Reflectors on rear mudguard

Mckorkins · Post by **Mckorkins** » Tue May 22, 2012 7:01 pm

That's emphatic enough for me! Thanks.

1608 · Post by **1608** » Tue May 22, 2012 7:48 pm

Ever so concise Ken.

itma · Post by **itma** » Tue May 22, 2012 8:32 pm

never been accused of concisedery before.

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Tue May 22, 2012 8:50 pm

Some days you are the statue, other days the pigeon.

KenF · Post by **KenF** » Wed May 23, 2012 7:33 am

Knock, knock!
Who's there?
Isabel.
Isabel who?
Isabel compulsory on a bicycle?

KenF · Post by **KenF** » Wed May 23, 2012 7:48 am

Sorry about that. Anyway ...

Rear reflectors were made compulsory in GB in the mid fifties. In the early fifties, the heavyweight singles were fitted with the Lucas 467/1 red 'filter' back light. For 1954, they were given the Lucas 525 red 'lens'. Then, when the new law came in, from 1955 they were fitted with the 564 red lens with retro-reflector.

As I understand it, the reflector law was retrospective. Machines had to have one, even if they weren't made with one. So owners either had to buy and fit the 564 or something like it to replace their old back light, or else fit an additional small round reflector.

It's all in the parts lists, see:
Lucas back lights etc
and
Lucas specification by machine

Ken
Brightspark Magnetos

Mckorkins · Post by **Mckorkins** » Wed May 23, 2012 9:14 am

Well, Ken, that's precisely the answer I've been looking for. There's been an awful lot of faffing about on this! Many thanks indeed.

bigwol · Post by **bigwol** » Wed May 23, 2012 9:30 am

Thanks for that Ken, I know someone who just fitted a Lucas 525 to his '54 and will let him know he is now illegal!
If in doubt as already said the MOT tester should have failed a bike without a rear reflector. I have an old USA import rice burner which need a small reflector to pass which i stuck to the number plate.

itma · Post by **itma** » Wed May 23, 2012 10:17 am

well, thats a new one on me I thought all those plastic rear Lucas lens had built-in reflectors?

illegal? serves him right for rivet counting

KenF · Post by **KenF** » Wed May 23, 2012 3:36 pm

quote:
Thanks for that Ken, I know someone who just fitted a Lucas 525 to his '54 and will let him know he is now illegal!
If in doubt as already said the MOT tester should have failed a bike without a rear reflector. I have an old USA import rice burner which need a small reflector to pass which i stuck to the number plate.

Not necessarily so, Bigwol.

If he doesn't have any wires going to the 525 and if he paints over the lens of his front light, then it is, as far as I understand, street legal during daylight hours and MoTable even without a rear reflector.

Same applies, I think, if he uses a horse to drag it to the MoT test!

Ken.