Topic: Headlight question ........

[johnmw]

I went for a ride a few days ago, and stopped at a burger joint. There was a highway patrol car there, with an older officer having lunch. He looked my 1975 CB550-K over for a few minutes and had a few comments about my choice of headlights. I am running one of those Chinese made reproductions of a Lucas Tri-Bar light. You know cheap plastic body, clear glass and all kinds of flutes and grooves in the reflector. He tells me that this is not legal on a motorcycle, unless it specificaly says " MOTORCYCLE " on the lens. He didnt push things, " just thought I should know ". What's up with that ?. The light gives a good pattern, better than what came on the bike. Geeez....... Is I a criminal and don't even know it ??

Thanks

John

[kghost]

Should say DOT on it at the very least

[KingCustomCycles.com]

I think mine say Halogen, Wagner, or something like that.  You had the rare encounter with the headlight police.  There are also police that specialize in tires, helmets and turn signals.  Some just specialize in being dicks. 

[Steve F]

Never seen any headlight that says "motorcycle" on the front.  Where's this guy getting his info from, did he say where you can find info on this subject?

[johnmw]

I have an old sealed beam headlight in the shed that actualy says "MOTORCYCLE" on the lens. This chinese light has nothing on the lens and a few numbers on the backside of the housing. I don't know, this sort of stuff just baffles me. Least he didnt #$%* about the ketchup on my hotdog.

John

[kghost]

I have an old sealed beam headlight in the shed that actualy says "MOTORCYCLE" on the lens. This chinese light has nothing on the lens and a few numbers on the backside of the housing. I don't know, this sort of stuff just baffles me. Least he didnt #$%* about the ketchup on my hotdog.

John

Catch him next time...he probably will 

[bwaller]

I have a halogen headlight that has "motorcycle" on it and it's a cheap POS. Inferior quality product.

This is what the man wants us to use? I say if you have a good light....don't change it.

[MT_CB750K8]

Well I did some research, because I am only familiar with Montana Code, and found no "Motorcycle" requirement for headlights on motorcycles here
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd12c2a13.htm and no motorcycle specific requirements for bikes here either http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/tocd12c2a2.htm

The only headlight requirements my state has for bikes is that it has a selector for high and low, that it light up a certain limited distance on both, that it have an indicator that the high beam is on and is mounted between 54-22".
This patrolman may be familiar with some federal or local ordinance that I am not, but you wouldn't get a ticket from me for it.

[bradweingartner]

I think you'll find somewhere in the general road-going-vehicle laws that the headlight needs to be DOT approved. However, I've never heard anything about a motorcycle specification for a DOT headlight.

Though I can see how ideal patterns might change. I know for later model non-sealed beam cars, the right and left lens has a significantly different pattern. Of course, back in the day, sealed beams didn't have a difference.

[MT_CB750K8]

WOW more digging found this quote from The Code of Federal Regulations http://fmvss108.tripod.com/fmvss108text.htm

"S7.9.5  Each replaceable bulb headlamp that is designed to meet the
photometric requirements of paragraph S7.9.1(a) or paragraph S7.9.2(a)
and that is equipped with a light source other than a replaceable light
source meeting the requirements of paragraph S7.7, shall have the word
"motorcycle'' permanently marked on the lens in characters not less
than 0.114 in. (3 mm) in height."

Well I guess he was correct.

[mystic_1]

Well unless that law was in effect in the year your vehicle was manufactured, you're off the hook!  Just like cars that were built before shoulder belts were mandatory don't require those.

mystic_1

[Trevor from Warragul]

Why not engrave the word "Motorcycle" on the glass?

[MT_CB750K8]

Looks like at S7.9.1 that this applies to all motorcycles manufactured after 1964 because they are to conform to SAE Standard J584.

[eldar]

Looks like  I do not care about such and such law! I only care about being able to see the road! 

[mystic_1]

Hmm I'm trying to follow up on SAE J584 but www.sae.org only offers this at a cost of $47.20.  Looks also like we're required to comply with the April 1964 version of J584.  Anyone have any good citations for this?

mystic_1

[Bob Wessner]

Found this reference...

http://bulk.resource.org/gpo.gov/register/1996/1996_6616.pdf

[lone*X]

Vehicle inspection regulation vary greatly from state to state and country to country so the only true test of the officers comments are the rules that apply in his jurisdiction.  Headlights can be highly technical.  Does the enforcement jurisdiction have a rule for maximum candle power?  Does the headlight radiate in the direction for driving on the left side of the road or right side of the road.  Is the color bias legal for your location?  Lots of rules can vary by jurisdiction.

[eldar]

All I can say is, ITS A FREAKIN LIGHT. If it works, leave it alone. But you know police, they gotta mess with trivial things.