Thread: Honda CBR1100 Blackbird Clear Turn Signal / Indicator / DRL Switchback Kit

Hi Guys, just fitted a CBR1100 Blackbird clear turn signal / indicator / DRL switchback kit that are for sale on ebay to my 04 silverbird, well happy with it, easy to fit & what a difference, if people dont see me coming now they should not be on the road. The only thing I dont like is because the indicators and side light are now bright as the burning sun (being led) it makes the dip and main beam lights pathetic when looking at the front of the bike. what and how is the best way to change the main and dipped bulbs for a better look ? Thanks in advance

LED, several good choices, I fitted these

https://www.novsights.com/products/n...-of-adjustment

A few pointers:

1. My personal pref is to go LED not HID. Aftermarket HID are technically MoT fails if not accompanied by a lens and reflector mod or projector unit which is ECE Reg 48 compliant. That said, test centres aren't equipped to check this so plenty of HID bulb only set ups are passing their MoTs.

Also HID is arguably less suitable for hi beam if "flash to pass" is being used as HID isn't instantaneous (needs time to reach operational temperature). Well it was slow when I had mine a decade ago but the tech may well have improved since then.

2. Get the LED temperature colour matched to your DRLs else it may look odd. 5000k is the midday sun "daylight" benchmark.

Crisp white is 6000K and 6500K starts to have a bluer tinge and technically may breach legislation. Lower tend to be yellowish. led-color-temperature2_grande_1561893625623.jpg.FYI LEDs apparently get "bluer" with age. I went for 6000k.

3. Brightness: measured in lumens. The higher the number the brighter the light and the deeper the headlight will penetrate the darkness. Downside: any scattered light will be stronger and potentially closer to dazzling oncoming drivers (as tested in an MoT).

Ignore the large power ratings (in Watts, W). It isn't the actual power load consumed by the LED. It's a comparable to say if it was a filament bulb it would need to be this powerful to be equivalent to the LED.

4. Some say go for the newer four sided LED (as opposed to the older two sided). Apparently it gives a better light spread as it mirrors the original light point of origin better (so the headlight reflectors default focal point is better illuminated). _20190630_122526_1561893952829.JPG
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F362642907847

I've bought a set off fleabay (£14) to replace my old two-sided ones but yet to test to see if it truly makes a difference.

5. Cooling: Two types of rear end, fan assisted or simple heat sink (no fan). I went fan as "seems" more advanced re overheating management. Downside: fan is more complex so more to go wrong and can be bulkier.

6. Watch out for fitment. Some are directly plug and play. Some need an adapter to fit into the headlight fitment (though adapter usually included… they can take up more space). We're an H7.

Try to get a set with the smallest rear end as space is limited re fitting them and some need the rubber boot seal trimming to allow them to fit.

I'd suggest you fit one light at a time. I didn't and mixed up my hi beam and main so had to swap the plugs over afterwards. What a pain!

7. I upgraded my parking light to LED at the same time (£5 i.e. £10 to two) _20190630_123750_1561894763933.JPGRayhoo 2pcs 1000 lumens Extremely Bright Canbus Error Free, Xenon White 6000K https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FD702..._p6jgDbD2QWK6T

8. Polarity. LEDs can be +ve/ -ve orientated. If you fit one and it doesn't light up, swap the poles (turn it around) and try again. I almost sent one back thinking it was broken until I spotted this aspect.

9. Regulator burn out: one knock on effect is because LEDs draw less power once your battery is fully charged the regulator/ rectifier (forgive me if I get the term wrong, I'm no sparkie), has less to do with the spare electricity the alternator is generating and so it converts it to excess heat (by design). Some BBs are already prone to this unit burning out. LEDs add to this risk.

10. I notice the surface of my headlight no longer warms up. So on cold crisp frosty/ snowy morns I now have to remember to scrape it clear.

Hope some of the above is useful.

Rgds Mallow1

HIDs are not a MOT failure if used in conjunction with their own lense ie projectors. This is on mine, been through 3 MOTS with no issue.
https://www.retrofitlab.com/en/honda...ird-mh1-1.html. You can now buy these parts separately for a lot less now.


20190428_164402 (Large).jpg

Quite right Ade, used in conjunction with added specifically designed projectors its ok/ road legal.

Simply swapping halogen bulbs to HID ones isn't / i.e. not road legal.

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...-hid-headlamps

I'd previously had a set of HID from Jaws installed (no projector) and incidentally swapped to LED before the law changed (back in 2010 I think) as I wanted to upgrade my hi beam too.

I passed mot with hid bulbs in std headlight. I think it depends on the mot station and intelligent assessment or keeping to the letter of the law

Well unless the test centre open up your nose how would they know? Now they're very unlikely do that.

Seems like one of those un-police-able rules. Also if you were involved in an accident or theft and your insurance found out by inspecting any remains, I bet they'd worm out of coughing up.

Usually there's a requirement that in order to maintaining valid insurance you have to keep your vehicle road worthy. Technically you'd not be road worthy.

Now what are the actual odds of that happening too… I think you're safe 😉

My tester was happy because the beam pattern was correct. He was more concerned with scatter a couple of years ago from the leds I had them. They only lasted a few months tho so I went back to my faithful hid's

Mines just passed its MOT again ( 3rd or 4th year in a row ) with a HID plug and play kit from Ebay .
Mallow1 can you point us in the direction of the actual rule because surely the MOT centres would know of this ?

