To Beam or not to Beam

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thunderous71

thunderous71

Daddy
So its an age old question, during the day do you ride with your high beam on? The reason I ask is I never have done but I see more and more bikers are doing so and even the police bikers in my area during the day are riding with their high beams on now.

I always thought it was bad road ethics even in daylight because of the blinding/distracting light especial in the mirrors of the cars and other bikers in front of you.

So do you Beam or not during the day?
 
I don't, I think it's illegal in France. I understand that some people use it to be more visible, and that some people say it is blinding, I just upgraded my headlight bulb to a brighter more efficient one.
 
That's the point really. They do notice you better for that "blinding" point of light. In most states here in the U.S. it's also allowed to have a pulsing beam. Generally the high one.
Daytime only, I add.
 
Mine stay on bright unless it's dark and I'm blinding some other driver. The way I see it: a. Other bikers bright light during the day doesn't bother me.(there are lots around here and they all do it) b. The sun is out and it's brighter than my light. c. I've never had anyone flash their lights during the day or otherwise complain.

If it helps someone's grandma, or some teenage nascar driver wannbe "notice" my little bike coming down the road, then it's definitely worth the extra juice it burns and the few people who might not like how bright it is can just stare into the sun for all I care.
Headlight Modulators are legal in all 50 US States.(Federally Mandated) Your light has to be on bright for the modulator to work, so it kinda sounds like US law would prefer you to run brights on a bike during daylight hours.
 
I think all, if not ~most~ modern/new bikes (in EU) come with the dipped lights on as standard. It's in an effort for being more visible. I think the "blinding" thing comes from idiots retrofitting their headlights with HID conversions which aren't road legal or ethical, as they spread a high and often offensive poorly focused beam. Argument lies in lens vs reflector optics in the headlight when doing a conversion:


The old style headlights have the focus and sweep of the light in the lens


Modern style headlights have the magic working in the reflector, the lens is just clear (often more successful at retrofitting HID).


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5n38wDe684[/youtube]
 
In the USA, it's generally allowed. I would only do it in the daytime, as I find that oncoming high beams in the day do not blind people. I haven't been doing it because my old bikes had weak alternators and it would put too much of a drain on the battery. I have a brand new bike and I'm sure it's ok on the battery, but old habits die hard. If your high beams are blinding people, then definitely don't do it. My two cents.
 
I don't unless at night or it's getting darker, very cloudy and feel like I need to be seen better. I agree with Friz, it is so annoying having it done to you, but then again we are on bikes so I understand it makes a bit more of a difference.
 
I sometimes ride with dipped on, if im at high speed etc but never high beam! As a breakdown recovery guy said to me once (one of many, chinese bike!), if the sun is behind you, it can actually hide you and confuse drivers
 
About 50/50 I use high beams during day-time. I believe it's legal here. And in the US, all modern bikes must have a headlight on if the bike it on, from the factory.
 
JollyRoger said:
I don't unless at night or it's getting darker, very cloudy and feel like I need to be seen better. I agree with Friz, it is so annoying having it done to you, but then again we are on bikes so I understand it makes a bit more of a difference.
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Whoa, I havent posted yet :P

But that's actually my view on it. It's too bright and blinding even in daylight.
When I've had bikers following me with their high beams on I cant see a thing behind me. Really irritating and distracting.

I don't often turn my high beams on at night either. Not sure why. Never think to do it.

More bikers around my area are only just starting to have their dipped lights on during the day. I think this is good, and much better than having no light on for visibility.
 
SwearingMuffin said:
I sometimes ride with dipped on, if im at high speed etc but never high beam! As a breakdown recovery guy said to me once (one of many, chinese bike!), if the sun is behind you, it can actually hide you and confuse drivers
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That's a very good point, my bike has its dipped on automatically when the engine is running and I believe that is part of or becoming part of EU law for all new bikes but I never use full beam unless out at night and its deserted. Very rare for me.
 
senthx said:
Neilisin said:
Iblah blah

you tube clip
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That was a great post, thanks! :D

I just didn't want to quote it all and fill the page up. :mrgreen:
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Hehe, I did actually feel like apologising for writing such a big post with pictures and videos. :P

I'm not too sure what the question was any more, was it about having HIGH beams on or was it about having lights on?

Clearly high beams are meant expressly for situations where there is no other light about. Which clearly indicates ignorance/arrogance on someone riding in the day with them on. The elevation of a high beam (excuse me for stating the obvious) repositions the angle of the light ~higher~... which is a bit of a shocker! That being said, it's not necessarily brighter.
 
drivers would have to look up from their cellphones in order for my headlights to blind them. I figure that anything I do that gains notice is good. for instance, I have glued a midget to my helmet. as you can imagine he is write upset so he yells and curses at everybody while I'm riding. so far it seems to be working. I have not had any cars pull out in front off me or cut me off since I started the test. ymmv and high beams won't hurt your neck.I
 
Dipped beam is on all the time once my engine's started, nothing I can do about that.

I think I've only ever used my high beam during the day three times, in huge queues where I'm just waiting for someone to not notice me and splatter me against another car. Very rare for me though, dipped is enough normally.
 
Friz said:
JollyRoger said:
I don't unless at night or it's getting darker, very cloudy and feel like I need to be seen better. I agree with Friz, it is so annoying having it done to you, but then again we are on bikes so I understand it makes a bit more of a difference.
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Whoa, I havent posted yet :P
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It was only a matter of time :P I meant le extreme 601 of course, you guys, all the same lolol :D

Yeah over here the law stipulates that every vehicle on the road must have running lights on when the engine is on, so I can't actually turn my lights off.
 
tweek said:
drivers would have to look up from their cellphones in order for my headlights to blind them. I figure that anything I do that gains notice is good. for instance, I have glued a midget to my helmet. as you can imagine he is write upset so he yells and curses at everybody while I'm riding. so far it seems to be working. I have not had any cars pull out in front off me or cut me off since I started the test. ymmv and high beams won't hurt your neck.I
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:lol:

This is brilliant. What a fantastic idea.
 
Something I've noticed: British vloggers headlights seem to be much brighter and better focused than the lights over here in the US. When they are riding at dusk/dawn I'm pretty shocked at how far down the road I can see their light. Maybe that's why none of you guys over there run your brights during the day. What are dipped lights? We only have brights and dims.(unless you have fog lights)
 
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