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High Beams: Effective or A Nuisance?

High beams during daylight hours:

  • Should be used for safety; higher visibility

    Votes: 59 43.1%

  • Should NOT be used; very annoying

    Votes: 53 38.7%

  • I like turtles

    Votes: 25 18.2%
  • Total voters
    137
since I dont have big titties, I activate my modulator at the opportune time when I need to be noticed
 
Or this...
23989-1.jpg
 
No sir, I don't like it.

Had a douche canoe behind me today, blaring the brights into my rearview.

I gave him plenty of opportunities to split past me, but noooo.

I slowed it down to posted speed - that did it and he went around me.

False sense of security and annoying.
 
Well, that rider is an ass. You did what was reasonable (moved over, etc.) and he ignored the hints.
 
fast4d said:
since I dont have big titties, I activate my modulator at the opportune time when I need to be noticed
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Moses parted the Red Sea with headlight modulators. They work that good. It is known.
 
Didn't see headlight modulators on the voting list. FMVSS regulate them but they allow you to run a system that basically lets you flash your brights 240 +/- 40 cycles per minute during the day.
 
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I don't use the highbeam on the R1150GS because the Cleawater Krista and Darla are wired into them. If I hit the high beam it's something like 12,000 lumens of bright white light on instantly. I dunno maybe 10 headlights pointed straight ahead? Learned not to flash people when I almost made a Prius hit the wall coming up 17 one night and flashed him for parking in the fast lane.

I run around with them on the lowest dimmer setting and during splitting turn them up a little. People really see me. Doesn't mean they move. Any lights that are funky looking will do the trick.
 
High beam is the driving equivalent to Internet yelling using all caps and too many exclamation points. It gets noticed but usually makes the writer look like a jerk, and definitely doesn't put the reader in a positive, receptive mindset.

IT'S NOT HELPING YOUR CAUSE! ITS MAKING IT HARDER TO SEE YOU! AND IT MAKES PEOPLE ANGRY! PLEASE STOP DOING IT! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



See. :twofinger
 
When I moved to California I read the DMV Riders Handbook and took the MSF course. I thought it was pretty weird that they recommended high beam during the day... .. but when in Rome do as the Romans do.

So yes! I am one of those douchebags riding around with high beam all the time :teeth
 
I'm surprised that there are a few here that would turn their high beam on or flash it when approaching a left turner? That could easily be mistaken for a "go ahead, I see you" signal to the left turner. Anyway, do what you want I guess?

Some people think hi-viz gear doesn't make you more visible either? If being slightly more visible only makes the odds of being seen fractionally better, that's better than not at all for me.

If they're annoyed at the high beam, they shouldn't be planted in the fast lane going 60 mph anyway. :thumbup

I'll actually turn it off if I'm stuck behind them for any period of time longer than 30 seconds or so, like when there's only one lane in each direction. But they're not entitled to it, only if I feel like moving my thumb to the switch and they're not making any "I'm so annoyed" adjustments to the rear view mirror. :laughing
 
5150ninja said:
If they're annoyed at the high beam, they shouldn't be planted in the fast lane going 60 mph anyway. :thumbup
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i find it more inconsiderate that others are so bothered by my highbeam usage. i'm trying to let others know i'm in their vicinity. for a motorcycle, which has less frontal area, highbeams make sense.

people bothered by motorcycles with highbeams on for safety are high on the first world problems list. higher on the list being less of an actual problem.
 
I think many high-beam advocates just want to look cool. If they were really concerned about safety they'd install a modulator, which is way more effective.
 
5150ninja said:
I'm surprised that there are a few here that would turn their high beam on or flash it when approaching a left turner? That could easily be mistaken for a "go ahead, I see you" signal to the left turner. Anyway, do what you want I guess?

Some people think hi-viz gear doesn't make you more visible either? If being slightly more visible only makes the odds of being seen fractionally better, that's better than not at all for me.

If they're annoyed at the high beam, they shouldn't be planted in the fast lane going 60 mph anyway. :thumbup

I'll actually turn it off if I'm stuck behind them for any period of time longer than 30 seconds or so, like when there's only one lane in each direction. But they're not entitled to it, only if I feel like moving my thumb to the switch and they're not making any "I'm so annoyed" adjustments to the rear view mirror. :laughing
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Good point about the interpretation of flashing a headlight.

I've never had anyone mistake my flashing for a "go on ahead". There are different types of flashes that generally indicate different things.

When I encounter a creeping a left turner, I'm also doing the SMIDSY weave and a fast flashing. They may not get what I'm doing, but they see me and stop creeping.

Usually a headlight flash for someone to "Go on ahead" includes a hand wave.
 
ST Guy said:
High during the day, low at night except when I can use high.

High during the day isn't really that big a deal. I'm surprised so many get worked up over it. If a bike comes up behind you in the day with high beams on, stop staring at their headlight.
.
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people get worked up over it because it hurts. so your solution is to not use your rear view mirrors? absolutely brilliant!
 
jh2586 said:
I did a quick search on teh barf about this and couldn't quite find a thread that discusses this. I ride with my high beams during daylight hours but shut them off about 1-2 hours before sunset. I do feel like they work against left-turners and lane-changers, but I have seen some bikes (while in my cage) where it is just flippin BLINDING – to the point where I have to look away. Can this potentially be a nuisance to cagers? What are your opinions on this? Also, what is the legality of this? Can someone show me a C.V.C. that either allows or prohibits this?
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There are studies that show the "Triangle of visibility" with fork auxiliaries and headlight actually improve your chance of being been. The same report showed that using a headlight modulator worked equally as well. I imagine running a highbeam would have the same effect. My "highbeam" is a 4000 lumen work light and I'll run it in the day. If you're wondering "How bright does a high beam to be to blind or annoy people during daylight hours?" the answer is 4000 lumens.
 
Surprised by the vitriol.

If you are moving through traffic, run the high beams and flashers. They do provide a significant increase in visibility and safety. You'll be moving through their line of sight quickly enough for the beams to be noticed, but not long enough for them to burn a hole in anyone's retinas.

If you're with the flow of traffic or following someone, turn them off. It is kind of annoying and distracting.
 
Flashers on during splitting makes sense. Increased visibility without the annoyance.
 
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