Turning Sidelights into Indicators.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by rossinio

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?

Originally Posted by Stu

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]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kNoLYrrwvA

They look quite nice!!

[Stu]

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

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.

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]

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!

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]

Originally Posted by Stu

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/Uks...n_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]

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

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

[cbay]

So would it fail an MOT if I changed the sidelights to indicators?

Originally Posted by cbay

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.