Riding with High Beams

[@Viper6-MotoVlogger]

I don't ride with my brights, because it does annoy other motorists. I've seen a few bikers get flashed at night by cars that did not appreciate being blinded. That's even worse because the biker is now blinded. Ride safe

[@SoopaBee]

Glad to hear that I'm not the only one! Thanks man.

[@reuventhehotboy]

Well if a biker doesnt wanna get blinded , better dim his lights otherwise i put my tractor trailer lights on full blast for a few secs....its annoying anyways

[@iSlanderEST]

I rode with high beams when I had the NC. Same reason why Captain Cranky. Later I added extra lights and didn't use high beams any more. Africa Twin has fog lights that I use all the time, only during night time and in country road I turn them off when someone is approaching. My co-worker actually told me that she likes that some bikers use high beams, because it doesn't blind car drivers, but makes bikes more visible. She drives a lot, but doesn't ride.

[@SoopaBee]

Hmmm...interesting perspective from your co-worker. I have actually heard the OPPOSITE from a car driver. I guess it is a matter of preference to some degree. Thanks for stopping by man! Hope that Africa Twin is treating you well!

[@iSlanderEST]

SoopaBee I think you're right. Twin is treating me very well. Currently I'm a little (very) busy and that's why I haven't uploaded anything for a while. I have next video almost edited, but time is really an issue right now...

[@MrAusadventure]

Captain Cranky swears by using them in the day time to make himself more visible. I'm sure he'll chime in here at some stage and tell you all about it. I do it sometimes when out in rural areas, when I think about it (or when I accidentally turn them on), but mostly I just use my regular beam. I do tend to do it more when I'm riding with Cranky. Probably because I think of it then.

[@SoopaBee]

Yeah for me the only time I ever really use them is on a dark road with no cars in front of me. Otherwise, I'm on low beam. I also feel like my low beam light is pretty decent. I upgraded to a nice bright halogen bulb a couple of years ago and I've loved it. Since I am definitely a Cranky fan, I too might flip on my brights if I rode with him as well #CrankyFanBoy

[@Doticaster]

I only use the high beam at night when there are no street lights around. I think like you said, in the day it could easily dazzle other road users which could cancel out the safety aspect that's trying to be created by having the hi beam on. Especially with a lot of them being led these days. Stunning view just before you went into that tunnel by the way, proper cowboy scene, lol. Tcrs bro ✊

[@SoopaBee]

Yeah, me too! I do flip on the high beam on dark streets to see but I don't ride with my brights otherwise. And that tunnel is 11,000 feet above sea level -- one of the highest in the world and certainly the highest here in the U.S. Eisenhower tunnel. I've always wanted to record a motovlog in there. Finally found my chance!

[@HawkGirlMistyV]

Now that was a long tunnel, holy cow! I do ride with my high beams on but I have a dim old, probably original light? I would love to change it out to an LED one day. Jay always tells me, cut your high beams on, I can't see you, when he's in front.

[@SoopaBee]

I also should've mentioned that I have a wonderfully bright headlight bulb as well. Not as bright as the LED conversion lights, but super bright nonetheless. I use a Sylvania H4 ST SilverStar High Performance Halogen in the Shadow and I have been nothing but pleased. Very bright. Very white. I will be looking to see what I can put into the Gold Wing too...as soon as I get a headlight! It is headlightless at the moment!

[@SoopaBee]

Also, this was Eisenhower Tunnel here in Colorado. It cuts through the Continental Divide and at 11,000 feet, it is one of the highest motor vehicle tunnels in the WORLD! I don't know if it is the longest tunnel in Colorado (I thought so but I could be wrong). I've always wanted to do a motovlog through the tunnel and it just so happened to work out with this one! You can skip the tunnel and go across Loveland Pass (almost 12,000 feet). I'm gonna do a motovlog over that one one of these days!

[@BikesDrones]

I think high beam is a great idea, all day everyday. I don't blind people during the day with my little lights. Looks great in the tunnel.

[@SoopaBee]

Yes, they certainly look great in a tunnel! But seriously, you don't think that people are getting blinded by the brights?

[@BikesDrones]

SoopaBee Not at all during the day. They often remind me the lights are on, save electricity and bulbs but don't care if people ride at night with no lights. Strange world.

[@CalmBiker]

I don't think it's safer. I think it just annoys drivers. My lights already get flashes from drivers at dusk. If I put full beam on I suspect they would be blinded by it. Yet, it still doesn't give enough light for riding!

[@SoopaBee]

I don't think so either. I certainly use the high beam at night when no one is driving towards me and I agree...I could still use more light!

