Quote from: Twisted on March 27, 2013, 12:03:08 AM

Quote from: codajastal on March 26, 2013, 11:57:56 PM
Never. Its illegal and annoying to other drivers.

Hey. If it is annoying them during the day it's a +1 for me. It means they've seen me.

like when the sun is setting, and drivers squint or cover their eyes, and keep going ?


no highbeam for me, unless its needed for distance. leave the beam dipped, and ream up on SMIDSY and the ANTI-SMIDSY maneuver. blinding drivers is a bad idea. .bringing their attention to a moving object, much better.

I have had zero smidsy type events since I started using it. works with no headlight also.

safer, not louder (loud pipes myth) people !

Quote from: ohgood on March 27, 2013, 03:42:21 AM

like when the sun is setting, and drivers squint or cover their eyes, and keep going ?

Yeh I don't think the OEM GS highbeam is gonna have drivers running off the road because of it's blinding light.

Great, another cat thread.

Me, I upgraded the OEM bulb to a Sylvania SilverStar 9003 type.  It's better than stock, and no serious HID mods needed.  Helps see a little better.  I also replaced the little parking bulb in the F fairing with an amber one.  Helps people see better.

I don't like using the high beam during the day.  Only at night when its needed.  I do have a set of these installed to try and get peoples attention though:

http://www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-led-running-lights.html

Lol am I the only one who wears a reflective orange and yellow vest when I ride? Yeah I might not look as cool as you guys. Yeah i might wear it day and night. But seriously. I very rarely have some one not see me, or try to pull out infront of me or anything. Helps at night for sure on the high way though. Our tail lights get drowned out in the headlights of the cagers. The construction vest has done its job for me pleanty of times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqQBubilSXU

Good watch thanks Ohgood

I ride with my highbeam no matter what. It gives ME more visibility at night and gives others a brighter point to see. When on a motorcycle our best defense against anything is time. The further we can see down the road the safer we are. I will say though I try to be as unobtrusive with it as possible and stay to the right side of my lane.

High beam during the day for me, low beam at night. My bracket is bent so the light isn't aimed right anyway. My MSF class preached to always have the high beam on in the day, and I agree with them. Anything to make yourself more visible! When I pull up behind a van or a tahoe or something, I can barely see my low beam on in the reflection... How is anyone going to see me with that?

So I guess I fall under the category of loud exhaust and bright light @$$hole lol

Quote from: Twisted on March 26, 2013, 11:57:37 PM
I use high beam during the day. Not at night.

This is how I ride also

Quote from: crzydood17 on March 27, 2013, 08:14:46 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqQBubilSXU

Good watch thanks Ohgood

I ride with my highbeam no matter what. It gives ME more visibility at night and gives others a brighter point to see. When on a motorcycle our best defense against anything is time. The further we can see down the road the safer we are. I will say though I try to be as unobtrusive with it as possible and stay to the right side of my lane.

cool, one person will benefit at least. I won't promote bullshit, or "I think it works", "my uncle says blah", but I sure as heck will the proven stuff.

running drivers off the road is not an issue people ! the high beam makes you OBNOXIOUS yes, but does absolutely nothing to help drivers judge your approach speed or distance. "I didn't see him" is often the excuse, and not a copout. the brain discounts a riders very small silhouette, as a distant, stationary, non threatening object. the conscious driver really didn't see you, because of this. read smidsy, know smidsy, be anti-smidsy.

look it up, try it out, save your own life.

I know a guy (a multiple Iron Butt Rally finisher, no less) who uses his high beam during the day with the reasoning that if the most-used bulb filament burns out, he'd rather be left with the low beam so as not to blind oncoming traffic after dark.

Quote from: MarkB on March 27, 2013, 10:04:22 AM
I know a guy (a multiple Iron Butt Rally finisher, no less) who uses his high beam during the day with the reasoning that if the most-used bulb filament burns out, he'd rather be left with the low beam so as not to blind oncoming traffic after dark.

I've heard that too. since the majority of motorcycle bulbs are the same as car bulbs, id replace it at autozone before riding with 1/2 a light at night.

also, I've never burned out a bulb. almost 80K miles now, not one bulb has failed.

Just out of curiosity, what's this smidsy thing you're talking about?

Sorry Mate I Didn't See Ya.

I always say it in an Australian accent, since I first heard the term in this YouTube video:

Quote from: Twisted on March 27, 2013, 05:28:21 AM

Quote from: ohgood on March 27, 2013, 03:42:21 AM

like when the sun is setting, and drivers squint or cover their eyes, and keep going ?

Yeh I don't think the OEM GS highbeam is gonna have drivers running off the road because of it's blinding light.

Stock high beam is as bright as the sun!!!!

High beam all the time right now, my low beam is dead. This thing is hardly what I would call bright, even right behind someone I don't light up their car.

