Law for LED lights mod?

[cool_J]

Hi guys, i've searched and couldn't find any topic about it's legal or illegal to put LED lights on your bike.
I'm wondering to put LED under glow on my bike, but i dont know if it's ok or not, where i can put where i can't or what colour i should use and stuffs. If anyone have more knowledge about this, please give me and someone like me a hint. Thank you

[skidMark]

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/rules/vehicle-lighting-2004.html

No red lights racing forward.... no white lights facing back...

Only the glow must be visable not the neon / LED itself.

Skid.

[cool_J]

Thanks a lot, I should find some way to hide all the bulbs to make the glow. Damn, its guna be hard lolz

[skidMark]

Thanks a lot, I should find some way to hide all the bulbs to make the glow. Damn, its guna be hard lolz


i have done it before not hard.... doesnt matter if you can bend down and see them its just so its not directly visable to "blind" other road users etc

[cool_J]

Oh, i get what you mean now. Ok, i'll try and take photos for you guys to see. I'm still waiting for the items to come.

[CookMySock]

No red lights racing forward.... no white lights facing back...As long as you remember this bit..

You can mostly ignore this bit.

Only the glow must be visable not the neon / LED itself.That is, you CAN point white LEDs directly forward, or red ones directly backward. Blue - keep them inside your fairing or somewhere where they cast their beautiful blueness on the bike or the ground, or ooze out of little gaps in the fairings etc.

Steve

[tigertim20]

You can mostly ignore this bit.
That is, you CAN point white LEDs directly forward, or red ones directly backward. Blue - keep them inside your fairing or somewhere where they cast their beautiful blueness on the bike or the ground, or ooze out of little gaps in the fairings etc.

Steve

My understanding is that you can have white led's facing directly forward ONLY if the LED's are for the operating lights (headlight) and ONLy have red facing directly back if they are for operating lights (brake lights), and other than that it is only the glow that is allowed to be visible. They "test" that simply by whether or not the bulbs can be seen from the seated position behind the wheel (or bars) of another vehicle.

[Sparrowhawk]

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/rules/vehicle-lighting-2004.html

No red lights racing forward.... no white lights facing back...

Only the glow must be visable not the neon / LED itself.

Skid.

Hey SM, great to see a positive, helpful contribution :niceone:
(I'm not being a smartarse, I mean it)

cool_j, send gijoe1313 a PM, he's done it to a coupla bikes, and he's always happy to help out if you supply a box of Bundy's Ginger Beer!

[skidMark]

Hey SM, great to see a positive, helpful contribution :niceone:
(I'm not being a smartarse, I mean it)

cool_j, send gijoe1313 a PM, he's done it to a coupla bikes, and he's always happy to help out if you supply a box of Bundy's Ginger Beer!


I have my uses occasionally.

[Guided_monkey]

Good timing was just planning on fitting a High Stop LED to the FS. Will have to see if any keen coppers :Police: take a dislike.:spanking:

[dwnundabkr]

i am not up on the law but i have a red glow on one side of my bike and a blue on the other, i have not been spoken to about them yet from ether the police or the wof people so i will keep them there until i do, have now been there for nearly 2 years
this is achieved by a flat string of leds spliced together

[cool_J]

Hey guys, thanks a lot for helping me out. There is one thing make me confuse now, ppl say that you can put the red LED at the back or under fender will be fine, and tigertim20 said it can be only break light....so...which one i can follow. I dont wana be pull over tho.

[LBD]

So while we ar on the subject of LED's, can anyone shed any light (Pun intended) on the laws around replacing brake and indicator incandesent lights with super bright LED's Correct colour of course, and much brighter without dazzling anyone unless they are following to close any how...

[CookMySock]

So while we ar on the subject of LED's, can anyone shed any light (Pun intended) on the laws around replacing brake and indicator incandesent lights with super bright LED's Correct colour of course, and much brighter without dazzling anyone unless they are following to close any how...The bulb has to be certified I think. I bought one from DSE to try, and I don't particularly like it. It plugged straight in the bayonet fitting - a direct replacement for the incandescent bulb.

Steve

[vifferman]

The bulb has to be certified I think.
I would doubt that, since all testing (visual or WOF) is done without any dismantling of a vehicle at all.
If you're using lights for the purpose of provide legal lighting of some sort (position markers, brake, headlight, etc), the requirements for markings indicating compliance are for the fitting/housing, not for the innards. However, having said that, there are usually some regulations relating to visibility, which usually require the bulbs to meet certain brightness and visibility (from various angles) standards. Whether this is ever tested apart from in certification, I would doubt very much.

[Laava]

I have completely removed my indicators and have both strip LED's and individual LED's instead. I had no problem getting a wof. The wof guys loved it and I got barraged with questions, no compliance issues at all.

[vifferman]

I have completely removed my indicators and have both strip LED's and individual LED's instead.
How did you do the ones in the mirrors? Did you have to pop the mirror glass out to fit the LEDs?
As to legality, although they meet the intent of the law as regards visibility, a picky bureaucrat (or grumpy cop) could fail them because they don't carry the appropriate 'E' markings.
Mine are sort of the opposite - the indicators are E-marked, but don't meet the regulations for visibility; the right one isn't visible at an angle of 45-degrees from left of front, and the same with the left one viewed from right front. I've got around this by mounting two very small bulbs (not LEDs) in each of the holes in the inside fairing panel where the indicator mounting bolts used to go. It's not as elegant as your set up (nor as visible) but looks enormously better than the OEM "dumbo ear" confirminators, and doesn't result in trashed inner and outer fairing panels in a minor drop.
<img src="http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=57085&d=1174867190"></img>
You can see the aforementioned hole on the inside fairing panel on the right - the small dot of white (before I fitted the additional bulbs - 2 each side).

