Main Beam or Not?

[Al Gorithum]

My daily commute is pretty much a fight for survival so in an attempt to improve my odds I tend to ride with the main beam on all the time, unless it's at night or on-coming traffic etc.

Am I wrong?

[Register1]

No,

But why not to "out rider" bright LED lights
I think 2 bright white LED lights are more visible, being "out of normal"

[Bob_Defly]

I have done in the past, but you will get flashed a lot.

[Pica-Pica]

Absolutely and totally wrong. I have seen riders come towards me on main beam. Selfish and ignorant. Do you want a squirt of mine back?
Remember with main beam on, any approaching vehicle or vehicle in front cannot discern any outline, or any real sense of your position.

Edited by Pica-Pica on Thursday 12th August 17:29

[CoolHands]

Do it, it really helps.

[the cueball]

I have 2 bright led lights under the ‘normal’ lights on my bike, I use them for night/winter riding as Yamaha decided that candles were a good option back in ‘98 for a light source…but I’ve started turning them on when filtering too with post lock down driving being so poor at the moment.

I’ve found it makes a difference to cars moving a bit and giving me more room.

On my newer bikes, I’ve started putting the hazards on when I filter. (daily bike is too old for such technology!)

Edited by the cueball on Thursday 12th August 18:57

[jjones]

Only when filtering on dual carriageways/motorways.

[Fire99]

Never (intentionally) when other traffic is around. There's enough animosity between car and bike riders as it is and when I'm not on the bike and in the car and I'm being blinded by a motorbike, I understand why car drivers get p*ssed off.

As they say be part of the solution, not the problem.

[moto_traxport]

Going in the opposite direction- a quick check there isn’ a pillion on the back and then I give them full blinding beam straight back. Don’t flash just leave it on until they’ve gone past.

If they’re going the same way as me and blind me in the mirror then full road block mode engaged.

TLDR; No.

[airsafari87]

I'd put a 'Polite' vest on as well.

[Cliftonite]

Al Gorithum said:

My daily commute is pretty much a fight for survival so in an attempt to improve my odds I tend to ride with the main beam on all the time, unless it's at night or on-coming traffic etc.

Am I wrong?

Ask your driving (riding) instructor.

[Pothole]

Please don't. It just dazzles other road users. If you fit stupidly bright LEDs, please make sure they are also adjusted so as not to dazzle. You wouldn't like to come across other road users dazzling you, so don't be a tt.

[Steve Bass]

Pothole said:

Please don't. It just dazzles other road users. If you fit stupidly bright LEDs, please make sure they are also adjusted so as not to dazzle. You wouldn't like to come across other road users dazzling you, so don't be a tt.

^^ Pretty much this and what Moto_raxport said....

And if your daily commute is a 'fight for survival' as you put it, ask whether you're contributing to the stress of the riding conditions rather than riding defensively enough to mitigate others stupidity...

[anonymous-user]

I see many riders follow this as a course of trying to be safe. Yet, they still make silly manoeuvers

[Jazoli]

Any tt on a bike riding with their main beam on gets their filtering gap closed if I'm in the car and if they are coming the other way they'll get my main beams too, its a s trick and guaranteed to piss everyone off, we get enough people hating us for various reasons, having full beam on marks you out as a total prick.

[Steve Bass]

Jazoli said:

Any tt on a bike riding with their main beam on gets their filtering gap closed if I'm in the car and if they are coming the other way they'll get my main beams too, its a s trick and guaranteed to piss everyone off, we get enough people hating us for various reasons, having full beam on marks you out as a total prick.

.....Is another way of saying it

[Kawasicki]

I never ride against oncoming traffic with main beams.

It‘s working out fairly well for me, no real near misses over the years, just fun/focused riding.

[Lee540]

BMW LED Headlights, main beam and spot lights on.. riding towards me. My favourite thing.

[OverSteery]

Great plan, dazzle other so they can't determine what vehicle is it.

Then when they see its a bike, give everybody another reason to hate motorcyclists.

If you have so much trouble filtering, I suggest the problem may be in the saddle?

[bgunn]

Concentrate on riding properly so you don't need to pi$$ off other people, oh and whilst you're there take off your super loud pipe as they don't save lives.