Lights

I was just wondering what the regulations are on bike/cage side/brake
lights. Presumably you need an approved lens, but what about the
bulbs? Are these LED indicators, side/brake lights actually legal?
(not that thats ever stopped anyone before)

I mean, 21 watts worth of LED's would be a bit OTT.

 

Projector lights as fitted to Spike, The Rat?
http://www.garagepixies.co.uk/my_bikes.htm

If the lights you are considering look like this, then I can tell you
that the beam pattern is fine for MOT, with a flat cutoff at the top
and a decent spread.

 

Although some cars and bikes have been approved and some led lights
have been given *E* mark's apparently somewhere in the law it does
state *filament* lamps, a technicality that may need to be rectified
in time


--

Kevin - Basildon
XV535
CG125 GPZ305 (her's)
BOTAFOT#67 BOTAFOF#23
OSOS#29

 

<blush>

Light output is reasonable, but nothing stunning. They are currently
fitted with single filament 35W bulbs, which goes some way to explain
that. I don't think the alternator on the Rat will tolerate any more,
but yours will. I'd imagine they would be fine with 55W or more in
them.

I can't help with the first two, but the Rat fitting is simple. Two
brackets wrapped around the fork tubes, with a lug pointing forward
which takes the bolt to mount the "shelf" that the lights sit on. The
brackets are made from stainless strip(1), and cunningly sized to be
slightly smaller in diameter than the fork tube - so that when the
bolt for the "shelf" is tightened, the brackets squeeze around the
fork tubes.

The shelf that the lights sit on is made of stainless and is just a
flat piece with a downward 90 degree bend at each end which locates
against the brackets.

If you want more, I'll get Elly to take some pics and web 'em if that
would be useful.


1. Take a strip of stainless steel. With about 50mm forward of the
fork tube, bend the strip around the fork tube and bring it back to
where you started. Bend it in hard to the tube where it abuts the
leading edge, so that it forms a nearly-complete circle around the
tube. When the free ends are about 5mm apart, clamp them and cut to
length - then drill for the pinch/shelf mounting bolt. Piece of piss,
involving all your favourite tools - hammers, mole grips, drills ...

 

Technically all these cars and bikes are illegal according to one part
of the law but apparently they have been passed by C&U inspectors, I
think it is more a case of the wording of the law was designed to
exclude other non filament types of lighting such as oil or acetylene
lamps that were used many moons ago.

It could also depend on the laws relating to the *E* Mark, do they
supersede our own laws or is an item supposed to comply with both
european and british law before it can be used in this country?

HID, you have lost me?



--

Kevin - Basildon
XV535
CG125 GPZ305 (her's)
BOTAFOT#67 BOTAFOF#23
OSOS#29

 

High Intensity Discharge, innit.

Arc lights for motors. Looks like our Will has been doing a bit of
*lighting ...
http://www.grainger.com/production/info/hid-lights.htm

 

Thanks, It seems that I have not managed to keep up with all the newer
technological advances


--

Kevin - Basildon
XV535
CG125 (sold)
GPZ305 (her's)
BOTAFOT#67 BOTAFOF#23
OSOS#29

 

No probs, Kev. They came to my attention in the mirrors, looking
rather blue, see. HID lights are as bright as hell, producing an
intense blue-white light - the top Vauxhalls and Mercs were the first
cars I noticed using them. Now all the feckin' Novaboys have
SuperBlue halogen bulbs to try and make their pieces of shite look
impressive at night.

 

Got me thinking now, I wonder what a Virago with 200+ watts of HID
lights will look like coming towards you

80 on dipped, 210 on main, normal halogen ATM.


--

Kevin - Basildon
XV535
CG125 (sold)
GPZ305 (her's)
BOTAFOT#67 BOTAFOF#23
OSOS#29

 

K Olley was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

"Sorry hofficer, I honestly didn't see him"

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Pip

There's a little scrote tooling around near here in a Max-Powered up
cage with red and green "navigation" lights instead of sidelights. Sad
little fucker.

 

ITYM "blinded by the light".

 

Pip was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

Thanks a bunch mate, now I'm sitting here singing along[1] to Manfred
Mann playing it in Budapest. In my mind...

[1] The cats in the neighbourhood are currently gathering shoes to
throw at me.

 

Not quite, it was *it was not my fault because I did not see him*[1]
tm fiesta driver, I was only riding with 80w dipped and was only
visible for a min of 4 seconds:-(


[1] told to police at accident scene.
--

Kevin - Basildon
XV535
CG125 (sold)
GPZ305 (her's)
BOTAFOT#67 BOTAFOF#23
OSOS#29

 

They are, if I have got enough time to flick the switch

--

Kevin - Basildon
XV535
CG125 (sold)
GPZ305 (her's)
BOTAFOT#67 BOTAFOF#23
OSOS#29

 

Attached to The Rat.

#;-)>>

I would imagine your local car parts emporium could supply similar.

 

On Sat, 15 Nov 2003 14:01:02 -0000, Simian

I always make a paper or cardboard template first. Full scale, make
sure it fits before cutting anything. It's a **** sight easier making
mistakes in paper, when reattachment with Sellotape is an option ;-)

Smooth edges? Learn how to draw file - clamp your finished peice up
in a vice or Workmate, then sit on the bench besdie the vice and take
hold of a medium file - one hand on the handle, the other on the end.
Holding the file flat but at about 45degrees (in plan) to the work,
DRAW the FILE towards you smoothly, not applying too much pressure -
and varying the position of the teeth of the file on the work,
otherwise you get grooves and lines appearing.

With minimal practice you'll get a much nicer edge to steel or alu.

 

This is all pretty inspiring stuff y'know!

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Hog

Ho yuss. For the avoidance of doubt, you draw the file *along* the job,
not *across* it. If you do that bad things happen.

Very satisfying, it is.

 

Don't know if the *filament* is side, indicator and brake light only.

My brother has also mentioned that some of the latest buses are also
kitted out with a lot of fancy electronics, everything is signal
controlled over 2 wires and they also use LED lights for side,
indicator and brakes.

Been thinking on this, as far as I remember you are required now by
law to have in a car or van *E* marked headlight bulbs, a bike is only
required to have a light that complies with the dipped beam
requirements, it does not need to be *E* marked.

It looks like I need to ask the right questions to someone that I know
that has access to the answers


--

Kevin - Basildon
XV535
CG125 (sold)
GPZ305 (her's)
BOTAFOT#67 BOTAFOF#23
OSOS#29