HID or LED lights conversion new rules - MOT failure UK

[JTL]

I was sent this today

For info
The MOT manual for bikes has just been updated to ban LED bulbs in headlights shells built for halogen bulbs. "Some motorcycles may be fitted with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) headlamps. Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with HID or LED bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp."

4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - MOT inspection manual: motorcycles - Guidance - GOV.UK
GOV.UK
4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment - MOT inspection manual: motorcycles - Guidance - GOV.UK
Inspection processes and rules for motorcycle, scooter, moped

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-motorcycles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment

[smithy]

Interesting indeed  .....I can see a lot of failed MOT's in the next few months..!


Smithy.

[bobdave]

Laughable in that those with LED/HID conversions will just put an old bulb in for the MOT them swap back to the conversion as soon as it has passed the MOT.

[Winger]

Our first trip of year for as long as I can remember has been the bike 24 hour at Le-Mans in April pre Covid, ride up from the hotel Monday and catch the afternoon ferry which docked at 9pm in Portsmouth and then we’’d have 130 mile ride home in the dark (a quick one), the wild life crossing the A34 increased by the year and I needed something that could light the road up a mile ahead and fitted both my 1100s and k1200 with HID and they worked fantastic, didn’t need the hi beam the dipped was more than enough.

Things got that hairy in the end with badgers/fox’s/deer, decided we’d ride straight off the ferry into the Ibis early breakfast following morning and still be home by 11am, and never bothered fitting an HID to later bikes.

As for the MOT there isn’t a system out there that cannot be beaten  , but in fairness wouldn’t have a problem taking them off but for hard core night riders their priceless.

[Gazk]

Interestingly, I heard an article by an eye specialist at an eye Hospital, it was all about the damage that some aftermarket LED and halogen bulbs are having to other road users due to being either badly fitted or so bright they can create damage to the eye.  I missed the end or the article but I’m now thinking they moved on to the new MOT’s ?

Like most of us this time of the year I drive and ride in the dark a lot and some car lights are so bright you cannot see anything after they pass, so I guess something must be done about the over bright ones.

I wander how many vehicles will fail looking at the state of some of them on the road.

[orbits]

It’s a good move for the MoT I think. For every good light conversion, there’s many that are done badly. Just a shame that manufacturers don’t make LED/HID either standard or a remotely affordable option on many vehicles (glances towards BMWs often ridiculous-priced options list).

[Winger]

I found the complication was getting the setting right, too low and it was no better than having a normal head light, too high and other traffic users coming the other way soon told you, as my night time riding was rare and done two up with a pile of gear I could get some consistency, but for anyone doing plenty of night time particularly in poorly unlit areas HID is a major plus.