"Daylight use only" on the Isle of Man

[Turkish91]

Heading to the IOM TT in June, and planning to take my daylight use only GSXR track bike. Horn and a number plate, that's it, no lights whatsoever.

It's not ideal I know, but funds don't really allow me to source another bike at the moment, and I don't really want to be chopping my track fairings up just to fit a headlight. Have looked into finding a used OEM nose cone and headlight, but they all seem to be crazy money. Plus my track nose cone is all one piece including the upper side fairings so would end up being a right pain to try and make fit.

Does anyone know if that is definitely legal over there? Or has anyone done the same as I'm planning to in the past without issues?

A search of IOM highway code etc doesn't seem to give me a definitive answer.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Turkish91 said:

Heading to the IOM TT in June, and planning to take my daylight use only GSXR track bike. Horn and a number plate, that's it, no lights whatsoever.

It's not ideal I know, but funds don't really allow me to source another bike at the moment, and I don't really want to be chopping my track fairings up just to fit a headlight. Have looked into finding a used OEM nose cone and headlight, but they all seem to be crazy money. Plus my track nose cone is all one piece including the upper side fairings so would end up being a right pain to try and make fit.

Does anyone know if that is definitely legal over there? Or has anyone done the same as I'm planning to in the past without issues?

A search of IOM highway code etc doesn't seem to give me a definitive answer.

Try this - https://www.tynwald.org.im/spfile?file=/business/o...

If I read it right you need a headlight under Schedule 2 Part 1, indicators under Schedule 7 Part 1, rear lights under Schedule 10 Part 1 and brake lights under Schedule 12 Part.

[smifffymoto]

As long as it’s correctly insured and has a valid MOT you’re ok.
It has to be road legal in the country it’s registered in.

The above is based on my understanding,not real experience.

[Oceanrower]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

Try this - https://www.tynwald.org.im/spfile?file=/business/o...

If I read it right you need a headlight under Schedule 2 Part 1, indicators under Schedule 7 Part 1, rear lights under Schedule 10 Part 1 and brake lights under Schedule 12 Part.

You missed regulation 5(3) and 5(4).

Exemptions.

ETA. Also Regulation 6(1)(a) and 6(1)(b). Visiting vehicles.

Looks to me like the OP is good to go…

Edited by Oceanrower on Monday 30th January 10:23

[Turkish91]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

Try this - https://www.tynwald.org.im/spfile?file=/business/o...

If I read it right you need a headlight under Schedule 2 Part 1, indicators under Schedule 7 Part 1, rear lights under Schedule 10 Part 1 and brake lights under Schedule 12 Part.

Thank you for that link.

Found this on page 20... looking like I may be okay

(3) Nothing in these Regulations requires any lamp or reflector to be fitted
between sunrise and sunset to —
(a) a vehicle not fitted with any front or rear position lamp;

smifffymoto said:

As long as it’s correctly insured and has a valid MOT you’re ok.
It has to be road legal in the country it’s registered in.

The above is based on my understanding,not real experience.

I'm not sure that's fully correct - For example I know I can't use my bike at the Nurburgring (not that I'd want to do TF without mirrors or lights!) and by extension not on the public German roads either.

[Turkish91]

Oceanrower said:

You missed regulation 5(3) and 5(4).

Exemptions.

ETA. Also Regulation 6(1)(a) and 6(1)(b). Visiting vehicles.

Looks to me like the OP is good to go…

Edited by Oceanrower on Monday 30th January 10:23

Yes, just seen that point too. Looking hopeful!

[black-k1]

Turkish91 said:

Heading to the IOM TT in June, and planning to take my daylight use only GSXR track bike. Horn and a number plate, that's it, no lights whatsoever.

...
.

I assume it is fitted with a correctly activated stop lamp as it appears to me that is a mandatory requirement.

[Turkish91]

black-k1 said:

Turkish91 said:

Heading to the IOM TT in June, and planning to take my daylight use only GSXR track bike. Horn and a number plate, that's it, no lights whatsoever.

...
.

I assume it is fitted with a correctly activated stop lamp as it appears to me that is a mandatory requirement.

No, no lights at all not even a brake light. I couldn't believe it was legal either but apparently it is.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Thanks to all for reading the regs closer than I did with a quick scan. However, I strongly recommend that you speak to someone in the relevant Isle of Man authority before you go for a definitive answer as I think you still need a brake light.

