High beams

[boomding]

Hello all. I'm an oldie who recently rode in the Yoop and I have this question: Does anyone still click down to low beams for oncoming sleds? I always thought it was a common courtesy (as it is when driving a car) but I found that not to be the case. Seems there are a lot more selfish riders out there these-a-days.

[Cat600]

I always click down for others. Not that I use the highs that much on my new sled since they aim up to high for my liking.

[Ricardo]

I agree completely, 99% of the riders I meet appear to be inconsiderate bast.... Sleds could be lighter/simpler/cheaper by eliminating the low beams and the dimmer switch assembly. Manners and common courtesy are dying quickly because nobody bothers to teach them anymore.

[snojunkie]

In addition to the high beams when will people learn to stay to the right? I caught up to one group riding everywhere but to the right, one of them stopped on a blind curve totally to the left side of the trail looking back for the others, thank god that nobody was coming from the other direction or there would have been serious injuries. WAKE UP PEOPLE.

[hoosierblizzard]

Always dim them for oncoming traffic(sleds/cars/etc) and always stay to the right.

[whitedust]

I always ride on low beams during the day but noticed no one else does.lol At night most don't dim either.:(

[Team Elkhorn]

I just don't think the people that ride around with their brights on all the time realize how dangerous it is to blind the sleds coming at them from the other direction. I think they are doing it to be seen better, but I think it has the opposite effect if I'm covering my eyes trying to save my retinas.:p

[whitedust]

I have a brite blue light on the dash saying dim down dummie. Maybe others don't have bright indicator lights & don't know. Too me keep all lights off on dash so important indicator lights are noticed.

[lesledhead]

I ride with brights on during the day. Better for people to see me. Brights during the day aren't nearly as bright as night.

I always dim my lights for oncoming traffic during the night. Those that don't are either lazy, forgetful or concentrating more on keeping their sled on their side of the trail, in my opinion.

[whitedust]

You are sucking off a lot of power running brights all day working your electrical system twice as hard. To me if you can't see me on a typical winter day with no snow blowing then brights won't help. Then again I ride alone so snow dust is not a problem as it would be in a pack.

[snowbuff]

[QUOTE=lesledhead;263900]I ride with brights on during the day. Better for people to see me. Brights during the day aren't nearly as bright as night.

Poppycock! I assure you this does NOT help people see you better and it can still be a pain for people comming at you.

I even try to "flash" people at night and it still don't get them to dim down. Really blinding when a whole group is comming at you with brights on. I ALWAYS din down when other sled are comming. And always ride with dims during daylight.

[rp7x]

with all the snow dust THEY can't see a thing oh well

[windingtrailgal]

I almost never turn on my brights. Only time I can think of in past few years was when I stopped to readjust a glove and got too far behind pack to see tail lights on some twisties. I have no problem seeing regular ol headlights during the day. When brights do come at me with these newer sleds, feel blinded.

When my now almost 14 yr old took his snowmobiling class a few years back (which I took with him), this is one of the things that came up in class...respecting your fellow riders. The officer teaching the class basically stated that this was the section that had nothing to do with the law...but everything to do with being safe and courteous to your fellow rider.

They make everything so accessible on sleds nowadays...just have to move your left thumb half and inch and your brights are off. I have the feeling with some that I've seen out there that they really aren't even aware of what is and is not on their sled - be it a rental or something they bought, got on and just road.

[lesledhead]

Driving with brights on in the day isn't blinding anyone. Daytime running lights on cars are usually brighter than the normal headlight settings too. Why? Because it's safer. A dim headlight during the daylight hours is not at bright as during the night. Don't try to tell me that a brighter headlight in the day isn't easier to see than a dim headlight. We deal with the weather, snow dust, trees, brush, you name it. What will be seen during the day first, brights or dims?

I've never been bothered by anyone's headlights during they day. Only the brights at night. Didn't mean to turn this into such a debate. I just agree that brights at night need to be dimmed.

[whitedust]

Driving with brights on in the day isn't blinding anyone. Daytime running lights on cars are usually brighter than the normal headlight settings too. Why? Because it's safer. A dim headlight during the daylight hours is not at bright as during the night. Don't try to tell me that a brighter headlight in the day isn't easier to see than a dim headlight. We deal with the weather, snow dust, trees, brush, you name it. What will be seen during the day first, brights or dims?

I've never been bothered by anyone's headlights during they day. Only the brights at night. Didn't mean to turn this into such a debate. I just agree that brights at night need to be dimmed.

