Drive high beam in the day or not ? - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

lowspeed · 06-01-2008, 10:36 AM

Is it a good practice to drive with high beam during the day ?

Thanks.

2005GZ250 · 06-01-2008, 11:23 AM

I ride with the low beam on but there are a lot of riders in my area that do ride with their high beams on. Some even have a device that make the headlight flash.

tallannie · 06-01-2008, 11:34 AM

the more you can be seen, the safer you will be.... high beams are visible farther away even in daytime. Try using the hi/lo switch as you aproach intersections or long lines of oncoming cars to increase the chances you are seen!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowspeed

Is it a good practice to drive with high beam during the day ?

Thanks.

scrimmer · 06-01-2008, 08:25 PM

Around here (NC) most riders I see are running with their high beams on in the daytime, and so when I first started riding over 2 yrs ago I just do the same. A friend of mine who has been riding for 30+ yrs. suggested it to me and now it's just a habit. Like Tallannie said, anything that helps you be more easily seen cannot be a bad thing IMHO.

diamond_jim · 06-01-2008, 08:33 PM

I pretty much thought everyone (at least all the cruiser riders I know) ride with high beam during the day and low beam at night unless there are no other vehicles coming towards them then high beam as well.

jwromick · 06-01-2008, 09:06 PM

I ride with the high beam on during the day. Another advantage (besides helping you be seen more easily) is that if you run your low beams all the time that's the one most likely to burn out first, leaving you with only the high beam, which can be a problem at night for oncoming traffic.

fbrown · 06-02-2008, 02:07 AM

I have always ran high beam day and night unless traffic prevented me from doing so. The more you can see at night the better and the brighter the light during the day the better the chance of being seen. If you check the local cycle shops some sell a device that allows the headlight to flash (also the tail light (when stopping). Not sure who makes it.

**inspiron** · 06-02-2008, 04:41 AM

Safety Electronics For Motorcycles

Apertureguy · 06-02-2008, 08:21 AM

In NY the DMV booklet suggests that riders use their high beams during the day and or as often as they can at night to help make them be more easiy seen.

I find that I don't often use mine during the day. I just ride more cautiously, and remain aware of my surroundings.

**intimid8er** · 06-02-2008, 08:23 AM

High beam always on during the day for me.

KD57 · 06-02-2008, 08:45 AM

High beams for me too.

**inspiron** · 06-02-2008, 08:50 AM

I hardly ever use mine, but then again, using my highbeam here would simply result in cars flashing their highbeams back at me. It's not common practice in Europe...

themeatmanlandry · 06-02-2008, 09:30 AM

I find high beams annoying at any amount of daylight. I just use the regular beams. If they can't see that (of the rest of motorcycle/rider, for that matter) they're not going to see the high beam either, IMO.

robertc729 · 06-02-2008, 10:36 AM

I don't use my highbeam during the day.

jgreth · 06-02-2008, 11:08 AM

I use high beam during the day, low at night unless traffic allows for me to use the high beam.

Warputer · 06-02-2008, 11:12 AM

High beam during the day for me ...and they still turn left in front of ya sometimes !

lowspeed · 06-02-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwromick

I ride with the high beam on during the day. Another advantage (besides helping you be seen more easily) is that if you run your low beams all the time that's the one most likely to burn out first, leaving you with only the high beam, which can be a problem at night for oncoming traffic.

Good idea.

jhubb · 06-03-2008, 01:01 PM

always have high beam on during day, along with the lights on the light bar, anything to make myself more visable. also agree w/ warputer, still they pull out/turn in front of me

cms58 · 06-03-2008, 01:33 PM

I always ride with high beams on during the day! But don't rely on just the high beams, keep the keen eye on traffic and think ahead. Aggresive drivers don't see you cause they do not look long enough at intersections or when changing lanes. Be ready for anything. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

36Bones · 06-05-2008, 06:56 AM

I always ride with my high beams on during the day and I flash from high to low and back, whenever I come to a intersection or side road. When there is a car sitting there, I think it helps the auto-nut see you a bit better or maybe get his attention if he didn't see you at first glance.Out on a 2 lane highway I always flash the on coming car. Doesn't always work in either case, but I'm not one to worry about looking cool, I'd wear a neon banana suit, if I thought it would help me be seen better. I'd rather get to where I'm going in one piece.

