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[Porschestan]

I have noticed more and more bikes on the road during the day with their High Beams On...

Do we think this is good or bad and Why?  Do they think they will be seen better?  Does anyone here ride this way?

[10SE5]

I ride with the hi beam on my 07 Wide Glide all the time. Never had an issue at nite (not much night riding with it). I ride with the highway lamps all the time  on the Ultra.

[Just Scootin]

That's what I do - I figure people may see me better that way. 

[justplainjim]

I do the same..

[Porschestan]

OK
I just hope that car and truck drivers don't get P/O'D
I know being seen is critical...

[BostonboyDH]

   Theres a couple of reasons I generally use my Hi beam during the daylight and have been doing this for about 15 years,  1 it helps to be seen by oncoming cagers, and 2 if your low beam is always on day and night, it = less bulb life.  If you use your Hi beam during the day it reduces burn time of the Low beam which your using only at night = longer life for low bulb, ....... David

[Porschestan]

That's an other good point...saving your low beam bulb..

[Twolanerider]

That's an other good point...saving your low beam bulb..

Many (though not all) housings burn low and high beam simultaneously when on high beam.  Bikes that use an H4 bulb have only one bulb for both functions.  All that should be a moot point though.  If any particular light configuration makes us more conspicuous and, thereby, safer the cost of a bulb every couple years is a weak consideration.

[Porschestan]

Of course you are right, the cost of a bulb is not a big deal..Was just not sure if anyone got someone upset because they had their Hi's on..be that too is worth it to be seen is the consensus here...

[JCZ]

Terrie and I have both been riding with high beam (HID, too) during the day, for the past few years.  We've not had anybody flash their lights at us so that hasn't been an issue and what I've noticed is that we've not had anybody try to turn left right in front of us since we've been riding this way. FWIW

[Porschestan]

OK
I am sold!  From now on Hi Beams On during the day!

[Twolanerider]

Of course you are right, the cost of a bulb is not a big deal..Was just not sure if anyone got someone upset because they had their Hi's on..be that too is worth it to be seen is the consensus here...

Pissing off a cage headed your way is always a concern.  Can anyone ever remember getting flashed for high beams during the day time though?  During the daytime it's a conspicuity issue and not an illumination issue.

[BostonboyDH]

  Never had a car flash  me during the day!! 

[grc]

First and foremost, make sure your lights are actually aimed properly.  Based on what I've seen around here over the past 12 years or so, there are a large percentage that aren't aimed even close.  Poorly aimed lights not only affect the rider's ability to see at night, but they also affect the visibility of the bike during the day and the PO factor to other's night or day.

Back when I only had one light, I always rode during the day with the high beam on.  Never once did anyone flash me or make it known in any other way that my light was bothering them.  Now that I have three lights, I just ride with the headlight on low beam along with the spots, and I'm actually more visible that way than with one light on high beam.  If you have aux lights, I highly recommend running them all the time.  Just make sure they are aimed properly.


Jerry

[arcticdude]

Never ride with your highbeam on. It's just plain disrespectful to every other driver out there. Pay more attention to your driving and out think the other guy. You've got to be SMARTER than they are.

Always turn your highbeam AND your spots OFF when riding in a group UNLESS your the lead road captain or the sweep. It's MUCH easier for the RC to keep track of everybody. I tell my groups it's either turn them off or get t out of the group. Only had one group accident in the 15 years of leading. The deer that jumped THROUGH the middle of my group apparently didn't give a rats ass about our lights.