-
There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.
Bright Headlights Daytime Yes or No
- Thread starter ricford
- Start date
BLUEKNIGHT911
Sadly Passed Oct 2024 - RIP
:agree:..............Mike:thumbup:
NorwegianRT
Active member
I mounted extra LED lights to be seen during daytime riding, they are really bright, and I think they are really making me noticed.
The high beams are making onward traffic flashing me back, so I never use them at daytime.
The high beams are making onward traffic flashing me back, so I never use them at daytime.
Last edited by a moderator:
rjinaz86323
Active member
yes, always brights during the day.
Dasmoetorhead
Active member
I do, but if someone flashes their lights at me on one of these skinny little roads in E.TN I figure he sees me and has acknowledged my presence. At that point I will dim the lights. After we pass each other the high beams go back on. On the interstate systems here we have a lot of cross roads with cars waiting to pull out in front of you
I keep the highbeams on at all times on the interstate.
In the city they stay on at all times no matter unless of course it's dark.
I keep the highbeams on at all times on the interstate.
In the city they stay on at all times no matter unless of course it's dark.
bikerbillone
Well-known member
Good thread, I've been running dims in day light, maybe I should reconsider for visibility.
Dasmoetorhead
Active member
Shoot Ron, they must be kinder over there in Greeneville. Over here in the tri cities I've been flipped off lol.
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
When I lived in Alaska, the protocol that most motorcyclists used was high beams on in the DAYTIME all the time. The thought was all the better to be seen.
Moving to Arkansas in 2019, I see very few motorcyclists with the high beams on during the day.
Moving to Arkansas in 2019, I see very few motorcyclists with the high beams on during the day.
IGETAROUND
Active member
Always brights; hooked into a headlight modulator. I get flashed a lot, I just give them a thumbs up!! Had a state trooper pull me over and tell me my headlights were strobing, politely explained that they were being modulated not strobed and were legal in all 50 states and Canada. Went back to his cruiser, googled it and came back and gave me my license back and thanked me for the learning experience.
Al in Kazoo
Al in Kazoo
Last edited by a moderator:
Nope, never in the daytime, although my last two bikes I've always had accessory lighting because of an experience I had many years ago while driving in my car right around dusk. I was preparing to change lanes, checked my mirrors, and looked over my shoulder. Saw the car in the next lane was far enough behind me, the lane was clear, so I turned on my signal, and the very instant I started to move over, I looked again, and the right headlight of the car behind me, split in two, as the bike ahead of him, next to the rear of my car shifted position. His headlight had overlapped the headlight of the car behind me. Even though I'd been riding for decades, and always watched for bikes, I didn't see the bike in the lane beside me even though I looked. I decided from that time on, my bike wouldn't do the same to someone else. I added a couple of LED accessory lights to the crash bars of my previous bikes, so my single headlight wouldn't blend with another car's headlights.
I don't drive with brights on, except for when it's needed at night for one reason, and it's a reason most motorcycle rider should understand. This too is from experience driving in a car, and especially riding a bike, and that's the natural tendency to go where you are looking. When you see a bright light coming toward you, the natural unconscious impulse is to look at the light. I know as many of you do, that when you see the glare of an approaching light, the proper thing to do is look away, but too many people don't know this. While I want to be noticed, I don't want to trigger target fixation with a driver approaching me at high speed from the front. I believe I've seen this effect over the years, as an occasional oncoming driver starts to drift over the line, and when they pass me, I see them looking at me. I'd certainly never run high beams at night with approaching vehicles that are closer than 500 feet (see WA law below). Those of us with older eyes experience at least some issue with glare. I would never take the chance that I'm dazzling an oncoming driver.
My Spyder has two headlights that are on during the day, trim lights along the front of the frunk, and a driving light at the center bottom. Extra regular intensity lights make me look different than a car, without the added glare of high beams that someone may stare at without realizing it. But, see the caveat of this concept below.
I did see a post from 2017 stating Washington State requires brights and this isn't true. The law says they can be used as needed, but must be switched off when at 500 feet from a vehicle coming toward you from the front, and 300 feet from a vehicle you are behind.
As is obvious from the replies in the thread, other feel differently. This is what I do and why.
WARNING: Switching to science nerd mode. If you continue reading, try not to doze off.
