Maybe this is a really dumb question but...

[Gunn4r]

This has always kinda bugged me. Most people who are serious about their bikes do mods like a fender eliminator or flush turn signals. Why don't manufacturers just make the bikes like that already? Seems like it would be cheaper (less materials) for one thing. Is there some law that bikes must have those stupidly large rear fenders and the Christmas tree light bulb turn signals??

 

[Dimefan]

I wonder the same thing. Where about in Utah are you? I used to live in SLC and have family in Ogden... just curious.

 

[dart1963]

three letters...

D

O

T

. You'll see most aftermarket parts say explicitly "Not D.O.T. approved"


Feds in the way again. Take control... tell your representatives how you feel, and maybe it will change... until then. ride safe!

 

[Gunn4r]

I wonder the same thing. Where about in Utah are you? I used to live in SLC and have family in Ogden... just curious.

I grew up mainly in St. George, living and going to school in Provo now. I lived in SLC for awhile too when I was going to the U. <3 Utah.

three letters...

D

O

T

. You'll see most aftermarket parts say explicitly "Not D.O.T. approved"


Feds in the way again. Take control... tell your representatives how you feel, and maybe it will change... until then. ride safe!

Ah yeah so it is law. SO dumb. I'd love to hear lawmakers rational on stuff like this. Just seems so silly.

 

[JonKerr]

There are also a lot of different laws in different areas that they have to try and make all the bikes adhere to. The reason the rear fenders are do damn long on most bikes is there are laws in some states that dictate the plate location must be equal to, or extended beyond the outside edge of the rear tire. Some places require it be farther out than the rear axle. Some states require the rear turn signals be a minimum of 9" apart (Cali is one which is why integrated tail lights are illegal here.) Some states require reflectors in certain locations, some in others. So they put them in all those locations. So in order to make sure they don't have to make too many different regional versions, (like the throttle restricted versions going to our Aussie friends) we get bikes with giant ugly appendages from the showroom floor and then get to support the aftermarket industry by buying things like FE kits and flush mounts to make the bike look like the designers originally intended the bike to look like.

 

[Dimefan]

BYU Gunn4r?

 

[Gunn4r]

Thanks for the great response Jon, makes sense. :thumbup:

BYU Gunn4r?

Nope, UVU. BYU doesn't have a web development specific program like UVU does, plus I didn't like all that much the BYU rules. I went to BYU Idaho for a semester, and being turned away from the testing center because I have some 5-oclock shadow is just silly . Besides, UVU is awesome.

 

[Dimefan]

That's pretty cool...I grew up about 10 minutes away from Rexburg. Small world, huh?

 

[Gunn4r]

Very small world! I'm always amazed at how many people I run into that have lived in Rexburg / went to BYUI/Ricks. I edited my post, I said I hated the BYU rules, but that isn't true... I just found some of them sorta silly and inconvenient.

 

[roadrat]

Hmmmm... I live in Cali and I'm thinking about making a fender elimination mod. My questions are, what is the most popular kit? Is a flush mount or integrated tail/turn light less safe than the giant appendage on there now? And then now I am thinking, as JonKerr says, is there a way to do it that still adheres to Cali law?

 

[JonKerr]

The thing about plate location in California is the only way you're going to get harassed about it is if you tuck the plate underneath so that it's not visible. I'm 99% sure the law here is that it has to be even with or extended farther behind the rear axle. Most FE's mount the plate right at that location. I bought an FE off Ebay and kind of modified things a little to get the plate higher up. For the flushies, I put R6 flush mounts on and then put some LED block lights from Ebay into the fake air scoops. I put some other turn signals onto the rear cowling for the rear signals. Still not technically legal because any modification to the lights of a stock bike is illegal. But again, the only way you're usually going to really be harassed about that kind of thing is if they've got you pulled over for something else. I know a lot of people who have integrated tail lights and have never had issues. But everyone I know who's mounted a plate up underneath the tail has had troubles. In fact one guy I was on a ride with got pulled over twice in the same day for it.

