I've always used my high beam headlight during the day for visibility/safety.  Yesterday, I was told that it is illegal to do that in the State of Washington.  I think that I'm going to keep doing that until I get stopped for it 'cause I strongly feel that it makes it easier for uncoming or side traffic to see me. 

What do you folks feel about this and what are the laws where ou are?

In Washington you can only have a modulating daytime running light.  Unmodulated/highbeams are actually prohibited.  It's like jay-walking, though...you're more likely to run over a porcupine and die than get a ticket for it.

A lot of people in Illinois say they do it, so I assume it's legal here.

in Illinois the use of a headlight is a requirement for all motorcycles, regardless of year, make or model.

+1 NC

In NSW, Australia you can use your high beam during the day or night but you have to dip it when you come within 200 meters of a car.

In Italy, bikes must have always taillight, plate light, and dipped beam headlights on.
High beams could only be used at night out of towns,but must be dipped when meeting another vehicle; and can be used intermittently (yellow "PASS" switch) at all times when the rider needs to make optical signals, since horn can't be used in town or at night, except for emergencies. So, I suppose that daytime high beams are illegal here.
Anyway, I know of some riders that use high beams during daytime to improve their own visibility, I only did that last Sunday during a bicycle race escort (I had to ride ahead of the cyclists in order to make oncoming traffic pull over, so I switched to high beam in order to be more visible), but other than that I keep dipped beams so that I can use passing high beams for quick signals.

California Motorcycle handbook:
"Studies show that during the day, a motorcycle with its light on is twice as likely to be noticed. Using your high beam during the day and at night increases the chances that oncoming drivers will see you. Use your high beam it is legal and safe to do so."
so i guess it legal to use it in the day...

Quote from: makenzie71 on June 19, 2007, 10:48:06 PM
in Illinois the use of a headlight is a requirement for all motorcycles, regardless of year, make or model.

+1 in VA

California allows lane splitting too. 

Florida allows idiots to ride sans helmet. Florida doesn't allow riding high beam, lane splitting, double parking (bikes), or anything else that makes sense. Oh, you can pack up 2,000 HD's in noon traffic at the beach and congest things even more though. Ya, that's 'cool'.



Go figure.

You should get a modulator for your headlight it really helps in the visability department.  My dad and I just installed one on his Silverado 1100 and it's must better than just riding with your highbeams on.

I assume that the modulator can be turned off at night.  Was it an easy install?  What did you buy, where, and how much?

Thanks!

Quote from: zoom on June 20, 2007, 03:15:08 PM
I assume that the modulator can be turned off at night.  Was it an easy install?  What did you buy, where, and how much?

Thanks!

some have sensors that turn it off when it gets dark- sometimes required by law.

Quote from: makenzie71 on June 19, 2007, 10:48:06 PM
in Illinois the use of a headlight is a requirement for all motorcycles, regardless of year, make or model.

....you know we're talking about high-beams, not just regular headlights, right?

That's the requirement in Illinois;

Daytime headlight use;  required for all motorcycles.

I don't care if it's legal or not. High Beams during the day, Low Beams at night. If I ever get stopped I'll ask the officer if he'd rather be able to stop me for having my High Beams on, or scrape me off the front of some retard's SUV because he/she "Didn't see me!!!" Incidentally, New Mexico doesn't require helmets either. I don't know if it's legal to split lanes though.

i'm in illinois and i ride with my high beam on all the time. i don't know if its legal or not.  btw what is lane splitting?

Quote from: simon79 on June 20, 2007, 06:45:53 AM
In Italy, bikes must have always taillight, plate light, and dipped beam headlights on.
High beams could only be used at night out of towns,but must be dipped when meeting another vehicle; and can be used intermittently (yellow "PASS" switch) at all times when the rider needs to make optical signals, since horn can't be used in town or at night, except for emergencies. So, I suppose that daytime high beams are illegal here.

it's the same in israel.

Lane Splitting means it's legal to ride in between lanes of traffic or down the lines. I know it's legal in California. As far as I can discern from New Mexico law, a motorcycle is treated like a two wheeled automobile. So pretty much what you do with your car, you can do on a motorcycle. So, lane splitting is not legal.

1. who is going to know the difference other than the rider
2. how are they going to prove it

run the high beams during the day