Running without lights?

[colsan1]

Here in the UK we can get a daytime MOT (our version of wof)
Basically you can legally ride on the road with out any lights fitted
(no headlight, tail light, brake light or indicators). the only legal stipulation is that
a continuous sounding horn must be fitted (so no push bike rubber honk honk jobbies)
I dont ride at night very often, if ever and was wondering if its possible to do the same in nz,
i would like to remove all lights and fit race bodywork but will it get a wof and will it be legal?
cheers
col

[Ixion]

It is technically possible, but very difficult. Pretty much reserved for vintage vehicles that never had lights, and very strictly defined competition or 'special' vehicles.

If you had a good reason you could probably do it (with a lot of trouble), but just not wanting to be bothered with lights wouldn't cut it.

[bungbung]

My workmate has a 1942 WLA Harley in period set up, including blackout lights. This was first registered in NZ this year. He can ride it at night time.

[.produKt]

I don't understand why you would want to?

To me, it sounds a lot like suicide :wacko:

[colsan1]

to much messing about trying to replace them when you bin it.
I dont see it as being any more dangerous than riding with your lights switched off during the day.
The idea is that it wouldnt be ridden at night, now that would be silly

[Nasty]

to much messing about trying to replace them when you bin it.
I dont see it as being any more dangerous than riding with your lights switched off during the day.
The idea is that it wouldnt be ridden at night, now that would be silly


I am sorry but if you plan on binning why ride?

Check out http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/rules/ ... but I think you will find they are not quite like the UK.

[TimeOut]

New laws coming may make it compulsary to have lights on at all times

[colsan1]

I don't understand why you would want to?

To me, it sounds a lot like suicide :wacko:
I wouldnt be using it at night so i see it as no more dangerous
than riding without your lights on, i dont see a problem at all

[skidMark]

As far as i understand it you did not need a headlight but you must have indicators and a brake light.

Ps. you're nuts.

[motorbyclist]

I wouldnt be using it at night so i see it as no more dangerous
than riding without your lights on, i dont see a problem at all

during the day you're something like twice as visible with lights on, so why wouldn't you just leave them on permanently unless your electrics are screwed?

probably the reasoning behind the new laws coming through.... bit silly though considering most new bikes have lights on whether you like it or not

[FilthyLuka]

I am sorry but if you plan on binning why ride?


No offence, but if that logic persisted, swing arm spools, crash bungs and (to extent) saftey gear sales would go down something righteous

[madandy]

I think that regularly riding in NZ without a brake light, headlight and indicators would see you being run down on general principal within the first 20 blocks around a city or less than 1000kms on the open road. Or do you really like all that hand signalling guff? Car, bus and truck drivers may be able tro get away with it but we're too vulnerable on bikes...and Kiwis like flashing lights. :)

[NordieBoy]

You need blinkers, horn, brake light (off front and rear brakes) and headlight (high beam not necessary).

[colsan1]

at klast nordieboy has come up with a proper reply.
It must be cultural thing but there is nothing wrong with running with a daytime only MOT (wof) in the uk.
you can only ride during daylight hours and yes it would be stupid to do otherwise.
When i go out on my bike i cannot remember the last time i used the headlight
unless it was evening or night time.
I didnt realise kiwi riders were such softies, :baby:
oh well i guess i'll have to get myself a nice safe comfy town bike and some high vis safety gear when i arrive

[kevfromcoro]

.




I didnt realise kiwi riders were such softies, :baby:

well ,,most of us take our riding very serious...
anything to improve saferty is no..1
you will find riding in NZ is probably a bit different to what you are used to
BTW..calling us a pack of softies is probably not a good way to start..
enjoy your ride

[NordieBoy]

well ,,most of us take our riding very serious...
anything to improve saferty is no..1
you will find riding in NZ is probably a bit different to what you are used to
BTW..calling us a pack of softies is probably not a good way to start..
enjoy your ride

I'm going to eventually get my XR250 registered.
All it needs is a horn, brake light, speedo, headlight.
They can even be run off a small battery, total loss style.
Don't need blinkers :D

[Devil]

.....
It must be cultural thing ......
you can only ride during daylight hours and yes it would be stupid to do otherwise......
When i go out on my bike i cannot remember the last time i used the headlight
unless it was evening or night time.....
......
....and some high vis safety gear when i arrive

It hasn't been explained to you yet, hence why you dont understand.
Motorcycles in NZ dont exist for 95% of the absolutely incompetent, unskilled, ignorant and just generally fucking useless drivers we have here (not limited to just cars).
The most basic defence we have is being seen. That starts with headlights.
We'd love to be able to not have that stuff. But here, on our roads, you're fucking nuts not to have it. You'll realise that pretty quick when you get here.
Hence all the replies wondering what crack you're smoking.

