Are you being seen?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 5,618
Likes: 5,215
From: Green Country
I was on the interstate section going through town yesterday, riding in the center lane. A car overtook me in the outside lane to my left, and proceeded to cross in front of me...crossing three lanes to get in the exit ramp. There was plenty of room behind me to do the same if he had just slowed down a bit.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 2
From: Novi MI
Me too! I used to ride with a white helmet. People think you're the police and give you lots of space. I'm thinking about going back to it. My current helmet is grey which is still more visible than a black helmet.
Last edited by barjbar; Jun 2, 2011 at 10:24 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 892
Likes: 8
From: Central Florida
I know a lot of guys hate them, but threads like this make me glad I installed a headlight modulator! I don't leave home without it...except at night, of course. I do not have spot lights on my Sloptail. Those are a good alternative if you leave them on all the time.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 34
From: Lockport Township, IL
I run all the lights all the time and car drivers sometimes still do not see me. Hell - they don't se me even when I am flying two 3' X 5' FLAGS ON 5' flag polls. I don't care how visible you THINK you are - you need to ride like you are invisible!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,808
Likes: 3
I recently traded in my black street glide for the new apple green glide. my thinking, now that i live near old people in florida, was that i would be more visible. wrong! the second day i rode the new "green machine" i had two close calls with drivers cutting me off. go figure! Glad you didn't have an incident!
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 874
Likes: 2
From: Southern Arizona
I recently traded in my black street glide for the new apple green glide. my thinking, now that i live near old people in florida, was that i would be more visible. wrong! the second day i rode the new "green machine" i had two close calls with drivers cutting me off. go figure! Glad you didn't have an incident!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 2
From: Ontario East
When I ride, I use my low beam but have my fog lamps on also. What's the use of running with all your lights on? If people are not seeing you when you have your regular low beams on (if they are adjusted correctly), then they are not going to see you when you have everything on.
I do not believe the claims of people saying, "I didn't see him/her/you/them." That's just an excuse for them to try to get away without admitting that........
THEY JUST DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK.
As for running with everything/brights on, that annoys me to no end. Yaahhh, I know. "It makes people see me." Well I call BS to that statement because if a person is not looking at you, then they won't see you no matter how many and how bright your lights are. As I stated earlier....if they can't see you with your low beams on during the daytime, then they just aren't paying attention and are not taking the time to look.
Also, running bright lights when approaching another vehicle will most likely cause the approaching driver to fixate on the bright light, thereby taking their attention away from anything else that might require their attention. And remember what we are always telling each other...."Don't stare at the object...you will hit it." Sound familiar? Well...I don't want to make myself an object to be fixated upon. I would rather give a couple of quick flashes of the high beam to alert an approaching driver to my presence. Yaaaahhhh...I know....flashing the hi beams means LEO ahead. But I can guarantee that I have their attention and they know I am there.
In closing, I would like to say...each to their own. And if you ever have the opportunity to be approaching me and you have your hi beams on, expect me to throw all the candlepower I have right back at you.
I do not believe the claims of people saying, "I didn't see him/her/you/them." That's just an excuse for them to try to get away without admitting that........
THEY JUST DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK.
As for running with everything/brights on, that annoys me to no end. Yaahhh, I know. "It makes people see me." Well I call BS to that statement because if a person is not looking at you, then they won't see you no matter how many and how bright your lights are. As I stated earlier....if they can't see you with your low beams on during the daytime, then they just aren't paying attention and are not taking the time to look.
Also, running bright lights when approaching another vehicle will most likely cause the approaching driver to fixate on the bright light, thereby taking their attention away from anything else that might require their attention. And remember what we are always telling each other...."Don't stare at the object...you will hit it." Sound familiar? Well...I don't want to make myself an object to be fixated upon. I would rather give a couple of quick flashes of the high beam to alert an approaching driver to my presence. Yaaaahhhh...I know....flashing the hi beams means LEO ahead. But I can guarantee that I have their attention and they know I am there.
In closing, I would like to say...each to their own. And if you ever have the opportunity to be approaching me and you have your hi beams on, expect me to throw all the candlepower I have right back at you.