Daytime Running Lights/Spotlights....

[wastedyears1981]

After my riding buddies have stated that they can't see me when I'm riding my bandit. It's not too bad when riding full beam, but id rather have the option to flash (not the pervy kind) and not ride with permanently on full. Dipped beam during the day is about as bright as a lit wet fart. Deciding to slap some DRLs/spots on the bike. Problem is ... I don't know where to put them. 

 

I have a GSF600 2003 faired bandit and struggling to find somewhere to slap them. Anyone have an ideas before I start sellotaping a maglite torch to my helmet?

[husoi]

Maybe change it to beeswax wick candles would help

I got a new headlight for the shadow the same used for the HDs

Quite good 

[Simon Davey]

Why not look at LED's?

I swapped my side-light bulbs for LED, and they're now so much more visible than my headlights, even though I also replaced those with bulbs that are 150% brighter.

You can also get LED headlight bulb replacements, H4, H7 etc.

Edited August 26, 2024 by Simon Davey

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I'm pretty sure you can't fit LEDs to a 2003 bike due to MOT regs. A mate did it to his and was told to remove them by the tester. That's for the usual lights. You can fit auxiliary LEDs.

 

You could try one of the brighter halogen type headlight bulbs. I fitted one to my 2006 CBF and it is certainly brighter than the original. 

 

I was told they burn out more quickly but mine has been in over 5 years with no problem.  

 

BikeVis do some self adhesive auxiliary LEDs. I had some but you need to seal where the wires enter the unit as they're not very weatherproof. I put a dab of epoxy and they lasted longer. They're only small but they show up well. 

 

[husoi]

3 minutes ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

I'm pretty sure you can't fit LEDs to a 2003 bike due to MOT regs. A mate did it to his and was told to remove them by the tester. That's for the usual lights. You can fit auxiliary LEDs.

 

You could try one of the brighter halogen type headlight bulbs. I fitted one to my 2006 CBF and it is certainly brighter than the original. 

 

I was told they burn out more quickly but mine has been in over 5 years with no problem.  

 

BikeVis do some self adhesive auxiliary LEDs. I had some but you need to seal where the wires enter the unit as they're not very weatherproof. I put a dab of epoxy and they lasted longer. They're only small but they show up well. 

 

It depends on what type of led bulbs are installed.

Cheaper versions are off-road models and not legal for road use.

The proper ones road dedicated can be installed without problems as long there is attention to the type of beam.

Most, if not all, led bulbs have flat horizontal beams which makes them perfect for continental Europe.

Age of the bike doesn't determine if the led bulb is suitable or not

[Simon Davey]

As it happens, I've had a read and @Mississippi Bullfrog is absolutely right.

 

Although we can buy LED headlight bulbs, (Halfords even sell their own branded versions), we cannot replace a halogen with an LED version. This actually applies to all outward facing bulbs.

Only vehicles already fitted with LED bulbs can have them replaced.

Halfords state that they're for off-road use only.

There is no legislation to support the use of LED bulbs as a retrofit.

That's me told then....

Edited August 26, 2024 by Simon Davey

[wastedyears1981]

3 hours ago, Simon Davey said:

As it happens, I've had a read and @Mississippi Bullfrog is absolutely right.

 

Although we can buy LED headlight bulbs, (Halfords even sell they're own branded versions), we cannot replace a halogen with an LED version. This actually applies to all outward facing bulbs.

Only vehicles already fitted with LED bulbs can have them replaced.

Halfords state that they're for off-road use only.

There is no legislation to support the use of LED bulbs as a retrofit.

That's me told then....

The LED rule makes absolute no sense. Clearly brighter and make us more visible on the road.

Might look at the HB4 LED bulbs and keep a couple of halogens under the seat.... Just for test day  

[wastedyears1981]

8 hours ago, husoi said:

Maybe change it to beeswax wick candles would help

I got a new headlight for the shadow the same used for the HDs

Quite good 

You've got loads of places to slap twinklies on

 

Sadly I've got a faired bandit so limited on where I could put DRLs or spots.

