Rear Lighting Layouts

[Paul L]

Just adding the rear view from Gaz Davies.

[Nike55]

Another excellent special!

[Mister Towed]

Thought this link might prove useful on this thread, especially if you're suffering from insomnia -

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/made

The key things to look out for when applying these regulations to a Sammio are that there are no exemptions from fitting red rear reflectors, regardless of the age of the donor, and that some regulations: minimum separation distances between rear lights; the need for a matched pair of brake lights rather than a single one; and minimum height for the reflectors for example, kick in if the donor was first used after dates in 1970 and 1971, meaning they apply to late model Triumphs and Scimitars, but not early ones.

I'm planning to fit a single, central brake light to mine which will comply with the regulations as it's a '68 donor. I'll be carrying a copy of these regulations to show the traffic cops who'll inevitably stop me because they think my outboard brake lights have failed...

[redratbike]

how about these mounted sideways? so they stand up long ways

[Nike55]

Thank you Mister Towed. I needed something light to read while awaiting the next update of the G46 from Lancelot towers!

I cannot disagree with the aesthetics of a single rear brake light, nor not consider the possible risk of some inattentive loon parking in your boot when 'the red lights at each side didn't come on', but I do wonder what your insurers might make of the concept.

[Mister Towed]

Originally Posted by Nike55

Thank you Mister Towed. I needed something light to read while awaiting the next update of the G46 from Lancelot towers!

I cannot disagree with the aesthetics of a single rear brake light, nor not consider the possible risk of some inattentive loon parking in your boot when 'the red lights at each side didn't come on', but I do wonder what your insurers might make of the concept.

Ahh, there's method in my madness. My rear brake light will be one of the LED strips shown below, but mounted centrally above the number plate with a couple of white LED bolts securing it to illuminate the plate -



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2Motorcycl...item4d02127ae4

It's both bigger and far brighter than the filament bulbs in the beehive tail lights favoured by most builders so far (and which do look cool). As it'll also be mounted higher up and people are used to seeing a central brake light these days I believe it will be safer than going with a pair of conventional back brake lights. The brake light will be accompanied by filament tail lights that match the oval reflectors and oval indicators.

I could add another set of the oval rear lights as brake lights but I think it would make it look too fussy and won't make it any safer. As for the insurance, I'll declare everything to a specialist insurer and throw myself on their mercy...

[Mister Towed]

Oh, and I do rather like the Fiat rear lights put up by Redratbike, I think they could be made to look pretty good. The first set of lights I bought for mine were from a 90's Fiat Coupe as I'd seen a set fitted to a 550 replica and thought they looked the business -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U6_9-SZY3M

When I offered them up with a pair of similar sized indicators though I thought they filled too much of the back end with lights. The 550 builder had gone without indicators and presumably lied to the MOT tester about the date of manufacture. I didn't want to do that so I bought a similar looking aftermarket set with bullet indicators built into the centres to make the back less fussy. Trouble is, after about a year of thinking about it I decided I just didn't want round rear lights, hence the arrangement I've now settled on.

[Nike55]

Aha! All is revealed! I think.. Bit confused when you said one rear brake light...I was thinking something less obvious (like one round beehive light)

Although a single (say one round beehive type rear light) could be permitted - wouldn't what you have constructed be construed as two rear brake lights and therefore must be 'x' distance apart? I'd best go and read the regs again.

Must admit I think what you are doing is very brave. I've thought about the rear lights a lot and being a coward I'm (probably) sticking to the 'old' school look.

[Mister Towed]

I'm only going to use one of the two LED strips that I mocked up in that picture, I might use the other one as a fog light though. As for the distance between them if I did use both, because my donor was first used in '68, the regulations state that there's no restriction on how close together the rear lights need to be, only how far in from the edge.

[Nike55]

Will look forward to seeing pictures of the finished rear end...should be quite different.