[@YummisakiiRides]

I did on lonely roads. or when theres no traffic around. the way it's allowed lol

[@SoopaBee]

yes! Me too brother! I do the same thing.

[@RiderObvious]

I don't ride with my high beams on for a different reason. I want my turn indicators to be visible, if the brights are on, other drivers cannot distinguish the marking/turn indicators, to know I am not turning, or that I am turning, etc...

[@SoopaBee]

Hmmm...I never thought about that! Thanks for sharing man!

[@TDubsKid]

I put a cyclops 3800 lumen led bulb in my bike and my friend said I am way more noticeable, I don't ride with the high beam on but it's just the color temperature that stands out more I think

[@SoopaBee]

I think I saw one of your comparison videos of that new bulb. Hella bright!

[@MemphisMike901]

In the daytime yes on my Single Headlight Bikes. In Broad daylight you aren't blinding anyone SoopaBee with that one headlight on the Shadow. At night time then I'm switching between low and hi according to the road condition and traffic.

[@WheelsNotHeels]

This is exactly what I do.

[@SoopaBee]

I don't know Mike. Even during the day, on a two-lane stretch of highway/road, I think the brights on the Shadow would be shining right into the eyes of oncoming traffic. I run a Sylvania SilverStar Halogen bulb in my Shadow and it is much brighter than stock (not LED bright but it is pretty good). But at night, I'm doing the same as you.

[@MemphisMike901]

SoopaBee perhaps so my Brutha. I'm running the Silverstar Bright Whites on the Wing, but standard bulb still on the Shadow. The Shadow is one Bike I have not had to changed the Bulb in too much. Maybe I should upgrade possibly!

[@SoopaBee]

MemphisMike I would suggest it. It is much brighter than stock!

[@CaptainCrankyMotovlogger]

OK - so this is a contentious issue that I have seen argued about in various forums - let me just explain HOW I got to my decision on this... As a learner, I used to watch a guy called 2 Wheeled Steve. In one of his vlogs, he was riding around town and, whilst trying to talk, he kept getting cars pulling out on him from side roads. He started saying "WTF is going ON?" then he realised his high beams were not on. He surmised that that was the reason people were suddenly pulling out on him so often.He normally rides with them on and this was an exception. At the time, I was finding that, on a short ride around town, maybe 40 mins to an hour, I was getting pulled out on 4 times per ride, on average. So I decided to start riding with the high beams on. Since then I almost NEVER have cars pull out on me, So - first conclusion (there's more to consider, but bear with me...) - to hell with whether or not people are getting slightly blinded, at least the careless feckers can now SEE me, and have stopped pulling out on me. So - more to consider - AM I blinding people? The most obvious thing to do to safeguard against that is - I will NOT use high beams in low-light situations (dawn, dusk, particularly dark and cloudy...). The thing is - it's REALLY REALLY BRIGHT here in Australia, so a normal, single headlight, is not as visible as it may be in a darker environment.Obviously in night riding I will use high and low beams in the standard way. I also did several test scenarios where Wifey drove or rode in front of me to see if the headlight on high beam was blinding - it wasn't. The next thing to consider is: how bright are the headlights on the bike you are on? Every time I have ridden a different bike, I have checked, by standing some distance ahead of the bike, how bright the headlight is, on low and high beam. The Africa Twin, for example, has HiD twin lights, both are lit up on high OR low beam, and it also has the indicators lit up evenly when not in use. It was VERY visible with low beams on, and was indeed blinding with high beams on. So - I did not need to use high beams on that test ride. In conclusion - this is not a simple yes or no scenario - you must consider the pros and cons of being seen against possibly slightly annoying people, how bright the environment is, and how bright the lights on each bike are. I will say that, in 3 years of riding with high beams on most of the time during daylight, I have never had anyone flash me to complain, never had an issue by several hundred police vehicles I have passed and had a very small number of people pull out on me, compared to before - so my choice would appear to be working well for everyone :-)

[@SoopaBee]

Wow! It is hard to argue against that! The lengths that you've gone through to thoroughly test out the pros and cons of riding with the high beam is truly impressive. And I appreciate you mentioning the differences in headlights and bulbs. I totally forgot to mention that I have an upgraded bulb in my Shadow that is impressively bright all on its own. The bulb that I have (or "had" as the case may be...the entire headlight assembly is currently strew about on my garage floor!) in the Gold Wing is terrible. Upgrading the bulb in that bike is already on my list of things to do. But some of these LED bulbs are so bright on low beam that they would almost certainly blind oncoming traffic if the rider used the high beam. Thank you for sharing the detailed analysis that you've conducted. I truly appreciate it and will definitely keep what you've shared in mind. All the best my friend!

