beam on, in my experience, it just drowns out the other light and looks like one bright light. So the two headlight thing doesn't make sense to me.

You would be better off with a dual low beam mod of some kind instead. If that's the look you're going for. Visibility or symmetry.

[capt_bugaloo]

This seems to be one of those 'religious-type' topics that polarizes opinions and gets people riled up.
I can remember getting into some serious arguments and flamewars over this exact subject on usenet rec.motorcycles 20 years ago, and the same arguments used then are still being used now.

I have to say that I spot motorcycles a long ways off equally well, whether they are on high or low beam - but then, as a motorcyclist I know to look for them. I can't say that the high beams make those bikes stand out any better or any worse: it all depends on lighting conditions.

My advice would be to use low beams, and then flash high beams as an 'attention-getter', the same way you might beep your horn to get a driver's attention.

[risingsun]

Riding with your high beams on is very annoying and distracting for people with smaller cars.

[cadd]

Originally Posted by risingsun

Riding with your high beams on is very annoying and distracting for people with smaller cars.

The size of a car isn't of any concern. It's the height of a car that's the deciding factor. If someone is driving a C7 Vette (large car, right?) they will still be blinded because they are sitting so low on the ground.

[Skullz]

Originally Posted by LittleRedNinjette

With the high beam on, in my experience, it just drowns out the other light and looks like one bright light. So the two headlight thing doesn't make sense to me.

You would be better off with a dual low beam mod of some kind instead. If that's the look you're going for. Visibility or symmetry.

My point is that it makes the driver go "whoa" for a second or two cause it doesn't look normal to them, so if it stops them for a few seconds to realize something different is coming it is all that may be needed.

How many times have you been told i didn't see you?
Once is too many.

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by Skullz

My point is that it makes the driver go "whoa" for a second or two cause it doesn't look normal to them, so if it stops them for a few seconds to realize something different is coming it is all that may be needed.

How many times have you been told i didn't see you?
Once is too many.

A small weave will do the job better (IMO) without pissing people off.

[cadd]

Originally Posted by allanoue

A small weave will do the job better (IMO) without pissing people off.

To be honest, during a bright sunny summer day the highbeam isn't blinding at all. I had a test with a friend. He and I rode pass each other with the high beams on. He was on a 650R. I was on the 300. Yes, it's brighter than normal, but nothing I would call blinding.

We got a friend to get in his coupe (370z) and we rode pass him. He said, it was bright, but not blinding unless we were going head on to him (a game of chicken). When he was on one side of the double yellow and we were on the other side of the double yellow, he says it just looks like one of our lights were about to blow out because it was dimmer than the other.

I still don't ride with the high beams on during the day because I fear someone with horrible eye sight would think I'm in a car far far far far far away since they see two lights close together.

The only time I turn on my high beams during the day is when the sun is either rising or setting.

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by cadd

To be honest, during a bright sunny summer day the highbeam isn't blinding at all. I had a test with a friend. He and I rode pass each other with the high beams on. He was on a 650R. I was on the 300. Yes, it's brighter than normal, but nothing I would call blinding.

We got a friend to get in his coupe (370z) and we rode pass him. He said, it was bright, but not blinding unless we were going head on to him (a game of chicken). When he was on one side of the double yellow and we were on the other side of the double yellow, he says it just looks like one of our lights were about to blow out because it was dimmer than the other.

I still don't ride with the high beams on during the day because I fear someone with horrible eye sight would think I'm in a car far far far far far away since they see two lights close together.

The only time I turn on my high beams during the day is when the sun is either rising or setting.

No it is not blinding on sunny days. It is annoying and more difficult to judge distance and speed. Not a good combination.

[motoman]

There never off

[cadd]

Bump. For the new riders this season.

[DanteCoal]

Low beams 90% of the time, only use high in really bad visibility situations. Or to indicate passing, etc.

[CaliGrrl]

I haven't been using the Highs.

[RacinNinja]

Only at night when there are no other vehicles around.

I HATE it when people drive around in the day time with high beams. Super annoying.

[Gavin_Coffey]

Me personally I keep mine on the High beam during the day and around the time I see other drivers with their lights on I turn them on the low beam. I've never been flashed or anything which where Im from indicates that your lights are too bright or that you've pissed someone off and they want to pass you. I also like to keep mine on the highbeam because on my EX250 the light is always on and I ride more during the day than at night and when I do ride at night I'm usually using the low beam so I'd like to have the highbeam on lowering its life as opposed to my low beam that I might need at night. Just my two cents.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Gavin_Coffey

I also like to keep mine on the highbeam because on my EX250 the light is always on and I ride more during the day than at night and when I do ride at night I'm usually using the low beam so I'd like to have the highbeam on lowering its life as opposed to my low beam that I might need at night.

[jkv45]

I run my brights all the time during daylight hours. In normal daylight conditions, the amount of light you are putting out, even on high, is not significant enough to "blind" anyone.

It's just one more thing that helps you get noticed. Is it a guarantee? Nope.

Flashing your lights ls is illegal in my state, and it can also give mixed impressions - I never do it. Swerving as you come into an intersection is not a good idea either IMO. You are giving oncoming motorists mixed signals. Be predictable with your speed and actions.

Run your high beams during full daylight hours, slow slightly as you enter an intersection, trust no one, be prepared to take action, and have an escape route in-mind.

