Vehicle Lighting Restrictions (may vary by state)

[Prafeston]

I've been searching Missouri Lighting Laws to see if some form of underglow is illegal on a motorcycle. This is all I've found so far.

Colors of various lamps--restriction of red lights, penalty.
307.095. 1. Headlamps, when lighted, shall exhibit lights substantially white in color; auxiliary lamps, cowllamps and spotlamps, when lighted, shall exhibit lights substantially white, yellow or amber in color. No person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment, except a school bus when used for school purposes or an emergency vehicle upon any street or highway with any lamp or device thereon displaying a red light visible from directly in front thereof.

Limitations on lamps other than headlamps--flashing signals prohibited except on specified vehicles--penalty.
307.100. 1. Any lighted lamp or illuminating device upon a motor vehicle other than headlamps, spotlamps, front direction signals or auxiliary lamps which projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than three hundred candlepower shall be so directed that no part of the beam will strike the level of the roadway on which the vehicle stands at a distance of more than seventy-five feet from the vehicle. Alternately flashing warning signals may be used on school buses when used for school purposes and on motor vehicles when used to transport United States mail from post offices to boxes of addressees thereof and on emergency vehicles as defined in section 304.022, RSMo, on buses owned or operated by churches, mosques, synagogues, temples or other houses of worship, and on commercial passenger transport vehicles or railroad passenger cars that are stopped to load or unload passengers, but are prohibited on other motor vehicles, motorcycles and motor-drawn vehicles except as a means for indicating a right or left turn.

Limitation on total of lamps lighted at one time--violation, penalty.
307.105. 1. At the times when lighted lamps are required, at least two lighted lamps shall be displayed, one on each side of the front of every motor vehicle except a motorcycle and except a motor-drawn vehicle except when such vehicle is parked subject to the provisions governing lights on parked vehicles. Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with headlamps as in this chapter required is also equipped with any auxiliary lamps or a spotlamp or any other lamp on the front thereof projecting a beam of an intensity greater than three hundred candlepower, not more than a total of four of any such lamps on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at any one time when upon a highway.

By these guidelines it apears that underglow on my motorcycle is fine as long as the light isn't red and it isn't flashing or something. I just feel like some form of underglow is a great way to be seen at night.

[jordanearl]

i had an eclipse with body kit,(fast an furious, lol)  i tried to go with a green underglow, got pulled over an ticketed, removed it, had some "angel eyes" around my fog lights in red, got ticketed, and had a red neon light on a speaker box in my back seat that glowed in the back glass a bit an got pulled over an was told i had to remove, or would be ticketed.  My wife also had a purple undercar kit, an purple license plate frame.  an got pulled over for them as well.  so if you plan on driving with them on, then expect to be puled over.  if you just want them to have o while its parked, ur good to go, unfotunetly i learned the hard way

[Prafeston]

What if the bulbs aren't visible. I've heard in other states if the bulbs aren't visible you are good to go. Plus we are talking a motorcycle here. The lights aren't just for looks it's safety feature...laws are f-ed up!

[Kasumi]

I have to say i think its an extremely weak excuse to say putting underglow or extra cool lighting all over your bike is a saftey feature. It won't ever in a million years stand up in court that the extra lighting you put on was purely for saftey. The law dictates that you should only have and need a functioning tail light and headlight, as well as reflectors for when the lights are off to make you visible at night.

The only other extra things you can do to make yourself more visible at night which would stand up in the eyes of the law is wearing a hi vis jacket designed purely to increase visibility (it has no other function like making you or your bike look better) or increasing the brightness in your tail light and headlight. If you want to be more visible wear a reflective jacket, that shows that your only motive is to be more visible at night and hopefully have a safer ride. Don't put under glow lighting on all over and try to pass off that your motive is to increase your visibility. Your doing it for looks, be honest, a slight byproduct is you might be more visible but its not the reason you did it or a truely effective method of being more visible.

So my words are simple, if your going to put lightning on your bike to increase its wow factor like underglow and the such, accept it for what it is and please don't try and pass it off as a saftey feature to a cop or lawman as they will just laugh in your face and write you a ticket for it.

