BikeVis Bullets

[cheesysalesman]

Anybody got a view on these? Have just ordered a pair to lash on the crash bars of my GSA. Cheap as chips and the intention is to make me easier to see. Paid £16 for a pair delivered.

http://www.bikevis.com/motorcycle-led-running-lights.html

 

[jailon]

seems a cracking idea...may get some for meself

 

[Ogmios]

coo.

easy fit.
neat, tidy, discrete.
ideal for an Airhead (and me Guzzi! ) seems very little draw on battery power.
oh - and cheap

seems to good to be true

what am i missing?!

 

[Stewart H]

coo.

easy fit.
neat, tidy, discrete.
ideal for an Airhead (and me Guzzi! ) seems very little draw on battery power.
oh - and cheap

seems to good to be true

what am i missing?!

They dont fit themselves automatically, apart from that
I might try a pair of these myself

Stewart

 

[BlueBird]

be careful

Hiya,

I've got some of these,

becareful with the wires going into the light,watch that you don't pull on them to hard as they will break the connection to the LED and its a sealed unit and can't be opened without destroying it.I was a bit heavy handed on reflection.

easy to fit,they stick on and use next to no power and they are very small.

 

[cheesysalesman]

Lashing them in?

Hiya,

I've got some of these,

becareful with the wires going into the light,watch that you don't pull on them to hard as they will break the connection to the LED and its a sealed unit and can't be opened without destroying it.I was a bit heavy handed on reflection.

easy to fit,they stick on and use next to no power and they are very small.

Where did you wire them to? I was planning to power them off the back spots?

 

[Ogmios]

They dont fit themselves automatically, apart from that
I might try a pair of these myself

Stewart

Damnit!
another job for the Wife so.

as if!

 

[brassmonkey001]

Where did you wire them to? I was planning to power them off the back spots?

Back spots? You've obviously got far too many lights already if you've got rear spotlights.

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

Stick with the white ones guys!

The blue ones could be considered to be "A device resembling a Special Warning Lamp" (the blue lamps fitted to the front / rear of emergency vehicles) and the nasty Traffic Copper might give you a ticket or an appointment to see the local Magistrate!

And before anyone starts going on about the blue washer jet LEDs that the Chavs put on their windscreen washer jets (generally referred to a "Wank*r Lights" 'cos they tell everyone you're a Wank*r), they are too small to be considered a special warning lamp.

Also, this "PodMod" gizmo that causes the lights to "Glint" is a no-no for highway use in the UK. "All lamps to show a steady light". So sayeth the Road Vehicle(Lighting) Regulations (obvious exemption for indicators!).

Just coz it "modulates" really fast, doesn't mean it's not a flashing light!

Really gets my goat when people flog stuff without pointing out that it's not legal for highway use. I consider it akin to someone trying to stich me up!

Stay safe.

UPDATE: Just watched the video of the Blue Bullets with the PodMod in operation. DEFINITELY a device resembling a special warning lamp and illegal for highway use in the UK!

ANOTHER UPDATE: Trawling through the sellers website "Forum" which seems to be mainly posted by the seller himself, he was asked a direct question as to whether the blue lights were legal in the UK. His reply was,
"As we ship all over the world we don't state legality of our Blue lights as it varies from country to country. Of course in the UK having a 'Blue' light is not legal, though I've yet to hear of anyone having trouble with Police as you are making a marked effort to get seen better which can only be a good thing."

FFS! If you're based in the UK and selling to customers in the UK, then I think it's only fair and proper to highlight the fact that the stuff isn't UK road legal at the point of sale, not buried in some obscure forum post!

 

[Ogmios]

blue = "Copper magnets".
agreed. it's only asking to be pulled.

Never look for trouble - it knows where you live

 

[Gruffalo]

just bought a pair of white ones to go on my migsel lightbar with the piaa 1100x lights, should make me stand out even more!

 

[Uncle Ricky]

Stick with the white ones guys!

The blue ones could be considered to be "A device resembling a Special Warning Lamp" (the blue lamps fitted to the front / rear of emergency vehicles) and the nasty Traffic Copper might give you a ticket or an appointment to see the local Magistrate!

And before anyone starts going on about the blue washer jet LEDs that the Chavs put on their windscreen washer jets (generally referred to a "Wank*r Lights" 'cos they tell everyone you're a Wank*r), they are too small to be considered a special warning lamp.

Also, this "PodMod" gizmo that causes the lights to "Glint" is a no-no for highway use in the UK. "All lamps to show a steady light". So sayeth the Road Vehicle(Lighting) Regulations (obvious exemption for indicators!).

Just coz it "modulates" really fast, doesn't mean it's not a flashing light!

Really gets my goat when people flog stuff without pointing out that it's not legal for highway use. I consider it akin to someone trying to stich me up!

Stay safe.

UPDATE: Just watched the video of the Blue Bullets with the PodMod in operation. DEFINITELY a device resembling a special warning lamp and illegal for highway use in the UK!

You are wrong about small blue lights. You must also have a white sidelight with it, it is not a replacement for the side light. The bullet pod lights are WHITE not blue. The blue ones are T10 501 bulbs.

