Headlights on/off during daytime?

[metric]

Always.... Make yourself as conspicuous as possible. Costs nothing and the excuse,'I didn't see him officer" doesn't apply. Volvo wire their cars with lights permanently on for safety reasons after a very in depth study. If it helps in car safety it must be good for bikes.

In North America - all cars have their lights hard-wired on...

[BarBender]

My lights aren't hardwired.
But my experience tells me that my brain should be...consequently my lights always go on after I press the starter button.

[Shadows]

Lights on at all times unless I want to charge the battery. Doesn't always work though.
What I have found however is that whenever I have had my rifle on my back, no cage driver has ever even looked like wanting to pull out on me.
Can't see you, my arse!

[Bob]

Just bought an ER-6f, which is AHO (Automatic Headlights On - or hardwired to the rest of us!).

But before that I've always ridden with the lights on in daytime.

There are a lot of conflicting studies about this subject - for all the ones that say there is a benefit, there are others that say that lights on in daytime makes it harder for other road users to judge the distance you're away from them.

I would say though, that I'd be happy for bikes to have AHO, but not cars. If all vehicles go AHO, then we lose any benefit of conspicuity. And we're back to that night-time problem of our light being directly in line with one of the lights of the truck behind... so we look like one of their lights and effectively become invisible. This is why I wear other reflective items (reflective stickers on the helmet and reflective strips on the gloves, jacket and trousers (if I'm wearing the waterproofs). Anything to make me stand out against the background.

[babyB]

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... )

likes this idear very much, thanks for the insite

mine are hard-wired. would always have them 24/7 even if they wernt

[huck farley]

When I turn the key on only the low beam side comes on. The full beam is of unless I put it on full beam. So it looks as if I have a headlight out.

I have had a couple of close shaves as a result of piss poor illumination (big word for a Friday) So I did what millions of bikers are doing all around the planet and paid a fortune to have HID (high Intensity discharge) lamps fitted.

These things are so bright tin tops can see you from a mile away I have both adjusted very low so not to blind anyone. No flashes at night as yet, so I must have the beams in the right place on the road.

Riding at night is like riding at noon on a sunny cloudless day. I know they are illegal in NZ, but quite frankly I don't give a shit. It's my life, and I will preserve it at any cost. If you are in the position to buy some. Go and do it. Don't buy Asian rubbish buy from the States or England. Much better quality and will last. Forget the junk on Trademe, as that's what it is. Junk...

[zadok]

Wow, this is a thread I started a loooooong time ago!
At the time I had a bike that wasn't hard-wired, so hence the thread. I think they are all hard wired these days.
The Tigers, certainly the older model, are designed to only have the one light on when dipped. The guy who had the bike before me put a relay in so that they both work all the time.
I have since had the +50 bulbs put in for a bit extra brightness.

[HRT]

Usually have mine on low beam. You bastards out there with highbeams on all day are a pain in the ass

[No FX]

mine are on 100% of the time i dont think ive ever turned the switch off.

[Mom]

Junk...

Anyone would think you are selling these HID bulbs! Nice dredge of thread though!

[Toaster]

Usually have mine on low beam. You bastards out there with highbeams on all day are a pain in the ass

Agreed, the best highbeams are those present at a wet t-shirt competition on a cold day.

[TOTO]

Always on By Choice. As a new rider I still remember the road code and it spesifically sais it is a bloody good idea to have them on on a high beam, so thats what i do.

[mstriumph]

on - hardwired on the newer bike
off - by choice on the older

seriously, i'm sure they 'see' me better when i flash my lights on and off than when the only option i have is swapping between high and low beam

[Dobie]

I drive trains and with the headlights on.They still go across in front of us.So if they didn't see a train how do you expect them to see us unless they are doing something else as someone pointed out Texting for example.

[alanzs]

Hardwired on. I have a 6000k HID light on my high beam that works quite nicely as well. I am seen, and that's what matters. Haven't had any legal issues at this time...

Just recently installed a rear LED flashing light. My wife saw me the other day as I was riding home and she said it was really noticeable as I split the traffic. EXCELLENT, I want those cages to see me!