High or low beam? Motorcycle Safety Discuss High or low beam? in the Other Topics forums; I've been riding some sort of bike for about 20 years now and I'd just like to do an informal poll. During the daylight when you ride, do you have ...

[Monkeyboy]

I've been riding some sort of bike for about 20 years now and I'd just like to do an informal poll. During the daylight when you ride, do you have your high beam or low beam headlight on and what is your reasoning behind it. Some people might think that with your high beam on it would be easier for other drivers to see you while others might think that you would distract other drivers and disorient them. I'm not going to say what I've been doing ever since I started riding so that there isn't any chance I might sway how people here respond and I certainly don't want this to turn into an "I'm right, you're wrong" battle. I'm just curious how other riders feel about it..

[doorgunnerjgs]

I run with high beam mainly 'cause I've been told it makes you more visible. I don't think it is distracting or disorienting when I'm driving a cage but it helps me pick up that a bike is there. As both a rider and cage driver, I think it helps.

[Bigincher]

Personally, I am offended when some joker is shining their lights in my face as bright as they can. When they have the brights on, and spotlights too, it leaves me with blind spots in my vision, and temporarily blinds me --- how can that be "safe"?
I think it's inconsiderate and offensive when motorcyclists ride with every light they have all lit up to the max. Regular low beams is enough to alert others of their presence.
There's a time and place for everything; out on the back roads at night, by all means, light 'em up. But in town or regular freeway driving, it's idiotic, and a false sense of security to the guy that thinks he's being safe by throwing all the amperage he has at you. What cracks me up the most, is those same chumps have thier feet up on the freeway pegs in town, where thier reaction time is so slow, thier gonna crash with their feet still up on those pegs! And all their lights on 'weld' mode, too!
Bear in mind, I've been riding for over 40 years, and I do what I can to be noticed. But being obnoxious and idiotic is not a part of my survival strategy; being totally aware of and in tune with my surroundings is. When I see those guys all a'blazing like that, I know right away, they haven't been on the road very long; they really don't know that a good exit strategy is far better than the false sense of security they get by riding with everything all lit up.
Now go ahead, boys--- I've said my piece, so blast away!

[tommyglide]

I think the exit strategy is the life saver. Lights though, up here it seems so many are not aimed even close to correctly. The factory spot lamps are deactivated when high beams are activated but for my money properly aimed low beams and spots are not intrusive and do help a rider to be seen..........If the oncoming traffic is paying attention........which they aren't........ so look for the excape route.

[chipster]

Monkeyboy ... Very good question. Tommy ... Very good and well thought out answer.

I personally ride in town with just my low beam on. Maybe if I rode with the high beam on I'd get noticed more, but luckily for me, that hasn't been MUCH of an issue yet. I have used my highbeam in town when some idiot has cut me off just to let them know that I was there. But again, that hasn't been much of an issue.

[Tbone]

I used to ride with high beams. Then a friend told me that he hated oncoming bikes with their high beams on because it made it hard for him to see. Now I ride with low beams on unless at night with no oncoming traffic in order to see the road better.
I feel that the distracted auto driver that isn't going to see you will not see you with either light on.
Defensive driving is the answer.

[tejasandre]

Low beams. Isn't it illegal to ride with highs with oncoming traffic?

[Hammerhead Pat]

Low beams 99.9% of the time. Even out in some of the rural areas around here at night, I end up being able to see whats in the trees along the road but my vision right in front of me suffers with the highs. And I agree with the others, have an exit strategy. Others who ride in the daytime with their brights do not bother me.

2006 Heritage Softtail Classic,,low beam with spots on.Very seldom high beam.

[tejasandre]

ok, just caught myself flashing highbeams, to be sure i was seen on a residential street with cars parked on both sides. so... highbeems sometimes.