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puma guy wrote:

Charlies.Contingency wrote:

puma guy wrote:I can't recall where I found it and all the information, but when HID headlights began being popular I wondered if they were legal. Specifically my question was about replacing the bulbs in the factory headlight assembly with HID's. I remember it seeing a federal standard that it was illegal to use the wrong bulb in the DOT approved lens/light assembly and somewhere on the lens was a code for the correct bulb. I don't think "illegal" lights are a high priority with LEO's and inspections stations mostly pass any thing. There are also "glaring light' statutes but about in in my town have high wattage driving and replacement parking lights that are blinding to the point they out shine the headlight. There are laws about those light beams extending past a certain point but it's all ignored in my town and on the highways. I make many, many trips to DFW and SA and I amazed at the variety of head and tail light I see. Pink, blue, yellow head lights, blue parking lights, black tail light covers. The latest thing I've been seeing is a wide light bar with to over a hundred LED bulbs array some in the grill some on the spoiler and a couple that were on truck headache racks that must have had a couple of hundred intense LED bulbs. All these things have blindingly intense LED's. In my mind they violate even the simplest rule regarding limiting the number of lights on the front of a vehicle to 8. It's also illegal to have driving lights (KC) turned on above the cab on public roadways. I even seem to remember they were to be covered when not off road. Just not a big deal for DPS and my local PD with bigger fish to fry.

Okay, gotcha. I install aftermarket lights all the way around on my trucks, and I follow all Texas rules and laws. I was nust curious where you recieved this information. There's a lot of things that we do here in Texas that could probably be a federal offense, but my auxilary lights not having covers is not something that I am going to be arrested for any time soon. I you happen to stumble across the code you saw, post it for me please, it ought to be an entertaining read.

I agree you're not likely to get arrested for that sort of thing. I have searched for the info or a link several times with no success. Sometimes I think I'm getting senile and just imagined it . I am extremely sensitive to bright lights at night due to taking my ophthalmologist's recommendation for multi-focus intra-ocular lens implants. I think they were called ReStor. He told me the bullseye appearance and intensification of light issues/problems with the implants had been solved. NOT! I just try to look away but eventually I think my night driving will be kaput! The new LED light bars are impossible to ignore. The lens also affect my shooting because I see multiple images of the sights. I just concentrate on the darkest images among them. He also told me I'd never need glasses again. Another lie!

puma guy wrote:I can't recall where I found it and all the information, but when HID headlights began being popular I wondered if they were legal. Specifically my question was about replacing the bulbs in the factory headlight assembly with HID's. I remember it seeing a federal standard that it was illegal to use the wrong bulb in the DOT approved lens/light assembly and somewhere on the lens was a code for the correct bulb. I don't think "illegal" lights are a high priority with LEO's and inspections stations mostly pass any thing. There are also "glaring light' statutes but about in in my town have high wattage driving and replacement parking lights that are blinding to the point they out shine the headlight. There are laws about those light beams extending past a certain point but it's all ignored in my town and on the highways. I make many, many trips to DFW and SA and I amazed at the variety of head and tail light I see. Pink, blue, yellow head lights, blue parking lights, black tail light covers. The latest thing I've been seeing is a wide light bar with to over a hundred LED bulbs array some in the grill some on the spoiler and a couple that were on truck headache racks that must have had a couple of hundred intense LED bulbs. All these things have blindingly intense LED's. In my mind they violate even the simplest rule regarding limiting the number of lights on the front of a vehicle to 8. It's also illegal to have driving lights (KC) turned on above the cab on public roadways. I even seem to remember they were to be covered when not off road. Just not a big deal for DPS and my local PD with bigger fish to fry.

trdvet wrote:State law allows LE in Texas to enforce the federal lighting code. This is what they use for non-approved equipment.

547.3215 FEDERAL STANDARD

Unless specifically prohibited by this chapter, lighting, reflective devices, and associated equipment on a vehicle or motor vehicle must comply with:

(1) the current federal standards in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.108; or

(2) the federal standards in that section in effect,
if any, at the time the vehicle or motor vehicle was manufactured.

gemini wrote:Current bike is a '09 Road King Classic. Recently put Michelin Commander II's on it,
so the WW are gone.

gemini wrote:

Charlies.Contingency wrote:

RPBrown wrote:I have since started running at night with my blue underlights on. I feel it does help other people see me and it is a safety factor as far as I am concerned. You cannot see front or rear except to the side of the bike and down.

I am late to jump in on the thread, but as a rider myself, the more lighting you have, the better. Some cops may not appreciate your blue or purple undergo, and to be honest, I don't know a single rider that has them for safety purposes, they're to show off. I don't ride at night for safety purposes, but like I do on my truck, I light it up like a Christmas tree with side markers and additional brake/turn signals. Might it seem like overkill when I tap my brakes and you can count over half a dozen brakes lights, sure, but you're appreciate it in low visibility situations!

Something that's not so common, but that I highly suggest, are amber running lights along the side of your bike if feasible. If you have a luggage rack like most KLR's or such, it's not a bad idea to mount additional brake/turn signals off of it, or you hard mounted saddlebags if possible. I think a pulsing center light, with two steady lights on either side is far more visible than other applications. It's all about being safe out there, but if you can, why not go buy a cheap old Chevrolet tank for night driving if possible. I'll be riding once I get the Kawasaki rebuilt, I still regret selling my honda dual purpose... Anybody got a KLR they'll let me make payments on with full coverage?

Too bad we've never met. If we had, you'd be able to say," I know one rider that uses down lights for safety purposes, and not to show off".

RPBrown wrote:I have since started running at night with my blue underlights on. I feel it does help other people see me and it is a safety factor as far as I am concerned. You cannot see front or rear except to the side of the bike and down.