Riding in the day time - Lights On? Lights Off?

[Bishop]

Just an open question really, all thoughts welcome.
I've had one friend say "Don't ride during the day with your headlight on you look like a knob" and another friend say "Ride with you headlight on so everyone can see you".
I personally ride with the bloody thing on 24/7, the more people that can see me the better I feel.
How do you ride?

[Karma]

I can't turn it off...

[MattRSK]

Headlights on, better that way. Refer to this thread, http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=12994&highlight=full+beam

-Matt

[Lou Girardin]

High beam. If I had a searchlight I'd use that too. I've had too many cager f'wits start to pull out then suddenly realise what it was that's burning a hole in their retinas.

[skidMark]

friend number one is a moron i'm sorry.....but whatever you do have your lights on and on high beam even the difference between having your high beam on rather than your low means so many less cars pull out infront of you...

lights make you visible put the darned things on whatever you do

[McJim]

I've got my headlight on and both front indicators on (can't turn 'em off) I'm having some sleek aftermarket indicators fitted tomorrow - the permanently on thing may no longer work. As for looking like a knob (I can't really help it in my case) I'd rather be a walking knob than a cool quadraplegic. Visibility is a good thing.

[WickedOne]

Lights on and don't let anyone tell you anything different

[onearmedbandit]

Can't turn them off and wouldn't if I could. Friend number 1 doesn't ride a bike does he.

[paturoa]

cant turn off and on high beam

[trumpy]

I'd rather be a walking knob than a cool quadraplegic.

Definitely what he said....besides can't turn them off anyway. Wouldn't if I could. Just changed mine to have both headlights on dip and both on full (previously one was for dip and one for full...it's a Pommy thing...), the brighter the better.

[Maha]

On, always on high beam, its my light and i will do what i want with it....:blip:

[Kendog]

On always.

High beam when I remember to flick the switch.

[degrom]

The more you stand out on the road... The safer you will be!!! (I also don't say you need to be in bright orange indicator suit!!!!)

[Titanium]

The brighter the better and I can not turn it off......... would not even if I could.

[Grahameeboy]

I cannot turn mine off either and I use high beam day or night.....yeah I know it may dazzle but that means they can see me so that is what counts.

[hXc]

On all the time. I can turn them off but never do so. Might try the high beam thing during the day tomorrow. A lot of people here seem to do it, might see if it makes a difference.

[yungatart]

On, always. Don't care if I look like a knob, it's not like anyone can recognise me, I just want to be seen!!

[kiwifruit]

Always ride with your light on, for your own saftey.

Cars are not looking for you when they pull out of intersections etc.... often a quick glance each way then go. They are looking for cars by default.
Because you have your light on it MIGHT catch their eye and help them see you.
Assume everyone hasn't seen you at all times.
Think "that car WILL pull out on me" instead of "that car might pull out on me"...
If it doesn't you were lucky :)

But yeah, lights on :niceone: Lights off and you will look like a knob :nya:

[madmal64]

I can switch mine on/off. But still they are on. Not high beam though. I personally dont like being dazzled by on coming bikes with the high beam on so Im sure cages feel the same. I do have bloody good lights (twins on low & triple on high) so that heaps for me.

[Macktheknife]

'You look like a knob' maybe but at least I got your attention!

When riding you really want to be seen as often as possible by as many road users as possible. Lights on full beam really helps to achieve this.
Choose more knowledgeable friends than the first one.
Many people who ride will tell you all kinds of useful information, some of it you may not choose to use. But you should always check the info against what you think is important for the kind of riding you want to do. If you are commuting and want to stay healthy, the lights thing is a great idea and it has been shown to work consistently.
Some people for example have been known to recomend not wearing full leathers/cordura when riding, others who have fallen off or seen the results of falling off without gear will tell you something quite different. You choose what is important to you, keeping your skin intact or having some 'cool' scars to show off.
Welcome to the site btw, enjoy and keep asking questions.

[Oakie]

If you look like a knob at least it means you've been seen.
Light on dude ... always on.

[mazz1972]

Gotta always be on - the more you can do to be seen the better. Friend #1 has got to be the knob! :rockon:

[frogfeaturesFZR]

On always. Being seen helps keep you alive. Does friend # 1 want your GF or something ? LOL:gob:

[far queue]

lights on :niceone: Lights off and you will look like a knob :nya:Whenever I see a bike with lights off, I think "what a dick". Lights on, always have done, even when I had a choice.

[skidMark]

ok heres a fine example got the zxr and just thought twin headlight ill chuck em on low ill be seen as i was used to using low on the gpx cus the battery was a bit buggered for a while and high beam flattened it...long story short....nobody saw me on the zxr for 2 or 3 days constant pull outs infront of me this is even with low beam on.....so think about how invisible you are with no light on...i thought hmm how different is the low to the highbeam from infront(you should do this test yourself and you will be in shock....) i got the bike put the lights on low beam and stood 20 metres back....wtf can hardly see them...flicked to high beam....what a damn difference no wonder they wern't seeing me.....so then i went out with my high beam on and now i am almost always seen the difference in brightnees gets thier attention which is exactly what you want....or else they just pull out...trust me put em on high beam i't's such a difference you will actually notice almost nobody pulls out infront of you...

in saying this you should always be on guard just incase they pull out anyways obviously

theres my 5 oops i mean 10 cents ....5's are no longer in circulation.... thus i gave a long winded reply as value for money...

LOL

Cheers: Mark

[Drum]

It seems we all agree on something! Who wouldve thunked it!

Mate A is a knob. Lights on. Always on.