Here's the ugly originals:
<img src="http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=55025&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1172695255"></img>

[Laava]

How did you do the ones in the mirrors? Did you have to pop the mirror glass out to fit the LEDs?

They are in the handguards[V Strom]
As to legality, although they meet the intent of the law as regards visibility, a picky bureaucrat (or grumpy cop) could fail them because they don't carry the appropriate 'E' markings.

As i understand it only the headlight and tail light need to be E marked. You are right about the 45degree thing tho. I deliberately made them visible. Some of the cheeky so and so's I ride with call it the mother ship cos they are so bright!

Mine are sort of the opposite - the indicators are E-marked, but don't meet the regulations for visibility; the right one isn't visible at an angle of 45-degrees from left of front, and the same with the left one viewed from right front. I've got around this by mounting two very small bulbs (not LEDs) in each of the holes in the inside fairing panel where the indicator mounting bolts used to go. It's not as elegant as your set up (nor as visible) but looks enormously better than the OEM "dumbo ear" confirminators, and doesn't result in trashed inner and outer fairing panels in a minor drop.

Initially it was all about getting a cleaner look but this is a V Strom and now I have bolted any number of handy contrivances and knick knacks on that detract from this! You have managed it tho on your bike.
I want to do a cafe racer style custom now with hidden LED's. I prevoiously did a custom dash on one. Just the usual 5 lights.

[LBD]

Laava, where did you find those strips? The mods you and vifferman have made look good.

I have fitted 4 super bright Rizzomas as shown and they are much brighter than the previous units. Was just wondering if I could expect dramas from the constablary or at WOF time, I don't think so.

[vifferman]

I have fitted 4 super bright Rizzomas as shown and they are much brighter than the previous units.
Very nice looking bike! :niceone:
Love the indicators.


Was just wondering if I could expect dramas from the constablary or at WOF time, I don't think so.
Take it into a friendly WOF place or bike shop before the WOF's due, and ask them. Better than leaving it and having to do a last-minute scramble to replace the old ones for the WOF.
The indicators look OK - the main issue will be how visible they are at an angle; at most you may have to remount them in a slightly different location or with longer stalks.

[Laava]

[QUOTE=LBD;2008078]Laava, where did you find those strips? QUOTE]
I mail ordered from the states. Google will find similar. www.superbriteleds.com

[cool_J]

well....I was asking about LED for decoration. If you change the LED for break light or indicators, that's alright I think

[tigertim20]

Hey guys, thanks a lot for helping me out. There is one thing make me confuse now, ppl say that you can put the red LED at the back or under fender will be fine, and tigertim20 said it can be only break light....so...which one i can follow. I dont wana be pull over tho.


Ill clarify what I said for ya mate, You can only have red BULBS visible on the back if its for the brake light, you can however have red LED's under the bike or under the fender provided only the glow can be seen, and not the bulbs (from the seated position of another vehicle)
Does that clarify it for ya?

[AllanB]

Laava, where did you find those strips? The mods you and vifferman have made look good.

I have fitted 4 super bright Rizzomas as shown and they are much brighter than the previous units. Was just wondering if I could expect dramas from the constablary or at WOF time, I don't think so.

There should be no issue with these - Rizzoma stuff is all e-marked (there will be numbers or letters stamped on them) and meet TUV German standards that far exceed anything in NZ.

[98tls]

There is no such thing as having to have certain letters/markings etc fwiw,when i put the leds on the TL the local Suzuki guy said "cant give it a WOF" because of the correct lettering thing,few weeks later after having the WOF guy call in he rang me and said its an old wives tale we can give you a warrent.Yea i know i shouldnt have my number plate in the pic but the dog reckons "hes got it covered" if anyones feeling lucky.:drool:

[Laava]

When I vinned my Laverda bought here from England, the only concern at the rear was that the reflector be E marked. They made me add one as the std tail light one had no markings.

[rosie631]

I have blue leds under mine. They were on it when I got it. Never had any trouble with WOF or cops.:innocent:

[cool_J]

Ill clarify what I said for ya mate, You can only have red BULBS visible on the back if its for the brake light, you can however have red LED's under the bike or under the fender provided only the glow can be seen, and not the bulbs (from the seated position of another vehicle)
Does that clarify it for ya?

Hey, I understand what you mean, but for the red at the back, if I put under the fender, can I put close to the suspension or as close as the fender as I can? Because i think if put close to the suspension I will have more glow but probably can be seen by other people (not from the back but if they move lil bit left or right they probably see them LED)

[LBD]

There should be no issue with these - Rizzoma stuff is all e-marked (there will be numbers or letters stamped on them) and meet TUV German standards that far exceed anything in NZ.

Your are right about the indicators being e-homogulated, I bought them cause I like them...silly boy shoulda checked.

Not all Rizzoma is E homogulated however, but the catalogue plainly labels that which is and is not....I just have to learn to read between the pictures:doh:

[Laava]

Hey, I understand what you mean, but for the red at the back, if I put under the fender, can I put close to the suspension or as close as the fender as I can? Because i think if put close to the suspension I will have more glow but probably can be seen by other people (not from the back but if they move lil bit left or right they probably see them LED)
Go for it!

[Renegade]

Good timing was just planning on fitting a High Stop LED to the FS. Will have to see if any keen coppers :Police: take a dislike.:spanking:

goldwings and the like have them and many other after market light goodies to light then up like night trains, you will be sweet

[Renegade]

Hey guys, thanks a lot for helping me out. There is one thing make me confuse now, ppl say that you can put the red LED at the back or under fender will be fine, and tigertim20 said it can be only break light....so...which one i can follow. I dont wana be pull over tho.

its fine as a rear facing tail light, not all of some vehicles tail lights are dual tail/brake lights