GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

So which is it?

My headlight is so out of adjustment, that my high beam could be used for spotlighting squirrels.  I use low, but it's effectively high.  I really need to get a bolt for the adjuster....

It's the law here. Also, I consider high beam inconsiderate. Blinding oncoming traffic is not a good idea, even if it makes them notice you faster. It may also make them lose their heading, especially at night in wet conditions.

High beam in the day, low beam at night.

I ride with my highs on during the day. I have not done much night riding, although i ride with the brights on during the night. As pissed as i may make people, at least they will see who they are pissed at. :mad: But until i actually ride during the night its hard to say.

I generally ride with low beams, but I switch to high when I'm lane sharing. I love Cali!  :icon_mrgreen:

Low beams during the day. I think having your high beams on is rude to other drivers.

low beams in day and night unless theres no one around then i use highs

Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on March 26, 2006, 12:35:31 PM
Low beams during the day. I think having your high beams on is rude to other drivers.

+1

Also, even during the daytime, if you use your highs, other drivers will look away from you faster because of the high beams...  I want their attention as long as possible.  That's why I wanna put the bright yellow bulbs in

from the MSF: high during daytime, low during nightime  8)

and I think there's a difference on brightness for the regular beams on a naked (the round ones) and the crappy beams on the F (the weird shaped ones). During daytime on low-beams I might aswell have it off (not possible anyway).

Quote from: subc on March 26, 2006, 02:25:00 PM
from the MSF: high during daytime, low during nightime  8)

and I think there's a difference on brightness for the regular beams on a naked (the round ones) and the crappy beams on the F (the weird shaped ones). During daytime on low-beams I might aswell have it off (not possible anyway).

Yeah, I never agreed with that MSF thing. I still think it's rude to drivers. The lights are just as bright in the daytime as they are at night, and therefore still as annoying.

I think the F has a better low-beam too. That reflector is really nice. My round headlight doesn't do near a good a job, but it could just be a crappy bulb too.

My Basic MSF instructor told us he recommended low during day because of what I said previously.

Also, the f models are most likely better, since the technology is there.  The reflector helps much better than your standard round headlight.

[4

during the day

ride with highbeam on during the day. your headlight is not nearly bright enough to distract the oncoming traffice during the day. in fact they will notice you better.

this is straight from 2006 florida motorcycle handbook:

QuoteUse of the high beam during the day increases the likelihood that oncoming drivers will see you. Use the low beam at night and in cloudy weather.

during the night

turn off the high beam only when there's oncoming traffic.

Quote from: JetSwing on March 26, 2006, 05:35:37 PM
during the day
ride with highbeam on during the day. your headlight is not nearly bright enough to distract the oncoming traffice during the day. in fact

This is why I flip to high beams while lane sharing; I actually *have* found that folks see me coming and actually clear the way better. Of course, this isn't a problem if I can tuck in behind a Harley. They're so nice and noisy that a path is naturally cleared!  :thumb: :icon_mrgreen:

my 30$ went out and never fixed it, but i ride in the day time. lol

Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on March 26, 2006, 12:35:31 PM
Low beams during the day. I think having your high beams on is rude to other drivers.

+1

Does iding with your hign beams on generate more heat?

If so wouldn't this dull the reflector and plastic of the F models faster?

Depends on the temperature and how thick my shirt is.  :icon_mrgreen:

I ride with high beams on during the day, figure its easier to see me.       

Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on March 26, 2006, 12:35:31 PM
Low beams during the day. I think having your high beams on is rude to other drivers.

At night, yes it is. Very rude. However, during the day, as you know, lights aren't seen as easily and so thus the need for the high beams in the daytime could be viewed as necessary to compensate. I've always just rode with low beams during the daytime, but I've never given it much thought until I read this thread and I think I'm going to start using high beams in the daytime.

I clicked Other because I feel I have a special Day-time strategy:

Normally I ride with Low Beam, until I hit traffic.  If there is a lot of turning and traffic is dense, I flip to High Beam -- I use my Modulator.

At four pulses per second, it's very noticable, and I've had people pull over from in front of -- beats me if they thought I was a law inforcement officer or I was just bugging them.   :icon_confused:  But the combination of High Beam and flashing a high beam is clearly advertising that I'm out there.

But I'm concious that this is distracting to the drivers in front of me.  I choose when I flip the switch -- it's my secret weapon in the fight to not go down.

At night I ride as I would with my car -- High Beam only when I'm the only one on the road for at least a 1/2 mile.

Redshift - Is there anyway we can get a video clip of that modulator in action?

for one thing, cars driving with high beams during daytime are not rude or annoying, but noticeable (good point on the pupils thing Wrecent_Wryder), and I don't think the motorcycle beams are nearly as bright as the car ones.

Quote from: annguyen1981 on March 27, 2006, 05:59:06 AM
Redshift - Is there anyway we can get a video clip of that modulator in action?

I've got a Kisan pathBlazer (http://www.kisantech.com/index.php?cat_id=2).  Their site has flash that shows the modulator in action, though it is not exactl the same rate I have. (Mine's a tad faster.)  I think I got the P115W-S model.

always on high...i've found its not really that bright of a light anyways.

Being a noob with only 200miles on the bike, I have never used the high beam yet.  After reading few of your replies, I am considering using the high beam at least during the day from now on.  I'm sure using the high beam more often will shorten the life of the bulb but wondering how often you will have to replace the bulb if you use it all the time... Any answers? Are they expensive or hard to fine at local stores?
Thanks.

Quote from: RedShift on March 28, 2006, 03:57:24 AM
I've got a Kisan pathBlazer (http://www.kisantech.com/index.php?cat_id=2).  Their site has flash that shows the modulator in action, though it is not exactl the same rate I have. (Mine's a tad faster.)  I think I got the P115W-S model.

You always have kewl toys!!!  :bowdown: :thumb:

I use High during the daytime as well... I also have a headlight modulator.  :cheers: I have noticed alot of other riders here in PA with them as well.. They are pretty damn eye catching.. I dont turn mine on much but in heavy traffic. I think I paid $40 for my modulator from JC Whitney  :thumb:

Quote from: pandy on March 28, 2006, 04:06:03 PM

Quote from: RedShift on March 28, 2006, 03:57:24 AM
I've got a Kisan pathBlazer (http://www.kisantech.com/index.php?cat_id=2).  Their site has flash that shows the modulator in action, though it is not exactl the same rate I have. (Mine's a tad faster.)  I think I got the P115W-S model.

You always have kewl toys!!!  :bowdown: :thumb:

You may have noticed a theme in my mods -- Light is Right.  O0  Anything that I can replace by plugging it in is fair game.