Forum

[Scalyback]

Didn't you used to be allowed yellowy-white and white-ish yellow as well, or did brussels rule them out?

[Count Johnny]

Crikey!



I never knew there were so many of us in need of a new MOT testing station - or MOT testing stations in need of a new life!

[papasmurf]

The MOT testing station I use is very strict and I prefer it that way, for my own and my wife's personal safety.

[stainer]

hi all, thanks for the import think I will do a exile change them over to white for the mot then back to blue that will lean him cheers all

[jefrs]

It's a subjective thing. The (cof) "white" LED pilots from Hitchcocks are indeed slightly blue. Seen on their own they are more white than most LED but against the yellow tungsten pilot I have in the headlamp (because it illuminates the entire reflector) they do appear subjectively blue. Against the halogen H4 headlamp bulb, which at '+120%' is itself slightly blue, they are practically invisible but seem more white.

Lights in the UK - Stat.Inst 1989 No.1796. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989 ... tents/made

There does /not/ appear to be any provision against displaying a solid (non-flashing) blue light to the front of a vehicle. Which is a bit weird. And non-filament lamps (LED) seem devoid of regulation. You cannot show red to the front but other colours are permitted provided they do not flash, except direction indicators which can be yellow or white (yellow or red to the rear).

As usual the law is an ass. Have a good read, enjoy!

I am not a lawyer, this is not legal advise.

It doesn't appear to go into detail what constitutes 'white', that may be some MoT guideline, but daylight white is 5500K to 6500K and our eyes change colour perception according to how much light is available, hotter may be bluer but our eyes automatically correct to keep colours the same - so displaying a white LED next to a white tungsten will make the LED appear blue and the tungsten yellow.
A decent camera can be used as a colorimeter on its white balance thingy.



If the MoT won't pass, then pop the incandescent tungsten ones back in. Me, I keep a handful of spares in the biscuit tin.



Btw I've had a copper comment on my not-so blue LED pilots, he liked them because they made the bike stand out from the traffic.

[Count Johnny]

Well, Papasmurf.



When I rock up to Ken's on Slo Poke for my annual healthcheck, the precise colour of Slo Poke's pilot lights (if he had any...which he hasn't) is the least of anyone's problems!



Of course, I suppose it kinda helps that, for the lights to operate, I need to run the engine - which (with a 612 on a straight through pipe) is quite noisy in Ken's little shed.



Personally, I like Ken because he does his job but also trusts me to take responsibility for myself.

[Mark M]

In my work capacity I use colour correction film and there are plenty in the catalogue (Lee Filters) which will convert LED colours to pretty much anything you want. Might be simpler just to change the bulbs though!

REgards, Mark

[EddyQ]

Red to the front is the offence but statutory lights IE fitted by the manufacturer when the vehicle is made are not allowed to be blue, green etc. You can however have these colours to the front as long as they are wired up separate to your legal requirement lights. Only red to the rear other than indicators red or orange and white reverse lights. The offence of red to the front is an over sight in law from many years ago when green, blue etc was not available as it is now. I am a Goldwing owner with lots of lights as you do and looked into this alot. I am now a Bike MOT tester and as long as they are not blue LEDs as opposed to White with a hint of blue common sense steps in. New cars seem to have blue headlamps when you first see them then appear white, does the eye adjust?

[apparently lucky eddie]

I'm with Barnes on this one. My tester is more likely to say "bacon butty with your tea?" than whinge about a couple of tiny and largely irrelevant lights. It's hardly a loose swinging arm or grindy wheel bearing is it.

[jefrs]

If you read Stat.Inst 1989 No.1796 it looks like the only colour you cannot show to the front is red and you cannot show flashing lights (indicators) other than yellow or white and if the lamp is in the same shell as the headlamp (which must be white or yellow) then it must be the same colour. This appears to mean that if the lamps are in separate units as the tiger-eye pilots are, they can be any colour you like.