Manky Monkey Motors

Front headlamp.
White. Mimimum of 1, with dipped & main beam. Trikes wider than 1700mm must have 2 headlamps.
Minimum height from the ground 500mm.
Maximum height 1200mm.
Maximum 400mm from the outside edge of the vehicle.

Front position lamps
White. At front of vehicle or on rear mudguards facing forwards.
Min height 350mm.
Max height 1200mm.
Max 400mm from outside edge of the vehicle.

Front indicators
Amber. Maximum of 2. At front of vehicle or on rear mudguards facing forwards.
Min height 350mm.
Max height 1500mm
Min 240mm between illuminating surfaces.

Rear stop/tail lamps
Red. Trikes wider than 1300mm must have 2 rear lamps.
Min height 250mm.
Max height 1500mm.
Vehicles wider than 1300mm must have lamps a minimum of  600mm apart.
Vehicles less than 1300mm wide must have lamps a minimum of 400mm apart.

Rear indicators
Amber. Maximum of 4.
Min height 350mm.
Max height 1500mm.
Max 400mm from outside edge of vehicle.

Numberplate light
White. Minimum of 1. Must illuminate registration plate area.

Rear reflectors
Red. Minimum of 1. Must be non triangular.
Min height 250mm.
Max height 900mm.
Vehicles wider than 1000mm must have 2, max of 400mm from outside edge of vehicle.
Minimum of 400mm between internal edges.
Vehicles wider than 1300mm, minimum of 500mm apart.

Rear fog & reversing lamps optional.

All pairs of lamps must be mounted symetrically on the vehicle,
(same type of lamp on each side, mounted at same height & width).

Hazard warning Lamps
Must be fitted to all trikes, with warning light visible to rider.
High beam & indicator warning lights also compulsory.

good idea sticking or should that be stickying this, seemsa question that pops up alot

Yeah, certain questions just come up again & again don't they.
The info's taken from the current MSVA test manual, but as it's changing to the BIVA test in a month or so, (end of April '09), we ought to double check the measurements are staying the same. 

as if i didnt have enough proplems... cheers monkey

looking at the legislation can the rear light/brake light be two individual lights ie one side light one brake light or do they have to be the same light but the brake a higher intensity ie the light gets brighter when you brake

many thanks geo

seperate lamps are fine  ;)

um rr those measurements to the centre of the light ? soz if its been sked already :(

To the edge of the illuminating surface.

taa

Hi Does this regulation only apply to the MSVA trikes like new builds, as im going for a bolt on swinging arm trike so not sure if it all applies or only sections, can anyone help me out, my main frame will not be altered only angling the top rear shocks mounts to an angle the shocks,
would like to hear from anyone thats recently done the swinging arm conversion and what i need to do regards to the legal / registration side.
Thanks all
regards Phill

Not sure about the regs Phill. I'd have thought if you can comply with all of them it'd be best to, to be on the safe side. Have a word with Klogan -send him a PM or email. His converted Virago's in the Motors, 3 wheels section of the main site.

Klogan's Yamaha (http://mankymonkeymotors.co.uk/Trikespageimages/kloganstrike/words.html)

Hi im new to all this ie Trike building and forums just wanted to ask is it true that all lamps on a custom trike build have to be "E" marked for the MSVA test? chears

Just double checked with ByzMax, who seems to have put more trikes through the MSVA test than most. He says:

No, they do not have to be E marked, just the right colour, visible and pointing in the right direction. The headlamp must have the correct beam pattern though -flat or dipped.

Cheers

Just been reading MSVA trike lighting positions,trikes wider than 1300mm must have lights at least 600mm apart.

Is 1300mm to the out side of the tyres/wheels? if it is then i cant fit my Flapster type lights/indicators cos ive narrowed my axle and do not have the 600mm gap between them!!  >:(

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Regarding headlamp type..Im having probs finding 4 1/2" bates lenses that comply.

Have you tried http://www.jwmotorcycles.com/ and don't forget to tell them your a member on here to get discount.

I think you'll find that 1300 or any other width measurement refers to the widest part of vehicle. Saying that if wing mirrors are widest part, does that count??

Visible hazard warning light does that mean the lights them selves or the switch that operates them?

I think you are referring to the tell tail light. you need one for your indicators and if both of them flash that is ok  :)

I believe if you can see the front indicator lenses from the riding position, you don't need a seperate warning light. I drilled the back of my front indicators & popped in a small amber lens so I could see when they were working.

r reflectors optional?

Non-triangular rear reflector,minimum of 1... if over 1000mm wide 2

Thanks for the info guys think I have it sort got some front marker lights should add sOme more bling to me thing... :)

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=140549336359&kw=140549336359

Can a rear reflector be mounted on the side of the mudguard to the rear?

Can't see why not, as long as it's visible from the rear.

the gap between front indicators is 24 cm between illuminating surfaces , is that between indicators or indicator and headlight , it doesn't say and I don't want to get it wrong , thanks ???

Between the indicators illuminating surfaces. BTW that's minimum, can be more.

thanks old newbie

I was thinking of having the indicators on the front, motorbike style, and also on the rear mudguards. Is that allowed ?

Without going back to the beginning to see what kind of trike it is, I'll just say that my bike trike (GT550) has them exactly like that.

 
i think it says maximum of 2 forward facing indicators. you could add them after test maybe  ;)

Twisted is correct- Forward 2 max.  Rear 2 or 4 max

Fair enough, 2 it is. Cheers guys :)

can someone help me out please. wiring nearly done but i need a bit of help clarifying this bit :
MSVA says,

4. check that front positional lamp;
a)closed -circuit tell tale is fitted. (a separate tell tale is not required if the instrument panel lighting can only be switched on or off with the positional lamp)
b)rear positional lamp and registration plate lamps fitted can be switched on and off by one operation switch.
 
i have wired my trike so that all the marker lights and number plate light come on when the ignition is turned to the first position and my speedo lights up. is this ok for the test?

Unless things have changed, side lights etc. (position marker lights) must be capable of being switched on without the key being in the ignition switch. Looked for ages for a key switch that would allow the key to be removed in auxiliary position (used to be available) but gave up. Just fitted a separate switch that turned on lights but not headlamp. The main light switch can also switch on sidelights etc. but not without the key in.

 :( bugger. cheers O.N i will have to get a switch and the wire cutters out again then by the looks of it.

Hi, just purchased a trike from a gentleman who could not finish due to ill health, I am nearly there but believe it has 2 have double headlights on front. At the moment Harley Front / VW back. Does anyone know best place to get these.not sure how to post a photo.

Hi what trike is it?  with lights it just one at the front with high and low beam same as a motorbike and two on the back brake and tail then two marker lights on the mud guards white and red

With motorcycle type trikes, only those over 1700 mm wide need two headlamps. If this is the case then they must be within 400 mm of the outside edge of the trike with a minimum height from the ground of 500 mm and a maximum of 1200 mm.
Good places to look for lighting is ebay or CBS (Car Builder Solutions)

This is my problem I think it falls under these regulations Annex 6 – Lighting Requirements for Tricycles (other than Motorcycle) and Heavy Quadricycle. , will try and post a photo