 

[Detrich]

I think in Cali rear reflectors are required too... I bought a genuine Yamaha FE for the R6 for cheap off eBay. (Yes - Yamaha makes FE's too!) But, I decided to hold off installing it for now, cuz I'm actually getting used to the stock look. It's actually not that bad, imo- plus it's more visible at night...

 

[Gunn4r]

It's true the stock fender on the FZ6R isn't terrible. Some bikes tho its just silly how big the fender can be. The ninja 250 for example:

 

[JonKerr]

I think in Cali rear reflectors are required too... I bought a genuine Yamaha FE for the R6 for cheap off eBay. (Yes - Yamaha makes FE's too!) But, I decided to hold off installing it for now, cuz I'm actually getting used to the stock look. It's actually not that bad, imo- plus it's more visible at night...

In Cali they do technically require there be a red reflector on the plate, plate light illuminating the plate, and red side reflectors next to the plate. Generally if you have the little red reflector bolts holding the plate on like I got from Cycle Gear and your plate light you'll be fine. I used the white LED plate light bolts that you can also get from Cycle Gear for a plate light.

 

[xezty]

The laws for states are usually different from each other and Cali usually takes the cake on all the extreme and absurd laws. I still have much love for SoCal though. I agree with the whole thing about it being ok for the most part and cops won't bust you for it unless you got into trouble over something else. I know out here in Vegas, you can't have blue headlights cause it's reserved for law enforcement. Just check the motorcycle laws for your state/city in your local dmv website...they usually have the list there.

 

[amg14]

i skipped through most of the replies but i definitely have something to say. i have been drankin' :iconbeer: and watching top gear (UK edition) and the other day i was riding around before the woodward dream cruise (in MI) stared and saw a honda CBR, and older one, in front of me. i tailed it for a few blocks and then it stared to slow down as i didnt see their break signal flare up (bc it was barely visible to the naked eye), so i was just watching my distance at this point. as i neared the bike, i could see that the cbr had its signal on... he was initiating a left hand turn but it was impossible to see it in the daylight because the blinker was like a sliver flashing in its rear fender. it was seriously impossible to see!

i like my stock signals because people can actually see them. and when i installed my targa FE i kept them cause they were far more visible than the cat eye signals that came with the FE kit.

do you want to be seen or not? that's what it boils down to? but in the process of being seen does your bike have to look ridiculous in the process? the stock rear fender on the 6r is cazy looking, bottom line. after installing my FE, im pleased with the results because im just as visible as before minus the bat wing. :iconbeer::iconbeer:

 

[Gunn4r]

I think it's possible to have minimalistic signals and still be seen, for example those Feniex signals:

http://www.600cc.org/forum/f89/recommended-flush-turn-signals-21386/index3.html#post279758

 

[JonKerr]

My turn signals are obnoxiously bright and yet, very clean and stealthy looking. Especially the rear. I have the ones mounted on the rear body work, and then I mounted some of the LED blocks mounted to the signal mounts on the edge of the FE. Then the flushies in the front are very bright to the side and the LED blocks I put in the fake air intakes are again, ridiculously bright.

Here's a crappy 15 second video of them.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jDRjBB9E6g"]YouTube - ‪P6200001‬&rlm;[/ame]

 

[RyanChristenson]

My turn signals are obnoxiously bright and yet, very clean and stealthy looking. Especially the rear. I have the ones mounted on the rear body work, and then I mounted some of the LED blocks mounted to the signal mounts on the edge of the FE. Then the flushies in the front are very bright to the side and the LED blocks I put in the fake air intakes are again, ridiculously bright.

Here's a crappy 15 second video of them.

YouTube - ‪P6200001‬‏

I know this is an old one but any instructions on installing lights in the fake air intakes?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Scott_Thomas]

I know this is an old one but any instructions on installing lights in the fake air intakes?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Yeah, there are a few on here. I put some in mine, but not sure where it's posted. Check my pics.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk