Just a quick heads-up - the UK Government have tweaked the MOT rules (again) - essentially if you have replaced your normal globe with LED bulbs in your (standard) headlight, this is now (potentially) a failure, in the same way that HID bulbs are.
So if you are going for an MOT and have an LED headlight bulb fitted, may just be worth swapping out for a normal bulb first
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/updates
See Updates Jan 2021, section 4.1.4 which reads:
"4.1.4 Headlamps - Compliance with requirements - Changed sentence from 'Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with HID bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.' to 'Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.'"
Awe man have you ever tried to get the headlight bulbs out of an FJR - may as well call it a right off :grin: :grin: :grin:
I have been watching the weather forecasts all week here in the Suffolk region of the U.K. and so far so good. Woke up this morning to a barmy +10C and sunshine😍 Looks like they got it right for once. Bike is booked in for its MOT on Tuesday morning as it is supposed to be dry and sunny all week and hit 17C. Why so happy today? I have to take the bike out for an essential ride to ensure everything is in working order to pass the MOT. First ride of 2021🤗🤗🤗🤗
Oh yeah, I will also advise how I get on with the MOT on Tuesday as I have LED bulbs front and rear and LED indicators fitted. I was assured by a good authority that it won't be a problem. We shall see🤔
This reminds me, my horns haven't worked since about May. I really must fix them soon as the MOT is due next month.
Quote from: Big Phil on Saturday, 20 February 2021, 06:48 PM
I have been watching the weather forecasts all week here in the Suffolk region of the U.K. and so far so good. Woke up this morning to a barmy +10C and sunshine😍 Looks like they got it right for once. Bike is booked in for its MOT on Tuesday morning as it is supposed to be dry and sunny all week and hit 17C. Why so happy today? I have to take the bike out for an essential ride to ensure everything is in working order to pass the MOT. First ride of 2021🤗🤗🤗🤗
Oh yeah, I will also advise how I get on with the MOT on Tuesday as I have LED bulbs front and rear and LED indicators fitted. I was assured by a good authority that it won't be a problem. We shall see🤔
Indicators and rear lights should be fine
@Big Phil but if you have an LED bulb in your headlight, I'd swap it out before your MOT as its an instant fail (or the MOT Tester isn't doing his job properly)
Well my 14 fitted with LED indicators and LED front and rear bulbs flew through its MOT today without a hitch. I am not for a minute disputing that it should of failed (I haven't read the rules) but if it should of done then the rule is just plain stupid. My lights are much brighter with LED's fitted and the indicators are not only much brighter than standard they also have the added safety features of day light running lights as well as acting as extra brake lights. Please note my indicators are not integrated into the brake light as that is definitely a fail as they would be too close together.
Quote from: Big Phil on Tuesday, 23 February 2021, 10:15 PM
Well my 14 fitted with LED indicators and LED front and rear bulbs flew through its MOT today without a hitch. I am not for a minute disputing that it should of failed (I haven't read the rules) but if it should of done then the rule is just plain stupid. My lights are much brighter with LED's fitted and the indicators are not only much brighter than standard they also have the added safety features of day light running lights as well as acting as extra brake lights. Please note my indicators are not integrated into the brake light as that is definitely a fail as they would be too close together.
Like I said before the test is only on headlights with LED bulbs fitted - so strictly it should have been an instant fail (that indicators or rear lights have LED bulbs is neither here nor there for the MOT test). I disagree that the rule is plain stupid, just because the light is brighter doesn't mean it is better, the problem with many headlights fitted with incorrect bulbs - as LED bulbs are for headlights designed for tungsten globes - is that the pattern of light is often incorrect and out of adjustment, blinding oncoming drivers.
Just lucky perhaps that the MOT tester missed it.
But don't they check that front lights are aligned correctly during an MOT irrespective of what bulb is fitted? I absolutely agree any light that is misaligned should fail. However, if the light is deemed to be aligned properly where is the problem with having an LED bulb fitted? I think we will have to agree to differ as I still think it's a silly rule.
Alignment is different to scatter.
My LED headlight globe is surely brighter. Low beam cuts off perfectly, can see where it shines on cars in front of me. High beam doesnt matter. Weve been thru all this not long ago. From memory i think it is illegal in Queensland. No concern to me, mongrel cop if i get booked for that.
Quote from: Big Phil on Wednesday, 24 February 2021, 10:32 AM
But don't they check that front lights are aligned correctly during an MOT irrespective of what bulb is fitted? I absolutely agree any light that is misaligned should fail. However, if the light is deemed to be aligned properly where is the problem with having an LED bulb fitted? I think we will have to agree to differ as I still think it's a silly rule.
We actually are agreeing here
@Big Phil - I agree they check alignment, the problem with many LED and HID aftermarket bulbs are that they don't have the right beam pattern and/or have not been re-aligned. Many of the earlier LED bulbs certainly were "guilty" of this.
However, irrelevant of that, if you look at the laws for the manufacture and sale of vehicles, they are all homologated according to the specification when passed for sale by the manufacturing authorities. Hence you will find that in the case of the GSX1400 it was only ever passed for sale with
tungsten halogen globes fitted to the headlight (as the headlight reflector varies according to bulb type). The approval given is typically moulded into the writing around the edge of the glass - for Europe, this would be the E type approval.
In the case of LED headlight bulbs, it's very easy for them to fail, as there are no LED headlights sold worldwide as standard (OEM fitted) by any manufacturer which can have the bulb changed; All original LED headlamp units are sealed units. For sure there are 3rd party complete LED headlamps sold, typically these should have been approved, no doubt there are Chinese knock offs somewhere, which will be illegal.
So that's why the law is what it is, LED bulbs have never been approved for use by the motoring authorities (not just the U.K.) on any vehicle that were fitted with
tungsten halogen bulbs as standard as the headlights the bulbs are fitted to were not designed for them. That some reflectors give the correct pattern is more down to the LED bulb manufacturers getting more savvy these days and altering the bulbs.
I'm not on a mission here saying it's right or wrong to fit them by any means. I fitted them to my Triumph and got a better light. All I'm saying is what the law says for reference at MOT time, most would typically swap their bulbs out and put them back afterwards anyway, so in that sense the law is silly.
EDIT: Updated for calling the original bulbs Halogen not Tungsten (thanks
@Hooli :onya:)
Just chip in as it's pendant's corner.
You mean halogen bulbs not tungsten for headlights
@gsxbarmy
Quote from: Hooli on Wednesday, 24 February 2021, 06:42 PM
Just chip in as it's pendant's corner.
In that case, it's pedantic :rofl2:
Quote from: Hooli on Wednesday, 24 February 2021, 06:42 PM
Just chip in as it's pendant's corner.
You mean halogen bulbs not tungsten for headlights @gsxbarmy
Thanks
@Hooli - trouble at my age, I'm from the era of candles, remembering these new fangled things and what they are called, well it's a problem LOL