Clear indicators

**vifferman** · 1st March 2007, 08:33

Originally Posted by crashe

Are the 'clear' ones legal?
Does anyone know?

Yes, someone knows.

There are only legal if they are marked with the relevant 'E' marks, and if they satisfy specific regulations about visibility: they have to be visible from "x" metres away (can't remember the figure), and have to visible at the front from 80 degrees to the opposite side of straight ahead (i.e., to the left, for the one mounted on the right front, and to the right, for the onef mounted on the left front of the vehicle). They also have to be visible at 90 degrees out to the side. The last regulation refers to how fast they blink: if you change to LEDs, you have to either add a resistor or change the flasher unit to an electronic one.

I'm looking at replacing the ugly front indicators on the VFR (the only bit of the bike I don't like) with some less protruberant clear ones, but I'm having trouble with that 80 degrees visibility thing. One of the troubles with the VFR front indicators (apart from looks) is they're the first thing to hit the deck in an 'off', and they invariably punch through the fairing, causing many shekels worth of damage.

So far, I've found two (2) likely candidates, both from scooters: Vespa ET2/ET4 indicators, for $22 each, including bulbs (!), and TGB 303 front indicators, unknown price.

BTW - with clear indicators, you can get either orange bulbs, or silvered bulbs that glow orange but don't stand out (so they don't look like egg yolks).

First pic shows the "Dumbo Ears", second shows a mockup with clear Vespa indicators.

**scumdog** · 1st March 2007, 09:26

Who measures the 80-degree thing?

Does the garage actually check that?

**vifferman** · 1st March 2007, 09:32

Originally Posted by scumdog

Who measures the 80-degree thing?

Does the garage actually check that?

Presumably, if the injamickators looked legal, no-one would check them. But if they looked out of place, or it was a vehicle that required certification (like a streetfightered sprotsbike or a chopper) then a pedant or bureaucrat might check.
My scheme is to make some plates to fill the existing holes, and mount the new indicators in/on those, and use the OEM plugs, so if it all turns pear-shaped from a legal point of view it can easily revert to stock.
I did the same thing with my stoplight flasher - it's currently illegal, and failed the recent WOF, so all I had to do to pass it was a quick unplug/replug. The MarkIII version will have a bypass switch, so if I get pulled up by the popo I can disable it so I don't cop an extra ticket for that.

**KLOWN** · 1st March 2007, 09:36

Some clear indicators don't bother me, some on the mercs are highly visable the ones I really don't like are the ones that flash almost a white colour with a tinge of oragnge they make it difficult to tell what the hell is happening. On a side note I like the merc indicators on the wing mirrors they are always really easy to see.

**scumdog** · 1st March 2007, 09:44

Originally Posted by vifferman

Presumably, if the injamickators looked legal, no-one would check them. But if they looked out of place, or it was a vehicle that required certification (like a streetfightered sprotsbike or a chopper) then a pedant or bureaucrat might check.
My scheme is to make some plates to fill the existing holes, and mount the new indicators in/on those, and use the OEM plugs, so if it all turns pear-shaped from a legal point of view it can easily revert to stock.
I did the same thing with my stoplight flasher - it's currently illegal, and failed the recent WOF, so all I had to do to pass it was a quick unplug/replug. The MarkIII version will have a bypass switch, so if I get pulled up by the popo I can disable it so I don't cop an extra ticket for that.

Make it look factory and you'll pretty much get away with it.

BTW Never heard of ANYBODY being hassled about indicators/stop-light flashers down here. (Have heard of one guy getting a rev-up for not having ANY indicators on a bike that should have had them.

**Motu** · 1st March 2007, 09:47

Originally Posted by scumdog

Who measures the 80-degree thing?

Does the garage actually check that?

We don't have to check standard markings and other fitting regulations every single time....if we did that a car WoF would take a couple of hours and the complaints would clog the KB site.These things were passed in the VIN prosess and should stay within spec from then on.But if we ''suspect'' there has been a change then we look.If you alter something and it manages to look factory then it won't trigger the ''bastard'' module fitted to all AVI's....but if you PK screw some Mercedes car mirrors to your fairing then even I might notice.Kinda like your job.....The P dealer with a dead body in the boot can drive right past you,but little pimple face in the Civic who can't see over the steering wheel is going to get your attention more.

**crashe** · 1st March 2007, 10:34

Originally Posted by vifferman

There are only legal if they are marked with the relevant 'E' marks, and if they satisfy specific regulations about visibility: they have to be visible from "x" metres away (can't remember the figure), and have to visible at the front from 80 degrees to the opposite side of straight ahead (i.e., to the left, for the one mounted on the right front, and to the right, for the onef mounted on the left front of the vehicle). They also have to be visible at 90 degrees out to the side. The last regulation refers to how fast they blink: if you change to LEDs, you have to either add a resistor or change the flasher unit to an electronic one.

...........

BTW - with clear indicators, you can get either orange bulbs, or silvered bulbs that glow orange but don't stand out (so they don't look like egg yolks).

Cheers for that... much appreciated...