06-01-2008, 10:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
lowspeed Seat Tester Joined: May 2008 Posts: 61	Drive high beam in the day or not ? Is it a good practice to drive with high beam during the day ? Thanks.

06-01-2008, 11:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
2005GZ250 Fender Buffer Joined: Sep 2005 Bike: 2005 GZ250 1973 "heavyoldandslow" GT750 Location: Roland, AR Posts: 439	I ride with the low beam on but there are a lot of riders in my area that do ride with their high beams on. Some even have a device that make the headlight flash. __________________ I only ride 'em. I don't know what makes 'em work. Oddball: Donald Sutherland, Kelly's Heroes 1970

06-01-2008, 08:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
scrimmer Third gear and cruising Joined: Nov 2006 Bike: '06 M50 Grey Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 507	Around here (NC) most riders I see are running with their high beams on in the daytime, and so when I first started riding over 2 yrs ago I just do the same. A friend of mine who has been riding for 30+ yrs. suggested it to me and now it's just a habit. Like Tallannie said, anything that helps you be more easily seen cannot be a bad thing IMHO. __________________ *I used to be disgusted; now I try to be amused.*

06-01-2008, 08:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
diamond_jim Refrigerator Magnet Test Engineer Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: S4 Scatcat Location: North Alabama Posts: 3,622	I pretty much thought everyone (at least all the cruiser riders I know) ride with high beam during the day and low beam at night unless there are no other vehicles coming towards them then high beam as well. __________________ M50 tutorials, tips and how-to links DJ's new project bike

06-02-2008, 02:07 AM	#7 (permalink)
fbrown Seat Tester Joined: May 2008 Bike: 83 Honda V45 Magna Location: West Virginia Posts: 79	lights I have always ran high beam day and night unless traffic prevented me from doing so. The more you can see at night the better and the brighter the light during the day the better the chance of being seen. If you check the local cycle shops some sell a device that allows the headlight to flash (also the tail light (when stopping). Not sure who makes it. __________________ Doesn't play well with others

06-01-2008, 09:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
jwromick Seat Tester Joined: Aug 2007 Bike: 07 Suzuki Boulevard M50 Location: Newnan, GA (south Atlanta metro) Posts: 66	I ride with the high beam on during the day. Another advantage (besides helping you be seen more easily) is that if you run your low beams all the time that's the one most likely to burn out first, leaving you with only the high beam, which can be a problem at night for oncoming traffic.

06-02-2008, 04:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
inspiron Muscle Biker Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: Blue Suzuki GSX 1400 (2003) Location: Canton Basel-Land, Switzerland (47.4493, 7.76536) Posts: 12,073	Safety Electronics For Motorcycles __________________ There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe blog: gsx1400

06-02-2008, 08:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
Apertureguy Throttle Jockey Joined: Jun 2006 Bike: 2006 Blue M50 Location: New York Posts: 3,267	In NY the DMV booklet suggests that riders use their high beams during the day and or as often as they can at night to help make them be more easiy seen. I find that I don't often use mine during the day. I just ride more cautiously, and remain aware of my surroundings. Last edited by Apertureguy; 06-02-2008 at 08:31 AM.

06-02-2008, 08:23 AM	#10 (permalink)
intimid8er It's A Conspiracy Joined: May 2005 Bike: '06 XB12X Location: 30 41'47.99" N 83 11'26.54" W Hold My Beer Posts: 10,092	High beam always on during the day for me. __________________ Song Pick of the Week 12/03 Booker T and the MG's - Green Onions Bonus for Buster The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight I had no idea 20% ABV beer could get me drunk so fast!

06-02-2008, 08:45 AM	#11 (permalink)
KD57 In The Zone Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2008 ZZR600 Location: Under a rock in Texas Posts: 2,581	High beams for me too. __________________ The "other" ZZR rider.

