HID Lights

[Wapping]

In these cases it will need a prosecution and as stated above tested in court for a president to be set.

Mr Obabama getting lit up in lights, I suppose?

If done well, that will be an unprecedented event and very presidential.

 

[Jedmeister]

I spoke to an insurance company about this and they weren't bothered provided it "wasn't a performance gain i.e. to the engine". They seem more interested in whether you have an aftermarket Akro exhaust rather than the official BMW one than modifications to the lighting. The guy I spoke to told me that better lighting could only make things safer - that said, I don't have this in writing so who knows what would happen in the event of a claim............

 

[littleredrooster]

The DfT have not said that they are illegal. They have said that "....in our view..." There's a world of (legal) difference. It is only their opinion and has not been tested in court.

Feck me - I said that further up there ^^^ Spooky.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

I said it first

 

[DLBass]

As understand it from my investigations before fitting a full set motorcycles are not covered by the legislation. A car fitted with aftermarket has to have automatic adjustable headlights (like my C4 VTS)to allow for different loading of the vehicle to stop dazzle of other vehicles. So if you fit a set to your car without this facility as I understand it you are breaking the construction and use regs.

Like anything (aftermarket lights wise), properly set up they are not a problem. I've not been flashed at by an angry motorist yet, and the light output from my HID 50/35 set up is awesome when it's all lit up on high beam with the spots on.

 

[littleredrooster]

As understand it from my investigations before fitting a full set motorcycles are not covered by the legislation.

That's my understanding, too.

A car fitted with aftermarket has to have automatic adjustable headlights (like my C4 VTS)to allow for different loading of the vehicle to stop dazzle of other vehicles. So if you fit a set to your car without this facility as I understand it you are breaking the construction and use regs.

Not sure; I thought the contravention was the Lighting Regs and it only applied to new vehicles, not modifications to existing vehicles........

Like anything (aftermarket lights wise), properly set up they are not a problem. I've not been flashed at by an angry motorist yet, and the light output from my HID 50/35 set up is awesome when it's all lit up on high beam with the spots on.

Both cars in the household and the bike are converted and I rarely have any issues with oncoming vehicles. Best mod I have yet found.

 

[JPB]

Mr Obabama getting lit up in lights, I suppose?

If done well, that will be an unprecedented event and very presidential.

You're a cruel so-and-so Wapping!

 

[FatBob]

That DFT report is both unreasonable and old and it isn't law it is their view. As for insurance, if you change anything or add anything to your bike you need to inform your insurance company. If they see it as fair enough it wont cost you anything but if they see it as costing them more you will pay more. As ever read the small print, some companies will cover your panniers and stuff for free but some wont. After all they are a £1000 accessory.

My previous bike, which was also my first bike after passing my test, was a Honda Deauville. Before buying it I got some insurance quotes to make sure it was affordable. I forget the exact amount but I think the best quote was say £200. After buying the bike I went to buy the insurance and mentioned that the bike had heated grips and a topbox, both official Honda accessories. Oh, in that case the bike is modified sir and the insurance will now be double the previous quote . I kid you not. I shopped around and I couldn't get anything cheaper. Many insurers wouldn't quote at all because they classed the bike as "modified".

Where does it stop? If you change a light bulb for a different one? An intercom? A tax disc holder? I have also added quite a bit of petrol which wasn't there when I bought the bike, I bet that counts as a performance enhancement!

I tried testing the alignment of my dipped beam (HID) against the garage door but it didn't look like a very sharp cutoff to me. Maybe just difficult to see with all the light reflecting off the door, or should it be a really sharp line? There is a line obviously but its blurred.

 

[Giles]

I guess all insurance quotes are now computer generated. 'Have you made a modification to your bike?', Yes - click here, No click there. Its a black and white flow chart that will lead you to a pre determined price There's no discretion or human involvement in decision making any more. Next time you're asked about modifications, if it really is just heated grips and a top box, the answer is NO!!! (They won't not pay out because you had heated grips, they're covering their arse against bikes that have been heavily tuned / chopped / turned into street fighters etc etc).

 

[JPB]

I guess all insurance quotes are now computer generated. 'Have you made a modification to your bike?', Yes - click here, No click there. Its a black and white flow chart that will lead you to a pre determined price There's no discretion or human involvement in decision making any more. Next time you're asked about modifications, if it really is just heated grips and a top box, the answer is NO!!! (They won't not pay out because you had heated grips, they're covering their arse against bikes that have been heavily tuned / chopped / turned into street fighters etc etc).

That sounds very reasonable and fair, but in my experience insurance companies are neither. If you ever need to make other than a tiny claim they seem to do everything in their power to delay settlement (including appointing 'Loss Adjusters' whose role is to adjust the settlement to as low as they possibly can) in the apparent hope that you'll become so desperate and frustrated you'll accept a fraction of what you're actually entitled to.

I'm not saying you shouldn't act on the advice above (that's what I do! ), but no matter what you do, if you're ever unfortunate enough to have to make anything other than a tiny claim, be prepared for hassle and delay.

 

[claw]

Ride Magazine November 2009 by Writer Mark Manning...

Back at home it was time to book my bike in for its 6000 mile service. Wollaston Motorrad in Northampton fitted me in in really short notice, and carried out the £150 service.
While i was there, i got them to fit an HID light kit too. Now, cars move out of my way far more than with a standard headlight. Its really bright -no i mean REALLY bright, and has a slightly blue tinge to it. I can ride along dual carriageways and motorways with almost clear lanes ahead - they all see me coming now. It works well at night too, reflecting off everything, even if its above the beams cut-off point. I can see where the road is going even with no main beam.
Pity that you have to spend £150 to bring a £10,000 bike up to scratch.

Ride Magazine March 2010 by writer Emma Franklin Pictures by the fella who wrote the above Mark Manning....

However, non factory-fitted systems are illegal....

So i take it that you can have a non factory system fitted fine in one issue, but its illegal a few months later. Having it done at your dealers is not factory fitment.

Me thinks Ride magazine doesn't know what the hell they are talking about.

 

[D6]

do any magazines?

 

[stolzy]

That sounds very reasonable and fair, but in my experience insurance companies are neither.

That's the problem. Insurance companies are under pressure to maximise their profits and one way of doing this is to squeeze claims.

These days you can't expect anything better than the letter of the law from them.