L.E.D stop and Tail Bulbs - legal???

[mattsmith95]

I wish to have LED stop and tail fitted to my fleet of 3 bikes

I went into Infinity in Great Portland St, West End London,
asked if they sold them, NO was the reply, shops are not
allowed to sell them. I asked why and was told that there
are legal issues with LED bulbs.

Thing is I can get one online but I want to see one for myself
and see if it's worth getting, also will it fit my bikes.

I've tried looking on the net and I can't find anything about
the legal status.

Anyone have any idea?? (not that I really give a fuck but I
suppose I should know)

Was the sales guy talking from his arse??

[Mr.Everready]

Don't see why they should be, a bulb is a bulb.
The only thing would be maybe the plate light that might be a problem.
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the undemocratically unelected mod of the Scottish section

[G]

There was another thread about it recently, if you have a quick search.

The main issue it seems is that you don't get a plate illuminator with most LEDs.

[Kickstart]

Hi

A bulb is a bulb, but an LED is not a bulb. The LEDs are directional so will not properly illuminate a numberplate hanging under the light.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[mr.z]

As far as i remember the main issue was the wattage...

There is a minimum as well as maximum wattage in power requirements NOT output, and so if your leds are useing a fraction of that per led irrespective of how bright it is they dont meet the minimum, appart from that they are not E stamped either... i might be wrong but thats what i recall last time i pondered it...

But then there are allot of cars and bikes even buses with led brakes in production, maybe because its a standard part its exempt... i dunno...

As with many things its very unlikely to be called into question unless you have an accident, and even then its not very likely...

Remember allot of transport laws hark back years and years, when legislation was written for rear lights the prospect of haveing LED light bulbs would have been as likely as haveing a satalite laser beam to strike you dead if you ride in a bus lane where your not supposed to be...
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[Frost]

Technically legal or not you have to ask yourself two questions:

Will they get me killed?
Will a policeman pull me for it?

LED's are more visible than normal bulbs, in fact you can't help but look at them they are so bright and clear. I consider them safer than regular bulbs as you are more visible and people are less likely to miss you indicating with more visible indicators.
I suspect the average policeman would take a similar view. Bright clearly visible indicators are far better than dim ones or non functional ones
My belief that the police would leave you alone is so strong that i am considering getting some LED indicators


As keith said, illumination of the numberplate can be an issue, however if you buy the right rear light setup then it should be fine.

[Fortuna]

I have LED rear brake and tail lights. I have a red lens so I can use white LED bulbs which light up the plate as well.
The law on bulbs is to do with wattage and not brightness.
Heres my bulbs.

[ShortR6]

They are fine. Lot of new bikes and cars have LED's as standard as there rear lights. My SV1000s has LED rear stop and tail as standard.


Andy
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Short but not sweet.

[Team_Virago]

Over in Australia we are starting to see LED tail, indicator and reversing lights on trucks busses and some cars. we have acompany over here called "NARVA" and they produce a line of aftermarket LED Light's for trucks trailers and vehicles, some are ADR approved and some are not (Australian Design Rules= ADR for those of you playing outside of Aus) and i think they are a great idea, i am fitting them to my car and also to my bike when i can find a good replacment.

Fortuna where did you get your bulbs? do they just go into the standard globe plug?

[Fortuna]

[Team_Virago]

Cheers Fortuna,

i'll get some in the mail

[Demonic69]

Bloody busses have them! As do a fair few new cars. Can't see why not tbh.
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Back on a Blade. Just feels so right.

[map]

LEDs are not legal (yet).
The law is all about wattage. LEDs don't work like that so it's not clear,

However, some LED clusters (premade rather than just the 'bulb' units) do com with an E mark (E11). That's probably what the police would look for if stopped. However, as it's such a grey area the paperwork would be horrible so probably ignore it for now,

HTH
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[stryker]

Over in the workshop forum I asked this. They are only not legal on a technicality, I don't think you will ever be done for having them. I'm ordering the stop and tail light soon. 1w instead of 21w is going to be very handy.

My bike has two rear lights so it will be 2w instead of 42w for me. or 1/6th of an amp vs 3.5amps. Thats a BIG difference.
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Now what?

[carvell]

Bear in mind that you will fail the MOT if the numberplate is not illuminated, rearward facing LED's (not bulbs!) will not illuminate a numberplate directly below them.
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Yamaha TDM 850

[Demonic69]

[dainesefreak]

My last three bikes have had rear LED lights as fitted by the manufacturer, the indicators are standard bulbs though as is the number plate illuminator.

[stryker]

A screw type terminal block, some wire and a couple of extra 12v LEDs and that number plate will be lit.

On my previous MOT the examiner just stuck his hand round the back light to see it was lit and the brake light work. I think even if the number plate was not well lit it would of passed as it was not checked.
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Now what?

[tintin]

These guys make a LED license plate light. I had one on my R6 together with the very cool, but expensive Diamond lights.
www.libertek.com
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The older I get the better I was

[1cyl]

i made mine my self, doubt its legal but haven't been spanked for it yet. only cost me £10

basically took 20 LED's set them in a thin sheet of metal, wired them as i wanted then took a normal rear light bulb, smashed it, and soledered straight onto the element conections. works great, + Led's last for ever.

when i hit the break two more Lines come on between the otheres. got the LEd's from maplin 12v super bright reds.

up rated it abit now though. got 7 LED's on each line instead of 5. plus made them a bit more in line.
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The SMC | The Pit | Stable

[mattsmith95]

Well Thanks a lot people

I will get one and try it out.


DaFrostyOne points at two interesting questions which I
hope will get answered soon.

[G]

398cc:

Have you had anyone look at it from behind when you're using it?

Ages ago I made my one (admitaddley quite dodgily as it was finished off at midnight the day before going to santapod). Because the LEDs don't get any brighter, just more of them, it didn't actually look that different when riding on the road, to other road users.

Might be worth looking at wiring in two circuits with a relay, one with a more powerfull resistor to dim them a bit.

[Smoto Bob]

i almost blinded my self with 1 damn 7cd one decided that the car drivers behind were going to get a tan and just bought a pre made emarked one
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F'it DO WHAT EVER MAKES YOU HAPPY!!!!! Even if it screws over everyone else :p
Titz wrote: "..and my 3rd accident was when this police car....."

[Demonic69]

[ZaphodBeeble]

I just bought a torch from aceparts.co.uk hehe.
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Current bike: VTR1000F Firestorm. Previous: Firestorm (written off) - XJ600 Divvy - NSR125 - DT125 and a load of offroaders.