[ManDownUnder]

Always on, but I leave mine on dipped. The RF has a strong enough light and I'm not into pissing people off by blinding them, day or night

[oldrider]

Try riding with your light turned off and I bet you more people notice you because you have it turned off than will notice you because you have it turned on.
Most of you would make the observation and probably write about it on here. :blip: Go figure! It's all about being seen isn't it?
The only safe way is to ride is like nobody else sees you anyway!

[Squeak the Rat]

On all the time.

BUT (there's always a but), having your headlight on when it is very bright behind you can make you blend in.

Spend some time observing visibility of cars, objects etc against different light levels. Make up your own mind. Take the red pill to make voice A and B go away.... :)

[Kickaha]

Whenever I see a bike with lights off, I think "what a dick". Lights on, always have done, even when I had a choice.

OI, who are you calling a "dick" :bleh: I don't use my lights in daylight hours and doubt I ever will


The only safe way is to ride is like nobody else sees you anyway!

Thats the way I've always ridden, it works for me :yes:

[BAD DAD]

I always keep headlight on day or night. Always thought a massive fog horn might be handy on the odd occasion too.

[thehollowmen]

Some bigger bikes don't have an off switch for headlights

So yeah, I can't help but look like a knob

Hope for the best but prepare for the worst is a motto I go by sometimes..

So yeah, hope people have seen you with your headlight on, but be careful beccause they might not.

[jtzzr]

Ican turn mine off I think it`s called stealth mode,lol keep your lights on your`e a knob if you don`t. BE Safe mate!!!!:sunny:

[gijoe1313]

My bike always has it lights on - choice of high beam or just on! I didn't realise how much a difference my high beam made until I tried it out just now ( I just got back in after doing some riding at night to practise ). Really lights up the place better then my cage does! The range isn't as great but its great out wide.

I also had to use my horn a couple of times to warn cagers reversing out of their driveways at speed :angry: .I also learnt that I should approach a roundabout on the more right hand side so cagers on my left can sight me better ( :mellow: I'm such a noob *sigh* ).

[NinjaBoy]

Most late models bikes you cannot turn off the headlight.. strating with my '96 ZX6R.

However, I'm in two minds about having high beam on. In some circumstances where I think someone is not paying enough attention I switch in on but the my latest ride doesn't have the flasher button anymore

[BabyBandit]

Guess I'm just a follower of trends as I ride with lights on 24/7.
I have only been riding for two odd years but reading and dreaming about bikes for 20 odd and the one thing that I have noticed in all those years is that the two thing most bikers agree on is that-
A) Ride as if no-one else on the rode can see you and,
B) Ride with your lights on all the time.
:rockon: :Punk:

[Al]

Headlight definately on bright during daylight - there are some feral bastards here in the Northern Territory who seem to be blind at times too!


Al

[Lil_Byte]

I can't turn them off (nor the indicators) but what the hell. Rather than be seen than dead.:third:

[Swoop]

Someone in the latest AA magazine was bitching about headlights being on...

If the AA magazine senile old pricks can see you, so can most others... those that don't...:spanking: :bash: :finger: :ar15: :kick: :ride:

[Auntie Podes]

I always ride with my dipped beam on but I disagree with those who use main beam all the time.

One time I do use main beam is when filtering through traffic queues, (although i suppose you don't get too many of them in New Zealand!) I have found that car drivers tend not to look in their mirrors when stuck in a line of traffic but if you are filtering on your bike, and you use your pass switch in a regular frequency say one second on, two seconds off, it's amazing how many drivers notice you and the traffic moves out of the way like magic.

[MacD]

(although i suppose you don't get too many of them in New Zealand!)

Take a look at the motorway webcams (http://traffic.transit.govt.nz/Traffic.do?view=cctv#)in Auckland. You'll see queues, maybe not as bad as the M25 though!? :)

Headlights on, its all about standing out from the background clutter.

[Beemer]

Mine's hard-wired so on all the time, but I'd personally favour having the lights on during the day anyway.

[Beemer]

Someone in the latest AA magazine was bitching about headlights being on...

If the AA magazine senile old pricks can see you, so can most others... those that don't...:spanking: :bash: :finger: :ar15: :kick: :ride:

Yes, and what about the letter from the stupid old bitch about to get a mobility scooter? Reckons she never used to hear them coming up behind her when she was walking and she'd get a fright when one passed so she's planning on sitting a radio in her basket and having it loud enough to warn people she's coming up behind them. Great, if I see her, it will be thrown in front of the first car that comes along!

[stunz]

I forgot to turn the lights on before heading home just the other day. (got confuzzled because the sun was shining in Welly) I was a cuppla kays from home when I realised. Boy! Did I feel like a knob!

When cagers see my lights on full beam during the day, theyre not thinking knob, theyre thinking "geez. I wish that was me..."

[scracha]

Totally agree with wot Aunti-Pods said. Folks who ride about with high beam on all the time are just being selfish. They probably also believe shite like "loud bikes save lives".

[Street Gerbil]

I'd choose looking like a knob over being hit by a distracted cager every day of the week. Besides the aftermarket bulb on my bike gives a really cool bluish tint, kind of like them fancy HID lamps. I really like the way it reflects on cars in front of me. Oh, and I forgot to mention, it is factory wired to be always on :yes:

[Swoop]

They probably also believe shite like "loud bikes save lives".

More than a modicum of truth in that though...

[knight rider]

My lights are on 100% of the time day or night they are always on. When approaching an intersection & I see a car who I think hasn't seen me I pull on the passing trigger which turns on the high beams. so if the car hasn't seen my low beams I hope he/she sees the high beams. Either way I always slow down enough at intersections just incase the driver hasn't seen me. So far in my 8 months of riding I've had 4 cars pull out in front of me so am thinking of maybe leaving my lights on high beam all the time (except at night). Just my 2cents opps 5cents opps sorry 10cents now. I think I'm getting old