How are LED strips classified under the law?

[Marmoot]

OK, so the key word is " low wattage lamps on the front and rear of vehicles", meaning any LEDs would automatically be position lights

[Gremlin]

OK, so the key word is " low wattage lamps on the front and rear of vehicles", meaning any LEDs would automatically be position lights

Yeup (with the exception of placement around other lights perhaps - the intention of the law is to mark the outer points of bike)

Couple of pics of the strips I use (ignore Toto holding his head): http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...8&d=1296283599
And on the BMW: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/at...1&d=1315530313

[Hawk]

I have a led strip running on top of fly screen which is mounted above the headlight, it is switchable, (brighter than the headlight at night and may blind cagers). Ive passed a warrant with it and several police have passed me by without even a head turn. I think they relise the intention of it "to be more visible on the road"

[scumdog]

I have a led strip running on top of fly screen which is mounted above the headlight, it is switchable, (brighter than the headlight at night and may blind cagers). Ive passed a warrant with it and several police have passed me by without even a head turn. I think they relise the intention of it "to be more visible on the road"

Pretty much the same as normajeane and I, the lights are switched off at night, they are only there to help make us more visible during the day.

[rastuscat]

The new 2nd Gen BikeVis bullet Positioning Lamps are twice as bright as the 1st Gen BikeVis Bullets and the light is an intense white with a very faint blue tint.

I had some Gen 1s on a previous bike, now sold. Best described as underwhelming. I was quite disappointed.

Really easy to fit, but as bright as a very dull button during the day. Nice at night, but that wasn't why I bought them.

Probably my fault for buying the wrong thing.

I'll be doing some of Gremlins strip LEDs.

[Gremlin]

Hit a rather interesting issue. My forward position lamps fail WOF, but only due to quantity.

A motorcycle may be fitted with 2 (and I have 2), except the VIRM has no section on park lamps, and therefore, park lamps may not be fitted. The BMW (and I assume many others) is factory fitted with one small park lamp, the manual lists it etc. Spoke to NZTA, a "senior" insisted I couldn't talk to anyone higher, but loved repeating out sections of the manual to me, acting like a drone and saying if you've fitted extra lights, and it fails, then they must be removed, blah blah.

The inspector simply classed the park lamp as a position lamp, hence I had 3, and failed.

I'll take this further, because the only concession I could get out of her, was to send them the details and photos, and they'll investigate. Because the strips seem to have increased in popularity, I'm happy to spend a bit of time on this (ideal would be they simply add a clause into the VIRM for park lamps). If anyone can get speak to someone higher than the "senior" I got, it would be appreciated, about the reasoning, or how they class the park lamp (the lady sidestepped my question on how park lamps comply with certification in the first place, if there is no clause). I don't need whole sections of the manual read out verbatim to me.

And the simple answer I guess, is remove the park lamp bulb, except in my case, the bike would throw errors at me, for the missing bulb. For now, since I need to comply by the weekend, I'll remove the strips, but will send a picture, plus the section out of the manual, to NZTA...

The irony in all this is the huge push to make motorcycles more visible, this is more effective than a haz vest hidden behind a screen, but you can't do it.

[scracha]

So just how many Kiwis does it take to fit a light bulb

[Berg]

Hit a rather interesting issue. My forward position lamps fail WOF, but only due to quantity.

A motorcycle may be fitted with 2 (and I have 2), except the VIRM has no section on park lamps, and therefore, park lamps may not be fitted. The BMW (and I assume many others) is factory fitted with one small park lamp, the manual lists it etc. Spoke to NZTA, a "senior" insisted I couldn't talk to anyone higher, but loved repeating out sections of the manual to me, acting like a drone and saying if you've fitted extra lights, and it fails, then they must be removed, blah blah.

The inspector simply classed the park lamp as a position lamp, hence I had 3, and failed.

I'll take this further, because the only concession I could get out of her, was to send them the details and photos, and they'll investigate. Because the strips seem to have increased in popularity, I'm happy to spend a bit of time on this (ideal would be they simply add a clause into the VIRM for park lamps). If anyone can get speak to someone higher than the "senior" I got, it would be appreciated, about the reasoning, or how they class the park lamp (the lady sidestepped my question on how park lamps comply with certification in the first place, if there is no clause). I don't need whole sections of the manual read out verbatim to me.