[Prafeston]

Well I was planning on painting the bike black and was just trying to think of a way to make the bike more visible and not just myself. I may just think about a brighter color. I think black may be a little over done. Thanks for the input though. I could see how a lot of people that use that underglow stuff are just doing it to be cool. So I may shy away from that...plus the good stuff is expensive.

[jordanearl]

What if the bulbs aren't visible. I've heard in other states if the bulbs aren't visible you are good to go

undercar kits aren't visible, just the light they emit. 

[Garethbourne]

Under body lighting, hiviz jackets, and any other such things, may make you a little more visible, but as for making you more safe, well I wouldn't count on it, I went to Mc Donald's last week, and as a result of (boy racers), hooligans in cars, they have to close there car park of, early and they do this with a barrier, that's highly reflective white and red with a no entry sign in the middle, yet as I was standing eating my burger and chatting to a friend, a car turned on to the entrance of the car park, and smashed under the barrier, lol, he then for some reason, got out of his car and proceeded to kick the barrier, as if it was the barriers fault!!! So lets face it, if they don't see a 25 ft barrier, that's about 4 ft of the ground with a 2 ft reflective no entry sign in the middle, what's a little light under your bike going to do?
I admit a nice under carriage glow on your bike, may look the dog's bollocks, but come on dude; it's hardly going to carry much of an excuse with the local law enforcement agency to say it's a safety feature, lol

[ohgood]

Anyone tried broken rim tape ? By broken I mean a 5" strip or so, then nothing for 5", then another 5".

Someone will make fun of my suggestion, but I'll bet it gets drivers eyes.

Undertail lights seem like a good idea. All pointing rearward generally, and HUGE RED LED's.

Any other lighting other than forward WHITE/ORANGE or rearward RED/ORAGE seems like vanity.

[shuluke]

Most leds are dirt cheap. I am thinking of doing an few leds to light up the my bike as well as a few of my friends bikes while we ride at night. I think it might help with safety as well. I doubt ill be spending more than $20 bucks for almost all of our bikes(3).

[Prafeston]

I've searched quite a few of these lighting systems and if you think you are going to light three bikes for 20 bucks you are crazy. You may get them lit but I doubt the quality and brightness of the lights will be shaZam!. Plus the good kits come with All the necessary hardware, fuses, and an on and off switch.

[nastynate6695]

These guys have always been good to me.  They respond to your emails and answer any number of your stupid questions that you happen to throw at them.  Plus their stuff is decently priced and better quality..So for $20 it can be done.

http://www.theledlight.com/index.html

[shuluke]

I bet I could do 4 bikes under 20 bucks. Leds are really cheap. So are resistors and wire. Those kits that are more than 10 bucks are way too expensive. After finals are over ill make a few kits and show prices. And ill take output pictures so you can see the quality.

Ps I went to a motorcycle meet and they were charging 200 bucks to get bikes done. I should have set up shop there!

[Runnin-Dat Gs500]

I bet I could do 4 bikes under 20 bucks. Leds are really cheap. So are resistors and wire. Those kits that are more than 10 bucks are way too expensive. After finals are over ill make a few kits and show prices. And ill take output pictures so you can see the quality.

Ps I went to a motorcycle meet and they were charging 200 bucks to get bikes done. I should have set up shop there!

You ever get around to it?

[lewismug]

I'm just going to pick up a few LED brake lights and turn signals from my local truck stop.  They're fairly cheap and you know they're bright.

[dgyver]

+1 on Kasumi's comments. 

Reflective tape is much more noticable.

If you want to be a poser, add underlighting. 

[harlight]

Blue lights having 4 or less led's should be fine under the ordinance given above.  I have a 1.2 inch on the front and rear of my bike in Texas.  No one has bothered me.  The light does not fall on the pavement outside of 15 feet.  The ordinance cites beyond 75 feet and more than 300 candlepower as disqualifiers.  Also each unit was $6.50 and self-sticking, so even with shipping the cost s/b $20.00 or less.  Got mine on ebay.   Very, very visible at night.  I run them daytime time also because they draw no power and their burn out is approx 100,000 hours, so why not?

[Toogoofy317]

Blue, will definately get you a ticket! No matter how well it i hidden!

Mary S.

[wreckhog]

Cool if you have a black bike.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycles/stickers-decals/motorcycle-reflective-tape-kit.htm