How legal are my headlights?

[notbike]

No idea about laws on headlights but here are mine. Sorry for the shit quality btw.

Left pic is while engine is on and using dipped headlight, the high beam is the right headlight but didn't take pic cause no need (its almost the same thing)

The blue seen on the right pic is just the parking lights. The actual headlights themselves are white (looks a lot brighter than it is) so I don't think I'll get pulled for it? I love the way this looks and really don't wanna change it unless it'll attract too much attention from plods. What are the penalties a pissed off copper could give me for this?

https://i.imgur.com/LRwROxf.jpg

[The Tot]

Mine are "slightly blue" - 6000K LEDs for my sidelights and passed through MOT with no issues.

The fact that you took them at night usually makes them out to be a lot bluer than they actually are.

Send us a pic taken during the day for comparison. But typically, blue lights WILL attract attention, wanted or unwanted since they're the reserve of emergency services
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Llama-Farmer]

Do you have a picture taken in the daytime? The dipped beam is dominating the photo due to lack of ambient light, doesn't necessarily give a good indication.

I've got a round headlight with H4 dipped/high beam and separate sidelight in the same headlight unit.
I've found drivers appear* to notice my bike more with a blue LED sidelight. Makes the light blue AND white, rather than completely blue tint. It doesn't look TOO blue, but just adds enough of a blue tint to stand out from most other headlights.

* I say appear, because it may be a coincidental effect. Certainly seems like its made a difference though.


As yours is a separate sidelight it may have a different effect, can't tell how blue it is from the picture though.

Strictly speaking, it won't be legal. But whether you'll have any bother from the police or not, I can't say. If cops do say anything I would use an argument that it makes your bike stand out more to car drivers than plain white and has therefore made you more conspicuous and safe. But be willing to accept that they may not see it that way and if they tell you it needs changing be prepared to do so.
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[speedy]

i can honestly say ive never seen a hid light i like they're all aimed wrong and blind the shit out of on coming traffic
please if you ride around London at least get them aimed properly
the blue does look nice though

[davebike]

Blue side light = MOT fail and a nick

Head light colour is not the issue aim is
Should have a sharp cut off and dip a certain amount it is about 50mm after 2m

The issue with HID light is often no clean cut off and or altering the aim
Mostly ok is the aliment dipped a bit more


Me I not use HID for dip way to lightly to cause dazzle
(which is in law a construction and use offence big fine and points )
HID is great for main beam
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[krarkol]

I think blue sidelights as such are only legal when it is not actually a sidelight.

Say for example if you wired up some blue LED's.

You can add different coloured lights, except red.

But you can't replace the colour of the lights that are already there.

I'm tempted on my next bike to stick some blue LED's on. A couple of people I know have/had them and can vouch that a lot of drivers notice you more and behave in a more predictable manner.

It's probably similar to when you see HID's flicker in your mirror and the first thing you see is flashing blue and you brick it
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[bugeye_bob]

You can buy 6k W5 sidelight bulbs(led) that are white but have the same blue ish tint, looks more blue in the daytime and is still legal for the MOT.

[notbike]

Thanks for all your responses. I'm mainly concerned about riding at night time with these on, but here is a pic of them in the day time (barely noticeable).

At night you can definitely see a blue glow on the road in front of my bike. When riding with the low beam on, the left lens is entirely blue, and when riding with the high beam on the right lens is blue but its only noticeable at night.

https://i.imgur.com/hIT2kxl.jpg

So now we've established that it's not legal and I can be pulled over for it (more likely at night because its very noticeable) if I am caught, what would be the penalty for that? Just a fine or some points? I'm kind of okay with a fine.. Maybe after a few I'd get sick of it, but if I would get points for it then it's a no-no.

Edit: Dont know what a HID is, but the headlights are xenon and the side lights are multiple LEDs.

[The Tot]

HIDs are "high intensity discharge lights". They use a high voltage arc to ionise the gas that's inside the bulb to produce a noticeably brighter beam. Compare that to standard filament bulbs which burn a tungsten wire hot enough to emit photons of light. To get the desired white look, they use filters to absorb certain wavelengths of light, which is what you've got on. They just use Xenon gas instead of argon (correct me if i'm wrong) to burn hotter.

HIDs or proper "xenons" are the BMW/Audi blinding white light you commonly get on those sort of cars.

Colour temperature for filament/incandescent bulbs are typically 3250 Kelvin, i.e slightly yellowish tinge. 4300K is similar to daytime, 5000K is slightly bluer. 6000K is the point at which you're likely to get away with it. 8000K is blue and 12000K is purple. Based on the same wattage of bulb, the higher up the scale you go, the less "visible light" is emitted.

If you're running projector headlights, which you're not, they produce less glare. I run them in my car and had no issues come MOT time. I'd strongly advise against running them with reflector lights due to the beam spread and dazzle. I had them on my bikes previously, but didn't fancy blinding people during the daytime. Perfect at night, but I rarely ride after dark unlike the good old days!

Either way, swap your LEDs for Ice White SMDs and you'll be fine.

PS, you're likely to get a tug from a pedantic copper for your L plate! Stick it on your screen like a numberboard, or cover your main beam with it and have it look like your racing number! Mates have been known to get 3 points for something silly like that. Save your points for meaningful things, like speeding!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Bezzer]

[Ste]

People with blue high lights or side lights are fucking annoying and shouldn't be on the roads!!!

You're driving/riding fast and see some flickers of blue lights in your mirrors further back in traffic, is it some 'tard who thinks their blue lights are cool or is actually the police?

Stop being a twat and go back to normal white lights!

Krakol, blue LED's would be just as illegal and annoying to all other roads users. Have a look at the The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations if you want to read something official to confirm that.

[RhynoCZ]

The only legal colours of the head light are yellow and white. Anyone that uses anything else shall be kicked into arse.

Also, why would you want to make your bike more noticeable for potential witnesses?
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[Carvel]

[grr666]

These look good quality and are E marked. So no issues
with legality. What I'd expect from Osram really.
6000K colour temp and forward pointing LED behind a lens.
I'm ordering a set for my ER6

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171064779098?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
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