I use my Highs Regularly

Quote from: blade715 on March 27, 2013, 07:55:30 AM
Lol am I the only one who wears a reflective orange and yellow vest when I ride? Yeah I might not look as cool as you guys. Yeah i might wear it day and night. But seriously. I very rarely have some one not see me, or try to pull out infront of me or anything. Helps at night for sure on the high way though. Our tail lights get drowned out in the headlights of the cagers. The construction vest has done its job for me pleanty of times.

I wear a reflective vest everyday, My bike has reflective bags attached also, I have been hit 3 times in the last year in the daytime. Drivers said they didnt see me. You have got lucky.

HighBeam's in the daylight, 1 Watt LED's 24/7

Quote from: snOhio on March 27, 2013, 03:34:56 AM
i run a headlight modulator, so yesnoyesnoyesnoyesnoyesnoyesnoyesnoyesnoyesnoyesnoyesnoyesnoyesno.

they make those!?!?!... where!!... want one.. just for the hell of it...

and just to re-iterate about my post of yesterday .. I dont mind if riders have a LOUD exhaust .. or even a straight thru pipe... not my bike so no drama to me... though sometimes i wont ride so close that my eardrums are bleeding from 'your' loud exhaust!! 

same with highbeams.. dont matter to me... although again .. a few mates i ride with do it... and when we cruising on the freeway somewhere .. they a couple second behind me.. with their 'nuclear flash' bright hi beams... right into my mirrors and hence my eyes.. i will take action to change my position so my retinas dont burn out!! 

i mainly intended to say.. DONT let your noise and bright lights convince you that you are in any way SAFE from harm!! ... a little more visible and audible .. sure!! yes .. certainly!! .. a little SAFER .. yes quite likely  ...

Armour Plated and possessing THOR like abilities of personal protection??!!... nope!!

The Cagers DONT want to kill you!! .. they would have to be aware of you and take deliberate action to do that .. their usual oblivion to a lot of things outside their safe little windows is far more dangerous!!..

kind of related .. THIS MORNING .. i watched a FIRE TRUCK .... full sirens and lights and one of those 'mega' sound horns .. racing up the freeway towards a clearly visible SMOKE PLUME from a roadside grass fire .. the fire was about 800m ahead?... roughly...

i pulled to the left .. most other cars pulled to the left ... but one didnt .. they were busy on the phone and looking into the sky to see the smoke... (hopefully they were ringing the fire brigade) .. the fire truck by now was right behind them... about 2 car lengths .. the fire truck driver was laying/hammering on the klaxons etc .. no response from car .. traffic slowing to watch smoke... slowing cos huge noisy firetruck coming... other drivers in the left lane were braking and trying to make a hole for the truck!...

... about 250m from the fire now... enough room... truck moves to left lane and onto breakdown lane... i knew where he was so i watched the oblivious cage driver for a few more seconds... as the truck passed the car .. a full '2 lanes' to the left... the cagers head snapped sideways in alarm and they jerked the wheel to the right and nearly into the verge & trees in centre of freeway .. and back towards the traffic lanes again.. now no-one knows what this fool is doing?! .. the 'general consensus' of the rest of us seemed to be brake to a stop and stay well away from this stunt driver!! ..

fire truck has now stopped and the lads are scrambling out to get porta packs and 2" hose out to deal with burning grass... the car 'driver' slows to a crawl as he next to truck .. leans on the horn and starts yelling out the window!.. couldn't hear him clearly .. just his voice tone... but it was one of those "you nearly ran me off the road you idiot" kinda yelling phrases..

... now i've put in a lot of extra info here just to flesh the situation out...

but if a cager CANT HEAR OR SEE a 'on a mission' Fire Truck?!... why would he see a bike?..  

now .. lol... if you want to be noticed and safe!! .. well pretty safe!!

but i bet some wanker will one day drive out in front of that unit... get half crushed .. and say Sorry Mate I Didnt See You!! .. at which point i would consider the driver of the Striker fully justified in letting out the clutch again.. rolling clean over the car and making a speedhump out of it.. and continue on his merry way!! 

Quote from: ohgood on March 27, 2013, 10:02:04 AM
running drivers off the road is not an issue people ! the high beam makes you OBNOXIOUS yes,

I guess I am an OBNOXIOUS rider then. I can live with that. Hey and guess what? I have loud pipes on my bike too. 
They teach SMIDSY in our Q ride courses here in Australia when you go for your motorcycle licence.

Quote from: W79 on March 27, 2013, 10:47:25 AM
Sorry Mate I Didn't See Ya.

I always say it in an Australian accent, since I first heard the term in this YouTube video:

I have this bloke on DVD. Kind of a new rider intro thing I keep it with my copy of twist of the wrist 2 and burn it off for new riders who ask. Alot of good practical tips.