This subject has gotten a pretty lively debate elsewhere. Personally, when I ride alone, I take the MSF recommendation of using my high beams during DAYLIGHT hours. If I am leading a group high beams are on, if I am riding in the group or sweep low beams are on. High beams never in traffic at night.
Here are a few examples of what I found, i have not gone through the motorcycle handbooks for all fifty states yet:
High beams used during the DAY recommendation FROM THE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY FOUNDATION http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/p...ycle49-50.htmlWHERE WE ARE
A common complaint of street riders is that other motorists fail to observe them. Motorists who violate motorcyclists’ right-of-way frequently state, “I didn’t see him,†or “He came out of nowhere†(Hurt, 1981).
The problem of other motorists failing to observe motorcyclists apparently exists on several levels (see Motorist Awareness, page 31). An important Hurt Report finding was that conspicuous motorcycles and riders were less likely to have their right-of-way violated by other vehicles.
A variety of recognized tactics exists to make motorcycles and their riders more conspicuous: lighting, surface color and size, and rider traffic strategy.
Lighting factors include:
• Since 1979, most motorcycles sold in the United States have been equipped with automatic-on headlamps to meet some state requirements. This seems to have been an effective method of making them more conspicuous and reducing right-of-way violations. Currently, 86 percent of motorcycles on the road have their headlights on during daytime (Turner, 2000).
•
Using the high beam of a motorcycle’s headlight during the day also helps to prevent violations of the motorcyclist’s right-of-way (Hurt, 1981).
AND also
Page 19 of the Florida Motorcycle Handbookhttps://www.flhsmv.gov/handbooks/Eng...leHandbook.pdf5.11.2 - Headlight
The best way to help others see your motorcycle is to keep
the headlight on — at all times (although motorcycles sold
in the USA since 1978 automatically have the headlights on
when running).
Studies show that, during the day, a
motorcycle with its light on is twice as likely to be noticed.
Use of the high beam during the day increases the likelihood
that oncoming drivers will see you. Use the low beam at
night and in cloudy weather.-----------------------------------------------------
What do for DAYLIGHT riding? Highs or lows?