And the simple answer I guess, is remove the park lamp bulb, except in my case, the bike would throw errors at me, for the missing bulb. For now, since I need to comply by the weekend, I'll remove the strips, but will send a picture, plus the section out of the manual, to NZTA...

The irony in all this is the huge push to make motorcycles more visible, this is more effective than a haz vest hidden behind a screen, but you can't do it.

I have a direct phoneline to the person who sorts out this crap at NZTA. I shall give them a ring tomorrow and see what they say on the issue.

[Hinny]

My understanding was that motorcycles had to have headlights on or daytime running lights. I prefer the daytime running lights so the taillight is not lit and your braking actions are then much more noticeable. My LED's have an auto dim function, when the headlights are switched on, according to the manufacturers ( Narva ) to comply with the law.
Have never had a problem with WOFs. Never had a problem with WOFs when I had spot lights fitted in the same position. I classed these as position indicating lamps or daytime running lamps for daytime use - no headlight/no taillight. Brilliant at night with 350w of illumination.

[Gremlin]

My understanding was that motorcycles had to have headlights on or daytime running lights.

Correct. Position Lamps do not have the same requirement as DRL (daytime running lamps), ie, to not be on when headlights are on. The VIRM also doesn't differentiate the make up of DRLs vs Position Lamps, just what you call them (and they meet the rules for that type - which are quite similar).

Remember also, that motorcycles are now required to have their lights on at all times (not sure if this is headlamp only, or headlamp and tail lamps).

[Hinny]

Correct. Position Lamps do not have the same requirement as DRL (daytime running lamps), ie, to not be on when headlights are on. The VIRM also doesn't differentiate the make up of DRLs vs Position Lamps, just what you call them (and they meet the rules for that type).

Remember also, that motorcycles are now required to have their lights on at all times (not sure if this is headlamp only, or headlamp and tail lamps).

Pretty sure it is headlamps OR daytime running lamps.

[Gremlin]

Pretty sure it is headlamps OR daytime running lamps.

Yes... I did say that (and that is the law). Daytime Running Lamps and Position Lamps are two separate categories, with their own requirements. DRL has the rule of DRL OR main lights, position lamps do NOT.

[BMWST?]

i want to fit a "proper hella drl to the ol pd so i dont have to run the headlight all the time.I will position it directly above the headlight and it will be about the same width as the headlight.I will wire it through a relay so that as soon as the headlight goes on it will go off
Hella 1005 or 1008

[Hinny]

And if it's not then it certainly should be.
It would appear there are a number of people in LTSA/ whatever that have some very strange ideas about the recipe for making vehicles and roads safe.
I tend to think of them as Fuckwits who have gotten themselves into positions that they are ill equipped to handle.
There appears to be a myriad of regulations peculiar to NZ which make many vehicles illegal for NZ roads.
And then of course there is the dumbarse roadmarking debacle.
Feckin' great reflective arrows pointing the way around corners. Feckin great reflective signs that reflect close to 100% of your lights right back at you. Like having 2metre wide headlights on full shining right at you. This destrys your night vision, you have to dip your lights and then you can't see around the corner. Just Dumb. Designed for acetylene burning headlights.
And what sort of half-arsed brain decided it was a good idea to buy up thousands of gallons of yellow paint and plaster it across the country?
No passing lines around blind corners etc. If one needed to be told that was not a place to pass then clearly that one should not be in control of a motor vehicle.
Looking at the Tour de France we see a beautiful country, devoid of all the garbage that our roads and verges are contaminated with. NZ used to be a beautiful country until it got vandalised.

[Gremlin]

Uh... Hinny, if you wouldn't mind keeping this thread on topic?

I'm now reading the consolidation of the Vehicle Lighting 2004... rather interesting and now I'm intrigued by work lamps...

Apparently somewhere is a rule that if equipment is OE and unmodified, then it automatically complies etc. I've found some stuff hinting at that, but nothing definitive just yet.