Triumphrat

Geimer

I have a 36 mile commute to work through the heart of downtown St. Louis. It is mostly crowded rush hour interstate riding. People are impatient or drowsy or aggressive or inattentive or careless when driving this route. It gets more hairy close to the downtown area and north of there especially.
I installed an HID headlamp few weeks ago. It seems to be as bright as the headlamp on a freight train. I am very interested in NOT blinding drivers. I am even more interested in being seen and surviving.
While I still have more testing to do, I've noticed a few things seem to have changed since installing the light. I have only been cut off one time since installing this light... that was by a garbage truck and fortunately, contact was easily avoided. Prior to this I was cut off at least once for each leg of the trip to and from work.
I've driven the machine on winding country hilly roads at night and I suppose I have the angle sufficiently downward to avoid other drivers "flashing' me to try to get me to dim my light. While the main portion of the highest intensity of the beam is directed at what seems like the proper angle to me, there is sufficient light being cast upward to light the reflective highway signs for at least .6 miles ahead, yet I do not seem to be annoying others.
I made my own luggage rack and added high intensity LED tail lights to it to help in being seen from behind. Engine braking just by letting off the throttle is rather effective for slowdowns in traffic, THUS I always pulse the brakes a little even when the slowdown does not require applying them. The brake lights are very bright and seem to help fend off tailgaters.
I carry no illusion that these things alone are responsible for my safety. By my own actions I am responsible for my own safety of course as are we all. But insurance studies and safety studies are showing a correlation between visibility (or the lack thereof) and motorcycle accidents caused by automobile drivers. (I need to cite references for this).
Finally, road rage, or anger (in my opinion) always results in the wrong decision being made. Perceptions are always incorrect when anger is taking place. When these emotions are happening, behavior is self justified regardless of logic or circumstance. In these cases such loss of control of civilized behavior may be directed at anyone for any type of incorrectly perceived threat. In other words... they may get angry and try to take it out on your REGARDLESS of the brightness of your bulb. There was even a post in this forum from a motorcyclist who was cut off purposely when the motorist deliberately tried to run him off the road. He followed the motorist for some time and cornered him at a gas ( petrol) station and asked him why he did that. The response was because 'motorcycles do not belong on the road'.
My point is that if the headlamp is as bright as a freight train but directed properly then it seems like it is one factor in increasing safety. And if it pi$$es somebody off and they try to kill me then they probably would find any type of reason to do so anyway.

To continue my testing I'm going to get some friends to allow me to ride behind them and then turn around and face me as in a typical oncoming traffic position. I'll let them tell me how bright or blinding the light really is... but It cannot be TOO bad or I'd have been getting flashed by now.

Owenbrau

Here's a study from New Zealand that found that use of headlights during the day was associated with a 27% lower risk of accident. Overall it found that increasing conspicuity was associated with lower accident rates.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/328/7444/857

rockDAWG

Before riding motorcycle, I always piss at the bikers have the bright and driving lamps. Now I am riding, I use low beam and dim my light at night when traffic is approaching.

Cutting in front of me is no big deal, as long as they know I am here and I am aware their location and intention. Instead of using bright light to tell the motorist I am here, I constantly change my position within of my lane. I sometime make evasive move to head toward them directly, and yet I prepare to steer out of their way.

Hey, Cagers own the road, we are just passing through.

BikerDave

I run my high beams all the time.......every little bit helps!!

Tona94

In order for you to be angry with me, you must first acknowledge my existence. Although I ride as though I am invisible, it is imperative to be seen. Here in Portugal, I always ride with my high beams on during the day, what are a few burnt retinas compared to becoming another road accident statistic.

__________________
"Let the fours be with you"

Daffy1961

Anyone tried one of these?

http://www.gadgetjq.com/headlightmodulator.htm

Owenbrau

I have a headlight modulator on my scooter, haven't put one on the Bonnie yet. I like it. I know that it is noticeable as I occasionally have other drivers (and a couple of riders) ask if I know it's doing that! I haven't seen anyone that seemed angry or upset about it flashing.

tbird995

Dipped beam in the daytime is the prefered choice for me. As the hight of the dipped beam is constantly moving up and down due to the bike going over bumps and braking and speeding up, the other road users get sort of a flashing ,moving light which is much easier to see. The same can't be said for main the beam.

__________________
there you are. I told you you'd break it. Now how do we get home!

Matthew in TO

I ride with my highbeams on all the time. Of course my 1970 T100 has old Lucas lights, so I need the help.

StevenAB

I have a headlight modulator on the front. It runs when your highs are on and a sensor stops it if you go through a tunnel or forget to turn it off when it gets dark.

I also have a break light flasher for the rear. flashes 4 times and then goes solid when the break is applied. If you release the break for less than 20 seconds (I think that's the time) it flashes only twice and then goes solid. Something to get their attention if you're already sitting at the lights.

AND... I have a Stabel Nautilus (sp??) horn. The more they notice me the better off I am.