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Often on my way to work I get passed by a large adventure type motorbike.
Its been blinged up a bit with a big pair of driving lamps mounted either side of the rad that are wired up to flash full beams when filtering with the hazard lights on (I guess dubious legality but the rider seems pretty sensible and the rossers are obviously leaving him alone!)
But he's also got this rectangular display on the front of the bike about 200x100mm that displays an amber cross on one side and two horizontal/parallel amber bars on the other. I always notice it in the mirror when the bike is approaching as its completely unique.
Just pondering if its a product you can buy (I don't have a motorbike so I don't know why I'm asking!) and if you can customise it to whatever geometric light pattern you want. Or perhaps its a DIY job. It just seems so random so it intrigues me!
a big pair of driving lamps mounted either side of the rad that are wired up to flash full beams when filtering with the hazard lights on
Sounds like a potential roaster with the hazards and special lights combo.
Of course I could be wrong and maybe they are delivering some vital,life saving products.
I don't tend to filter as much in the dark months,too many drivers with steamed up windows/mirrors doing random manoeuvres.
Have a look here https://abikething.com/ lots of fancy tech for high end bikes.
Sounds like a mobile Blackpool lights! As a rider, enhancing your visibility is sensible, especially in the winter and dark mornings but there is a limit. No matter what you wear or how many lights you have, some drivers will still not see you. Whether they're on their phones, haven't cleared their windscreens or are still half asleep. The only way to deal with that is to ride very defensively, with eyes on stalks and expecting everyone to pull out on you or cut you up. A load of blingy lights are no substitute for that. I'd be particularly concerned at the suggestion he is flashing his main beams. If so, he is dazzling others. Dangerous, selfish and illegal.
Is that not just of the new fancy tft display dashboard units that they all come with now?
So it is SSS! I just imagined it was something aftermarket. I see the bike already has front lamps either side of the grill but I think this bike is running slightly larger ones. I guess he has modified the lights so that the side lamps have taken over the main dipped and high beam as X is really visible in the dark, and it looks like there is a tinted guard that would explain why they are orange.
PS The bike isn't particularly obtrusive or distracting, but what he has done to the lights has put him on an equal footing with all the car LED headlights blazing in your mirrors...it works and you notice him coming through (at a sensible speed) I'd much rather share with this rider than some of the blood donors you see. (maybe they flash dipped, they don't blind you)
There have been a couple of loons in previous years, two notable riders would pass moving traffic at extremely high speed and between opposing lanes of traffic and another liked to high speed weave on the dual carriageway...I don't see them anymore and there have been two or three fatal motorbike crashes on my route so I make the assumption it was them 🙁
Fair enough, seems he is just maximising his visibility. Many modern bikes also have LED headlights now and are very good. The LED headlight on my Tiger 900 GT Pro is better than on any car I've ever owned. The 'side lamps' he has could be legally dubious. I them have factory fitted on my bike, but they are technically fog lights which should only be used in fog or mist and can dazzle other road users in clear conditions. I do use mine in heavy rain sometimes. His may be just auxiliary driving lights which may or may not be legal for daytime use.
The ability to filter is one of the key advantages to riding a motorbike. We are lucky it's legal in the UK as it is banned in many other countries. However it is potentially one of the most dangerous things you can do as a rider. I do it but never quickly (5-10 mph above the vehicles I'm passing) and tend not to bother if the traffic is moving at much above about 30 mph. Even then the concentration required to do it safely is knackering!
I've got a 1250 GS. If you fit a headlight protector some of em come with a coloured part. Mines blue 😁