Manky Monkey Motors

Technical Section => Trike Tech => Topic started by: Brant on December 01, 2010, 08:01:16 AM



Title: Bike lamps/ reflectors - dimensions and markings
Post by: Brant on December 01, 2010, 08:01:16 AM
Apologies for raising a topic question that must have been asked before but my search can't find a recent answer in the forum.

Question.  Do trike lamps and reflectors have to be of particular dimensions and carry approval markings (such as 'E')?  I'm Ok with lamp position dimensions but not size of actual lamps themselves.

The build (xv1100) is going in fits and starts but when finished I'll post a record with comments as to why and how I did it my way (thanks Frank).


Title: Re: Bike lamps/ reflectors - dimensions and markings
Post by: thebigdogsix on December 01, 2010, 08:38:24 AM
Im not sure as to the answer of your question but you can download the MSVA manual and it would have your answer i would have thought


http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/publications/manualsandguides/vehicletestingmanualsandguides.htm#P58_1513


Title: Re: Bike lamps/ reflectors - dimensions and markings
Post by: Brant on December 01, 2010, 02:19:31 PM
Im not sure as to the answer of your question but you can download the MSVA manual and it would have your answer i would have thought


http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/publications/manualsandguides/vehicletestingmanualsandguides.htm#P58_1513

Thanks for the link.  Unfortunately free publications are limited to 'Guides', 'Forms', etc. and though position of lighting on a vehicle is given in a Guide no information on specifications/standards for lamps/reflectors is.  If there is a required standard for design and size of lamps/reflectors then I'm guessing it's in the SVA Inspection Manual which costs £37.

If a particular motorcycle to trike conversion does not require SVA inspection (mine does not, I think) then is SVA Inspection criteria important anyway?  Probably it is of more interest to me to know of the standards applied by an Inspector when I submit for vehicle document change from motorcycle to trike and thereafter the standards for MOT testing. 


Title: Re: Bike lamps/ reflectors - dimensions and markings
Post by: terry t on December 01, 2010, 02:54:48 PM
a lot depends on the tester.but to be safe use lights that are e marked.check out this link :-\ :-\

http://motorcycleproducts.co.uk/catalogue/lights-indicators-c-200.html


Title: Re: Bike lamps/ reflectors - dimensions and markings
Post by: thebigdogsix on December 01, 2010, 03:10:25 PM
No you can get the full manual for free

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/MSVA%202010%20.pdf



It was the third one on the sva list near the bottom


Title: Re: Bike lamps/ reflectors - dimensions and markings
Post by: Brant on December 01, 2010, 08:41:42 PM
a lot depends on the tester.but to be safe use lights that are e marked.check out this link :-\ :-\

http://motorcycleproducts.co.uk/catalogue/lights-indicators-c-200.html

Thanks Terry.  Good link to supplier.


Title: Re: Bike lamps/ reflectors - dimensions and markings
Post by: Brant on December 01, 2010, 09:19:17 PM
No you can get the full manual for free

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/MSVA%202010%20.pdf



It was the third one on the sva list near the bottom

Not very bright am I (hence the question on lighting!).  I've now looked briefly at the Manual and so far as I can see it gives quite detailed  information for headlamps but little or nothing for other lamps other than suggesting 'E' mark for colour of lenses.

Interesting (for me) to note side reflectors are required and parking brake must operate on both wheels of an axle.

As I shan't be doing the MSVA I'm just left wondering how its standards might apply generally.

Thanks again Bigdogs for the link to the Manual.