In my old car, I spray-tined the side markers and it looked good, and provided a comparable level of visibility when compared to stock.  I'm thinking of doing the same thing to the turn signal lenses on my GS, and am wondering if anyone has experience with this on the bike (i.e. visibility when on not notably decreased).

What you are asking is "the law". Anything anyone says here won't be worth anything if you get a ticket (unless they are a certified law enforcement officer in your area). You best solution would be to:

1. Purchase after market DOT approved turn signal lenses.
2. Look up your LA and California vehicle code
3. Ask a law enforcement officer

I purchased after market lenses that are smoked which are certified street legal in Europe and legal according to the Washington state vehicle code.  Things that I found in WA code that you should look for are:

a) what color is legal when they are ON
b) How bright they have to be (i.e. must be visible from 400' on a normal day, things like that in the code)
c) spacing. DOT has a minimum spacing for turn signals (which I think is 9") and that makes integrated turn signals illegal if you remove the factory signals or don't have signals that are 9" apart and a certain minimum and maximum distance from the roadway.

In short - do your homework to be sure you are legal in your state before you start to farkle up the lights. As told to me here by an officer: anything is legal if you are posing. When you're on the road - you must abide by the law.

Be sure to post what you find is legal for you.

FYI: DOT requires vehicles have a red rear reflector (of a certain size and distance from the roadway). Fenderectomy's that remove the rear red reflector make the vehicle illegal. While you probably would never be pulled over for that, if you are pulled over for something else and the officer doesn't like you: you could be ticketed. Same for side rear red reflectors and side front orange reflectors.

California's only addition to the federal guidelines is a minimum 15" mounting height for turn signals.  From what I can discern in the fed document, there's nothing that specifically states what color the housing/lenses have to be while off, only that they must be amber (or red, for the rear) while lit, flash at a certain rate, and fall within a minimum/maximum luminosity value.

This is just my interpretation of the fed rules.  I could be quite wrong.

At the end of the day, I'm just not in love with the big orange squares hanging off all four corners, but I do want to keep the stock signals for the sake of visibility.  I first thought of getting clear lenses/amber bulbs (def legal), but didn't know how I'd feel about the look.  I think tinting them out would help make them less visually offensive (while off), but still offer 90% of stock luminosity while on.

...I may end up going with the clear lenses to keep it simple.

I read the law as you do. Tinted would be legal if bright enough and color is only when on, hence clear (or smoked) with amber bulb is OK.
Appears CA law is same as WA law.

FYI: These are what I have:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390119744781&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Europe is more restrictive than the US. Interesting what they say about paperwork for after market items. You wouldn't believe all the paperwork (for Europe) that came with the Gimbel rear sets - including Suzuki paperwork certifying they were legal for street use in Germany.

"Smoked Indicators - Street legal !

Our indicators correspond in form and function to the original lenses and will be easy assemble in exchange on the original bracket. The blinker elements are e-approved and therefore allowed in the range of the road traffic regulations. A registration in the car documents or entrainment of extra documentation is not necessary. "

Hey, I like those.  Will they fit front and rear?

You can see more information about them in "What have you done for your bike today".
And yes - front and rear signals are the same.
While Junior is a '92, when I took off the crappy tiny after market signals I put on the newer stock signals (like $20 or so for a full set if you watch for them).

Nice, they look good.  Kinda strapped right now, but next 8K service I'm planning Hel lines, these indicator lenses, and a new batt.

Quote from: adidasguy on October 23, 2010, 12:39:08 AM
I read the law as you do. Tinted would be legal if bright enough and color is only when on, hence clear (or smoked) with amber bulb is OK.
Appears CA law is same as WA law.

FYI: These are what I have:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390119744781&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Europe is more restrictive than the US. Interesting what they say about paperwork for after market items. You wouldn't believe all the paperwork (for Europe) that came with the Gimbel rear sets - including Suzuki paperwork certifying they were legal for street use in Germany.

"Smoked Indicators - Street legal !

Our indicators correspond in form and function to the original lenses and will be easy assemble in exchange on the original bracket. The blinker elements are e-approved and therefore allowed in the range of the road traffic regulations. A registration in the car documents or entrainment of extra documentation is not necessary. "

I got my LED tail light from this seller. Mine is for the later shaped GS tail lights though. Very bright.
Did you get a bag of sweets with your lights?

Yep - bag of sweets. Good company with great products. German engineering!
I was so impressed with the turn signals and E model tail light that I just ordered 4 turn signals for the 2009 along with the LED tail light (Your tail looks good!).
Will remove the Clear Alternatives LED tail light.
No more Clear Alternatives - they refuse to light the license plate and you have to grind down areas to make them fit. Chalk it up to experience and a waste of money.
I ordered through ebay then they later issued a discount to bring down prices and shipping. Nice!
Just can't believe they are so easy to put on. I wish American companies paid that much attention to quality.