Post by: joderest on January 15, 2016, 09:23:28
Just a bit of DIY. I have always used day running lights, when I had my BMW I fitted some quite expensive bought ones, and was dissapointed when they only lasted a winter, hence, made some cheap ones of my own, they seem to last quite well, and I always knock up a spare set, just in case.
If pictures have loaded in right order, first is what you will need, 1/2" alloy pipe, you could use 20mm copper pipe, pipe brackets and the lights, I buy these off ebay for about £3.00. see item number 191579175614 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191579175614).
Cut two bits of pipe about 3/8's inch longer than the light, drill small hole in the end, and pass wire through, glue the light to the pipe (super glue). Then I use body filler to fill the void inside, hence light will never come out and is water proof. Rub down and quick coat of paint. The last thing I do is smear a tiny bit of black silicon sealent round the lens, just to make sure water cannot get in.
I have fitted under front cowling using the pipe clips, just two small self tappers, and then wired to side light circuit.
Last picture is some I have already fitted, picture taken in bright sunlight, but can still be seen.
As I said, cheap to make, so I always have some made up as spares in case one blows (not happened yet).
Whilst taking last picture, dug some boulders (all right, small stones) out of radiator, no leaks thank god, but next job is to make a cover, ordered some sheet alloy today, so will post that up when done.
Thought some one might find this of some use.
Post by: FlyingPanMan on January 15, 2016, 13:55:14
Steady green light is not illegal - I checked many times and no cops have stopped me over the last six months of use, but they certainly get me noticed.
If all bikers used green running lights, then we would eventually become instantly recognisable in car mirrors as motorbikes - just as strobing led's are recognised as push-bikes nowadays. Mine seem to help when filtering also.
Post by: wurzel on January 15, 2016, 15:26:03
Post by: Holmsey on January 15, 2016, 15:28:28
Post by: joderest on January 15, 2016, 15:52:25
Be aware, some doctors use green lights !!!!!!!, but they are flashing, and blue ones are a No No, can't say anymore
Post by: TLPower on January 15, 2016, 16:19:51
Post by: Holmsey on January 15, 2016, 18:15:20
Post by: tallpaul on January 15, 2016, 18:24:17
Post by: user650 on January 15, 2016, 22:24:44
Post by: mr_diver on January 15, 2016, 22:27:59
They are quite bright when you look straight down the beam, but not dazzling to oncoming traffic.
They were working fine when I ripped off all the bits I wanted from the strom when it died.
can't go wrong at the price, but the wires were very thin and a bugger to solder.
Post by: Rallymad on January 16, 2016, 13:54:05
Cheers
Stu
Post by: grumps on January 16, 2016, 14:17:18
Post by: Playsatan on January 16, 2016, 20:02:03
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/playsatan/8E66117C-A57F-42C1-BC2C-5CCDAEAC08E8-1820-000001D136FE5C72_zpsb4e37a0b.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/playsatan/media/8E66117C-A57F-42C1-BC2C-5CCDAEAC08E8-1820-000001D136FE5C72_zpsb4e37a0b.jpg.html)
I've got to agree with the comment about the whispy wires though. Not easy to work with at all.
Post by: mrp192 on January 16, 2016, 20:30:20
Steady (non flashing) lights except red are legal to the front. Even blue. (IIRC)This is correct, running lamps can be any colour apart from the red part of the spectrum but they should define the outline of the vehicle (this is the reason the coloured lamps the youngsters put in the washer jets in the middle of the bonnet don't comply with the law).
Also they have to be a steady light as pointed out above but recently in MCN their resident legal advice solicitor did suggest that the small bright 'twinkling' lights you can now get would probably get away with not being a flashing lamp as the sequence so quickly. In his words it would be a very bored Traffic officer who would try and pursue you for them.
Post by: Brucey on January 17, 2016, 06:57:23
Great Post - thanks.
Post by: joderest on January 17, 2016, 08:22:28
You could just pick up the wire off one of the bulbs.
Post by: joderest on January 17, 2016, 08:25:10
Post by: FlyingPanMan on January 17, 2016, 22:17:16
The main point I wanted to get over is that if all bikers used steady green lights up front, we would become more easily recognisable as a motorcycle. That can be helpful when filtering/lane splitting and just a great safety feature. My experience over the last few months has convinced me.
Remember, cyclists using flashing led's were illegal at first but the law gave in when they became commonplace. Now any driver seeing a flashing/strobing white led immediately thinks "cyclist"!
Post by: mrp192 on January 17, 2016, 22:51:13
Perhaps you need to send it in to the national bike press or MAG etc to try and get it put out?
Post by: Robotstar5 on January 18, 2016, 20:31:26
Like many years ago, seeing a pair of headlights on during daytime you immediately thought "emergency vehicle", now they are lost in the clutter of DRL's, chavs foglights etc.
Post by: Rallymad on January 29, 2016, 20:21:40
Post by: Rich:-) on June 01, 2016, 15:48:46
Steady green light is not illegal - I checked many times and no cops have stopped me over the last six months of use, but they certainly get me noticed.
