Non DOT Approved Lights

[hevnbound]

Maybe NMN will chime in on this? I was looking at Custom Dynamics Website and noticed a lot of their lights were listed as Non DOT Approved?

It's probably been there all along but I just noticed the disclaimer because of something that just happened to me. I did a "fender eliminator" thing on my Suzuki B-King several months ago. When I took it in for an updated inspection, they turned me down because of the Knight Riderz rear light I had installed. When I purchased the light I was in their store. The guy who sold it to me knew that I was buying it for my rear tail/stop light. He didn't mention to me anything about it not being DOT approved. I don't remember it having anything to that affect on the package.... it may have, I just don't remember?

The purpose of this post is NOT to complain about any problem with Custom Dynamics - quite the contrary ... they are great people with excellent customer service. I'm just giving a heads up. The dealer told me that the NC DOT is really cracking down on non DOT equipment (lights, etc). Although they (dot) let me slide on this occasion and did pass the inspection, the person my dealer
talked to informed him that strict enforcement at the time of vehicle inspection will be phased in in the near future. Supposedly new laws have been passed in NC regarding this?? Apparently I will not be "grandfathered" in next year at inspection time!

In the case of the Knight Riderz, the problem is that the brake light actually goes of for a split second when you hit the brakes and flashes before it comes on full. In my opinion, that's a good thing. In the opinion of the NC DOT, they say that the brake light must come on immediately and stay on for a full second before it flashes.

I don't know any other details except that there are other changes also? Also, if it is happening in NC, it most likely happening in other states?

My disclaimer is that I usually don't always take a Dealer's word for things like this but I was there when the dealer talked to the folks at DOT so there is evidently some truth here?

Should we be concerned?

 

[NancysToy]

Welcome to the "Land of the Free". Excessive and overly picky regulations will be the death, or bankruptcy, of us all! :gaah:

 

[Barbary]

Welcome to the "Land of the Free". Excessive and overly picky regulations will be the death, or bankruptcy, of us all! :gaah:

excessive already have us bankrupt... leaves the picky that'll kill us.... :shemademe_smilie:

 

[boborgera]

:shocked:
Remember, With the threat of Police layoffs; To justify their salaries the summons book will be coming out for every little infraction.
''BUT'' Not all of the summons will be unwarranted.

 

[BajaRon]

Welcome to the "Land of the Free". Excessive and overly picky regulations will be the death, or bankruptcy, of us all! :gaah:

Scotty, you have such a kind and genteel way of putting things.

Some are just starting to notice that the new order is all about control. Electronic surveillance for traffic enforcement, control of financial institutions, Internet, auto manufacturers, land use, industry, energy production, health care. How about the newly embodied TSA! Really, the list is endless.

The only thing our government does not seem to have any interest in controlling are our borders!

Why do you think it took BRP sooooooo long to fix the DPS issue? Many attribute it to foot dragging on the part of BRP. And what are they going to say? DOT is holding this up? And bite the hand that controls every part of their life? Not Hardly!

Of course investigation, R&D, etc., took some time. But how much did the long and arduous (not to mention expensive) gauntlet called DOT add to this? Substantial is my guess.

And what does all this DOT scrutiny really get us? Remember, they approved the first DPS unit!

Not saying I have any inside knowledge of the DPS issue. But I know how this goes and it's a simple 2 + 2 = 4 equation.

How many aftermarket products do you think will be produced once everyone has to deal with the DOT grinder? Look at what NMN says he has to pay just to put his products into production now! (I'm assuming without DOT approval). If I'm wrong Evan, please set me straight.

Not only will a great deal of time be added to the process, but if and when a product does get produced, what do you think it will cost?

So, you kill innovation, (the life blood of Free Enterprise) and what you do get costs so much it doesn't sell. Another nail in the coffin of Free Enterprise.


Accident or plan? I have my opinion, but it really doesn't matter, result is the same.

I know this may get this thread bounced over to the Off Topic board. But really, all of this stuff affects every SpyderLover in America. And it's just my humble opinion which anyone is more than free to disagree with.

I would like to think we could be part of the solution.

 

[SSPSpyder]

All of my vehicles are outfitted with aftermarket/non=DOT lights. As long as you don't remove/replace the required lighting (headlight, brake light, etc,) and ADD your desired lights to the vehicle, you will be O.K.

Disclaimer - some states have limits as to the number of lights you have, such as no more than 6 white lights pointed to the front. Check the vehicle code for your state first.:thumbup:

 

[hevnbound]

............ As long as you don't remove/replace the required lighting (headlight, brake light, etc,) and ADD your desired lights to the vehicle, you will be O.K.

...... And therein lies the problem. Mostly for appearance sake a lot of riders including myself modifies the rear end of their bikes - Spyders included. There are a lot of bikes in NC running aftermarket rear lights that are going to have a big surprise next time they go for an inspection - again, assuming the dealer I saw knows what he is talking about.

As an example, here is a quote from the Tail Light Conversion and the "All In One" option; "Streamline your Spyder by removing your turn signal stalks and use our super bright Genesis LEDs as both turn-signals and running/brake lights." These are marked "Non DOT approved ...... as is the popular "Triple Play" system!

Not picking on Custom Dynamics and the No Magic products .... Just using them as an example as they seem to be the most popular with Spyder owners. These laws would apply to every vendor who manufacturers aftermarket lights.

Again, I'm only passing on info as to what happened to me .... Not trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. !!!!

 

[Dudley]

There may be another curve around this rear lighting debacle. I have never heard of any state having issues with red reflectors on the rear of any vehicle. They only reflect, do not blink, wink or nod. I had some on the SE5 and had good night reflection.

