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[hunter]

I ride to work every day and almost every morning I used to get cut off by a car or truck.  about 4 weeks ago I decided to ride with hi beam and since then, in several occasions, I have seen cages starting to come to my lane and suddenly change their mind and stay away.  IMO if it can prevent a single close call a week, it's worth it.  Specially early morning that the traffic moves at 70-75 mph.

Have experienced that before or do you ride with hi beam on?

They say it's hard for a cage driver to judge a bikes speed specially over 50 mph.  I believe that the hi beam make them hesitate long enough to realize the bike is going much faster than they think.

[murphy]

It's illegal here, I don't do it and it really pizzes me off when another bike has their's on when they come up behind me!

[Fired00d]

It's illegal here, I don't do it and it really pizzes me off when another bike has their's on when they come up behind me!

It's illegal here too, and I would think in most places it would be too.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Fired00d]

I'd like to add what I do now after someone here suggested it is ride w/spots on to have more lights in daytime.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Screamin]

Depends on the scoot. SEEG, passing lamps are always on - day and night. SERG, hi -  beam during the day, all day.

[comfortablynumb]

Spots on  all the time. Cheaper to replace bulbs than sheet metal.

[VaEagle]

In addition to running spots you might want to check out a headlight modulator. I believe they are legal in all states and they really get a motorist's attention.

[grc]

When I used to ride a Dyna (only one light up front, and a small one at that), I always rode during the day with the high beam on after noticing the same thing as Hunter; fewer folks pulling out in front of me.  Now that I have a bike with spots, I just ride with the low beam and spots on at all times, and I get the same result of fewer folks pulling out or turning in front of me. 

One suggestion I would make, if you run with spots on all the time make sure you aim them properly.  They should be aimed at the same vertical dimension as the low beam headlight.  I find it very irritating when another Harley rider is coming toward me with their spots aimed too high and angled toward the oncoming lane.  We are looking for increased visibility, not increased irritation.  There are enough folks who hate us without purposely creating more of them.

I've never tried a modulator, but I have seen several on other folks bikes and they do increase visibility.  IMHO though, the low beam with spots is a better solution.

Jerry

[Fired00d]

When I used to ride a Dyna (only one light up front, and a small one at that), I always rode during the day with the high beam on after noticing the same thing as Hunter; fewer folks pulling out in front of me.  Now that I have a bike with spots, I just ride with the low beam and spots on at all times, and I get the same result of fewer folks pulling out or turning in front of me. 

One suggestion I would make, if you run with spots on all the time make sure you aim them properly.  They should be aimed at the same vertical dimension as the low beam headlight.  I find it very irritating when another Harley rider is coming toward me with their spots aimed too high and angled toward the oncoming lane.  We are looking for increased visibility, not increased irritation.  There are enough folks who hate us without purposely creating more of them.

I've never tried a modulator, but I have seen several on other folks bikes and they do increase visibility.  IMHO though, the low beam with spots is a better solution.

Jerry

Now I remember who suggested I start riding w/spots on.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[hunter]

Let me clarify, I don't have spots or running lights and I know for fact that my head light is aimed lower than my old RK.  I don't ride with hi beam at night.  I don't believe my hi beam is brighter than a lo beam + two spots.  I haven't noticed any cars in front of me adjusting their rear view mirror because of my light.
As for MV regulations, it doesn't say anything about using hi beam during the day and I have ridden behind petrols ( maybe they were just being nice). 

[hunter]

It's illegal here, I don't do it and it really pizzes me off when another bike has their's on when they come up behind me!

I have had few very close calls.  One day, a girl pulled in front of me and her back bumper got within a foot of my from wheel at 70 mph, needless to say that I slammed on brakes and barely managed to control the bike slipping and sliding all over ( my RK doesn't have ABS).  When I caught up with her at next lite, she just smiled and said she didn't see me.

Maybe I should ask Patrick (NightRodX) and his friend Mark if they were annoyed by my lite since I rod over 400 miles behind them during NJ Hooters Run.

[Ditch]

Spot light on at all times are the way to go. I have notice a big difference since I switched them on and left them on. I think the cars do seem to notice you a little better with the extra light source coming at them.

[hunter]

What if you don't have spot lights?  Would you ride with hi beam?

[screem]

I ride my softail with hi beam on during the day also, I feel it lets my persence be known. When I had a road king with spots, always rode with spots on, I changed the spots to amber fluted ones, and noticed right away that I had less people attemping to pull out in front of me. I think the yellow color of them got peoples attention,

[T MAC]

Spot light on at all times are the way to go. I have notice a big difference since I switched them on and left them on. I think the cars do seem to notice you a little better with the extra light source coming at them.

Same here - If I didn't have spots I would ride in the daytime with my headlight on bright but at night I would keep it on low beam when approaching a car or riding behind one.