Honda CBF125 modifications?

[CoastalCoasting]

Hello all,

 

I currently ride a Honda CBF125 as my first bike (I am 18 y/o so fairly new to riding) 

 

I want to remove the fairings and change the headlight styling of my bike, just cosmetic changes as far as I'm aware, but I was wondering if yellow headlights are legal in the UK? and also would I be legally required to declare these modifications to my insurance provider even if they don't affect the bike's mechanical function/performance is any way?

 

Thanks !

 

- Josh H

[S-Westerly]

Not sure about the headlight legality but any changes need to be passed on to your insurance as if you don't there's a serious risk of you finding out that you are not insured with all the complications that brings.

[bonio]

Don't know about yellow headlights. As for modifications, if you don't declare them you run the risk of the insurers saying they won't pay out on your claim because you've modified the bike and not told them. Given that some insurers will use any wriggle room you give them to avoid paying out, it seems to me far better to declare the change and know the insurance is going to be there for you when you need it.

[Saul]

5 hours ago, CoastalCoasting said:

Hello all,

 

I currently ride a Honda CBF125 as my first bike (I am 18 y/o so fairly new to riding) 

 

I want to remove the fairings and change the headlight styling of my bike, just cosmetic changes as far as I'm aware, but I was wondering if yellow headlights are legal in the UK? and also would I be legally required to declare these modifications to my insurance provider even if they don't affect the bike's mechanical function/performance is any way?

 

Thanks !

 

- Josh H

One thing I would say Josh is that modding can cause you no end of problems from insurance to decreased performance and reliability issues.     I am sure you could make some improvements with care but make sure it is all reversible because a modded bike  will often have a lower value to a standard bike.  Depending on the mods of course.  Avoid bolting a load of Temu/AliExpress tat to your bike.   

My daughter has a CB125F 23 plate and the only mods she has are a set of SW Motech crash bars and a professionally lowered seat.  I have got a standard seat in the shed for when she comes to sell or trade it in.     She is making noises about wanting some heated grips which I will fit for her.    My daughters bike has a LED headlight as standard which to be fair is pretty good and much better than many of the bikes I have had in the past.  

[AstronautNinja]

At 18 insurance will have your pants down for any mods 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

No problem with a yellow headlight. It can help make traffic notice you more as it stands out. I doubt it would an insurance issue as it's a standard bulb just a different colour that is legal.

 

Only downside is that you might find it less bright than some white bulbs and prone to fail earlier as unless it's a bike specific bulb the extra vibration kills standard bulbs quicker.

 

Otherwise I'd leave the bike as standard or your insurance will be silly.

[RideWithStyles]

How yellow???  Are we talking a warm tint on a yellow side of a colour temp so 2200k candle light or lower? Rather than a an ideal 4000k white? That’s ok but if we’re talking dayglow greeny yellow then copper and Mot time might be a challenge. 

 

Too yellow along with too blue or purple hue is not allowed….the view is that the yellow is getting too similar to indicators.

technically warm yellows are brighter than cool or bright whites, particularly how our eyes perceive them, most of the time the whiter (bluer) you go the more energy they have to put into them to show up aswell…which is why car LED LIGHTS in cars are very OP.

[Capt Sisko]

.Gov guildlines for the MOT says yellow headlights are allowable, but I suspect that's with either a yellow bulb or lens, not just a bit of paint! The guidelines are sufficiently vauge as to the colour or intensity of the yellow, but do say that if the light intensity is significantly reduced, it should be failed. Common sense would suggest that means it's got to be usable, i.e. function as a headlight in the dark, but how they would test that is another question.

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

 

 

 

 

Edited October 18, 2024 by Capt Sisko

[S-Westerly]

If I remember correctly in France yellow tinted lights were mandatory and if you were visiting you were supposed to fit a yellow film to your headlight. I never heard it was enforced but presumably the lights meet a general standard. Not sure why you'd want to change the colour of the light though. Unlikely to improve visibility. 

[Mawsley]

Yellow headlights are not only legal but the height of cool and everyone should have them. Yes, you don’t see as well, but neither do you blind someone going in the other direction so they plough through an hedge into a confused cow.

 

Plus, when you get off you can nonchalantly chuck a Gaulloise into you fat face and impress chicks as if you were a 15yr old French type.

 

Everyone should have yellow lights. Fact.

[S-Westerly]

On 19/10/2024 at 08:28, Mawsley said:

Yellow headlights are not only legal but the height of cool and everyone should have them. Yes, you don’t see as well, but neither do you blind someone going in the other direction so they plough through an hedge into a confused cow.

 

Plus, when you get off you can nonchalantly chuck a Gaulloise into you fat face and impress chicks as if you were a 15yr old French type.

 

Everyone should have yellow lights. Fact.

Nope.