[AstronautNinja]

I've considered one on each fork for very similar reasons. Whilst driving, bikes with multiple lights appear far more visible 

[V650]

I had fitted 2 spots on a light bar under the main headlight on the CB500X 

Recently changed the len's on the spots for Amber/ Yellow ones as In my opinion ( at the moment ) the stand out a little more as they are less common 

 

Edited August 27, 2024 by V650

[AstronautNinja]

30 minutes ago, V650 said:

I had fitted 2 spots on a light bar under the main headlight on the CB500X 

Recently changed the len's on the spots for Amber/ Yellow ones as In my opinion ( at the moment ) the stand out a little more as they are less common 

 

I'm unsure about rarity being a considerable input when it comes to visibility. If anything the infrequency of motorbikes is the main downside when it comes to being seen. 

[husoi]

What the UK law says:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-notice-01-21-headlamp-conversions

 

MOT special notice 01-21: headlamp conversions

Changes to MOT testing rules for headlamp conversions using high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs

 

From March 22 2021, not all motorcycles and vehicles will fail the MOT test if their halogen headlamp units have been converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs.

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-motorcycles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-notice-01-21-headlamp-conversions/mot-special-notice-01-21-headlamp-conversions

 

2. Changes to current rules

From 22 March 2021, we’re changing these rules so that not all motorcycles and vehicles will fail the MOT test if their halogen headlamp units have been converted to be used with HID or LED bulbs.

 

Class 1 and 2 motorcycles

Class 1 and 2 motorcycles must not be failed for the defect ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’.

 

Headlamps must comply with all other requirements of the test and headlamp aim.

 

The motorcycle inspection manual will be updated shortly, and the ability to select the defect within the MOT testing service will be removed.

[AstronautNinja]

2 minutes ago, husoi said:

What the UK law says:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-notice-01-21-headlamp-conversions

 

MOT special notice 01-21: headlamp conversions

Changes to MOT testing rules for headlamp conversions using high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs

 

From March 22 2021, not all motorcycles and vehicles will fail the MOT test if their halogen headlamp units have been converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs.

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-motorcycles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-notice-01-21-headlamp-conversions/mot-special-notice-01-21-headlamp-conversions

 

2. Changes to current rules

From 22 March 2021, we’re changing these rules so that not all motorcycles and vehicles will fail the MOT test if their halogen headlamp units have been converted to be used with HID or LED bulbs.

 

Class 1 and 2 motorcycles

Class 1 and 2 motorcycles must not be failed for the defect ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’.

 

Headlamps must comply with all other requirements of the test and headlamp aim.

 

The motorcycle inspection manual will be updated shortly, and the ability to select the defect within the MOT testing service will be removed.

Excellent info!

[Simon Davey]

That's brilliant @husoi

Cheers

[husoi]

22 minutes ago, Simon Davey said:

That's brilliant @husoi

Cheers

You sound surprised

[RideWithStyles]

Halogen /filament bulbs are designed for deflecting head lamps,as they spread the light too much.

LEDs are not the same, don’t work the same  and don’t require deflection as they are very directional so why deflect it and make it worse?

If you changed the whole light unit that is designed to use led and its setup correctly that’s fine (and the wiring to cope),  just don’t half bodge it.

 

in cars LEDs work great as they don’t pitch, yaw or tip so the very longitudinal beam is great but on a bike at night with a fixed unit it’s crap in rural areas. Tip in to a right corner all you get is ground a few feet away but nothing further or up lit on the corner to be of use you wish to negotiate but yet on the outside all the hedges and sky you don’t care to see…or only the impending deer or badger that jumps out. That’s my experience of stock leds head lamps on bikes.

[AstronautNinja]

1 hour ago, RideWithStyles said:

Halogen /filament bulbs are designed for deflecting head lamps,as they spread the light too much.

LEDs are not the same, don’t work the same  and don’t require deflection as they are very directional so why deflect it and make it worse?

If you changed the whole light unit that is designed to use led and its setup correctly that’s fine (and the wiring to cope),  just don’t half bodge it.

