Legality of undertails

[Ratters]

Whoa, just noticed the new forum. :thumbup

I posted a question in the General forum about this: What is the legality of undertails? so you can see the pictures.

Basically I bought a new bike that has an undertail with the built in blinkers. I'm planning on returning it to a stock fender setup but for the time being I'm wondering how legal the setup is now. Thanks.

 

[deaconblues]

The lic plate bracket on mine ain't stock either... but, that's how I bought the bike, so... (shrug)


what's the requirements? I know that you need a visible and unobscured plate, WITH illumination, plus functional brake/taillights and turn signals... anything else?

 

[magyarbetyar]

The lic plate bracket on mine ain't stock either... but, that's how I bought the bike, so... (shrug)


what's the requirements? I know that you need a visible and unobscured plate, WITH illumination, plus functional brake/taillights and turn signals... anything else?

That is it. The problem most of the time is with the blinkers. They are so close together that it is hard/not CLEARLY visible whether they are indicating left or right.

 

[Brash47]

after market undertails are totally legal, as long as they meet the requirements of the vehicle code.

1. the plate has to be clearly visible. This is ambiguous, due to how some over zealous officers enforce that law. I have heard of people getting tickets for license plates mounted near the tire....that was TOTALLY VISIBLE FROM THE REAR, but could not be seen from the side. That is ridiculous. I dont know of any cars where I can see a license plate from the side of the car, most are recessed into the bumper, so that is a ridiculous argument.

2. the plate has to have a light DURING DARKNESS

3. the undertail is not illegal if it has turn signals on it.....unless they are so close together as to not be able to distinguish between left and right...as stated above.

4. there is no requirement that you have that big fender hanging off the back of the bike. That is primarily designed to be there because there is a "one form fits all" way that bikes come out of the factory, going to many different countries. That way, they conform to the codes in all those countries...mainly Europe lol.

Put your kits on, just make sure that plate is visible.

brash

 

[Ratters]

Thanks Brash. I'm actually going back to the stock fender cause I like nice, wide, bright turn signals and do ride in the rain occasionally. But your information is exactly what I as looking for. I'll probably bend the plate down a tad when I get it too.

 

[silversvs]

Keep in mind that most aftermarket turn signals are not DOT compliant. That gives the officer one more area to ding you for if they are so inclined.

 

[motorman4life]

after market undertails are totally legal, as long as they meet the requirements of the vehicle code.

1. the plate has to be clearly visible. This is ambiguous, due to how some over zealous officers enforce that law. I have heard of people getting tickets for license plates mounted near the tire....that was TOTALLY VISIBLE FROM THE REAR, but could not be seen from the side. That is ridiculous. I dont know of any cars where I can see a license plate from the side of the car, most are recessed into the bumper, so that is a ridiculous argument.

The problem I see is plates mounted in such a way that when the suspension is compressed, the plate is concealed behind the tire because it is mounted forward of the rear hub. Brash is right, at night, the plate must be illuminated by a white light that does not shine to the rear, but lights up the plate. This is one area at least 90% of the aftermarket kits do not address.

You really should have something that will prevent you from kicking up debris, particularly if you are riding in a group. One of my pet-peeves is vehicles that kick up rocks, debris and water because it can cause damage and worse, could hurt someone, particularly bikers.

I had a 2" rock come up off the tire of a lifted 4x4 and hit me in the face at about 40 mph, while on patrol. I could have easily lost it and gone down and if I had, I doubt anyone would have figured out the rock had gone airborne and hit me, rather they would have thought I hit the rock on the ground when I face-planted. Scary shit.

If you remove the stock tailpiece and it was serving as a mudguard, you probably need to determine if you are inadvertently kicking up gravel, etc. behind you. If you are, you could be cited and could injure a buddy. I like the looks of many of the kits I have seen, but it is really not worth it if you are throwing up junk behind you.

 

[Brash47]

What I was getting at was this....you are not required by law to have that "mudflap" on the motorcycle. The mudflap law was designed for trucks or even cars that have wheels that are wider than the chassis of the car....where there is nothing to stop debris from flying to the rear. Usually a rear hugger will stop alot of that debris from coming off the rear.

brash

 

[Dougmo531]

The legality of undertails depends on many things.

Does you rear tail/stop light have a built in red reflector? If not then when you remove your stock fender you’re most likely removing the red reflector which is a violation of:


Reflectors on Rear

24607. Every vehicle subject to registration under this code shall at all times be equipped with red reflectors mounted on the rear as follows:

(a)Every vehicle shall be equipped with at least one reflector so maintained as to be plainly visible at night from all distances within 350 to 100 feet from the vehicle when directly in front of the lawful upper headlamp beams.


Usually the license plate is relocated when the undertail is installed. Your bike is completely street legal the day you take it from the showroom floor. The license plate is mounted at the rear and is CLEARLY VISIBLE. When the license plate is relocated and it can’t be seen when, if left stock it could be seen, then it’s no longer clearly visible.

This is just an addition to what’s already been mentioned.

 

[deaconblues]

Doug, regarding that reflector -- it seems that the wording would allow someone to make a replacement out of scotchbrite reflective tape, and/or reflector parts from Kragen. No specific size or albedo, only that it needs to be red, and visible at night when illuminated by high-beam headlamps from another vehicle from at least 350 feet away.

Shouldn't be too hard to do... at the very worst you could extend that plate bracket to the sides to provide mount points for the reflector(s)... hrmm.. now I have to think about this one.

 

[Dougmo531]

Doug, regarding that reflector -- it seems that the wording would allow someone to make a replacement out of scotchbrite reflective tape, and/or reflector parts from Kragen. No specific size or albedo, only that it needs to be red, and visible at night when illuminated by high-beam headlamps from another vehicle from at least 350 feet away.

Shouldn't be too hard to do... at the very worst you could extend that plate bracket to the sides to provide mount points for the reflector(s)... hrmm.. now I have to think about this one.

I believe you could be correct. As long as it meets the requirements you should be ok. The thing is you have to have a red reflector to the rear and most undertail installations omit it. Just make one up that's approximately the same size/area as the stock one to be safe.

 

[zrxjake]

none of my bikes have had a red reflector facing the rear and they have stock rear ends and were purchased new. they all had red side reflectors in the rear and yellow in the front.
i'm looking at a new r-6 here at the office with the white taillight lenses and there are no red rear reflectors on it either same with the zx9 parked next to it.

 

[motorman4life]

none of my bikes have had a red reflector facing the rear and they have stock rear ends and were purchased new. they all had red side reflectors in the rear and yellow in the front.
i'm looking at a new r-6 here at the office with the white taillight lenses and there are no red rear reflectors on it either same with the zx9 parked next to it.

The stock DOT approved red tail lamp lens generally satisfies the red reflector to the rear requirement. Many of the new bikes have white lenses and LEDs. They would need a red reflector to the rear to be in compliance. If you have a new bike on the showroom floor with no red reflective material or device to the rear, it is not street legal in CA.

 

[deaconblues]

whups, time for the dealership to spring for those red-reflective border lic plate frames...

 

[Brash47]

The dealership is REQUIRED to provide all needed equipment to make a vehicle road legal if its a road legal vehicle. You see some cars come without a front license plate holder, the dealer has to provide that part for you free of charge AND install it for you. THe same goes with motorcycles...

brash