Looks like fitting HIDs is ILLEGAL....

[Diesel]

Saw this on social media just now.....





Any further comments?


Cheers, Diesel

[Lionel]

As far as I know that has always been the case.
I take the risk because I find myself in situations where I really need as much light as I can get.

[atoyot]

Ditto. The reason they are strict on their use is that when they are used with reflectors designed for halogen globes, they may throw light out where they're not supposed to and blind on-coming traffic. The reason for this is that the origin of the light emitted from HIDs is totally different to the shape of a halogen filament, of which the reflector is designed around. Well at least that's what I believe is the case. I'm testing some H4 LED's at the moment, and not sure about the non-legality, but I can report that on low beam, the light they throw is consistent with and probably cleaner than the standard halogen.

[saaz]

I am also testing out some LED H4s. Beam pattern seems as good as H4s, just stronger so the little bit of scatter that was put out with H4s is also a bit brighter. I used them for a few hours in the dark with lots of oncoming traffic, no issues.

I found in the ST1100 with HIDs that you had to lower the low beam a lot to not dazzle traffic, and low beam then was more of a patch of light down low.

[alans1100]

ADR's only allow you to replace a H4 system with a HID if it was fitted as option but in doing so you need to replace the whole system (includes washers and self levelling bits) and not just the globe.

ST's never had them as optional equipment and if found to be fitted would mean non compliance with vehicle standards in force at time of manufacture.

I don't think the laws apply to aftermarket HID/LED driving lights etc. providing they are mounted according to state laws.

Another thing is DRL's: you can not legally have both DRLs and headlights on at the same time and DRLs if fitted must be wired to turn off when headlight is switched on; that's how it applies to cars anyway.

[Totgas]

ADR's only allow you to replace a H4 system with a HID if it was fitted as option but in doing so you need to replace the whole system (includes washers and self levelling bits) and not just the globe.

ST's never had them as optional equipment and if found to be fitted would mean non compliance with vehicle standards in force at time of manufacture.

I don't think the laws apply to aftermarket HID/LED driving lights etc. providing they are mounted according to state laws.

Another thing is DRL's: you can not legally have both DRLs and headlights on at the same time and DRLs if fitted must be wired to turn off when headlight is switched on; that's how it applies to cars anyway.

Same in Queensland. Only in January 2014 did they remove the law that stated that driving lights had to be in-line or below headlights. You can now legally mount them where they have been for the last ten years.
A.

[atoyot]

ADR's only allow you to replace a H4 system with a HID if it was fitted as option but in doing so you need to replace the whole system (includes washers and self levelling bits) and not just the globe.

ST's never had them as optional equipment and if found to be fitted would mean non compliance with vehicle standards in force at time of manufacture.

I don't think the laws apply to aftermarket HID/LED driving lights etc. providing they are mounted according to state laws.

Another thing is DRL's: you can not legally have both DRLs and headlights on at the same time and DRLs if fitted must be wired to turn off when headlight is switched on; that's how it applies to cars anyway.

As far as I know, that is correct about HID driving lights. I would imagine that they have reflectors designed for the HID globe.

You brought up an interesting point with the DRL's, as how would you go legally by installing DRL's and having it driven by a headlight switch, as you say, so the DRL's are on when the headlights are off? My guess is that modifying the headlights so that you can switch them off would be a modification contrary to ADR's, even if DRL's were hardwired to come on when the headlights go off.

Anyone know if that's the case?

[atoyot]

Same in Queensland. Only in January 2014 did they remove the law that stated that driving lights had to be in-line or below headlights. You can now legally mount them where they have been for the last ten years.
A.

In NSW there is a requirement about the height of driving/spot type lights that come on with high beams. Most 4WD's that have lights mounted on top of their bullbars are illegal (due to height from the ground) and I think that's what renders rollbar mounted lights as well, although you see plenty of 4WD's with driving lights mounts on top of their bullbars and rollbars. I suppose height would not be an issue with bikes anyway.

[alans1100]

I don't think the laws apply to aftermarket HID/LED driving lights etc. providing they are mounted according to state laws.

SA is a bit more open than QLD/NSW according to this PDF https://www.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/76070/MR1517-LED-Light-Bars-Fact-Sheet-2.15.pdf

[tding]

I believe that they are referring to kits being fitted to headlights. In particular low beam. As not to dazzle / blind on coming traffic. I do recall reading that a low beam light is not to exceed 2000lm most kits are more than 3000lm. As as driving lights go it's not legal to shine them at another vehicle anyway.

[Yorkie]

In WA you are allowed 2 only spot lights which must be mounted in the vicinity of the headlights and are only allowed to be used for reading street signs.

[Brock]

Not sure what you mean Yorkie, here is a link to extra light in WA

http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/licensing/LBU_VS_IB_123.pdf

[LindsayGT]

The question:

Could the fitting of NON ADR approved globes be Deemed to be faulty??

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-22/motorist-avoids-jail-after-fatal-accident/6490468

[atoyot]

Potentially, but I wouldn't think so in this case. He had a light out, and it seems if he did have a working globe in, he probably wouldn't have hit the pedestrian anyway. If he did hit the pedestrian with a non-approved globe in, it may have been found in the subsequent investigation, and there could be blamed, but I suspect that's not likely. Moreso if he had an illegal globe in that caused another to become blinded and hit a pedestrian?

[Totgas]

Not sure what you mean Yorkie, here is a link to extra light in WA

http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/licensing/LBU_VS_IB_123.pdf

However that document clearly states that is is not applicable to Motorbikes. And what about all the different coloured running lights the trucks use? They never seem to be booked for them and some look like Christmas Tree Factories.