Does anyone have a link to it written anywhere to legitimise this claim?
I have just looked into it as I'd like to fit some on mine but within 5 minutes found several regulations this seems to breach. :bawl:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/2/made (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/2/made)
SCHEDULE 2
PART I
Requirements relating to obligatory front position lamps and to optional front position lamps to the extent specified in part ii
5. Markings
(b) A solo motor bicycle and a motor bicycle combination in either case first used on or after 1st April 1986: An approval mark
7. Colour: White or, if incorporated in a headlamp which is capable of emitting only a yellow light, yellow
Also see this - if true it would mean that fitting twin fog/flood lights is also illegal..
PART II
Requirements relating to optional front position lamps
2. In the case of a solo motor bicycle first used on or after 1st April 1991 which is fitted with one obligatory front position lamp, not more than one additional lamp may be fitted which must comply with the requirement specified in paragraph 7 of Part I and shall be situated as close as possible to the obligatory front position lamp.
I know things have changed a lot with regards to vehicle lighting and not a lot of this stuff is being enforced anymore but I do think fitting anything other than white light to the front of your vehicle is asking for one-wanted attention.
Post by: JesterRich on June 01, 2016, 16:54:20
Post by: mrp192 on June 01, 2016, 18:23:10
This is why your boy racers get pulled up for coloured lamps in their window washer jets but lorry drivers don't for a 'Blackpool Illuminations' across the top of their cab.
I have just fitted BikeVis bullet LED's to my accessory bars ( I would think could be said to define the outline of the bulk of the bike except handlebars) and put the BikeVis podmod in line so they sort of twinkle. This makes them much more visible than the steady LED lamp.
I'm hoping the Police would turn a blind eye to this as they are not exactly flashing, but neither a steady light, but have wired them into my BP aux fusebox so that they can be plugged in without the podmod if I meet PC Pedantic.
Have been on two rides since fitted and have had no vehicles pull out on me from junctions which would normally happen a couple of times so seem to be working. Highly recommended.
Post by: Rich:-) on June 01, 2016, 19:01:56
Presuming the lighting regulations for running lamps hasn't changed then a car can have steady lamps of any colour other than red to the front so long as they define the outline of the vehicle.I would presume this regulation would apply to motorcycles as well but haven't got any reference material any longer to check.
If you look at the next page on the link I posted I think it covers that too.
2. Running lamps fitted to satisfy regulation 18 shall be in the form of a matched pair of front lamps, each of which–
(a)is fitted in a position in which an obligatory front position lamp may lawfully be fitted, and
(b)is capable of emitting white light to the front having an intensity of not less than 200 candelas, measured from directly in front of the centre of the lamp in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and of not more than 800 candelas in any direction.
I'm not sure where this assumption that "any colour other than red is OK" comes from?
That's why I'd really like to see it written in an official document as the one I found seem to be quite specific in saying that only white lights are acceptable.
Post by: mrp192 on June 01, 2016, 20:43:42
When I was working with these regs 'running lamps could be fitted anywhere on the front or rear of the vehicle so long as they defined the outline of the vehicle and could only be red to the rear and any colour but red to the front.
I have checks the regs online today and could find no mention of the lamps I am referring to under optional lamps where they used to be listed so can only assume they have slipped through the net on an update to legislation.
Post by: JesterRich on June 01, 2016, 21:41:40
Post by: kels on June 03, 2016, 09:03:19
Have put these strip of LEDs on handguards decided to put them on separate switch just in case boys in blue get the tape measure out. They don't emit enough light to ride in the dark but I certainly get seen when filtering, high up and width of bike, also because they bend around handguards then each led is facing slightly different to the next.
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160603/b2a2b730c1f38be4bc674eb64ea0f118.jpg)
Those knuckle dusters make a great place to install DRLs!
I did mine a few months back, when I was riding more at night and they made a big difference. Especially down one particular road where oncoming vehicles would fail to give me enough space. Had no problems after installing the lights.
Post by: UK_Vstrom650 on June 03, 2016, 11:57:45
Post by: kels on June 03, 2016, 13:40:32
Thanks
They are 8 LED units from here,
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271665325395
A little too long for just the middle section of he knuckle guards, so they some LEDs point slightly out and some slightly in, lighting up the side of the guards and hi lighting the front to the Strom.
The double sided tape they come with it not so great, and I suggest you use proper stuff!
Post by: Rich:-) on June 03, 2016, 14:13:45
Just checked mine and they don't really lend themselves to this as they have no forward facing flat surface. :bawl:
Post by: kels on June 03, 2016, 15:40:03
Difficult to say really! I bought a few types of DRL LEDs and settled on 8 LED bendable ones as they were the ones with the least current draw and coolest in operation. Tried 3xCOB ones too, which where the brightest but far too hot for the knuckle guards. I didn't want anything too bright, or blinding, so settled on those in the link above.
K
Post by: Rich:-) on June 03, 2016, 17:53:53
So I'm saying if you were to buy them again would you get the shorter ones?
Post by: kels on June 03, 2016, 18:00:48
Post by: JesterRich on June 03, 2016, 21:01:57