Different take on reflectors

[Allie]

NJ used to but Christie did away with it, for better or worse.

[mmattockx]

Depending on where you are at anything other than yellow on the front and red on the rear may not pass inspection if the station wants to be aholes about it.

What are these 'inspections' you speak of? I try to not live in places that feel the need to interfere in my life.

Very true, but that assumes that your state actually has an inspection program. I wonder how many do/don't.

.

Nothing in Alberta for equipment or emissions and hopefully there never will be.


Mark

[Phred]

I think Downs is thinking about the turn signal and brake lights being red and amber. The reflectors are to catch the light from a vehicle that is coming at the rider from a right or left angle and are mounted on the front forks. I know there are regulations on the brake and turn signal lights, but I don't think there are any on the side reflectors. Another thing that I came across a year or so ago, it might have been on this forum, is a reflective sign on the vest or jacket of the rider. In large capital letter"s it spells out the word POLITE in fluorescent yellow. At first glance from a car driver's drivers point of view they would think POLICE. I looked it up at the time, and I think the vests are sold in England but it wouldn't take much to fabricate one with fluorescent tape.

[gsrick]

We haven't had inspections in central Florida since the early 80's. They had them for a long time after that down in Tampa, but I don't think they still do now. I think MD still has them.

[Steve]

I know there are regulations on the brake and turn signal lights, but I don't think there are any on the side reflectors.

I have only managed to read the Motor Vehicle Code book in two states, Illinois and California. In those two states, there are (or at least there were when I read the books many years ago) regulations on reflectors, as well as lighting. Reflectors (and lights) on the sides must be yellow, unless they are within two feet of the rear of the vehicle, where they must be red. Reflectors (and lights) facing the rear must be red. Reverse lights may be white, but must only be activated when Reverse gear is activated. Turn signals on the rear may be red or yellow. Reflectors (and lights) facing the front must be white, but turn signals on vehicles built after 01/01/1963 must be yellow (amber).

Are these always followed? No. There is a LOT of "creativity" on the part of many customizers, but the general theme usually remains somewhat intact.

.

[dorkburger]

As noted, no cycle inspections in Jersey for several years now. Natural selection of sorts I suppose.
Even the auto inspections seem to be oddly inconsistent and occasionally lax. I was shocked that the garbage that is my car just passed.

[Downs]

Very true, but that assumes that your state actually has an inspection program. I wonder how many do/don't.

.

We've got it in Texas but it varies wildly on how strict or not the individual stations are.

I personally think the program is a waste as I only proves the vehicle was road legal for that one instance in time. There' plenty of cars running around out here with questionable structural integrity and tires that are down to the belts.

[dorkburger]

True. Main concern here seems to be emissions.

[TxGSrider]

We've got it in Texas but it varies wildly on how strict or not the individual stations are.

I personally think the program is a waste as I only proves the vehicle was road legal for that one instance in time. There' plenty of cars running around out here with questionable structural integrity and tires that are down to the belts.

This is very true. I had one bike that was "inspected" and I never took it off the trailer. Ive got another place that he makes me ride it into a bay area and beep the horn, use the turn signals, and asks me for my insurance. And theres another place where the guy disappears around the building on my bike (presumably to test brakes-lol) and he looks at the reflectors, brakes, tires, signals, and everything else.

[SusKatCas]

Well, this got me wondering, and any distraction would do to keep me away from work...

We do have motorcycle inspections in PA. A road test is required, but often not performed. I am batting about 50/50 on a road test. They look closely at brakes and light bulbs.

I was curious about the reflector color rules so surfed the PennDOT regs and concluded that rear and side reflectors are required but color is not defined.

I did find this gem which appears to clearly allow the hover lights:

§ 4310. Motorcycle lighting.

Auxiliary lighting may be added to a motorcycle to protect the driver, including blue dot illumination, standard bulb running lights and light-emitting diode (LED) pods and strips.

(June 29, 2006, P.L.205, No.50, eff. 60 days)

2006 Amendment. Act 50 added section 4310.

Cheers, Alan

[80GS850GBob]

True. Main concern here seems to be emissions.

That is the same here...but just for cars/trucks, not cycles.
Only fairly enforced IL issues are 24hr headlight and eye protection...and you'd be amazed how many times I spy a violation of either...

[wacky941]

This is very true. I had one bike that was "inspected" and I never took it off the trailer. Ive got another place that he makes me ride it into a bay area and beep the horn, use the turn signals, and asks me for my insurance. And theres another place where the guy disappears around the building on my bike (presumably to test brakes-lol) and he looks at the reflectors, brakes, tires, signals, and everything else.

I've had a few that told me that they had to ride my bike as part of the inspection in the State of Texas and I told them that there is no way that they were gonna ride my bike and that they need to go back and read their inspection requirements and duties again. They told me that they didn't care what the regs said and that if I won't let them ride it, they wouldn't inspect it, hey that's fine with me, I just ride a little further down the road to the motorcycle dealership and get it inspected there. The dealer even tells me that they are not required to ride the bikes and as a policy they cannot for liability reasons.

[Steve]

... I did find this gem which appears to clearly allow the hover lights: ...

"Hover lights"?? Have never heard the term, but I am guessing that you are talking about the lights that light up the ground under the bike?

.

[Phred]

In Quebec the police do an annual weekend blitz where they pull every motorcycle off the road and inspect for modifications and violations. They measure decibel levels, the rake of the front forks, and a number of other things. They have it down to a fine art with decibel levels being one of the larger infractions. On that one weekend blitz they make enough money in fines to build a bridge. Last summer I heard a news spot on the radio - in Ontario- warning motorcycle riders that there was a blitz coming up. Reflectors was something I never thought about, but this debate has now ignited my curiosity. I will have to dig deeper into what Provincial standard regulations are.

[jabcb]

Well, this got me wondering, and any distraction would do to keep me away from work...

We do have motorcycle inspections in PA. A road test is required, but often not performed. I am batting about 50/50 on a road test. They look closely at brakes and light bulbs.

I was curious about the reflector color rules so surfed the PennDOT regs and concluded that rear and side reflectors are required but color is not defined.

I did find this gem which appears to clearly allow the hover lights:

§ 4310. Motorcycle lighting.

Auxiliary lighting may be added to a motorcycle to protect the driver, including blue dot illumination, standard bulb running lights and light-emitting diode (LED) pods and strips.

(June 29, 2006, P.L.205, No.50, eff. 60 days)

2006 Amendment. Act 50 added section 4310.

Cheers, Alan

The PA DOT website lists the regulations twice. I would not be surprised if the two documents have slightly different regulations.


The PA motorcycle regulations are here: http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Public/DV...ubchapterh.pdf
Additional info is in the tables here: http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Public/DV...ons/tables.pdf


The regulations are also here: http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Public/DV...ons/PUB-45.pdf


The text states that a rear reflector is required. Table V provides location & color requirements for side & rear reflectors.
The text states that turn signals are optional. Table V provides turn signal location & color requirements.


This is a government document. So…
The text states that turn signals & brake lights may be combined, but the tables state that there must be a separation of at least 4 inches.
The text states that there may be either 1 or 2 headlights, but the tables state that there must be 2.
The tables state that cars & motorcycles must have 1 backup light.


Those aftermarket integrated taillights don’t meet the turn signal requirements.
But turn signals are not required. And the integrated turn signals were “added to protect the driver” and are LEDs.
So are they OK because of § 4310?