High beam. WTF?

[DR650gary]

Trailered my new bike home yesterday from Tauranga.... TDM90 Woo Hoo, and got passed a couple of times by three blokes on cruisers. Got passed three time by them as they kept stopping to rest. Two of the three had their lights on high beam. Very annoying having a high beam boring into your eyes via the rearview mirror.

As riders, we often criticise car drivers for their stupidity, but it's a two way street. High beam or low beam will make no difference to a dumbass blind driver, but high beam in the eyes may piss off a potentially supportive car driver.

It certainly pissed me off.

[Mom]

It certainly pissed me off.

Yepper, it is a big time piss off. There is a member here though that will tell you it is perfectly ok to blind riders/drivers in front of him, makes him more visible apparently. Why you need to be that visible to the traffic ahead of you is confusing to me. I am usually looking to see what they are doing, and really try not to piss them off as I approach.

[bogan]

you gotta wonder, if there were three of them, and two had high beams, how do they not get pissed off by it also? I know what you mean though, it's brighter to those who see it, but I wouldn't be surprised if those who miss low beams miss highs as well.

[Toaster]

I noticed that some dealers always flick their demo bikes onto high beam.

My guess is people assume it makes them more visible. It may do, but yes full beam from any vehicle is hard on the eyes.

Using headlights in a manner that causes others to be dazzeled is an offence. Not that some of the minority bikers on this site would care about anyone but themselves.

I figure ride how you would appreciate others to ride.

The regulation to help those not sure about the rules:
Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 (SR 2004/427) (as at 11 December 2009)





8.3 Use of motor vehicle lighting equipment on road

• (1) A person must not use vehicle lighting equipment in such a way that it dazzles, confuses, or distracts so as to endanger the safety of other road users.
  
  
  
  
  
  (2) If a vehicle's headlamps are in use, a driver must dip those headlamps—
  
  • (a) whenever they would be likely to interfere adversely with the vision of another driver in motion on a road; or
  
  
  • (b) when approaching an intersection or other place where the traffic is or appears to be under the control of an enforcement officer; or
  
  
  • (c) when the vehicle is parked.
  (3) A driver, during the hours of darkness, must use the vehicle's headlamp or headlamps.
  
  (4) A driver during the hours of darkness must use the vehicle's position lamp or lamps.
  
  (5) This subclause applies to the driver of a moped or motorcycle manufactured on or after 1 January 1980. The driver other than during the hours of darkness must use the moped's or motorcycle's headlamps or, if fitted, the moped's or motorcycle's daytime running lamps.
  
  Compare: SR 1976/227 r 37(2), (6), (8), (10)
  Clause 8.3(5): added, on 1 November 2009, by clause 30 of the Land Transport (Road User) Amendment Rule 2009 (SR 2009/253).

[DR650gary]

you gotta wonder, if there were three of them, and two had high beams, how do they not get pissed off by it also? I know what you mean though, it's brighter to those who see it, but I wouldn't be surprised if those who miss low beams miss highs as well.

Not judging, and they may be members here, but my wife and I who are both long time riders thought that their traffic sense was a little underdeveloped.

Readjust that wording to a style that suits you.

The lead rider kept cutting back in behind traffic midway through a traffic line passing manoeuvre and the pillocks being lead like sheep, rather than picking their own gaps, often had nowhere to go and had to push in so they weren't too far behind.

I am no saint, but pushing in front of cars, especially when a seconds planning would avoid it, is a little dumb.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Blackshear]

I see enough cagers flipping up their rear at my slightly high low beam.
Slightly high meaning the angle at which my lens directs the beam is missing an adjustment screw of some kind, high would just point above their heads ah ha.

[Toaster]

I also noticed when riding sportsbikes with firm suspension on country roads, that the headlight would vibrate alot more than my car and that also, although dipped, was an annoyance as it effectively lifted the beam into the eyes of oncoming vehicles. Not much one can do to prevent that though!

Anyone else notice that?

[Tink]

Trailered my new bike home yesterday from Tauranga.... TDM90 Woo Hoo, and got passed a couple of times by three blokes on cruisers. Got passed three time by them as they kept stopping to rest. Two of the three had their lights on high beam. Very annoying having a high beam boring into your eyes via the rearview mirror.

As riders, we often criticise car drivers for their stupidity, but it's a two way street. High beam or low beam will make no difference to a dumbass blind driver, but high beam in the eyes may piss off a potentially supportive car driver.

It certainly pissed me off.

I don't often ride at night, early morning alone yes, but came home following one night late form Nasty's and partner said my bike looked like the high beam was on the whole time I was behind him. Well in fact prob was high, but not on high beam.... I had the bike lowered and the suspension worked... BUT forgot to adjust the light. Not saying that is the case, more than likely not... but even the cars following me where irritating my vision ahead... who knows.. But I am getting my head light looked at.

[Toaster]

Yepper, it is a big time piss off. There is a member here though that will tell you it is perfectly ok to blind riders/drivers in front of him.

Don't you just love team players?!

[Pussy]

It's bloody irritating.
Just another way of making all motorcyclists look like selfish arrogant twats.

[Mom]

It's bloody irritating.
Just another way of making all motorcyclists look like selfish arrogant twats.

Hey, I resemble that comment

[Mom]

But I am getting my head light looked at.

Good thinking Tink! And wise head too

[pzkpfw]

It certainly pissed me off.

I second this motion.


(Especially when an "adventure" (dual purpose) bike is close behind you, in busy traffic, so it's fairly high off the ground headlight is right in your freaking mirror for freaking ages. Grrrr.)

[Tink]

Good thinking Tink! And wise head too

lol thanks... soooo you guys around this weekend...???

[Mom]

lol thanks... soooo you guys around this weekend...???

Picking my bike up Saturday morning -ish. Despite all the social offers available, I am thinking I will probably head out to "play" on my new wheels. I will spend many hours commuting up and down the motorway, I dont feel any desire to do that on my first day out on her.

That takes care of Saturday, Sunday, maybe head to Mangawhai for lunch Want to come along?