Bike racks and lighting boards
Discussion
Leaving very early tomorrow morning driving through France and Switzerland to Italy, and have dropped the ball. I have borrowed a Saris 3 rear mounted cycle rack for my Octavia hatch, set it up with the bikes vertical and not too high, and the two bikes sit on there nicely.
Trouble is the number plate is illegible and the lights are visible but through the spokes of the wheels.
Trying to get a lighting board that will work off one of the internal plug sockets in the car; the ones on sale the electrics have a 7 pin plug and connect to a tow bar and the electrics that come with that. Halfrauds said I could get one of theirs and just not have working lights, but it will cost me about £20 for the board and another £15 for the plate and if I get stopped I'll not be any better off.
The alternatives are just buy another number plate and/or angle the struts on the frame more like 45 degrees and hope they lights/plate are more visible. Unless I have missed something?
Trouble is the number plate is illegible and the lights are visible but through the spokes of the wheels.
Trying to get a lighting board that will work off one of the internal plug sockets in the car; the ones on sale the electrics have a 7 pin plug and connect to a tow bar and the electrics that come with that. Halfrauds said I could get one of theirs and just not have working lights, but it will cost me about £20 for the board and another £15 for the plate and if I get stopped I'll not be any better off.
The alternatives are just buy another number plate and/or angle the struts on the frame more like 45 degrees and hope they lights/plate are more visible. Unless I have missed something?
In your shoes, leaving tomorrow, I think there are two options.
1. Quick and dirty fix splicing into the wires to the light clusters to a female 7-pin connector that you leave loose inside your boot. Then just run the cable from the board into the boot and plug it in before closing the boot on it.
2. Running with obscured rear lighs and a wallet full of Euros just in case you get stopped. You don't need the cash, but it saves the escorted drive to the nearest cashpoint and then back to the Autoroute. Chances of getting a pull would be low I suspect. It's all static radar enforcement rather than roaming patrols these days.
I'd probably go option 1. I think most people would go option 2 though.
PS if you go option 2, I'd cable tie a number plate at least to one the bikes.
1. Quick and dirty fix splicing into the wires to the light clusters to a female 7-pin connector that you leave loose inside your boot. Then just run the cable from the board into the boot and plug it in before closing the boot on it.
2. Running with obscured rear lighs and a wallet full of Euros just in case you get stopped. You don't need the cash, but it saves the escorted drive to the nearest cashpoint and then back to the Autoroute. Chances of getting a pull would be low I suspect. It's all static radar enforcement rather than roaming patrols these days.
I'd probably go option 1. I think most people would go option 2 though.
PS if you go option 2, I'd cable tie a number plate at least to one the bikes.
Edited by SixPotBelly on Friday 14th August 13:52
In this country is doesn't seem to bother most people although it bothers me that I can see there lights or number plate properly 
Sure I saw one years ago that had a sensor for each light (brake, side, indicator) on a sucker that you just stuck on the existing lights. All you then needed was a 12v supply to it. Guess the idea never took off though as I can't find one on Google.
Sure I saw one years ago that had a sensor for each light (brake, side, indicator) on a sucker that you just stuck on the existing lights. All you then needed was a 12v supply to it. Guess the idea never took off though as I can't find one on Google.
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