Headlight High beam off or on during daylight hours only

[easyrider]

In light of extra safety and visibility is it better to run with the headlights in brightest and highest setting? I live in an area where there is a lot of retired folks and thinking what could be bad about using a high beam during the daytime . I really hate it when people jut out in front of me making a turn. I am wondering how visible are we to others.Thoughts ?

[kramnala58]

Should be interesting to see the responses this time around. This same subject was broached a year or more ago. As I recall, a number of responses about it were quite strong in their views, both for and against running with them on.

[homie]

I reserve the high beam to toggle as I approach vehicles trying to pull out or if travelling at speed through a busy intersection. I'm sure most of you just run with high beam in daylight but you can't at night yet you can still flash them at night so I got into this habit of toggling early on.

btw I will choose the PCX over my other bike at night because of its excellent LED front and rear lights, so we are sitting pretty good with LED PCX in comparison.

[gn2]

In light of extra safety and visibility is it better to run with the headlights in brightest and highest setting?

No, it just pisses people off.
Its illegal in the U.K.
The drivers who are the biggest hazard won't see your headlamp anyway.

[DailyRider]

I like to use the high beams at twilight.

And I like the idea of toggling them.

[Mel46]

You can toggle the beam when you come to a situation where someone may turn in front of you, but running with the high beam on all the time may just piss people off. I also have some extra lights that I sometimes turn on while riding, especially during rush hour.

[Embattle]

As stated in the UK doing so will annoy others and isn't acceptable to use it apart from at certain times and places.

[you you]

Won't toggling them make them think you are flashing them out.

Always ride with a certain amount of swagger is my advice

[dkazzed]

I run with them on here. Some mid-2000s Chrysler and Kias here use DRLs that are high beams at full intensity and I find my Vino 125's high beams less blinding even at night.

All vehicles in Canada are legally required to be sold with DRLs.

[homie]

Won't toggling them, make them think you are flashing them out.

um never considered that... and we like our road rage over here

[Bash On!]

From a forum discussion from last year (remember, Homie?). Good advice is timeless :

"sometimes I flash the high-lows when I see someone acting too anxious to pull out'
Be careful doing that. It's been mentioned before here--a lot of people (me included) flash lights to signal another driver that they can pull in front.

WHAT! who dose that from an intersection

Might just be a local Texas "drive friendly" deal here, but I think not.

Here's where I've seen it used:
-Truckers will flash lights when other truckers are passing, to signify when it's safe to come back in the original lane. I do it too when trucks pass me (rare!) or need to come in my lane for some reason. I really appreciate it when people do it for me when I'm driving our huge RV.
-4-way stops where another driver has the right of way (there first) but is confused and hesitates
-Traffic is stopping or stopped at a light and another driver is trying to turn from a side street or business exit
-Narrow streets where parked cars have reduced the right of way to one lane and two cars approach bottleneck at the same time

[homie]

WHAT! who does that from an intersection

[Bash On!]

WHAT! who does that from an intersection

See you next year--same bat channel.

[homie]

yes we are stubborn and set in our ways....

hey, hey! get off my lawn!

[Mel46]

The other day we were driving somewhere and were at an intersection where we were allowed to turn left when it was clear. Motorcycle was coming toward us. We saw him but he started flashing his lights as he came closer to make sure that we saw him. Even though we ride our scooters and understand what he was doing, our first reaction was to say to each other,"What's that about? We see him!". Then we thought about it and it seemed like a good thing for him to do. However, if our first reaction was that, then others would have that same reaction. It is hard to determine what other drivers are thinking. That is why we have additional lights that I turn on during traffic rush hour. Without flashing my lights, I still have enough extra lighting to get the other driver's attention.

[Bash On!]

If you want a real debate, how about headlight modulators?

From the Texas Department of Public Safety (aka state police):

• Brighten Headlights. Keep your headlights on at all times to help ensure that you are noticed day and night. For maximum effectiveness, keep your headlights in optimal working condition. Use high beams rather than low beams during the day, and consider the use of a headlight modulator.

(quoting National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (a Federal agency) material)

[WhiteNoise]

Ya Got-the "Moves Like Jagger...."

Spread out Swagger and lane changing is good, flashing lights is good, honking, leg swing(?), tap yer lid good....heh! we're just trying to get their text eyed attention,...correct?

We're trying. Can they see us? That's a crap shoot!
Okay, some of us got the eye piercing yella clothing, lids, and we use reflective tape, xtra lighting, flags, etc, etc, etc. Sirens too. Dang it! Do I look invisible? To them, sadly I am.

I thought about....
Wait for it.....
A helmet MOHAWK! (OhMyGosh, did I type that?) Freakin' Crazy right?

Confession:
I surprised myself one day when I raised my left hand as a Stop Sign to a vehicle that was crawling his way out of a side street. I had given him the horn (meep meep)! He actually smiled and stayed put. Lucky Me!
(Truthfully I think he liked my Move like Jagger)

[WhiteNoise]

Bash generally, I'm in favor of modulators. Rarely seen in NY but they always got my attention in Florida. Now I'm remembering that one biker's front modulator was sooo bright, it annoyed me as a driver on the opposite side of the road (he was on coming). So...can you change the brightness via the bulbs?
I'm Not up close familiar with them

[homie]

Ya Got-the "Moves Like Jagger...."

Spread out Swagger and lane changing is good, flashing lights is good, honking, leg swing(?), tap yer lid good....heh! we're just trying to get their text eyed attention,...correct?

We're trying. Can they see us? That's a crap shoot!
Okay, some of us got the eye piercing yella clothing, lids, and we use reflective tape, xtra lighting, flags, etc, etc, etc. Sirens too. Dang it! Do I look invisible? To them, sadly I am.

I thought about....
Wait for it.....
A helmet MOHAWK! (OhMyGosh, did I type that?) Freakin' Crazy right?

Confession:
I surprised myself one day when I raised my left hand as a Stop Sign to a vehicle that was crawling his way out of a side street. I had given him the horn (meep meep)! He actually smiled and stayed put. Lucky Me!
(Truthfully I think he liked my Move like Jagger)

meep meep
you are my brother WN I'm with you, do what you have to do and then get back to the safety of your perfectly manicured hobble. Everything in place, shackled with the curse of perfectionist cast down to earth among the the many crosses to bare you and I are birds of a feather. Why must you be a moderator, how fun can that be? Never to be able to point out the ridiculous or have a stern word. I miss you man

[gn2]

If you want a real debate

A mass debate?