Extra lights & the law/MOT?

[Baph]

OK, as I now & again work nights, I find myself wanting the ability to see around corners at nights.

The easiest solution I can think of is spot lights, wired to the main beam switch.

I know I'd have to get ones marked for the road, and relevant EU/BS stamps etc. But my question is, does anyone know of anything else I'll have to look out for? Doubfut, but any potential issues with MOT for having spot lights fitted to a bike?

[SoulKiss]

See loads of GS riders with these added - cos obviously it gets VERY dark in London.......

Dont see why it would be a problem if properly adjusted.

[Baph]

Dont see why it would be a problem if properly adjusted.

That's the thing see, I want to see around corners. So they'd be aimed low, but rather bright, and wide (leaving the bike stock lights looking forwards more).

They'd also only be on with main beam, not dipped.

[Dangerous Dave]

Shouldn't be a problem, as long as all the lights and lens arre 'BS' or 'E' marked and fully working at MOT time then I can't see any major problems. The golden rule about lights at MOT time is if they are fitted then they must work.

PS, let us know how you get on with the mod please.

[Baph]

Just to bump this thread ;)

Does anyone know a cheap place to order Hella lights from in the UK (so far all I can see is US ordering)? I'm looking at the Hella Optilux 2500 Angel Eyes, as they seem perfect for the job.

I'm also intending on tinkering with the Angel Eyes surround (LEDs) - more detail on that later. I'll also be wiring it up so that I have to flick a switch to enable the additional lights, and THEN they work on the main beam switch.

Basically, flick the dash switch, the LED surrounds will come on, push main beam, and you get main beam plus Hella 2500's (12v/55w fog lights apparently).

[fatneck]

Sounds cool, gonna wanna see some pics of those bad boy Angel Eyes :-)

[Scoobylou]

As married to a mot tester.. I can tell you that the spot lights would not be a testable item..and yes he does test bikes too...

[Red Herring]

I've got a fair bit of experience rallying on bikes. some of which involves blatting up country lanes in the middle of the night. I used to run two additional lights mounted either side about knee height (about where the spots are on a GS) and then set the beams high and to cross over. This way they illuminated the road ahead and to either side when hard on the brakes (Critical to see the turn in point) and then once in the bend the "upper" or "outside" lamp would continue to shine around the corner so you could see where you were going.
The choice of lamp is critical. Many car lamps have a flat beam spread which is no use at all, and driving lamps tend to have a narrow pencil beam which is fine of it happens to be pointing in the right direction, but there are so many variables with bikes it rarely is. The best lamps have a broad even spread of light, you don't need huge penetration, just a good spread so fog lamps, with an appropriate bulb, are a good place to start.

[Baph]

As married to a mot tester.. I can tell you that the spot lights would not be a testable item..and yes he does test bikes too...

Fantastic. Just found a cheap source for the Angel Eyes :) Shall be buying come pay day :)


... stuff about positioning of lamps...

The best lamps have a broad even spread of light, you don't need huge penetration, just a good spread so fog lamps, with an appropriate bulb, are a good place to start.

Good news on the fog light aspect (as that's what I'll be buying) :)

As for positioning, on the pointy SV, I'm looking at taking the black lower half off the bikini fairing off and drilling holes in that. My first thinking was under the bottom of it, which would allow for rotation on the horizontal access. But I'm also considering the diagonal piece would would put both lights crossing each other naturally, with adjustment in the vertical axis.

I'll post back when the mod is done, with night time pics too. :)

[SoulKiss]

Fantastic. Just found a cheap source for the Angel Eyes :) Shall be buying come pay day :)



Good news on the fog light aspect (as that's what I'll be buying) :)

As for positioning, on the pointy SV, I'm looking at taking the black lower half off the bikini fairing off and drilling holes in that. My first thinking was under the bottom of it, which would allow for rotation on the horizontal access. But I'm also considering the diagonal piece would would put both lights crossing each other naturally, with adjustment in the vertical axis.

I'll post back when the mod is done, with night time pics too. :)

Personally I would clamp them as high up the forks as possible- with having RWU forks this would mean they would always be at the same height/level as when set, so zero chance of accidentally blinding someone (although as you have stated, these are to be wired into high-beam only, so less chance of that - unless when using the pass light)

[Baph]

zero chance of accidentally blinding someone (although as you have stated, these are to be wired into high-beam only, so less chance of that - unless when using the pass light)

Wired to main beam yes, but with a "primer" switch before that.

So the dash switch would have to be ON and using pass switch in daylight for the spots to come on.

The reason for using the dash switch as a "primer" is that the Angel Eyes have a ring surround which is currently LED (and white), but I'm looking to change that to a cold cathode tube. ;) The surround LEDs are meant to be wired to sidelights (always on for the pointy), but they'll only come on with the dash switch instead. Then a relay will activate when main beam is on to bring the fog/spot lights on.