This has worked for me for 35 years so far.

[Gavin_Coffey]

Originally Posted by adouglas

I'm terrible about the run on sentences. I apologize right now before it gets any worse

[RacinNinja]

Originally Posted by jkv45

I run my brights all the time during daylight hours. In normal daylight conditions, the amount of light you are putting out, even on high, is not significant enough to "blind" anyone.

Wrong.

It hurts my eyes. A lot.

Any motorcycle that comes at me head on with brights gets a finger and my brights.

This depends a lot on the height of the oncoming vehicle. My daily driver Civic is completely stock and brights are perfectly at eye level. It sucks.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by RacinNinja

Wrong.

It hurts my eyes. A lot.

Any motorcycle that comes at me head on with brights gets a finger and my brights.

This depends a lot on the height of the oncoming vehicle. My daily driver Civic is completely stock and brights are perfectly at eye level. It sucks.

You may want to have your eyes checked. You should be wearing sunglasses during the day then, because the intensity of headlights is nowhere near that of sunlight. Don't look directly into the light.

You are quite the understanding cycle rider. How about loud pipes? Do you flip them off too?

I have to say, I personally find headlight modulators (flashers) annoying, but I just look away until they pass. I don't like it - but I get it.

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by jkv45

How about loud pipes? Do you flip them off too?

All the time, every time.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by allanoue

All the time, every time.

Does that include Ninja 250s with Muzzy pipes?

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by jkv45

Does that include Ninja 250s with Muzzy pipes?

250s can not get stupid loud.

I had a full Jardine 5 on my 2009, I flipped myself off.

[Panda]

I light my helmet on fire to increase my visibility during day time hours.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by allanoue

250s can not get stupid loud.

I had a full Jardine 5 on my 2009, I flipped myself off.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Panda

I light my helmet on fire to increase my visibility during day time hours.

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by jkv45

I run my brights all the time during daylight hours. In normal daylight conditions, the amount of light you are putting out, even on high, is not significant enough to "blind" anyone.

It's just one more thing that helps you get noticed. Is it a guarantee? Nope.

Flashing your lights ls is illegal in my state, and it can also give mixed impressions - I never do it. Swerving as you come into an intersection is not a good idea either IMO. You are giving oncoming motorists mixed signals. Be predictable with your speed and actions.

Run your high beams during full daylight hours, slow slightly as you enter an intersection, trust no one, be prepared to take action, and have an escape route in-mind.

This has worked for me for 35 years so far.

You're not completely blinding them, you're just masking your speed & distance until you're almost under their wheels & possibly causing them to actively look away from you.

Your brain notices movement more than a stable light.

What you're doing is using a light pointed at the oncoming driver to make it harder for them to judge your approach.

A slight weave gives the driver at the intersection lateral movement to lock onto, that's what your perhiperal vision detects, and targets your attention to.

Your eyes only really focus on a cone about 5 degrees wide (~2 knuckles wide at arm's length, put a couple of cans a little wider than that & see if your eyes have to move to read one then the other)

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Panda

I light my helmet on fire to increase my visibility during day time hours.

[Z1R rider]

Originally Posted by jkv45

Does that include Ninja 250s with Muzzy pipes?

#2 son has a Muzzy, and he (and everyone around him) bitches all the time how loud it is, and it's mostly ridden at the track. He does keep it repacked as routine maintenance, but it's still pretty sharp, not quite ear-bleed but plenty loud. The can broke on it at the track one time and no one would get close enough to pass with it bellering straight out of the collector!

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

You're not completely blinding them, you're just masking your speed & distance until you're almost under their wheels & possibly causing them to actively look away from you.

Your brain notices movement more than a stable light.

What you're doing is using a light pointed at the oncoming driver to make it harder for them to judge your approach.

A slight weave gives the driver at the intersection lateral movement to lock onto, that's what your perhiperal vision detects, and targets your attention to.

Your eyes only really focus on a cone about 5 degrees wide (~2 knuckles wide at arm's length, put a couple of cans a little wider than that & see if your eyes have to move to read one then the other)

Interesting theory...

How about high intensity daytime running lights then? Are they just masking the speed and distance too? Having no lights on at all would be safer? I don't think so.

And weaving - really? Intentionally swerving when entering an intersection - what does that do to your ability to react quickly when someone doesn't see you and gets in your way? Nothing good.

A swerving movement could also be seen as initiating a turn by an oncoming driver, when you are really going straight through the intersection. Not a message you want to send.

[allanoue]

Originally Posted by jkv45

Interesting theory...



And weaving - really? Intentionally swerving when entering an intersection - what does that do to your ability to react quickly when someone doesn't see you and gets in your way? Nothing good.

A swerving movement could also be seen as initiating a turn by an oncoming driver, when you are really going straight through the intersection. Not a message you want to send.

You are doing it wrong.

A little wiggling well before the intersection. In the intersection is to late.

[jkv45]

Originally Posted by allanoue

You are doing it wrong.

A little wiggling well before the intersection. In the intersection is to late.

Still ain't gonna do it.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by jkv45

Still ain't gonna do it.

Headlight modulation is the alternative for riders that dislike the smidsy. I am wondering if they make a bypass switch for it or something that would disable the modulation at or above speed X.

I kinda feel where you coming from. I was pulled over for "weaving" by police in search of OVI offenders. But I still do it, a ticket is cheaper than the alternatives.