Lights on or not ?

[blownygti]

do you guys / girls always ride with your lights on irrelevant of the time of day ?
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https://www.bikepics.com/members/blownygti/90cbr400/Default.asp

[rac3r]

mine dont turn off

[jack_zxr400]

Yup I always have them on

better to be seen with
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Previous Bike: ZXR 400
Current Bike: R6
Test Date: 8/8/2008-PASSED

[mattgirv]

No. Only if its foggy, or badly overcast, or getting darker. In the daytime I rarely ride with lights. I don't see any practical benefit from it other than wasting my battery.

Riding with your lights on isn't going to make naff all difference if you have shit road positioning. Most of the people I see out on bikes, that have their lights on, at the moment are in the gutters, and on the corners off cars.

I am not saying it might not have a slight advantage if you are positioned decently in the first place, but I don't think it makes as much of a difference as people think it do. I think it is a kind of placebo effect. If you think you ride better with your lights on, who knows perhaps that reassurance enables you to ride better.
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Bikes: 1998 Honda VFR800Fi, 26,500 miles
1989 Honda CB-1, 38,000 miles

[YZFR1IAN]

mine are always on also
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05 Yamaha YBR125 > 94 Honda CB500 > 98 Honda Hornet 600 > 02 Yamaha R6 > 2000 Yamaha R1 > 2000 Yamaha XJR1300SP > 2000 Honda CBR929RR Fireblade
MY BIKES Past & Present

[krebsy]

Mine are constantly on on the VFR which is annoying as I flattened the battery on the 2nd day of owning her. I did my usual routine of getting ready which involved disarm the alarm, ignition on, roll the bike out then get my lid and gloves on etc. (batttery was low after being sat in the showroom for quite a while). With the ZZR and the divvy I could do that, then flick the lights on as I pulled away.

Now it's, turn off shock sensor, move bike, gear up, Disarm, ignition on, start and ride off.

K.
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1280 x 1024.

[chris-red]

Mine are also on all the time, even if they weren't I still would have them on at all time at all time.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
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[neil.]

Always on dipped beam. Main beam not good - dazzles other road using folk and makes it hard for them to perceive your distance from them correctly.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[Ste]

Turn them off in the day time.

It's harder for people to judge distances when you've got the lights on the day time, so all you're doing is increasing the chances that you'll have someone pull out in front of you.

[apple tango]

Hmm, i have the choice to have them on or off, so i always have full beam on during the day. Reading the various comments though i might start using the dipped/half beam thingy.
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CBR125 -> Bandit GSF600 '99 -> SV650 02

[Ste]

[neil.]

Very interesting post, Ste
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[jack_zxr400]

tbh if the driver see's you, they should wait until its safe and oncoming traffic is clear

..but should'a, would'a, could'a its not what you'll be thinking at the time, its after
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Previous Bike: ZXR 400
Current Bike: R6
Test Date: 8/8/2008-PASSED

[Tonka]

[Runnerman]

I also have no choice, they are on dipped beam constantly with the option to switch to full beam and to flash, to be honest I think I would prefer to ride with them not on at all after reading some of the above posts.

[scanny]

as a non rider i suggest you guys do use lights at all times. it does make it easier to spot you and that can only be a good thing

[scanny]

[SpicyBlimp]

can't turn them off

[Ste]

[UnknownStuntm...]

Ste, well done for picking up TC's comments and putting them forward coherently. I'm not gonna give you a cookie cos it's TC who deserves it (where is he now anyway?) but you have made me change my position on having my lights on.

[neil.]

Same here but I can't switch the damn things off on my YBR
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[ncrn]

[ms51ves3]

Main beam during the day, dip beam at night.

[Rowey]

Very interesting post Ste, T.C. does know his stuff. I've always been a bit on the fence with headlights in the day, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, depends how vulnerable I'm feeling.

Think this has discouraged me from having them on in the day.

Also the thing about white helmets sounds interesting. I remember reading something about white being a poor choice of an attention pulling colour. good to hear something else to back it up. I went for a solid gloss black lid.
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ZX6R C6F.
Never argue with an idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level, and beat you with experience.

[mattgirv]