WTD: Classic style brake & clutch levers

**Eddieb** · 25th July 2005, 16:37

For my 60's Ducati 250 single I'm restoring.

I'm told by the VTNZ people I need brake light switch on the front brake but the original lever has no facility to mount a brake light switch on it.

So I'm looking for a classic styled (60's) matching set of brake & clutch levers & mounts with a built in brake light switch. Although it's a restoration project it's being done to ride, not put on a pedestal & admired. Due to parts availability & modern legislation it's not going to be 100% original Ducati parts anyway but I'd like it to be period looking.

The bike is last registered in the UK as a 1972, but the frame style wasn't built after '68, although I'm still trying to find a way of proving that which VTNZ etc will except. Because of it's age I can get away with not having to put indicators on it but it has to have a front brake light.

I'm also told there's next to none of these bikes in the country so no-ones likely to notice the levers aren't genuine anyway.

**Ixion** · 25th July 2005, 16:49

Originally Posted by Eddieb

For my 60's Ducati 250 single I'm restoring.

I'm told by the VTNZ people I need brake light switch on the front brake but the original lever has no facility to mount a brake light switch on it.

So I'm looking for a classic styled (60's) matching set of brake & clutch levers & mounts with a built in brake light switch. Although it's a restoration project it's being done to ride, not put on a pedestal & admired. Due to parts availability & modern legislation it's not going to be 100% original Ducati parts anyway but I'd like it to be period looking.

The bike is last registered in the UK as a 1972, but the frame style wasn't built after '68, although I'm still trying to find a way of proving that which VTNZ etc will except. Because of it's age I can get away with not having to put indicators on it but it has to have a front brake light.

I'm also told there's next to none of these bikes in the country so no-ones likely to notice the levers aren't genuine anyway.

If you don't require 100% authenticity, why do you need levers with a built in switch. All that's needed is a wee screw in the lower face of the lever. Then mount (lil screws or even just super glue, or a clamp mount to the handlebar if you have the old clamp on levers separate to teh switch blocks.) a normally open microswitch on the lever mount so that the actuating arm of the microswitch contacts the lever screw when the brake is off. Pull lever, contact breaks, light comes on. Crude, but done right, quite neat and tidy. And cost naff all ($10 maybe) . Or rig up a "standard" type rear brake light switch on the front brake back plate so that it's actuated by the actuatating arm (I'm assuming it's druim front brake.

**Eddieb** · 25th July 2005, 17:21

Originally Posted by Ixion

why do you need levers with a built in switch. All that's needed is a wee screw in the lower face of the lever.

Cause I'd like it to work, be tidy, waterproof. I don't have the workshop facilites to make it any of those. :unsure:

**pete376403** · 25th July 2005, 23:18

Maybe a reed switch (eg the sort of thing used as a security switch for wooden framed windows) enclosed in heat shrink tubing and mounted on the lever mount, and a suitable magnet on the lever? Might require a relay if the brake light wattage is too high.

**Jay widda 150** · 25th July 2005, 23:23

have you tried tss? alicetown. good guys in there

**Badcat** · 27th July 2005, 12:26

i thought it was the rear that was mandatory?
all the trail bikes i rode on the road in the '80s only had a rear brake light.
does the law say you need BOTH now?
i'm restoring a '79 XT500 but am not that advanced as to electrickery yet.
still building wheels and suspension...
k

**What?** · 28th July 2005, 07:01

Originally Posted by Eddieb

For my 60's Ducati 250 single I'm restoring.

I'm told by the VTNZ people I need brake light switch on the front brake but the original lever has no facility to mount a brake light switch on it... Because of it's age I can get away with not having to put indicators on it but it has to have a front brake light.

I suggest you do more research into this - it sounds like either you have been given a bum steer, or heaps of other restorers have got off easy. The trick will be finding someone at VTNZ who knows what they are talking about.

**Ixion** · 28th July 2005, 12:11

Originally Posted by What?

I suggest you do more research into this - it sounds like either you have been given a bum steer, or heaps of other restorers have got off easy. The trick will be finding someone at VTNZ who knows what they are talking about.

OK. here's the word, stright form the horse's mouth (The VIR manual, the WOF tester's Bible)

Sect 4.10 Stop lamps
Mandatory and permitted equipment
1. A motorcycle first registered in New Zealand
before 1/1/1978 may be fitted with one or two
stop lamps.
2. A motorcycle first registered in New Zealand on
or after 1/1/1978 must be fitted with one or two
stop lamps.
3. A retrofitted pair of stop lamps must be
symmetrically mounted as far towards each side
of the motorcycle as practicable.
4. A retrofitted stop lamp must be fitted at a height
from the ground not exceeding 1.5 m, or if this is
not practicable due to the shape of the bodywork
of the motorcycle, not exceeding 2.1 m.
Condition
5. A stop lamp must:
a) be in sound condition.
b) not be obscured.
Performance
6. A stop lamp must operate in a way that is
appropriate for the lamp and the vehicle.
7. The light emitted from a stop lamp must be
diffuse light that is substantially red.
8. A mandatory stop lamp must operate when a
service brake is applied.
9. A mandatory stop lamp must provide sufficient
light output to fulfil its intended purpose.
10. A stop lamp must emit a steady light.
11. A retrofitted mandatory stop lamp must emit a
light that is visible within the angles of 15 above
and below the horizontal, and 45 inboard and
outboard.
12. If a motorcycle of American origin is fitted with
combined stop and direction indicator lamps, the
indicator lamps may override the stop lamps so
that the stop lamps will operate as direction
indicators.
13. Where a stop lamp comprises an array of light
sources (eg LEDs), at least 75% of these must

I've highlighted the important bits in red. In essence, registered before 1.1.78 you DO NOT have to have ANY stop lamp. You may if you wish, and it may operate on either or both brakes. After 1.1.78 you MUST have a stop lamp and it MUST operate whenever ANY brake is applied. Note the "may" and "must" above

Since you are pre 1978 you do not need any stop lamp , and may have a "rear brake only" one if you choose.

If you can't get the tester to agree, because the "rear brake only" bit is not explict,then just disable the foot brake one temporarily. That is explicit. Pre 1978 you do not have to have any stop lamp on a motorbike

CAVEAT: Things are different if you are registering a bike for the first time , ie getting it VIN'd

**Motu** · 28th July 2005, 12:41

Beat me to it as usual Ixion (maybe I just don't care) The brake lamp can be opperated by either lever,OR both,doesn't HAVE to be both.Older bikes don't need brake lamps or indicators,specific for certain years.I get so sick of overzealous inspectors - I thinks it's the Chinese whisper thing,by the time it's been misinterpruted a dozen times it becomes set in law and they'll never back down.Being VINned as a brand new first time vehicle maybe,but build date clauses come into it too - what if it was a 1928 Fartbury 375 ZX with no front brake at all???

**What?** · 28th July 2005, 20:15

S'pose I should have posted "I suggest you get Ixion to some more research..." Just can't knock the man at all.

**Paul in NZ** · 28th July 2005, 21:46

Either that or adapt the cable from the front brake of a 1970 to 72 triumph. They had a cable operated switch IN the cable. (around or part of the cable anyway)

**Motu** · 28th July 2005, 22:05

Remember those gauntlets you could get with the two reflective stripes on the back? Just the thing for hand signals they were.

**Ixion** · 28th July 2005, 22:27

I still give stop hand signals.

It's handy (handy - geddit, geddit, handy, see

) to (a) indicate that you are really STOPPING. NOW!. Not just slowing down. And (b) to show people in front of you, who can't see your brake lights, that you intend to stop (courtesy is a good thing)