Opinion: Don't ride with brights on.

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PhilD9er
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Opinion: Don't ride with brights on.

#1 Unread post by PhilD9er »

I ride daily through hectic LA, (downtown, Hollywood, westside), traffic. I flash my brights at intersections, or when someone is poised to make a turn in front of me. On several occasions I've had cars 'panic stop' when I did this.

As a driver a constant bright light did nothing for me. Not in this traffic climate. Plus, it runs down your battery.
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c-los
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#2 Unread post by c-los »

Well, I've had a few friends tell me that my low beam headlight looks really dim in daylight hours. I ride with high beam on and when I'm behind someone like at a light, I switch to low beam.

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sapaul
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#3 Unread post by sapaul »

I ride full brights all the time, wear bright clothes, toot my horn and generally make a nuisance of my self to get noticed.
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#4 Unread post by Scott58 »

My S50 has a "passing switch" that flashes the brights on and off. i use it alot more then I thought I would.
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rapidblue
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#5 Unread post by rapidblue »

My headlight switch is bunk so I'm forced to hard wire it to either high or low.

I chose High, I'd rather "pee" someone off for 2 seconds than die :)
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stargazertony
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Re: Opinion: Don't ride with brights on.

#6 Unread post by stargazertony »

PhilD9er wrote:I flash my brights at intersections, or when someone is poised to make a turn in front of me. On several occasions I've had cars 'panic stop' when I did this.
Well, here in PA and other states I've visited, flashing lights means "Go Ahead" and not the warning of "I'm coming though". When you flash your lights you are telling the oncomming driver to proceed with his/her turn.

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bennettoid
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#7 Unread post by bennettoid »

I ride with High Beam on. That was actually a question on the Endorsement test, I think.
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ronboskz650sr
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#8 Unread post by ronboskz650sr »

High beams for me. Our traffic isn't as heavy, but to me visibility is visibility. I leave it on and steady until dusk, then use low beams as normal night driving dictates. I, too wear bright yellow, and swerve to and fro to put my light in the most visible spot (during the day). It keeps people away from me and is more fun at the same time. And the police always smile and wave. You are yielding your right of way if you flash your lights here, except for passing.
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Craig7220
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#9 Unread post by Craig7220 »

If its daylight, I ride with highbeam on. I do use the lowbeam at night. With some of the cage drivers around here, I need all the help I can get in being seen.
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Lawk
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Re: Opinion: Don't ride with brights on.

#10 Unread post by Lawk »

PhilD9er wrote:

As a driver a constant bright light did nothing for me. Not in this traffic climate. Plus, it runs down your battery.
Running your high beam during the day is a great idea and it is recommended buy any MSF. Flashing you high beam does make you more visible, but sends mixed messeges to cagers.

Also, running your high beam wont drain your battery unless your engine is off. :|
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