Side-Facing Riding Lights

[EasyGoingPat]

Hi,

Recently (while driving my car not riding my bike), I came to a roundabout and almost missed seeing a motorbike. The day was grey, the bike was mostly greyish, and the rider was wearing dark clothing. Nevertheless, it was broad daylight, he was riding a fairly large bike, and he was riding quite correctly around the roundabout. I checked the roundabout was clear and was just about to set off when a second 'lifesaver' check revealed the bike.

I realised that my own bike colour scheme was roughly the same, and so I began to think what I could do to improve my side-facing visibility. I am considering fitting some (amber?) side-facing lights, similar to the ones used on many HGV vehicles. Does anyone know if such lights exist for bikes? And does anyone know if they would even be MOT legal?

Any help of advice would be very much appreciated.

Kind wishes ~ Patrick


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[iooi]

[Rogerborg]

RVLR 1989 11.

You can show any colour light you like to the side.

If it can be seen from the front, it can't be red.

If it can be seen from the rear, it must be red.


There's an exception for "side marker lamps" which can be red or amber even if they can be seen to the front or rear. However, those have a specific definition, I'm not sure you'd get away with just saying "is marker lamp".
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Beehive Bedlam]

Gay.

[Polarbear]

My American import Goldwing had amber running lights on the side as well as dim indicators on all the time except when in use and they flashed normally. I never had any hassle from people not seeing me. It was bright yellow and very big mind!

My Trophy has side reflectors, not quite the same thing but quite useful I think
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[EasyGoingPat]

Apologies to rogerborg. Didn't notice the smiley (so you might be right about the glasses) and didn't take the post in the spirit it was obviously intended.

Thanks to all who replied.

~ Patrick
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Thank you to anyone taking the time to read my posts.

[Rogerborg]

[WD Forte]

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/product_images/motrax_dri-vis-hi-visibility-oversuit.jpg
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bikers smell of wee

[iooi]

[Ariel Badger]

At this time of the year grey just blends with the background.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[talkToTheHat]

There are those who like retro reflective tape, particularly on the wheels. Not as good as lights as requires lights pointed at it to work, but not prone to failure either.

Are led strips such as the cheap things marm sells appropriate marker lights?
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Over 20 years ago there was a company selling such lights for bikes in the UK. They seemed to sink without a trace

All the best

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

[Northern Monkey]

The indicators on my MSX use 5/21 bulbs on the front. They are permanently lit at 5 watts all the time, except when they flash, when they use the 21 watt filament.

They are visible to a much greater angle, (id guess about 70 degrees from the front) than the headlight
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[EasyGoingPat]

I have been looking at LEDs. And I like the sound of the dual-power indicators. Thanks for the info.

Interestingly, I read that you cannot use green or blue lights, even side-facing.

To iooi, I assure you that I can take a joke. It seems some people can't take an apology. And I did see the bike in front of me. I am simply concerned how much he blended against the background of the roundabout.

~ Patrick
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Thank you to anyone taking the time to read my posts.

[UncleFester]

[Rogerborg]

[EasyGoingPat]

Wow! Talk about choice. I tend not to use ebay these days, but I will certainly check out this lot. Thank you!
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[UncleFester]

Some Wagg at the bike show was flogging this toot for 20 quid per pair of strrips - if you're going to fit cheap tack, at least make sure it's cheap.

I've fitted a few of them to bikes, usually the white strips, fitted to the outer radiator shroud as a DRL - very visible, even at a distance.
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2017 Z1000SX

[EasyGoingPat]

In reply to rogerborg, I think I've misread (bit of a pattern forming here) the lighting regulations document about blue and green lighting. I quickly scanned them yesterday, and the bit I read was referring to rear-visible lighting. So the earlier comment that you can show any colour you want to the side is probably spot on.

Sorry for any confusion (and annoyance) I have managed to cause. I seem to be having a sequence of blonde days (whoops! probably upset a few more people there; if it helps, I myself have blonde hair). I blame Christmas.



- Patrick
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Thank you to anyone taking the time to read my posts.

[Rogerborg]

It was a genuine question, I love finding out that I'm wrong.

Parliament has plenty of form for creating new offences at the drop of a hat, and it's entirely possible that there's some supplementary act or regulation that prohibits it.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[WD Forte]

get yerself an arsepinkade
This one's missing the handlebar tassels but
a good effort nonetheless
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TobDECo075o/UGA3754bJLI/AAAAAAAAD1M/OXBOigIb8xY/s1600/1053504.jpg
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bikers smell of wee

[EasyGoingPat]

I should think he has to notify local air traffic control when he takes that out.
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Thank you to anyone taking the time to read my posts.

[Copycat73]

the law applies to "fitting of the vehicle"

but not to fitting of the riders person..

if your that bothered try wearin some of those flashin LED. bicycle

lights on your sleeve /wrists

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Visibility-Armband-Flashing-Cycling-Jogging/dp/B00MTI7806/ref=sr_1_40?ie=UTF8&qid=1419272524&sr=8-40&keywords=led+lights+cycling

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cycling-Sports-Shoes-Safety-Signal/dp/B00FC4M192/ref=sr_1_62?ie=UTF8&qid=1419272592&sr=8-62&keywords=led+lights+cycling

https://www.amazon.co.uk/AWEVizTM-Visibility-Cycling-Helmet-Light/dp/B00ORSWP40/ref=sr_1_80?ie=UTF8&qid=1419272658&sr=8-80&keywords=led+lights+cycling
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