When to use highbeams?

Question

Can anyone tell me when I should use highbeams on a motorcycle? Are the rules the same as in a car, or do you use highbeams all the time?

Answer 1

The rules are the same as for a car.
Many people run the high beam during daylight.
If you only use the low beam, that's what's going to burn out.
If you use high during the day, the low may last longer.
The high is brighter, making it a little easier to see during the day.

Answer 2

I never really used my high beams during the day but it makes sense what others are saying. Now during the night when approaching oncoming traffic I dim them to the low beam.

On certain occasions when riding at night I try to use the beam that gives me better visibility. During certain times of the year or when weather changes. You can actually have less visibility with the high beam on. At times you can the high beam glaring in the air and reduce your view, like in foggy areas or cold dusty conditions.

One tip that may help .
I usually go out at night and hit the hills and canyons to unwind and relax. When I am out there. I flash the lights when entering a curve. I want to alert whoever maybe coming from the opposite direction that there is someone close by. People are racing down/ up hills and curves thinking its all lonely and remote. They can be showing off or whatever and enter the other lane cause they are going to fast.
If they can be alerted of oncoming traffic they might correct themselves or slow down. Hopefully anything to avoid a head on collision.
During the day in the mountains you dont get that chance of alerting someone that your coming around the same curve. In the night you have at least a few seconds of warning if they are looking at the road .

Answer 3

The rules regarding high-beam on the motorcycle are most likely the same as for a car. These laws differ from state to state.

Here in Nebraska, the law requires that I dim my headlights if following another vehicle closer than 200 feet but I only have to dim for oncoming traffic if they give me a signal (normally by flashing their brights). During the day, I drive with high-beam on (for safety) all the time, even if I'm following closely as I figure I wont be blinding anyone in the daylight. At night I normally dim when driving around town but out on the highway I generally run the high-beam unless someone flashes me, doesn't happen often.

Answer 4

In TX, at least, you are permitted to use high beams all day.
Its a good idea, by the way.
Since dusk is the most dangerous time for us, I wait until full dark before switching to low beam.

If your high beam burns out, you can still drive legally, night or day, till you replace the bulb.

Answer 5

Depending on the laws of your state, it may be legal or not to use high beams during the daylite hours. I use high beam during the day all the time, and dim it accordingly while riding at night. The benefits of having other drivers see me better during daytime riding, far outweighs any penalty I could receive from failure to dim my headlite.

Answer 6

i dim as needed at night, but always run it during the day. i see bikes alot sooner if they're using high beams than low, and that difference will be on if that cage pulls out in front of u, or waits till u pass.

Answer 7

I use high beam during the day and dusk/dawn (low light conditions) to be seen, but use low beam at night because you will pissed off people in front of you.

Answer 8

Same as with a Car. Anythime you dont have oncoming traffic. and dont follow others with your lights on high.

Answer 9

It is the same as a car.

Answer 10

same as with a car