Looking for the smallest dipped beam UK compliant headlight. 13 July 2022 at 9:09PM edited 14 July 2022 at 8:12AM in Motoring 9 replies 342 views

xxxxxxxx

I am making an electric moped to pass the MSVA test.  
I only need dipped beam.  I don't mind if it has high beam as well.  

But I would like the smallest footprint and diameter of lens I can buy.  

This guy says this is the smallest one available
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391823934197  

These were fitted to Fiat Ducato & Mercedes Sprinter 3-T.

And this one was fitted to smart Roadsters Dipped beam only.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361562677324  

60mm for a John Deere buggy road legal dipped beam only.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392319312270

And ideas for how I might go about housing it in a case for mounting on the bike?   

Anyway this lamp is not designed for a motorbike is not ticking all the boxes, any better ideas?

The MSVA handbook says you can present your vehicle with lamps masked off which is fine... but, does anyone know for a daylight only MOT whether you are allowed to remove the lamps or is masking off the only option?  I'm only thinking of my options of possibly removing it after it has its MAC Ministerial Approval Certificate.

forgotmyname

You can get smaller but the issue maybe the lack of an E mark.  Plenty of shape options also, Round, square or even oval shapes.

Housing is easy, find someone with a 3D printer or get one yourself they can be bought cheaply now and
you can easily resell it after you have made your part.  Or make a mould from wood and use fibreglass or carbon fibre etc.

Richard53

xxxxxxxx said:

The MSVA handbook says you can present your vehicle with lamps masked off which is fine... but, does anyone know for a daylight only MOT whether you are allowed to remove the lamps or is masking off the only option?  I'm only thinking of my options of possibly removing it after it has its MAC Ministerial Approval Certificate.

May not be current info, but I got a Land Rover trialler road legal and with an MoT a few years ago. It was basically a shortened chassis/engine/transmission with a tubular spaceframe and minimal bodywork. It had no lights except for two high-level brake lights. The tester had no problem with the missing lights, but wouldn't pass it with just brake lights unless I taped them over. A lot of the MoT rules simply didn't apply as the bits weren't there (screen/screenwashers/ABS light etc). The tester told me that, basically, you don't need much to have a MoT-able car, but whatever is fitted must be working. Taping over a light is interpreted as light not fitted.

Incidentally, there was no such thing as a 'daylight' MoT - the certificate was identical to a normal one, but the tester advised that the vehicle should not be used after dark or in poor visibility such as fog. I can't remember if this was added to the cert as a rider or whether it was just verbal. It all seemed very relaxed.

I'm sure things have changed, as this was in 2003, but it may be of interest.

DB1904

Richard53 said:

xxxxxxxx said:

The MSVA handbook says you can present your vehicle with lamps masked off which is fine... but, does anyone know for a daylight only MOT whether you are allowed to remove the lamps or is masking off the only option?  I'm only thinking of my options of possibly removing it after it has its MAC Ministerial Approval Certificate.

May not be current info, but I got a Land Rover trialler road legal and with an MoT a few years ago. It was basically a shortened chassis/engine/transmission with a tubular spaceframe and minimal bodywork. It had no lights except for two high-level brake lights. The tester had no problem with the missing lights, but wouldn't pass it with just brake lights unless I taped them over. A lot of the MoT rules simply didn't apply as the bits weren't there (screen/screenwashers/ABS light etc). The tester told me that, basically, you don't need much to have a MoT-able car, but whatever is fitted must be working. Taping over a light is interpreted as light not fitted.

Incidentally, there was no such thing as a 'daylight' MoT - the certificate was identical to a normal one, but the tester advised that the vehicle should not be used after dark or in poor visibility such as fog. I can't remember if this was added to the cert as a rider or whether it was just verbal. It all seemed very relaxed.

I'm sure things have changed, as this was in 2003, but it may be of interest.

That's is like folklore, never seen it written down. 

Contradictory to what he actually told you taping over a light doesn't remove it so therefore it should work as it's fitted.  

Richard53

As I said it was a while ago and I know things have tightened up since then, but it's certainly not folklore. I remember the conversations I had with the tester quite clearly.

DB1904

Richard53 said:

As I said it was a while ago and I know things have tightened up since then, but it's certainly not folklore. I remember the conversations I had with the tester quite clearly.

So where is it written down in legislation? You remember a conversation, I don't doubt it's what he said. 

Richard53

Here's an extract from a letter from VOSA to a forum member, dated 2010:

"A daylight MOT would require a motorbike to have a horn and a rear registration plate.


The testing guidelines state that motorbikes can be exempt from having lamps tested if they meet the following criteria:-

machines which have neither front nor rear position lamps, or have such lamps permanently disconnected, painted over or masked that are:-

• only used in daylight hours
• not used in times of serious reduced visibility

The following items/lamps are not required to be tested in order for a MOT to pass a daylight MOT test as long as they meet the criteria above.

• Front and Rear position lamps
• Headlamps
• Stop Lamps
• Rear Reflectors
• Direction Indicators"

Source

Just thought information might be helpful to someone attempting to make a road legal bike.

DB1904

Richard53 said:

Here's an extract from a letter from VOSA to a forum member, dated 2010:

"A daylight MOT would require a motorbike to have a horn and a rear registration plate.


The testing guidelines state that motorbikes can be exempt from having lamps tested if they meet the following criteria:-

machines which have neither front nor rear position lamps, or have such lamps permanently disconnected, painted over or masked that are:-

• only used in daylight hours
• not used in times of serious reduced visibility

The following items/lamps are not required to be tested in order for a MOT to pass a daylight MOT test as long as they meet the criteria above.

• Front and Rear position lamps
• Headlamps
• Stop Lamps
• Rear Reflectors
• Direction Indicators"

Source

Just thought information might be helpful to someone attempting to make a road legal bike.

Which again contradicts what you were told.

ilikewatch2

Testers seem to interpret/apply the legislation in very different ways - I hade a car fail on "Offside obligatory indirect vision device missing) because there wasn't a sun visor fitted on the drivers side - this had never been mentioned in any of the 20+ previous MOT's whilst I had owned the car, but this tester was absolutely adamant and completely aghast that such a  dangerous issue had been missed by so many previous testers.

xxxxxxxx

I found the smallest headlight available. These scooters are road legal therefore the headlight must have passed.  

https://viperscooters.com/product/uberscoot-1000w-48v-electric-road-legal-scooter/  

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002346604419.html  

It is perfect and even incorporates a horn.  

Re MOT:  A 2 wheeled moped is not required to have a front position light (sidelight) for the MSVA.  Dipped beam is the only requirement for the front.  Rear position & stop light are obligatory.  

Richard53,  I would say your tester was wrong.  Fitted stop lamps must be tested, (yes).  Taped over stop lamps are classed as not fitted, (probably).  But there is no rule that says fitted & working stop lights cannot be present and tested if there are no front and rear position lights.  
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles/4-lamps-reflectors-and-electrical-equipment#section-4-3-1