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Probably getting ahead of myself here, but I'm starting to think about lighting. The rear lights to be specific, as I've been googling and found these:
You could always make some like the ones on my Cabrio. Super cheap to make, standard emarked lights fitted into pods made from Asda tooth brush holders!
You could angle the pods to make them fit onto the sportster wings.
Probably getting ahead of myself here, but I'm starting to think about lighting. The rear lights to be specific, as I've been googling and found these:
Or on a cabrio, as shown on Simons here:
The sportster wings don't have the 'bulge' but obviously the bug light cluster ones could pass as add ons... and they're not to expensive
The problem is it wouldn't pass BIVA as they probably aren't E marked.
Any ideas how to achieve the look?
GOO
When I spoke to Stafford they reckon lights do not have to be E marked to be approved- you just have to show 'or similar'. Stafford actually claim many of their non E mark lights will be accepted by examiners, and guarantee to give you your money back if they cannot get the examiner to accept them.
May be you can spread your enquiries wider than you may believe?
Has anyone had lights fail due to the examiner claiming they do not meet with approval?
Mike
I am sticking with E marked lights. It would be a pain to fail the SVA (BIVA) just for that. Especially if they implement the rumored 80% x £540 re-test fee!
If you want something special then use cheapo E marked lights for the test and then swap them after. All IMHO of course...
GOO
When I spoke to Stafford they reckon lights do not have to be E marked to be approved- you just have to show 'or similar'. Stafford actually claim many of their non E mark lights will be accepted by examiners, and guarantee to give you your money back if they cannot get the examiner to accept them.
That's interesting... I assume that Stafford would provide you with a data-sheet proving the 'or similar' of the unit... Hmmm.
I feel a phone call coming on. If I can stay awake that is. The caffine really isn't working this morning.
If you want something special then use cheapo E marked lights for the test and then swap them after.
Good point, I just don't want to end up cutting holes in the wings that I can't repair or modify for the replacements later on. If I go that route, I'll have to be careful.
I am sticking with E marked lights. It would be a pain to fail the SVA (BIVA) just for that. Especially if they implement the rumored 80% x £540 re-test fee!
If you want something special then use cheapo E marked lights for the test and then swap them after. All IMHO of course...
Robin
Yup, that's what I did! (and the same for the reflectors, i used cheap stick on ones for the test) Ask Stafford if they would refund the cost of the BIVA test if you fail?
I agree the spec says that they have to be 'e' marked or equivalent but for a 'layman' to try and convince an inspector on the day with no test equipment could be very difficult.
Having the little 'e' marks just takes any doubt or debate away.
The trick to getting passed is to remove as much doubt in his mind as possible and make it easy for the guy to satisfy himself that you have met the requirements. I had little bits of rubber trim stuck all over the place so that wherever he looked he could see it was covered.
Even the ends of my bonnet hinge had little plastic protectors which seem to have fallen off now??
Just as a note on tail lights i have the marlin supplied hamburger rear lights and they are really difficult to see in daylight when you are following me. If i could change them without having to buy new rear wings and getting them sprayed i would.
Just as a note on tail lights i have the marlin supplied hamburger rear lights and they are really difficult to see in daylight when you are following me. If i could change them without having to buy new rear wings and getting them sprayed i would.
Just as a note on tail lights i have the marlin supplied hamburger rear lights and they are really difficult to see in daylight when you are following me. If i could change them without having to buy new rear wings and getting them sprayed i would.
The original hamburger lights were used on lorries and buses. If you take a short journey down you nearest trunk road or motorway just keep an eye on all the trucks and you see the old hamburgers, often mounted in sets of three lights each side. But you'll also see newer trucks with high visibility LED versions. These really do stand out and aren't subject to the narrow viewing angles of the old filament type.
Need to find some that are the same diameter and be carefull because a lot are 24v versions.
I also have a high level third brake light in one of my boxes, waiting to be fitted. I saw one fitted to the roll bar on a Sportster at Stoneliegh. I'll see if I have a picture.......
Just wonder if the angle looks right now. In the hi res pic you can see that the top of the chrome body of the cluster isn't parallel with the ground - it's angled up slightly.
I assume this is because of the slope of the rear wing and the angle of the rear cluster.
Not sure if this would looks 'weird' - I wonder if the rear of the cluster could be recut to match the shallower anfle of the sportster rear wing.
Just ear'oleing.
Be careful if you are considering using Beetle 'Tomestone' lights unless, that is, you can get you hands on some original VW units.
I bought a pair from Speed 7 who supply VW spares and the quality was completely rubbish.
The lens were made from Polycrackathene, the bulb contacts 'didn't' and broke after five minutes and the light base was no thicker that a can of beans.
If you can get genuine VW light units that would be great and would look nice.
I built a glass fibre canoe when I was 17 so it can't be that difficult.
Seriously though, glass fibre is not that difficult to work with as long as you have the right conditions (not too cold and definitely not too hot) to work in, good materials (try glasplies) and the right tools. Oh - and you don't mind itching a lot after lol.
How did you mount it? 