 

[Roger]

Hevnbound

I don't think you are making a mountain out of a molehill it's just a very good topic? I personnelly i have not removed any stalks just added lights right now i'am in the middle of removing the back fender and adding the side mount for the plate off the axel i also realize that some states don't like the vertical mountaining of them so i went with the one made by Raw Design i can switch from horizontal to vertical in 2 seconds.

 

[wyliec]

Non DOT approved[/B] ...... as is the popular "Triple Play" system!

Not picking on Custom Dynamics and the No Magic products .... Just using them as an example as they seem to be the most popular with Spyder owners. These laws would apply to every vendor who manufacturers aftermarket lights.

Again, I'm only passing on info as to what happened to me .... Not trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. !!!!

I have the Triple Play; but, I will probably replace with the All In One. I just checked ESI's website and did not see- 'Non DOT approved.' I could have missed it; if I did, can you provide a link?

I was just thinking...is Custom Dynamics in N.C.? ESI is in NY and that may be where I was getting confused. You are only talking N.C.; correct?

 

[hevnbound]

I have the Triple Play; but, I will probably replace with the All In One. I just checked ESI's website and did not see- 'Non DOT approved.' I could have missed it; if I did, can you provide a link?

I was just thinking...is Custom Dynamics in N.C.? ESI is in NY and that may be where I was getting confused. You are only talking N.C.; correct?

Interesting:dontknow:! Custom Dynamics is in NC and since they are relatively close to me, I have done business with them. I'm sure however, that ESI has also sold customer's in NC.

Since I was only talking about NC, I didn't check ESI's website. I don't see the DOT disclaimer on their website either!

I guess the bottom line is to take it upon yourself to see what your own state is doing (or, not doing) RE: non DOT products. I haven't heard of a lot of enforcement by the law regarding lights. However, if the states start working it through the inspection process like they are apparently going to do in NC, it could be a major problem. I heard that at Americade and other locations NY has done spot checks on Motorcycles ... Did those checks include lights?

I think Custom Dynamics makes the lights so if they are non DOT, ESI's products would be non DOT also. I wonder if the packaging shows DOT:dontknow:

 

[wyliec]

hevnbound,

I'm going to check with my son-in-law who is a trooper here in NYS. But.........................

The Triple Play (according to the lens) is DOT SAE D 03; I just checked it. Also, the taillight conversion (from ESI) has DOT and a lot of numbers on the lens. I know, someone is now going to say the lens's are DOT; but, the lights aren't. I doubt if any LEO is going to take the time to look any closer. JMO.

 

[SSPSpyder]

I seem to remember sometime back that Evan/ESI stated that one of the reasons their stuff sometimes takes a little longer to come to market and are a little more expensive than other companies stuff is that theirs is DOT approved. I may be wrong but don't have time to search all the threads.

 

[bruiser]

Went on the DOT/DMV website for NC. Didn't see anything new regarding lights on motorcycles. Also checked with a friend who does inspections, he hasn't heard of anything new either. Still checking...

 

[hevnbound]

Went on the DOT/DMV website for NC. Didn't see anything new regarding lights on motorcycles. Also checked with a friend who does inspections, he hasn't heard of anything new either. Still checking...

Did the same .... Same results - nothing. Will head to my dealer in next couple of days and have him show me what he working off of.
opcorn:opcorn:

 

[SpyderWolf]

My Spyder is basically covered in Non-DOT lights and I haven't had any problems so far. Many police officers have seen it and say they really like it and hope someone doesn't run me over even with all of the lights. I do have most of them running through a controller box with a remote, so if I needed to I could shut them off within a second or two. I figure that should keep me out of trouble in the long run.

 

[Oldmanzues]

Big Brother: Check CA new exhaust stuff.

A lot seems to be local. Around here, Blue or green underbody ( Halo ) lights. One local says okay, anthor said, off or traffic ticket. I make sure all "odd" lights are switched someplace. :agree:Blue flashing all around the Spyder, red/blue in windshield, LIGHT PARADE ONLY.
Flashing white or yellow strobs for funeral escort okay.
OldManZues
PGR; OldSilverHondaRider

 

[bruiser]

Did the same .... Same results - nothing. Will head to my dealer in next couple of days and have him show me what he working off of.
opcorn:opcorn:

opcorn:opcorn:opcorn:opcorn:

 

[patches]

I am in NC. Purchased most of my stuff in person at CD, great groups of peeps. I have had at least 3 inspections with NON-DOT lights and pulled over several times, even at night with my 800 Blue LEDS on and nobody has really said anything. Only the blue lights are frowned upon, but yet no ticket..YET! At doubt they will really know or care about the NON-DOT approved back lights.

 

[hevnbound]

Originally posted by HEVNBOUND: Did the same .... Same results - nothing. Will head to my dealer in next couple of days and hayve him show me what he working off of.

opcorn:opcorn:opcorn:opcorn:

Sorry ... Haven't made any further effort to confirm or deny what my dealer told me. I think I'm going to let it drop and see what happens.

As our resident experts on all things regarding lights I'm going to assume since neither NMN or CD jumped in on this thread it is because:
A - Lack of interest
B - Better things to do than chase down rumors
C - They know there is some truth to this and would prefer consumers not to know for obvious reasons.
D - They don't know anything about it and (see "A" or "B")

Perhaps it's just a NC thing. Maybe my dealer lied to me and faked the call to DOT. Perhaps I'll never know because the aftermarket lighting industry has a contract out on me right now!! :yikes:

Thank you peeps for listening - now, back to my goddesses!
Charlie