06-02-2008, 08:50 AM	#12 (permalink)
inspiron Muscle Biker Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: Blue Suzuki GSX 1400 (2003) Location: Canton Basel-Land, Switzerland (47.4493, 7.76536) Posts: 12,073	I hardly ever use mine, but then again, using my highbeam here would simply result in cars flashing their highbeams back at me. It's not common practice in Europe... __________________ There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe blog: gsx1400

06-02-2008, 09:30 AM	#13 (permalink)
themeatmanlandry Happy-ass Lunatic Joined: Dec 2003 Bike: 2002 Bandit 600S (Black); 2006 GSXR750 (Black) Location: Memphis Posts: 11,423	I find high beams annoying at any amount of daylight. I just use the regular beams. If they can't see that (of the rest of motorcycle/rider, for that matter) they're not going to see the high beam either, IMO. __________________ Go to hell

06-02-2008, 10:36 AM	#14 (permalink)
robertc729 Forensic Bug Splatter Analyst Joined: Mar 2006 Bike: 05 Boulevard C50 LE, 06 S40 (wife's bike) Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 4,090	I don't use my highbeam during the day.

06-02-2008, 11:08 AM	#15 (permalink)
jgreth Mr. Threadjack Joined: Aug 2007 Bike: 2007 Suzuki GS500F Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 3,078	I use high beam during the day, low at night unless traffic allows for me to use the high beam. __________________ What the hell am I looking at? When does this happen in the movie? You're looking at now, sir. Everything that happens now is happening now. What happened to then? We passed then. When? Just now. We're at now now. Go back to then. When? Now! Now? Now! I can't. Why? We missed it. When? Just now. When will then be now? Soon.

06-02-2008, 11:12 AM	#16 (permalink)
Warputer Kickstand Operator Joined: Jan 2007 Bike: 05 Busa-GSX1300R Location: Lake Murray South Carolina Posts: 253	High beam during the day for me ...and they still turn left in front of ya sometimes ! __________________ Chris

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

06-03-2008, 01:01 PM	#18 (permalink)
jhubb Where Am I ? Joined: Aug 2007 Bike: 2005 Suzuki Boulevard C90 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 25	always have high beam on during day, along with the lights on the light bar, anything to make myself more visable. also agree w/ warputer, still they pull out/turn in front of me

06-03-2008, 01:33 PM	#19 (permalink)
cms58 Kickstand Operator Joined: Oct 2007 Bike: 2007 Suzuki S50 /07 Yamaha FZ6 / 1992 Yamaha RT180 Location: Lithia Springs, Georgia Posts: 286	I always ride with high beams on during the day! But don't rely on just the high beams, keep the keen eye on traffic and think ahead. Aggresive drivers don't see you cause they do not look long enough at intersections or when changing lanes. Be ready for anything. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN __________________ FEEL THE BREEZE

06-05-2008, 06:56 AM	#20 (permalink)
36Bones Newbie Joined: May 2008 Bike: 2008 Shadow VT750C2F Location: Central Texas Posts: 12	I always ride with my high beams on during the day and I flash from high to low and back, whenever I come to a intersection or side road. When there is a car sitting there, I think it helps the auto-nut see you a bit better or maybe get his attention if he didn't see you at first glance.Out on a 2 lane highway I always flash the on coming car. Doesn't always work in either case, but I'm not one to worry about looking cool, I'd wear a neon banana suit, if I thought it would help me be seen better. I'd rather get to where I'm going in one piece. __________________ Two wheels and road to everywhere. Ain't it great!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
wtb: high beam lens	domindart	Gear, Parts and Accessories Buy / Sell / Trade	0	11-07-2007 01:01 AM
Flashing your high-beam at cars	CManT1914	The Paddock	24	03-09-2006 02:53 PM
no low beam!!! any help?	GuDI_02	Off Topic	5	09-18-2004 12:54 AM
high beam or back light?	yellowbee	Off Topic	7	08-07-2004 02:36 PM
high beam and turn signal problem	Rain5174	Mechanics Corner	5	07-02-2004 03:28 PM