Headlights on/off during daytime?

[myvice]

Always. And on the Whale, running lights too

Every little helps.

I still assume the idiots WON'T see me, and having seen me will ignore me, but at least it may help with the sensible ones

Even so, I still get "Sorry I didn't see you". "OK, so you're telling me you didn't see a hulking great BMW, about the size a a main battle tank, all white, with it's headlamp on , and another 32 watts of spaced running lights, and me in my fluoro yellow jacket". "uh yeah mate, sorry"

What do you SAY to such idiots.

What can you say? Himmm, What about pointing a flare gun at them and saying something along the lines of "DO YA THINK YOU WILL SEE THIS?!! WELL DO YA?"

[XP@]

Hmmm... got all the way to porirua last night and realised my lights wern't on...
but then realised they were on, but just not much... it ain't charging

[MoFunthanmost]

hardwired, but would have on regrdless, I know I notice/see other road users with their lights on faster than those without, so I reckon it's gotta help me get noticed.

[Aitch]

And indicators too! Bloody good job. If I thought it would help i'd glue a strobe to my helmet.

[Beemer]

My bikes' lights are hardwired, but I would ride with my light on dip anyway even if they weren't. I had visi-lights on the RG150 but that was just about the limit of what the electrics could cope with on that.

I've not had a problem with them not starting at this stage, but I can see the hardwiring would be a pain if the charge was low.

I figure the drivers have a hard enough time seeing bikes (hell, some of them don't see trains and they ALWAYS have their lights on!) that I'm not going to give them any more excuses. I must confess I want to slap drivers who say "they came up on me so fast that I didn't see them" about bikes. NO, they didn't come up fast, they were more than likely doing the legal limit but you weren't looking for anything smaller than a car - which is why so many pedestrians are bowled by morons!

[Skyryder]

The Drakes hard wired, so don't have any choice but if I did would ride with lights on ..................always.

Came across an article some time ago that claimed; during daytime lights should be on fullbeam. Tried this acouple of times but found the hi-beam dashlight distracting. Added to that was the odd driver flashing their lights. I doubt if a single hi-beam light is going to blind any oncoming traffic in daylight si I made the nataural assumption that there was a speed camera etc, ahead.

Now I just ride with light's on dip.


Skyryder

[mstriumph]

like it !!.... not the self-conscious bit [with or without the hyphen] but the willingness to to whatever is necessary to get onself nooooticed [in the nicest possible way of course]
I generally ride with my lights off but have no hesitation in flicking them on and off when coming to an intersection or whatever where the traffic doesn't seem to be concentrating sufficiently - I have also been know to weave and even wave and blow kisses if the situation seems to need it ....... works for me!

*thinks .. I probably DO look scarey...*

I always have the lights on because the Suzy is hard-wired, and I'm quite glad of it. The Yammy isn't hard-wired, but I always put the lights on - the Poll looks like most of us choose to us the headlights.

Another thing I do - which I sometimes feel self-conscious about - [ hyphenated, dear Mr-Hitcher !!]

Is weave from side to side a little - in situations where I can see the cagers lined up, waiting for a gap in the traffic, and I'm next. I reckon they might think it's OK to pull in front of me, even tho' I've got the Right of Way.

I just want their brains to connect with the fact that "Huh, there is a motorcyclist coming through, and hey, look, its weaving a little, huh, better not pull in front of it ........"

Cos I don't look very scarey or anything

[SPman]

Wow, that would suck. Happen to anyone we know?

YES!

I doubt if a single hi-beam light is going to blind any oncoming traffic in daylight

Oh yes it does!

[Cary]

Mine are hard wired on (XT) but i would prefer to have the choice. I have run a Visibike kit or similar for the last 20 years tho. If i didn't have the Visibike would run with lights on at all times.

[skidz]

Hard wired as it is standard on the Harleys these days.

[Brett]

My ZXR 250c is hardwired that the lights are always on. I like it this way...themore i stand out, the less the chances of being taken out!

[rammstein636]

After hitting the side of a car that pulled out infront of me at an intersection i turned around to make sure a car wasn't going to rear end me. when i turned back the car was gone. My point. Car drivers are complete f*$% tards. I drive with lights on but will never assume to be seen.

[SARGE]

mine are hard wired. even if they were not i would still run with them on , and running hight beams during the day (if im blinding them, at least they see me... )

i also run a Kriss Headlight Modulator that flashes the highs/ lows 240 times a minute.. almost a strobe effect (not legal in NZ, but i'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6... )

[vifferman]

i also run a Kriss Headlight Modulator that flashes the highs/ lows 240 times a minute.. almost a strobe effect

That's 4 times a second - do they have time to go off and on in that time? Wouldn't they just be pulsing very slightly?
Does it shorten the lifetime of the bulbs?

[Ixion]

That's 4 times a second - do they have time to go off and on in that time? Wouldn't they just be pulsing very slightly?
Does it shorten the lifetime of the bulbs?

I understand not. the light (I believe) doesn't really flash, just sort of flickers in brightness. They are very popular in the States. I looked at getting or making one, but was deterred by their illegality. Damn stupid law. They also do the same thing for tail lamps .