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View Full Version : Turning Sidelights into Indicators.


cbay
16-01-10, 11:55 AM
I'm tempted to turn my sidelights into indicators as well as ones on side.

Is that legal? ;)

Stu
16-01-10, 12:06 PM
Yes, but why would you want to?
it's usually to lose the side indies so you can fill in the fairing holes.

cbay
16-01-10, 12:12 PM
I gvs minimlised side indicators so just wanted to make my indicators little more obivous. Plus main beam always on so sidelights are pointless I think.

Some nice bright LED Amber ones. So people your behind can see your indicating too.

Stu
16-01-10, 12:16 PM
Plus main beam always on so INDICATORS are pointless I think.

EFA

plus it's not a good idea to always have main beams on.

Even with dipped, indies in that position will not be noticeable


Std indies FTW

cbay
16-01-10, 12:23 PM
I meant dipped beam, sorry.

Stu
16-01-10, 12:27 PM
:thumbsup:

But I still don't think they will be noticeable.

I used to run 1W (i.e. the highest power I could find) Blue LEDs sidelights. Yes they were noticeable looking at the bike but I wouldn't be happy with them as orange indis.

Wideboy
16-01-10, 12:31 PM
aren't sidelights a MOT requirement?

Stu
16-01-10, 12:45 PM
aren't sidelights a MOT requirement?
Only if fitted ??? :smt102

SoulKiss
16-01-10, 01:05 PM
I'm tempted to turn my sidelights into indicators as well as ones on side.

Is that legal? ;)

Yes, but why would you want to?
it's usually to lose the side indies so you can fill in the fairing holes.

No its not - you are only allowed 1 indicator per side at the front (recently found out that 2 at the rear ARE allowed.

If you got the right flush mounting side indies, ie not visible from the front, then you MAY get away with it.

Thing is, anything you put in the side-light holders is likely to be next to useless due to not being bright enough.

If you were involved in an accident where whether you indicated or not came up and you had this mod, it COULD cause you an issue, they are certainly not E-Marked.

I considered this mod, but decided against it for safety reasons.

rossinio
16-01-10, 01:23 PM
I was interested in doing this to make the bike a little more visible in rear mirrors etc, what are the legalities of it, how come you took them out?

:thumbsup:

But I still don't think they will be noticeable.

I used to run 1W (i.e. the highest power I could find) Blue LEDs sidelights. Yes they were noticeable looking at the bike but I wouldn't be happy with them as orange indis.

Stu
16-01-10, 02:15 PM
I was interested in doing this to make the bike a little more visible in rear mirrors etc, what are the legalities of it, how come you took them out?



I used to run 1W (i.e. the highest power I could find) Blue LEDs sidelights. Yes they were noticeable looking at the bike but I wouldn't be happy with them as orange indis.
It's illegal but so what. Have to change them back for the MOT. They were one more reason why the copper did a U turn, followed me & gave me a fixed penalty (the other reasons were very loud can and very high speed)
I haven't taken them out, just stopped using the bike.

cbay
18-01-10, 12:57 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kNoLYrrwvA

They look quite nice!!

Stu
18-01-10, 01:59 PM
No its not - you are only allowed 1 indicator per side at the front (recently found out that 2 at the rear ARE allowed.

If you got the right flush mounting side indies, ie not visible from the front, then you MAY get away with it.

So what about all the new cars with indicators mounted in back of their wing mirrors? They are definitely visible from the front in addition to their front mounted mirrors. If they are legal because they are mounted on the side, surely that would apply to an SV as well.

RichT
18-01-10, 02:03 PM
I have considered this mod for quite a while. Even got to the point of pricing it up.

Will be interested to see how it goes... provided you go ahead that is.

cbay
18-01-10, 02:14 PM
Well I'm certainly interested...

I haven't looked at the bike yet to work it out, but isn't it a case of swapping bulbs in sidelights and connecting them to indicators. :-) Simple!

RichT
18-01-10, 02:41 PM
Pretty much.

I was looking at switching to LED's as well (501's)... so the only "unkown" for me was the flash rate post change, i.e. would the flasher relay handle it.

SoulKiss
18-01-10, 06:11 PM
So what about all the new cars with indicators mounted in back of their wing mirrors? They are definitely visible from the front in addition to their front mounted mirrors. If they are legal because they are mounted on the side, surely that would apply to an SV as well.

Cars and bikes have different rules...

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_12.htm#nsch7

According to this its even only one at the rear - which for some reason I looked last time I though they were changed to 2 at the rear (probably because of section 2)

I guess that the mirror lights are counted as side repeaters, but I would consider that to be dodgy if they are forwards pointing...

Also the indicators have to be a minimim of 300 mm apart

Stu
18-01-10, 06:53 PM
According to this its even only one at the rear - which for some reason I looked last time I though they were changed to 2 at the rear (probably because of section 2)
The 4X4's that I've seen with 2 at the rear (Discovery's & Troopers I think) must have nbeen from before 1986 :???:
I guess that the mirror lights are counted as side repeaters, but I would consider that to be dodgy if they are forwards pointing...
yup, requirement to be

(D) A side repeater indicator fitted to a motor vehicle or a trailer:

Between rearward angles of 5° outboard and 60° outboard so only 5° forwards:-k

cbay
23-01-10, 09:52 AM
So would it fail an MOT if I changed the sidelights to indicators?

Stig
23-01-10, 10:07 AM
So would it fail an MOT if I changed the sidelights to indicators?

Do it anyway and find out. If it fails, change it back and take it for re-test. I believe you will not be charged for the extra visit.

cbay
23-01-10, 10:28 AM
lol, fair comment. I don't have an MOT till 2011 anyhow.

If you got caught by police though, could they fine you?

cbay
23-01-10, 10:38 AM
http://www.customdynamics.com/magic_blinkers.htm

Just found these.. Interesting...

Two Brids, one stone.

cbay
23-01-10, 10:51 AM
http://i37.tinypic.com/2lwswuo.jpg
I'm getting some where now!! All that is about £5 if that! Getting Hotter..

Stig
23-01-10, 10:58 AM
lol, fair comment. I don't have an MOT till 2011 anyhow.

If you got caught by police though, could they fine you?

First of all I doubt there are that many police out there that would even know if it were illegal or not. 2nd to that, I believe in the unlikely event you do get stopped and picked up on that point, it would be a rectification notice. There is a chance you could get a fine along side but unless you were being a complete kn** on the road at the time they stopped you, I suspect a rectification notice would be all you would get.

cbay
23-01-10, 11:03 AM
Cool!! :-P

Think I like the idea of constant light then flashing and being brighter when indicating.

But that would mean it would have to be white or a very slight amber wouldn't it?