Do you run your high beam at night???

[rustybronco]

If your light is that dim its time to get a new light.

Not always.
the headlight was dim on my '80. it turned out to be the connector at the ignition switch had high resistance and melted.

there is a reason for checking voltage drops at all the connections.

[MacGyver]

Motion and change, not brightness

It is motion and change of state that make people aware of your presence, not the brightness of a point of light that gives them no sense of position. I use my high beams only for illuminating the road in front of me, not in an vain attempt to have others see me. Many people will interpret a bright point of light as a car with high beams on a long way away, this is something they experience very often. A motorcycle with high beams on will be right in front of them before the properly register what it is.

The act of dimming ones light catches attention and often allows the person to interpret distance. A slight side to side weave or even a slight tap on the front brake to drop the light will also assist with that association. I would love to have some white HyperLites on my front forks that alternate brightness side to side. I think that would be the best way to have a person know where I am without having them target fixate on bright or flashing lights. At least that is my story and I am sticking to it.

[rodm850g]

Do you run your high beam at night???

Guys,
I just finished working on my old GS850G,so its been off road.... but before the illumination it gave off was very low....After my "resto" job it is bright.I had changed the grounding and all of the connections on that 30 year old have been freshened up and major connections have bee given a dose of electrolytic grease...{conductive} and now the headlight is very bright and the change from hi to lo is much quicker than before...So I answered the poll with checking number 2 like the fellow with the wing I too have a honda product.....an ST1300 this bike has dual head lamps that burn together on low and same on high....I added a pair of P.I.A.A. 004XT driving lamps to the fork legs....one aimed down the highway{left} and the right down the side of the road {right} I use standard OEM headlamp bulbs and these are lower than the 55/60 watters you can buy at Wally world....but add the P.I.A.A.'s to the figure and its near daylight much farther down the road.....enough so that upon my return from V.I.R. seeing Suzuki mounted Mr.Mat Mladdin win a 7th Superbike championship I was traveling through the Eastern,N.C. back woods and easily was able to spot bambi on the side of the roads.....
There is something good to be said about auxhilary lighting....I do think it a courtesy to dim your lights for oncoming traffic....and if they don't seem to want to remind them with a flash and if they are stubborn....
Rod

[JHawkins]

I almost always turn off the high beams when cars are oncoming. The only exception is if doing so puts me in danger. (in a turn for instance).

Also, my lights on my 79 750l sucked until I did a relay mod with heavy gauge wire. The stock wiring harness made for a fairly substantial voltage drop.

[Sandy]

On a motorcycle the high beam at night looks just like a car coming at you about 1/2 mile away. Gee, I don't know why that guy just pulled out in front me, I had my high beam on??? Yes, I use good lights and dim them for oncoming traffic, there's reason it's the law.

[Florida Guy]

And at night, RIDE THE CENTER OF YOUR LANE. If you ride the outer or inner you can be mistaken for a pididdle (car with a headlight out) instead of as a bike.

That's good advice.

[Richharr]

In NYC its light 24/7, I could ride without lights if I wanted to

[mighty13d]

In NYC its light 24/7, I could ride without lights if I wanted to

If you wanted to! lol I have forgotten my lights before when in town at night. It took me almost a mile before I looked at my gauges and figured it out. Good thing I wasn't spotted by the police!

[ssb33r]

high beams during the day can be just as bad, as stated earlier, they are focused at the oncoming drivers eyes. you can be blinded just as bad in the day as the night

[Llamaguy]

I've ridden with my high beams since I bought my bike a few years ago. In that time I've only had 1 or 2 people flash their lights at me. '


On the opposite side, my friend's Zx-12R's headlights were so bright that he consistantly had people flash their lights at his LOW beams even though they were adjusted properly.

[tkent02]

I've ridden with my high beams since I bought my bike a few years ago. In that time I've only had 1 or 2 people flash their lights at me. '


On the opposite side, my friend's Zx-12R's headlights were so bright that he consistantly had people flash their lights at his LOW beams even though they were adjusted properly.

Fix your headlights.

[trippivot]

I run hi beams during day driving 100% of the time.

at night I will use them but switch down when approaching another vehicle.

[Pete Logan]

I run hi beams during day driving 100% of the time.

Just be aware that hi beams in the day make it more difficult for oncoming traffic to estimate your speed and distance.

[Greg B]

Got a part# for the Osram bulb?

[Steve]

Got a part# for the Osram bulb?

Don't have a part number, but here is a link to what's available on eBay right now.

Search parameters were "osram silverstar h4".

.