jbt wrote: Ace Handler wrote:
And it's BRIGHT! 'Cause you gotta be seen!!
Well, beware of this belief...it' mainly wrong.
Sadly, the perception of a targets depends mainly of the viewer, not of the target.
Of course, if you're riding at night with no lamp, your visibility is not good and you should switch your light on to improve it.
But apart from that, attention of the viewer is fundamental: if he doesn't expect to see you, even a full ramp of Baja lights won't trigger its attention.
I've worked some years as a customs motorcycle officer. In some cases, I learned that event a "police decorated" bike, with the front light on with to blue flashing lamps and 120dB sirens turned on, in daylight, is not perceived at all by a driver. RIP, fellow...
There's also a paradox: If you want to be seen, you must be visible, but if you're too bright, nobody will watch you to avoid dazzling. I sometimes see motorcycles with such a powerful front light that you can't even see if the turning signals are on - and anway you can't spot it.
The only solution is to ride as if nobody was expecting you.