 

in cars LEDs work great as they don’t pitch, yaw or tip so the very longitudinal beam is great but on a bike at night with a fixed unit it’s crap in rural areas. Tip in to a right corner all you get is ground a few feet away but nothing further or up lit on the corner to be of use you wish to negotiate but yet on the outside all the hedges and sky you don’t care to see…or only the impending deer or badger that jumps out. That’s my experience of stock leds head lamps on bikes.

Useful to know 

[JRH]

On 26/08/2024 at 14:58, wastedyears1981 said:

After my riding buddies have stated that they can't see me when I'm riding my bandit. It's not too bad when riding full beam, but id rather have the option to flash (not the pervy kind) and not ride with permanently on full. Dipped beam during the day is about as bright as a lit wet fart. Deciding to slap some DRLs/spots on the bike. Problem is ... I don't know where to put them. 

 

I have a GSF600 2003 faired bandit and struggling to find somewhere to slap them. Anyone have an ideas before I start sellotaping a maglite torch to my helmet?

I have 2 LED point lights on the fairing just below the headlights and a further 2 LED spot lights on the engine bars. 
according to my riding buddy I am very visible.

[AstronautNinja]

10 minutes ago, JRH said:

I have 2 LED point lights on the fairing just below the headlights and a further 2 LED spot lights on the engine bars. 
according to my riding buddy I am very visible.

Ye I've come across a few bikes with similar and they've stood out loads more than the older single lights. 

 

The more modern LED headlights are also pretty good visibility wise 

[Capt Sisko]

Go to a car scrap yard, buy two DRL from some old nail that had them just put into the grill rather that newer cars that have them as part of an integrated unit. Dirt cheap and built up to a standard rather than some cheap Far East rubbish. Wire it through a relay to they switch off when your headlight comes on and they'll be as good an any Denali's.

[wastedyears1981]

1 hour ago, Capt Sisko said:

Go to a car scrap yard, buy two DRL from some old nail that had them just put into the grill rather that newer cars that have them as part of an integrated unit. Dirt cheap and built up to a standard rather than some cheap Far East rubbish. Wire it through a relay to they switch off when your headlight comes on and they'll be as good an any Denali's.

Absolute banging idea that. A lot I've seen on Amazon and Fleabay, reviews question waterproofing 

[Mickly]

On 26/08/2024 at 19:48, Simon Davey said:

As it happens, I've had a read and @Mississippi Bullfrog is absolutely right.

 

Although we can buy LED headlight bulbs, (Halfords even sell their own branded versions), we cannot replace a halogen with an LED version. This actually applies to all outward facing bulbs.

Only vehicles already fitted with LED bulbs can have them replaced.

Halfords state that they're for off-road use only.

There is no legislation to support the use of LED bulbs as a retrofit.

That's me told then....

My MoT tester is obviously unaware of this as my 2002 F650GS has one ( still for sale btw )

[husoi]

By far the best place to have your MOT done is a garage that doesn't work on bikes.

They will do the basic checks and send you home.

They won't have any interest in failing it and have to do a free test again once someone else made the repairs.

 

[S-Westerly]

My bike came with every light as LED's as standard and they are much better than the halogens I had on the Ducati. They are cornering so track a bit with turns but are generally really good. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

On 27/08/2024 at 09:15, husoi said:

What the UK law says:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-notice-01-21-headlamp-conversions

 

MOT special notice 01-21: headlamp conversions

Changes to MOT testing rules for headlamp conversions using high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs

 

From March 22 2021, not all motorcycles and vehicles will fail the MOT test if their halogen headlamp units have been converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs.

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-motorcycles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-notice-01-21-headlamp-conversions/mot-special-notice-01-21-headlamp-conversions

 

2. Changes to current rules

From 22 March 2021, we’re changing these rules so that not all motorcycles and vehicles will fail the MOT test if their halogen headlamp units have been converted to be used with HID or LED bulbs.

 

Class 1 and 2 motorcycles

Class 1 and 2 motorcycles must not be failed for the defect ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’.

 

Headlamps must comply with all other requirements of the test and headlamp aim.

 

The motorcycle inspection manual will be updated shortly, and the ability to select the defect within the MOT testing service will be removed.

This was withdrawn in March 2023 according to the gov.uk website. It still comes up on searches as it's still there, just not valid any more.