Been looking online to find out “what makes a motorcycle headlight DOT/SAE compliant ?” Other than the stamp or marking that says it is? What is the criteria that makes it compliant ? Beam angle ? What luminosity are the judging it at ? According to some things I’ve read “ALL” aftermarket lights are illegal. You can supplement factory headlights with fog lights but not replace the factory headlight with aftermarket lights. Like LED bulbs, HID lights, Blue headlights are illegal because that’s not what came from the factory as a DOT/SAE compliant headlight. No headlights are “approved” head lights are manufactured as “compliant” because DOT does not give approval so says the powers that be. Everything I’ve read regarding headlight laws are that the headlight on a motorcycle must come on when and while the motor are running regardless of day or night, obviously you want lights during the day because it’s a safety situation brighter the better I guess so that fool coming at you see’s you and doesn’t turn in front of you and nighttime well that’s obvious. But what’s too bright ? The poorly adjusted headlight that’s blinding the car or bike coming at you or is ok because you have adjusted the beam down a tad and it’s not burning somebody’s eyes out. A lot of cars these days have such blinding lights you can’t see **** when they come at you and until they go by your basically blinded until there gone. I live in a somewhat rural area so a lot of 2 lane highways so headlights are kinda of a pet peeve of mine weather there coming at me or coming up behind me hell i just pull over and let em go by. So what’s making a headlight highway legal? What’s stopping someone from just taking the headlight off and just putting a set of aftermarket spot light off road lights on instead to make it custom I mean ya there bright but hell so are most headlights on the road. Are you gonna get a ticket? What about the idiot in the little lowered Toyota with the aftermarket retina burners ? Why ain’t he getting a ticket? Or the guy in the lifted $80,000 4x4 that blinds you ? Just want to know the parameters on what makes it DOT.

 

There is a LOT of good info on headlights and legality at the site below if you can tolerate the knowledgeable but extremely cranky moderators.
I share your feelings on people who run blinding aftermarket lights and there doesn't seem to be much enforcement up here in northern Calif. either.
(or with red light running either, but that is another story)

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...ycles-Included

 

FMVSS 108 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) concerns lights.

 

I did an internet search and discovered this article, which may help a little!

 

States are passing their own laws too...My neighboring state TN just passed a law that states you must have white or amber-colored headlights...and I am sure they copied that idea from another state.

 

the biggest fad in the UK at the moment seems to be pushbikes with led lights that are so blinding that you are expecting some huge great truck to be coming at you, and it turns out to be a frikkin cyclist!!!

 

Yeah - as an occasional cyclist they're just great! Power at last.....