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Thread: New headlight - whats legal?

  1. #1
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    9th August 2007 - 15:42
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    New headlight - whats legal?

    Hey guys,

    I have recently had small crash on my bike and i need to replace few things.
    My headlight is one of them. I have yamaha zeal 250 with rounded standard light. I was thinking maybe getting something from different shelve and having twin street fighter like headlight. I did a bit of research, i found some headlight kits on ebay, trademe only has harley style headlights, however i could not find any twin lights. I could make one out of spot lights (driving lights). Set of those costs normally up to $100 so it is way cheaper than actual kits. Thing is, is it legal? I guess i could put different light bulbs to have low-high beam, but do i need it since i do not ever go on any midnight rides. Is this idea legal?

    Are there any good nz/international websites with custom stuff that?

    Cheers!

  2. #2
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    19th January 2006 - 19:13
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    A mate of mine bought a twin set for his 1200 Bandit off a site here in NZ,cant remember what the hell it was called.sportsbikes NZ or similar.Nice setup and they were not terribly expensive either.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by 98tls View Post
    A mate of mine bought a twin set for his 1200 Bandit off a site here in NZ,cant remember what the hell it was called.sportsbikes NZ or similar.Nice setup and they were not terribly expensive either.
    Yeap sportbikes nz have the twin lights for sale at $399.95 plus
    Fwark that
    Get them cheaper from the uk for the same lights $249.00 inclusive of shipping

    As experianced bikers looking for parts will tell you
    offshore is best, faster and cheaper than most NZ shops
    To be old and wise, first you must be young and stupid.

  4. #4
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    I normally go offshore. Thing is that it would be even cheaper to get two spotlights for $100 and do a bit of DIY. My question is: Is it legal?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by lemining View Post
    I normally go offshore. Thing is that it would be even cheaper to get two spotlights for $100 and do a bit of DIY. My question is: Is it legal?
    Rules and regs here

    http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/vehicles/get...hts-right.html

    Some testing stations are more flexible than others with regards to modifications. If you can make it look stock, ie a neat and tidy job, then most testing stations will pass it if it works properly. If it looks like a bodge job, then expect them to look really closely for compliance labels and the like.
    vagrant

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by vagrant View Post
    Rules and regs here

    http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/vehicles/get...hts-right.html

    Some testing stations are more flexible than others with regards to modifications. If you can make it look stock, ie a neat and tidy job, then most testing stations will pass it if it works properly. If it looks like a bodge job, then expect them to look really closely for compliance labels and the like.
    What do they (WOF stations) actually look for in motorcycle lights? Do i need high beam? What about set of HID driving lights it might be bright but is it too bright to get wof? It is very touchy subject i would say, because this
    Code:
    Fog lamps should only be used when visibility is severely reduced, eg by snow or fog. It is against the law to use fog lamps in clear conditions (day or night) as they can dazzle other road users.
    Most of spotlights are fog lights, therefore using it during the day would be illegal. Am I wrong?

    Has anyone tried doing any modifications like that to their bikes?

  7. #7
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    Ok In a nutshell. DONT source any headlights from USA or most of europe (except the UK)
    Reason being that the legal requirement is that dip beam must dip slightly left in NZ the US and mainland europe stuff dipps right.
    If I was sourcing something to be told by a pedantic WOF guy it aint legal Id be pissed off.
    Now dude I have uncovered from under my house a Vetter fairing/headlight unit You're welcolm to come grab it and use the headlight out of
    To see a life newly created.To watch it grow and prosper. Isn't that the greatest gift a human being can be given?

  8. #8
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    I'm pretty sure you need highbeam and lowbeam -- but any H4-style bulb/lens has that built-in.

    FROSTY's right, in the US a lot of the lenses have an asymmetrical beam that dips the wrong way. Many WoF testers do get the shits. However, if you get an old headlight, they sometimes have a symmetrical cut-off (e.g. my new SR400 8" headlight), so then it's not an issue.

    The twin-streetfighter style evolved because they needed both highbeam and lowbeam, and the cheap way to do it was to have two headlights, one pointing low and one pointing high. Switch the appropriate one on. The drawback is that you get fairly shit lighting with just one piss-arse tiny light on. Better off aiming for the more modern (maybe a bit more expensive) style, still with twin headlights but both H4 (so low and high built-in, switch both on at once).

    Basically those magical two characters 'H' and '4' are your ticket -- you can't go wrong there, it'll be legal (provided the beam cut-off is on the right (sitting-down right -- the left of the lens when looking face-on at it)).

  9. #9
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    You must have a dipped beam. You do not NEED a high beam, but if there is provision for one it must work. And a dipped beam headlamp is something fairly specific, strictly you can't get away with fitting a spot light and pointing it downward, the lens isn't right. And you probably need the design standard letters on the lens.
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