Orange Fork Reflectors

[Biker 1]

I've noticed many bikes, including my own, have amber reflectors fixed to each side of the forks. Are they a legal requirement, or is it just that some manufacturers think its a good idea?

[YouWhat]

Biker 1 said:

I've noticed many bikes, including my own, have amber reflectors fixed to each side of the forks. Are they a legal requirement, or is it just that some manufacturers think its a good idea?

Buy a KTM then they look ok

Edited by YouWhat on Monday 4th June 09:12

[Uppy89]

Depends on the age on if it is a legal requirement I think.

It was bought in as part of the Euro 4 stuff so will likely be picked up on an MOT when the bike gets to that age.

If the bike is pre Euro 4, they can be removed.

[Biker 1]

Uppy89 said:

It was bought in as part of the Euro 4 stuff .

That's what I wondered - maybe there are after-market miniature items available to replace the stock Honda frisbees??

[Krikkit]

I'd just take them off- unless they update the MOT to specifically check for them no-one will notice. Maybe stuff them in a drawer just in ase?

[Ho Lee Kau]

Extra protection for the fork when/if one falls?

[pozi]

Orange side reflectors are not part of the MOT and you can take them off.

[catso]

I think it might be a US market requirement? as all bikes in America seem to have them, at least when supplied.

[Uppy89]

catso said:

I think it might be a US market requirement? as all bikes in America seem to have them, at least when supplied.

For new bikes it is also a European requirement:

All new models also need to be fitted with automatic headlamp on (AHO) – or daytime running lights, with no switch to turn them off – and US-style side reflectors, which Europe had broadly managed to avoid, until now.

When will the changes happen?

Well, some already have. While the official government legislation does not make for easy bedtime reading, most of the changes will be implemented in two stages. For newly-developed bikes, the changes have been in place since January 1 2016. And for existing models, they’ve got until January 1 2017 to comply.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bikes/content/what-is...

[catso]

Uppy89 said:

For new bikes it is also a European requirement:

What happens in the US always comes to us later, except for the better pricing and warranty that is...

[Biker 1]

Uppy89 said:

For new bikes it is also a European requirement:

Would explain it.
So if one removed the reflectors, could plod pull you? Would there be a fine/points involved?

[Krikkit]

Biker 1 said:

So if one removed the reflectors, could plod pull you? Would there be a fine/points involved?

Technically they probably could, as a violation of its original construction, but practically no.

[cmaguire]

Those were the first things I took off my bike. They look ste on any non-grandad bike.

[CoolHands]

don't like

[black-k1]

Krikkit said:

Biker 1 said:

So if one removed the reflectors, could plod pull you? Would there be a fine/points involved?

Technically they probably could, as a violation of its original construction, but practically no.

I expect that this would be one of the "left hand, right hand" situations. If you were stopped you'd likely be issued with a rectification notice which requires you go along to an MoT station and get the bike checked over. Because it's not covered in the MoT the MoT tester would sign off as all OK.

[nyxster]

I'd surprised if most police even know it's a requirement or would notice, plenty of people have tail tidys fitted which contravene the requirement to have it at the rearmost point of the bike. The only issue I can forsee is if you were involved in a collision pulling out of a junction say at night / bad visibility and an insurance company wanted to avoid paying up because your bike contravened C&U regs / undeclared modification from spec.

[Krikkit]

nyxster said:

I'd surprised if most police even know it's a requirement or would notice, plenty of people have tail tidys fitted which contravene the requirement to have it at the rearmost point of the bike. The only issue I can forsee is if you were involved in a collision pulling out of a junction say at night / bad visibility and an insurance company wanted to avoid paying up because your bike contravened C&U regs / undeclared modification from spec.

I suppose a good workaround would be to buy Ohlins forks with gold coating...

[nyxster]

Krikkit said:

I suppose a good workaround would be to buy Ohlins forks with gold coating...

At least you'd get some benefit from them. Given the woeful observation skills of many drivers I'm not sure how two bits of orange reflector make any difference.

[podman]

As said, they was fitted to all US bikes, my K7 1000 had them fitted but it was simply a case of unscrewing them and the longer bracket they sat on and using a normal bolt to secure the mudguard..I didnt like the look of them from the start either.

[sjtscott]

Uppy89 said:

For new bikes it is also a European requirement:

All new models also need to be fitted with automatic headlamp on (AHO) – or daytime running lights, with no switch to turn them off – and US-style side reflectors, which Europe had broadly managed to avoid, until now.

When will the changes happen?

Well, some already have. While the official government legislation does not make for easy bedtime reading, most of the changes will be implemented in two stages. For newly-developed bikes, the changes have been in place since January 1 2016. And for existing models, they’ve got until January 1 2017 to comply.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bikes/content/what-is...

Hmm I've owned bikes from new since 2003 that have had perm on headlights with no off switch, guessing that this is just part of the overall legislation and was originally an EU rule even though the UK still doesn't require you to run your headlights on the bike during daylight hours. Whats made it worse are that for city/town riding you stand out less now that so many cars have perm on daytime running lights. For some this means they Christmas tree up their bikes with super bright LED spot lights.

The folk reflectors arn't a UK legal requirement either currently so can be safely removed they just have to be there when they're sold new bit like cat convertors and anything else to restrict emissions on bikes in the UK again currently.