Hiya Bigmc,

I posted a link to the gov information back in post #5. 😉

However, here you go again:

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...-hid-headlamps

It includes these statements:

"In the Department for Transport’s (DfT) view it is not legal to sell or use after market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If a customer wants to convert his vehicle to Xenon HID he must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps."

And…

"The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK. Under these Regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.

However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply with European type approval regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These approvals relate to ECE Regulation 98".

It then goes on to say aftermarket HID are therefore acceptable BUT only when replacing the full headlamp in order to preserve the light scatter pattern and even light coverage (re bright and dark areas).

One assumes they'll think of this for LEDs too eventually, for the same reason. As far as I'm aware test centres only check the scatter pattern (to ensure you're not dazzling oncoming traffic). They aren't obliged to test that "intensity" (brightness) isn't too high though one assumes too low/ dim may be an issue though highly unlikely these days. Technically HID bulbs by themselves without a reflector mod or projector are not allowed. If the test centre bothered to check they'd be correct in issuing a fail. I suspect that if the scatter pattern is ok, they wouldn't bother looking further. As Kris noted, they may comment on it and advise accordingly.

From reading other threads some older type LEDs are only two sided and can produce a scatter problem. I've just bought the newer 4-sided to help minimise/ eliminate that potential. Whether they do or not, I guess I'm about to find out.

Hmmm, I also wonder how Brexit will impact all this re HID? In reality, pragmatically probably not at all as I think we'll be obliged to stay Euro legislation compliant in the short term (fingers crossed).

Rgds M1

LoL… it gets even less clear.

I've just read the full information (which I note is the DfT "opinion" on the law, not the law itself). Even HID units with lens/ reflector mods must have headlight cleaning (though another source says only if lumens is >2000) and be "self leveling" (either within the unit or the vehicles suspension) and marked with as ECE Reg 48 compliant by the manufacturer. Well a tester isn't allowed to dismantle your headlight so won't be able to check the markings. Only the marking on the headlight lens if visible on the kens itself.

There's apparently also no approved method to measure headlight lumens so test centres can't comment on the need or otherwise for headlight cleaning (not that I've ever seen a bike with it, only cars etc).

So the saving grace is it says "no government inspection will take place" to check these points. Hence MoT centres not being obliged to enforce it (though it does say you as the owner are breaking the law if not compliant).

Who knew! This has fried my little noggin….I'm off to lie down in a dark room.

Anyone on here an MoT tester and can comment on motorcycle compliance with greater authority and insight?

Originally Posted by blackbirdxsteve

Hi Guys, just fitted a CBR1100 Blackbird clear turn signal / indicator / DRL switchback kit that are for sale on ebay to my 04 silverbird, well happy with it, easy to fit & what a difference, if people dont see me coming now they should not be on the road. The only thing I dont like is because the indicators and side light are now bright as the burning sun (being led) it makes the dip and main beam lights pathetic when looking at the front of the bike. what and how is the best way to change the main and dipped bulbs for a better look ? Thanks in advance

Hi Steve
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CBR...=1877103771006
Just bought the above, is it the same kit as you fitted? Any tips/difficulties on fitting? What need ripping and is the kit complete or is there anything else required for complete install, cheers.

Originally Posted by thesadpunk

Hi Steve
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CBR...=1877103771006
Just bought the above, is it the same kit as you fitted? Any tips/difficulties on fitting? What need ripping and is the kit complete or is there anything else required for complete install, cheers.

I set a full day aside to fit this kit expecting to have to remove the nose cone, very happy to find it can all be done just by removing the mirrors, everything you need is in the kit, follow the instructions and you will have no problems. The only detour I took away from the instructions was not using the scotch lock clips provided (I hate them) I soldered and heat shrunk insulation on the connections. I did get hyper flash and the supplied relay would not fit my plug so I had to make up 3 small jump leads for the flasher relay, but completed the whole job in 2 hours and very happy with the results.

Originally Posted by blackbirdxsteve

Originally Posted by thesadpunk

Hi Steve
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CBR...=1877103771006
Just bought the above, is it the same kit as you fitted? Any tips/difficulties on fitting? What need ripping and is the kit complete or is there anything else required for complete install, cheers.

I set a full day aside to fit this kit expecting to have to remove the nose cone, very happy to find it can all be done just by removing the mirrors, everything you need is in the kit, follow the instructions and you will have no problems. The only detour I took away from the instructions was not using the scotch lock clips provided (I hate them) I soldered and heat shrunk insulation on the connections. I did get hyper flash and the supplied relay would not fit my plug so I had to make up 3 small jump leads for the flasher relay, but completed the whole job in 2 hours and very happy with the results.

Great to read this Steve.
Can i ask, is this a kit that contains seperate bits you install into the mirror housing, or is it a pre assembled unit that goes in?
A pic of the instructions would be sweet.
Hear ya loud and clear re the led relay; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CBR...YAAOSwHDdcf7tz
Might order the above so?
How noticable/powerful are the dlr's, any mention of wattage usage or output?
Thanks again!