If you want to understand how its possible for another driver to look right at you and not see you, read the Book "The Invisible Gorilla" by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons. In a nutshell, for those who won't read the book, the brain is biased toward seeing what it expects to see, based on experience. The vast majority of visual traffic experience for the average driver is cars and trucks, because that's what everyday traffic is composed of. When a driver looks to make a turn, this bias causes an anomalous object like a motorcycle to be ignored by the brain. You truly are invisible to the driver. What's even more amazing is that, according to visual studies, wearing clothing like hi-vis vests and jackets, makes you even more of an anomaly to the visual system. According to research, this makes you LESS likely to be seen, which is contrary to what we believe and are told.
So, with this visual study data in mind, one type of lighting that will likely help us be seen is having two headlights, which our Spyders do, because the brains of other drivers expect to see two headlights. And yes, knowing what studies show, I still like to wear my hi-vis jacket when riding in certain low visiblity conditions. Sometimes it's as much about feeling safe as it is increasing the odds that we are safe, or not.
I don't drive with brights on, except for when it's needed at night for one reason, and it's a reason most motorcycle rider should understand. This too is from experience driving in a car, and especially riding a bike, and that's the natural tendency to go where you are looking. When you see a bright light coming toward you, the natural unconscious impulse is to look at the light. I know as many of you do, that when you see the glare of an approaching light, the proper thing to do is look away, but too many people don't know this. While I want to be noticed, I don't want to trigger target fixation with a driver approaching me at high speed from the front. I believe I've seen this effect over the years, as an occasional oncoming driver starts to drift over the line, and when they pass me, I see them looking at me. I'd certainly never run high beams at night with approaching vehicles that are closer than 500 feet (see WA law below). Those of us with older eyes experience at least some issue with glare. I would never take the chance that I'm dazzling an oncoming driver.
My Spyder has two headlights that are on during the day, trim lights along the front of the frunk, and a driving light at the center bottom. Extra regular intensity lights make me look different than a car, without the added glare of high beams that someone may stare at without realizing it. But, see the caveat of this concept below.
I did see a post from 2017 stating Washington State requires brights and this isn't true. The law says they can be used as needed, but must be switched off when at 500 feet from a vehicle coming toward you from the front, and 300 feet from a vehicle you are behind.
As is obvious from the replies in the thread, other feel differently. This is what I do and why.
WARNING: Switching to science nerd mode. If you continue reading, try not to doze off.
If you want to understand how its possible for another driver to look right at you and not see you, read the Book "The Invisible Gorilla" by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons. In a nutshell, for those who won't read the book, the brain is biased toward seeing what it expects to see, based on experience. The vast majority of visual traffic experience for the average driver is cars and trucks, because that's what everyday traffic is composed of. When a driver looks to make a turn, this bias causes an anomalous object like a motorcycle to be ignored by the brain. You truly are invisible to the driver. What's even more amazing is that, according to visual studies, wearing clothing like hi-vis vests and jackets, makes you even more of an anomaly to the visual system. According to research, this makes you LESS likely to be seen, which is contrary to what we believe and are told.
So, with this visual study data in mind, one type of lighting that will likely help us be seen is having two headlights, which our Spyders do, because the brains of other drivers expect to see two headlights. And yes, knowing what studies show, I still like to wear my hi-vis jacket when riding in certain low visiblity conditions. Sometimes it's as much about feeling safe as it is increasing the odds that we are safe, or not.
Last edited by a moderator:
BajaRon
Well-known member
Maybe I'm just oblivious. Or, that's just their way of saying 'I see you!'.
FrogmanDave
Active member
I always run my high beams during the day. The other day I had a Karen get out of her Mercedes at a stoplight, walk back to my Spyder, and tell me my headlights were blinding her in her rear view mirror. So I politely turned off my high beams until the light turned green and traffic started moving and then turned them back on. I was chuckling to myself for a block or so after that.
Dasmoetorhead
Active member
Hahahaha, it could be. Cheers Ron
FROGMAN
Member
Have Clearwater lights on my BMW, use yellow lens cover during the day. Make your bike stand out, less issue with blinding other drivers, more seeing you. Just bought a 2024 RT Limited. I am asking Clearwater if they install lights on Spyders. They also install taillights. Daytime running yellow covers is better for protection.
Last edited by a moderator:
Dasmoetorhead
Active member
Besides the headlights I also run my arc LED lights, and Spyderpops A-arm LEDs. You can't help but see me.
Not the best picture
Not the best picture
Last edited:
Similar threads