[.produKt]

Well said :yes:

[motorbyclist]

It must be cultural thing but there is nothing wrong with running with a daytime only MOT (wof) in the uk.

do you guys have an equivalent to acc over there?

acc is basically govt health insurance that assumes no fault, paid for by taxes/levies.

as such the govt likes to over legislate stuff towards safety to keep costs down, which is ultimately turning the nation soft, and gives people a reason to bitch about others behaving badly... but in the meantime has allowed us to pursure all sorts of downright dangerous behaviour (like motorcross) at no cost as we don't have ridiculous insurance premiums to pay. but, of course this doesn't make it free, as everything govt run is our money, it just shares the cost onto the general populace who generally don't want to be paying the medical care of a prison inmate who broke his leg trying to escape (for example the road bike registration acc levie pays the offroad accidents for some retarded reason)


and of course because acc never finds who was at fault, motorcyclists pay ridiculous levies for acc when the accidents are caused by car drivers, guys doing wheelies, and diesel/gravel spilled on the roads....

still, it's good to know you're covered no-matter what you were doing, and for this rare instance in NZ policy you don't have to be poor and of a minority race to get it. unless there's an insurer who will give similar guaranateed payouts i'm happy to leave it as it is


/rant

[madandy]

at klast nordieboy has come up with a proper reply.
It must be cultural thing but there is nothing wrong with running with a daytime only MOT (wof) in the uk.
you can only ride during daylight hours and yes it would be stupid to do otherwise.
When i go out on my bike i cannot remember the last time i used the headlight
unless it was evening or night time.
I didnt realise kiwi riders were such softies, :baby:
oh well i guess i'll have to get myself a nice safe comfy town bike and some high vis safety gear when i arrive

Stupid to ride without a headlight on during the day here mate.
That's highway, byway and in the cities/towns.
Use high beam.
And indicators - not that every one uses them or understands their use, but you'll love our round-a-bouts :devil2:
They will run you down given half a chance.

[avgas]

I have been told that if the bike came with lights or the bike is younger than 50 years old it must be fitted with lights (including indicators) to comply for WOF. As i have had all sorts of fun for cafe racer / street fighter projects.

[.produKt]

lol yep. High beems, Fluro yellow jacket, hot pink pants with reflector strips etc
There just isn't enough that you can do to safegaurd yourself from evil kiwi cage drivers >_<

Nice post too motorbyclist. +rep :)

[Ixion]

I have been told that if the bike came with lights or the bike is younger than 50 years old it must be fitted with lights (including indicators) to comply for WOF. As i have had all sorts of fun for cafe racer / street fighter projects.

Indicators you don't need if first rego was pre 1978. Ditto brake lights. Speedo, if pre 1950 (these dates are from memory could be a year out). Not sure about horn, but it can be a rubber bulb type.

Lights is trickier. Official attitude is that bikes (and cars) had to have lights from at least the 20s on (and in most towns from around 1900 on). So your bike should have SOME form of lighting.

However, back in the day the rules were looser. And some lighting (eg acetylene) won't really meet todays standards.

So there is a special exemption option. It requires certification from the Vinatge Car Club (who do bikes too) , that your bike (or car) never had modern lights. Then you get a special WoF for daytime use only. But they look very hard at such applications, to be sure they are genuine, and to satisfy themselves about other stuff . If the vehicle is so old it never had lights, what else does it maybe not have ? (There's another special option for brakes, too, old bikes never had front brakes).

There's also a special exemption for rally vehicles and other competition stuff . Through the motorsport guys.

And some trail type bikes were exempted from the indicator (and, I think, brake light) rules. Specifically listed in the VIRM.

That's it.

can't see the point of wanting a bike without lights. So what are you going to do when you're 300 miles from hoime and twilight is setting in? Have to be a bit of a poser to only go out on fine days and be home with Mummy before dark .

[NordieBoy]

And some trail type bikes were exempted from the indicator (and, I think, brake light) rules. Specifically listed in the VIRM.

Just indicators.

Interesting that the TF125 Mud Bug is exempt.
They still make them :D

[motorbyclist]

well that would explain why three of my past dirtbikes came with all the road gear bar the indicators....

one even had a rego from '85 still stuck under the seat!

[Padmei]

[QUOTE=
I didnt realise kiwi riders were such softies, :baby:

Youre gonna love it here - the beers to cold, all our tradesman are hopeless, everythings overpriced, you can't buy cool niteclubing clothes, we ride like babies & you can't get a good pork pie anywhere. Now still interested in coming...:whocares:

[Motu]

Sounds like there is not much defensive riding done in NZ anymore - just rely on your lights and everyone will see you.