[@andypandy.]

during the day on the hwy, I turn on my AUX spotlights but leave my headlights on low beam, for the same reason, I want people to see me without blinding them. at night I just ride with low beams on as my HID lights would seriously stop people from seeing the road behind me and have a crash lol :-) they are some bright suckers :-)

[@SoopaBee]

I think this makes sense Andy! I find that bikes with aux lights really do stick out in traffic...even in the daytime.

[@inrustwetrust5395]

I ride with my hi-beam on during the day. My bike has a 7 inch glass round headlight with a regular halogen bulb. In the daylight, the low beam is hardly visible. The high beam is much more attention grabbing. I really don't see how a high beam could blind someone in the daytime. At night, I dip the beam for other cars like normal.

[@SoopaBee]

Great points! Thanks for sharing Bubba.

[@TimberMoto]

Buick Bubba I do the same thing. During the day I like to have as much visibility as possible. I'm thinking of using reflective rim strips on my next bike too.

[@katsugi183]

Interesting topic.been blinded before though by other cars high beam on a well lit street

[@SoopaBee]

And I HATE when that happens...for me personally that is.

[@katsugi183]

SoopaBee likewise too

[@TheTriumfAnt]

When I load my Tiger with luggage I nearly always forget to adjust the headlight beam, so I'm sure I annoy a few drivers. I never use high beam unless I'm somewhere with no street lights, but I do use my aux lights most of the time.

[@SoopaBee]

I didn't even think about that. With the bike loaded down, the beam is sure to be shining upwards more... And I don't remember you flipping on the aux lights when I rode the bike...I'm a little upset now. LOL

[@TheTriumfAnt]

I'm sure I mentioned the aux lights. Maybe I should have mentioned how to switch off the turn signals :)

[@SoopaBee]

Oh snaps! NO you did-int! LOL

[@fwmn6174]

Something I've not thought about as a rider, though in a car I make sure my lights are on all the time.

[@SoopaBee]

I know people who do ride with their high beam on. I'm sure they wouldn't do so in their car. I just think it doesn't make riding any safer it could only serve to annoy people. In my humble opinion anyway!

[@forevercomputing]

Pointless argument: But they saw you! Yeah... Now they can't see anything else!

[@AdventuresinRealLife]

What? Eisenhower tunnel? I thought you weren't allowed to leave the city.Just during the day.

[@SoopaBee]

I've always wanted to make a short motovlog spanning the length of the tunnel. It just so happened that I was out that way for work and boom! The stars came into alignment!

[@throughtheeyesofbug8443]

So my bike has 3 lights in the frount. But with the height beam on only the main one is on. So I only use that when I have too

[@SoopaBee]

Nice! I bet the road glows in front of you!

[@throughtheeyesofbug8443]

SoopaBee I'm holding to put a daymaker in it this winter

[@SoopaBee]

Wow! While pricey, I bet it will be a great investment. Light up the road!

[@throughtheeyesofbug8443]

SoopaBee it is. But with the 4 lagged death mechanics we have here near me. I need the extra light

[@SoopaBee]

I hear ya. Ride safe man!

[@outie555]

i know a lot of people do ride with high beams on. i don't. i just prefer to have a loud exhaust (but if the law says i need to stop that then the high beams will be enacted permanently)

[@SoopaBee]

And oh I do love me some loud exhausts!!!

[@SkeggyCruiser]

I only ever put my High beams on when I'm out on a road on my own with no other traffic around, I don't like to be dazzled by others lights so why irritate them by riding with mine on, I have seen quite a few bikers over here though that use their High beams all the time day or night, RSM8.

[@SoopaBee]

That's how I ride too. It's been working for me so I find no reason to change. Thanks for stopping by man. Ride safe out there brother.

[@OldManTony]

You are right, bikers on high beam do dazzle other road users even in the daylight. Why try and piss off other road users, enough of them hate bikers anyway.

[@SoopaBee]

That's how I feel too Tony. Thanks for chiming in!

[@ZazoMotoVlogs]

sometimes i do want to blind car drivers lol

[@SoopaBee]

Ha! I hear ya man, I really do!

[@vintimv001]

My old ass bike doesn't blind people with high beams on during the day. When your riding in a city having your high beams save lives. I dont give a fuck if I blind them since they fucking know Im there. I rather blind them compared to them looking at their stupid phone.

[@SoopaBee]

Ride safe Patron!

[@AudriusN]

DRL solves all problems.