I have blue ones on my bike and have had this reply from the Yorkshire Police

QUOTE
Rick

On reflection you may have meant lights on the side rather than side
lights. You can decorate your bike with lights on the side in blue as long
as there are not so many that they would dazzle or distract others, so
stick to a few low power lights. They mustn't flash or move around in any
way.

The other important point is that it must not be possible to see them from
the rear, so position them so that a wide (ish) vehicle, that can see down
the sides of your bike wouldn't be able to see them from the back, perhaps
get ones inset into something so they literally only shine sideways.

Please note:
PNLD are providing a free service and as such we do not have the resources
to research every email in depth. Whilst every effort is made to ensure
that the information provided is correct, we cannot guarantee it, and we
cannot accept any liability for any action taken as a result of the
contents of this email and/or any attachments. This reply is intended as a
guide only and the advice you are given is based on the information
provided. You are advised to seek professional advice before any further
action is taken. See the PNLD Terms and Conditions, and the disclaimer
provided by West Yorkshire Police (a link to which can be found at the
bottom of the page), for further information.

Regards,
PNLD

END OF QUOTE

I hope that clears up any problems. I carry the above printed out with me in case I do get stopped, I have had them fitted for over 6 months and never been stopped, and have followed police traffic cars.

 

[Uncle Ricky]

The very bottom ones are the pod lights with blue 501 leds at the top

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

Hi Uncle Ricky and thanks for the input to the discussion!

The PNLD (Police National Legal Database) response seems to be referring to blue lights mounted on the side of your bike and facing sideways???

If that is the case, then I agree that there MAY be no offence comitted.

HOWEVER. If the blue lights face forwards (or backwards) then they COULD be considered to be a "Device Resembling a Special Warning Lamp" and you run the risk of being prosecuted.

The ultimate decision is a subjective one, considering all factors and circumstances and made by the copper at the time and the Magistrate at Court.

The "Device Resembling,etc, etc", DOESN'T have to flash or even be an actual working lamp. Even a bit of blue circular plastic on the front of a car that wasn't even part of a lamp has been held to be such a device in the past.

My advice as a copper for 29 years, including 13 years as a traffic copper, is don't risk it. Stick with white or yellow lights at the front and red lights at the rear. Why give Plod an excuse to pull you over and, if nothing else, delay you?!

Nice bike by the way!

 

[Uncle Ricky]

Hi Uncle Ricky and thanks for the input to the discussion!

The PNLD (Police National Legal Database) response seems to be referring to blue lights mounted on the side of your bike and facing sideways???

If that is the case, then I agree that there MAY be no offence comitted.

HOWEVER. If the blue lights face forwards (or backwards) then they COULD be considered to be a "Device Resembling a Special Warning Lamp" and you run the risk of being prosecuted.

The ultimate decision is a subjective one, considering all factors and circumstances and made by the copper at the time and the Magistrate at Court.

The "Device Resembling,etc, etc", DOESN'T have to flash or even be an actual working lamp. Even a bit of blue circular plastic on the front of a car that wasn't even part of a lamp has been held to be such a device in the past.

My advice as a copper for 29 years, including 13 years as a traffic copper, is don't risk it. Stick with white or yellow lights at the front and red lights at the rear. Why give Plod an excuse to pull you over and, if nothing else, delay you?!

Nice bike by the way!

I bow to your inside knowledge as a policeman , the way I read it was that as long as they cannot be seen from the rear of the bike then that would be OK. All I want is to be seen by other road users

Looks like a grey area

Here it is in day light

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

All I want is to be seen by other road users

Looks like a grey area

Don't we all!

As for grey area, I'd say it's a very dark grey - almost black! But as I said, like many aspects of the Law, it can depend on a whole lot on the circumstances at the time.

And as for having followed various traffic cars with the lights fitted on your bike as per the pictures, well, the coppers may have been more interested in something else, or going to a job, heading back to the nick to book off with their end of shift "blinkers" on, or just being bone idle!

That said, traffic cops seem to be a lot more lenient than when I was one. That said again, I'm a lot more lenient nowadays than when I used to be one - must be old age creeping up on me!

 

[cheesysalesman]

not back

Back spots? You've obviously got far too many lights already if you've got rear spotlights.

Meant "back of the spots". I have the orrid plastic ones that BMW fit that break, but should be easy to wire up?

 

[wheelnut]

Cheap and cheesey.

You'll be fitting some blue neons under the bike next.

 

[cheesysalesman]

neon - not!

Cheap and cheesey.

You'll be fitting some blue neons under the bike next.

That's too bling, may get a spinners fitted, a front air dam and a whale tail..

 

[claw]

When i had my ST1300 the side lights i fitted were a blue led type. I had no bother from Durham plod traffic section. One commented on them saying it may the bike more visible, and were OK as long as they didn't flash.

This was at Durhams Bike safe day a couple of years ago, and the same bike was used at various easter egg runs with the same bike organised by durham police.

Durham police bike section are not a bad set of lads anyway, more into accident prevention and education than ticketing bikers, unless they are really being silly and deserve a bollocking.