There was a daytime WoF available a few years ago - was meant for farmers and competition vehicles.But too many people abused the right and it was removed.Your bike might be listed as not requiring indicators Nordie.....but come to the crunch and I don't think it will pass.Too many other rules over ride it.

[NordieBoy]

Your bike might be listed as not requiring indicators Nordie.....but come to the crunch and I don't think it will pass.Too many other rules over ride it.

The local vehicle inspector road leagled his own 1979 XR500 without blinkers and he's been telling me what I need to do :D

[colsan1]

Hence all the replies wondering what crack you're smoking.


lol yep. High beems, Fluro yellow jacket, hot pink pants with reflector strips etc


Have to be a bit of a poser to only go out on fine days and be home with Mummy before dark .



Youre gonna love it here - the beers to cold, all our tradesman are hopeless, everythings overpriced, you can't buy cool niteclubing clothes, we ride like babies & you can't get a good pork pie anywhere.:

Blimey that shook things up a bit didnt it !! :Oops:

[NordieBoy]

Blimey that shook things up a bit didnt it !! :Oops:

Well it's all your fault for asking a question.

:buggerd:

[madandy]

Sounds like there is not much defensive riding done in NZ anymore - just rely on your lights and everyone will see you.

There was a daytime WoF available a few years ago - was meant for farmers and competition vehicles.But too many people abused the right and it was removed.Your bike might be listed as not requiring indicators Nordie.....but come to the crunch and I don't think it will pass.Too many other rules over ride it.

I offer that using the headlight is part of a defensive riding strategy. Ya still have to watch every other motorist.

[motorbyclist]

just heading home at 11pm tonight a came across two motorists who had only turned on their park/fog lights to illuminate their dashboard but had failed to turn their headlights on and hadn't noticed!

then there was another one who clearly thought it was cool to disable your brake lights (or let both bulbs blow) and leave your reversing lights on permanently, giving everyone behind you a confusing array of red and bright white lights and no indication of you braking...

[awayatc]

Here in the UK we can get a daytime MOT (our version of wof)
Basically you can legally ride on the road with out any lights fitted
(no headlight, tail light, brake light or indicators). the only legal stipulation is that
a continuous sounding horn must be fitted (so no push bike rubber honk honk jobbies)
I dont ride at night very often, if ever and was wondering if its possible to do the same in nz,
i would like to remove all lights and fit race bodywork but will it get a wof and will it be legal?
cheers
col


I come from Europe, and am used to drive/ride on the right hand side of the road.
I to am wondering if it would be possible to do the same in NZ... and get an exemption or so....:blink:

[colsan1]

Ha ha ha ha ha. . . . . . . . . not funny

[Padmei]

I come from Europe, and am used to drive/ride on the right hand side of the road.
I to am wondering if it would be possible to do the same in NZ... and get an exemption or so....:blink:

You don't need an exemption for that sometimes I spend most of my rides o\ver there. Gets a bit crowded sometimes but we work it ourt:wari:

[Rogue]

Dont mind riding during the day with my headlights on
But you will never get me to wear a hi viz :calm:
Have you guys/girls that wear them seen yourself you look like :eek5:
They dont make FA of a differance on the open road. Always see the lights though.

By the way there are a few useless drivers/riders out there on NZ roads but Im sure there is not as many as you have read in the posts.I clock up 100km a day riding to and from work and have gone for days without seeing any useless driver/riders.
These guys are only trying to wind you up or all the useless drivers/riders are in their area. If its the latter please let it remain so :whistle:

By the way I am sure you can still register for the road and not require a WOF eg quads-farmbikes-farm vehicles etc there are conditions but cant remember them at the mo

[motorbyclist]

By the way there are a few useless drivers/riders out there on NZ roads but Im sure there is not as many as you have read in the posts.I clock up 100km a day riding to and from work and have gone for days without seeing any useless driver/riders.
These guys are only trying to wind you up or all the useless drivers/riders are in their area. If its the latter please let it remain so :whistle:

heck just this morning i was driving my *bright purple* car, headlights on due to the rain (now ended), i'm headed down a main road. A car pulls up from a sidestreet to turn left. she waits, looks straight at me, waits some more, then right at the last minute pulls out and not keeping left, right across the lane like she wanted my bonnet going through her driver side door. slam horn, slam brakes, swerve into median. she gives the usual "oh shit" look out the window when i hit my horn about a metre from her door.

similar thing happened on thursday arvo, except i was on the bike and they were turning right. weird thing was i had a gut feeling something was about to happen a good 50m back down the road....

doesn't seem to matter what or how you're driving there IS some real idiots out there, the the elderly/holden/4WD/asian stereotypes do seem to hold true alot of the time too...

assume all of them to be a pack of retards, and you'll be ok.