LOL..... try driving at night with daytime saftey lights only you won't see a thing. Not a true statement that saftey lights are brighter than dim nightime lights. If you think you need bright lights switched on your sled to be seen during day then nobody here going to change your perception. Others can say we don't like having your brights in our eyes anytime night or day. Just so you know others think you are not making their ride as pleasurable as it could be. I can see you with dims on no problem & think you are over compensating running brights 24/7. WTG is trying to give you good advise & she always runs in packs does not need brights during daytime riding. Why not try it for grins & giggles as dims light up trail in front of you not 300 feet down the trail anyway? I just think you don't realize cause & effects of running brights all the time. Either that or you don't care which is your right too. Just saying there might be a better way if you try it. I know I would enjoy my ride more seeing less bright lights.:)

[Wild Bill]

only people who wear mohawks on their helmet neglect to take the hi-beams off

[lesledhead]

LOL..... try driving at night with daytime saftey lights only you won't see a thing. Not a true statement that saftey lights are brighter than dim nightime lights. If you think you need bright lights switched on your sled to be seen during day then nobody here going to change your perception. Others can say we don't like having your brights in our eyes anytime night or day. Just so you know others think you are not making their ride as pleasurable as it could be. I can see you with dims on no problem & think you are over compensating running brights 24/7. WTG is trying to give you good advise & she always runs in packs does not need brights during daytime riding. Why not try it for grins & giggles as dims light up trail in front of you not 300 feet down the trail anyway? I just think you don't realize cause & effects of running brights all the time. Either that or you don't care which is your right too. Just saying there might be a better way if you try it. I know I would enjoy my ride more seeing less bright lights.:)

I see both side of the debate. Believe me, there are plenty of debates on the john dee forum and I realize that the opinions greatly vary. I see this just like the daytime running light debate. All cars need them because too many people don't turn on their headlights in the rain or snow during the day, which is just dangerous.

Perhaps the few of you out there that are annoyed by the occasional guy with brights on during the day just need to forget about it any try to enjoy your day. There are thousands of riders out there with thousands of riding styles. People are too quick to point out/complain about the little things. Helmet mohawks, monster stickers, guys who stand up, backpacks, bright lights, etc. what will you pick on next? People who use or don't use hand signals? (had a kid almost kill me this weekend because he was more worried about using a hand signal than controlling his sled)

Wild Bill, I might have to go buy a mohawk! :P

[indybru]

X 2 with snowjunkie on staying to the right. I came around a blind corner and a leader of a group was looking back 20 yards at the stop sign for his group. Problem was he was way in my lane. Lucky I was going slow but my first reaction was I'm going to hit this person head on and they won't see it coming.
So I went off the trail right the problem was a 4 inch by 4 inch post. I got between the person in my lane but caught the right ski on the post and got thrown off.

I had the Tex Vest on but landed on my right elbow on hard ground. I had xrays nothing broken but my elbow is black and blue and I can't do much like ski (polling motion and resistance) or exercise like lifting weights. Only cardio I can do is the life cycle. Its getting better, my windshield was damaged, lost a rear view mirror and may have a A- Arm problem, not that worried sled has 10,000 miles. 05 MXZ

I consider my self lucky and the guy in the other side nothing happened to him, he was very lucky.

[Team Elkhorn]

If your riding at me with your brites during the day, all I see is a blinding beam of lite coming at me. If your brites are off, I can see what type of sled you ride, what side of the trail your on, and most important whether or not your standing or wearing a mohawk.:D

[whitedust]

If your riding at me with your brites during the day, all I see is a blinding beam of lite coming at me. If your brites are off, I can see what type of sled you ride, what side of the trail your on, and most important whether or not your standing or wearing a mohawk.:D

He is not willing to even try low beams during the day & that is why we see soooooo many brights on during day time riding. What can you do?

[windingtrailgal]

I wasn't complaining about anything... I wouldn't have even brought it up but when it WAS brought up I added my .02.

I like to keep my eyes on the trail, use hand signals when I can, stay to the right of the trail, stop at an appropriate spot in the trail if I have to stop, use turn ahead signs when they're available, stay on trail when I'm supposed to, stop at stop signs, let ricky racers pass me and pass slower folks at an appropriate spot without rooster tailing them.

You're right, plenty of room on the trail for all kinds of riders and all kinds of opinions out there. I was just responding to someone else stating the high beams bug them and they obviously bother some others as well, I'm pretty sure I didn't complain and I sure as heck don't let it ruin my day no matter how anyone else rides unless they run me off the trail or what happened to indybru.

[sixball]

Day time lights on vehicles are at 40% power. I am going with brights in day time only help blind another rider no help seeing you coming. Many are adding even brighter lights to there sleds then come on stock.

[lenny]

you would not believe how many people signal at night. Like I'm supposed to look into a headlight to see a hand signal. Slow way down sometime at night and you'll be surprised at how many are signaling

[700classic]

you would not believe how many people signal at night. Like I'm supposed to look into a headlight to see a hand signal. Slow way down sometime at night and you'll be surprised at how many are signaling
Are they signaling you or flipping you off because forgot to turn off your high beams?? :D

[lenny]

I don't know. I run hi beams when no sleds are coming at me.




Are they signaling you or flipping you off because forgot to turn off your high beams?? :D

[indy_500]

I think people signaling at night is some funny $#1+. Can't believe how many people did it this weekend, I just sit back and laugh... I have yet to ride a sled where I thought I could see better with the brights on...

[toys4me]

I always click down for others. Not that I use the highs that much on my new sled since they aim up to high for my liking.

I agree.

[whitedust]

They all can be adjusted down some easy some very difficult most out of box stock high beams are bouncing off the tree tops. Low beams are for twistys see what is out there 50 to 150 feet or so brights are for far distance way down the trail light up the world applications. Just as a car you should be on low beams 80% of the time 20% on brights & only when needed. Riding on brights 100% of riding time is just plain wrong misapplication of snowmobile lights.