The exemptions under 5 (3) refer to any front or rear position lamp. Part 1 defines what is meant by a front position lamp and a rear position lamp. Neither is a stop lamp (brake light), which has its own definition. I really cannot see not having a brake light as being road legal or sensible. You certainly don't want to going round the Mountain Course with no means of telling other riders that you are braking!

Edited by RedWhiteMonkey on Monday 30th January 12:46

[Turkish91]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

Thanks to all for reading the regs closer than I did with a quick scan. However, I strongly recommend that you speak to someone in the relevant Isle of Man authority before you go for a definitive answer as I think you still need a brake light.

The exemptions under 5 (3) refer to any front or rear position lamp. Part 1 defines what is meant by a front position lamp and a rear position lamp. Neither is a stop lamp (brake light), which has its own definition. I really cannot see not having a brake light as being road legal or sensible. You certainly don't want to going round the Mountain Course with no means of telling other riders that you are breaking!

I fully 100% agree, and fitting a tail/brake light won't be as tricky as the headlight scenario.

As oceanrower has said below me, it's lights or no lights at all, but I may well fit one for other riders benefit.

Edited by Turkish91 on Monday 30th January 11:27

[Oceanrower]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

I really cannot see not having a brake light as being road legal or sensible.

Sensible, probably not.

Legal? Absolutely is, in the UK at least. In fact, if you go down the “daytime MOT” route, you’re not actually allowed a brake light. It’s either with lights or no lights whatsoever!

NOTE: I’m aware it’s not actually called a daytime MOT. It’s an advisory that lights aren’t fitted at the time if test.

[carinaman]

If you need a brake light I've a car LED strip brake light that I didn't order from eBay gathering dust that I can send you. Just Email me your name and address and I'll get it sent some time in February. I cannot help with the switch at the brake lever end.

[Turkish91]

carinaman said:

If you need a brake light I've a car LED strip brake light that I didn't order from eBay gathering dust that I can send you. Just Email me your name and address and I'll get it sent some time in February. I cannot help with the switch at the brake lever end.

Thank you, may well take you up on that.

I've noticed you can get brake inertia sensitive push bike lights now, cheap as chips and no need to wire in to the bike at all.

Legal, probably not. Functioning as a proper tail and brake light... maybe. For the sake of £15 I might give that a whirl

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Turkish91 said:

Thank you, may well take you up on that.

I've noticed you can get brake inertia sensitive push bike lights now, cheap as chips and no need to wire in to the bike at all.

Legal, probably not. Functioning as a proper tail and brake light... maybe. For the sake of £15 I might give that a whirl

As a former resident of the Isle of Man I can assure that the police love checking road worthiness of bikes during TT. An obvious track bike that has just had a brake light added will undoubtedly attract their attention. Do it properly or there is a strong chance you'll find yourself in hot water.

[Krikkit]

With it being so busy around TT time I'd say a brake light would be a fairly sensible safety feature, how much has the loom been chopped? Might be really easy to get one fitted up.

[black-k1]

I was surprised to see that a stop light is not required for a UK MoT if the other lights are removed/covered. Seems unsafe to me but ... whatever!.

I'd definitely not want to ride a bike anywhere, but especially not at the IoM during TT fortnight, without a stop light

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

As a former resident of the Isle of Man I can assure that the police love checking road worthiness of bikes during TT. An obvious track bike that has just had a brake light added will undoubtedly attract their attention. Do it properly or there is a strong chance you'll find yourself in hot water.

and the IOM police are not known for flexibility. That said, when I was at the TT, there was a sidecar outfit in the village near us which had the reg plate - and a Q plate at that - drawn on in marker pen and no lights at all. It looked like it had come straight off the track sometime in the mid nineties. To be clear, I'm not claiming this was legal, but it was definitely being ridden to the Liverpool Arms and back!

[Oceanrower]

Marquezs Stabilisers said:

and the IOM police are not known for flexibility.

Fortunately the OP doesn’t require them to be flexible.

He merely requires them to follow the regulations quoted above…

[Bodo]

Turkish91 said:

I'm not sure that's fully correct - For example I know I can't use my bike at the Nurburgring (not that I'd want to do TF without mirrors or lights!) and by extension not on the public German roads either.

True. There are minimum requirements to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic in annex 5.
For motorcycle lightning, see paragraphs 32 and following (page 58) https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volum...

At the same time, IOM has never signed this treaty, and the aforementioned highway code should be good enough for your purposes.