One more elec. ques.

[CatatonicBug]

Actually.....that Federal DOT requirement applies to MANUFACTURERS, not to owners. So a mfg can not produce an MC without them since about 1968 or 1969. For privately owned bikes, it is a state thing.

Now, technically, it is not legal to remove such things from the bike if it was mfgd with them, but again, if your state does not require them, then who is going to cry foul on it.

FMVSS Sec. 108 does not make any differentiation between manufacturers or owners. Table III (at the end) simply states that they are required by Federal law. State laws are superceded by Federal laws, but of course, it is up to local law enforcement to decide how they are going to enforce the laws.

What I'm trying to say is that they ARE required in ALL 50 States, but I also see that some locations may choose not to enforce that law through inspections, traffic stops, or otherwise.

[DGXSER]

FMVSS Sec. 108 does not make any differentiation between manufacturers or owners. Table III (at the end) simply states that they are required by Federal law. State laws are superceded by Federal laws, but of course, it is up to local law enforcement to decide how they are going to enforce the laws.

What I'm trying to say is that they ARE required in ALL 50 States, but I also see that some locations may choose not to enforce that law through inspections, traffic stops, or otherwise.

FEDERAL
MOTOR VEHICLE
SAFETY STANDARDS
AND REGULATIONS

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC
SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

SAFETY ASSURANCE

OFFICE OF VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLIANCE

400 7TH STREET, SW
ROOM 6111
MAIL CODE: NSA-30
WASHINGTON, DC 20590

FOREWORD

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a legislative mandate under Title 49 of the United States Code, Chapter 301, Motor Vehicle Safety, to issue Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Regulations to which manufacturers of motor vehicle and equipment items must conform and certify compliance. FMVSS 209 was the first standard to become effective on March 1, 1967. A number of FMVSS became effective for vehicles manufactured on and after January 1, 1968. Subsequently, other FMVSS have been issued. New standards and amendments to existing standards are published in the Federal Register.

[CatatonicBug]

Ah ha! I stand corrected. I think...

[fredintoon]

Down in gods country, the great state of Texas, turn signals are not required. I always use the old school method..Turn the head, get the offending cars attention and use the appropriate arm signal. Have never used the blinking signal as a reliable communication to the 4-wheeled impaired. Tops of gloves have reflective tape for night operations.

Hi WP,
the bike's flashers are for the vehicles you didn't notice.
But to upgrade your reflective gloves here's a British invention from the 1950s that the patent must have expired on by now.
Sew a pattern of lightbulbs onto the back of the glove. Run wires from the bike battery. Have contacts on the thumb and forefinger. Pulse the lights by repeatedly touching and releasing the contacts.
Nobody bought them then, neither.

[whiskey pete]

For the vehicles I did not notice.....Keep your head on a swivel and check six like your life depended on it. As for the power supply for the bulbs..That would rob the main supply for the wifes toys on long trips, and that is not a a good idea.

[jmnjrpa]

Sorry Pete,

You are wrong.

20.29 Turn Signal Lamps. Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer shall be equipped with electrical turn signal lamps, except that passenger cars and trucks less than 80 inches in width and manufactured or assembled prior to the model year 1960 need not be equipped with electrical turn signal lamps.

If the bed, body, cab, load, and any other equipment on a vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeds 24 inches or more to the left of the center of the top of the steering post in the same horizontal plane (that is, as high as the center of the top of the steering post) or when the distance from the center of the top of the steering post to the rear limit of the body or load exceeds 14 feet, then turn signal lamps are required, even though a hand and arm signal can be seen and the vehicle was manufactured or assembled prior to model year 1960.

NOTE: Required turn signal lamps must be visible to the front and to the rear of the vehicle.

This was copied from Texdot Inspection/Rejection Criteria.

[fredintoon]

For the vehicles I did not notice.....Keep your head on a swivel and check six like your life depended on it. As for the power supply for the bulbs..That would rob the main supply for the wifes toys on long trips, and that is not a a good idea.

Hi WP,
even so, they are like cockroaches; even with careful observation for every one you see there's lots more you don't.
And don't forget that most of the under 50 crowd have no idea what hand signals are, never mind what they mean.
As to power drain, LCDs?

[whiskey pete]

Got the bike inspected under the antique vechicle deal. He asked where the turn signals were and I said it didn't have any. He said "OH" and slapped the sticker on Burtha's bottom. Who am I to question a official of the government.

[jmnjrpa]

I understand,

but it won't keep you from getting a ticket. They will just say the law is the law. Besides a lot of them are just looking for the money.

[Fix]

Michigan has no law requiring turn signals, but I still use them.

• Equipment – Your motorcycle
must have the following
equipment, which must be in good
condition: front- and rear-wheel
brakes, headlight, taillight,
stoplight, muffler, horn, rearview
mirror and permanently attached
seat.
• Handlebars – Your motorcycle
handlebars must be positioned so
that there are no more than 15
inches between the lowest point of
the (unoccupied) seat to the
highest point of the handle grips.

I've never heard of anyone in MI getting popped for handlebars.

[oldyam80sg]

Totally different but i got a ticket once for having stickers on my trucks windows-not blocking my view and questioned the Cop.He said it is the law that the windows must be clear and wrote me a ticket-showed it to the court clerk and the judge dismissed the ticket.

[whiskey pete]

The way I see it if a official member of the government issues me an inspection sticker the cops bitch is with him not me. As long as I did not modify the ride after the sticker. I have however recieved official repomands for exceedence of the posted speed constraint. Never said anything about the blinkers.

[psycoreefer]

The way I see it if a official member of the government issues me an inspection sticker the cops bitch is with him not me. As long as I did not modify the ride after the sticker. I have however recieved official repomands for exceedence of the posted speed constraint. Never said anything about the blinkers.

While this is probably "technically" true, in actual practice I think you'd end up:
A. Paying way more for the lawyer and such to fight the ticket then the actual fine.
B. Find yourself un-able to prove that you didn't modify the bike after the inspection, unless you have the inspector make a note that you have no signals.

[whiskey pete]

Hey jmnjrpa,
Woe to the lost sole who does not read the entire section on turn signals. Go back to www,txdps.state.tx.us/vi/inspection/rules and finish your homework.
"Motorcycles, Motor-Driven Cycles, and Mopeds Are Not Required To Be Equipped With Turn Signal Lamps" I don't know why they Capitalized the first letter of each word, but the meaning is crystal clear. I'm not saying that it is a good idea to not have them, thats a personal choice. However in the Lone Star State you are indeed given that option.