What to do with those ugly license tag mount reflectors

[BF]

What to do with those ugly reflectors on the license tag mount?  Do most folks take them off, just live with them....or are there other options? 

Replace them with some kind of light maybe?  What have you guys done?

[Tundra]

They are fugly.  I cut mine off and then filed the cut edge smooth and painted. I'll find some pics for you.

[Mr Steve]

I replaced them with two marker lights, SMD LED, and wired them to work with brake and turns to give me more visibility.

[Thunderbolt]

were giving tickets if you didn't have those on your bike a few years ago.  Probably just some obscure law here in Fl.

[Chrisj CMA]

I replaced mine with LED lights and repositioned the reflectors onto the rear of the saddlebags.  Looks and works great....Ill see if  I can find a pic

[Daniel Meyer]

Texas requires two additional red reflectors on the back, besides the tail-light. Even if you add more lights, the reflectors are still a requirement.

The little license plate holder ones meet the requirement, but so do the two that are above my plate on the bracket (square ones). Factory on the '01 anyway. So, I can trash the little round ones if I want.

[sandy]

I went to a truck stop and got some red LED clearance lights. They're wired as brake lights. They show clear when off.

[The Anvil]

The problem with replacing reflectors with lights is that if you end up on the side of the road at night with no power...

[TomE]

Last time I checked, (I was building a trailer at the time) those reflectors were required by federal code. Many trailer lights have reflectors built into the light itself. Take a look at trailer taillights and you will see what I mean.

I suspect that you do need reflectors to comply with federal code and replacing them with marker lights won't do the job. Legally. Then again, nothing says just where the reflectors need to be, and most cops don't know the code that well anyway.

It was a bit funny, but I actually called up my DMV and State Police for clarification on this. Neither one could really give me an answer until the DMV lady looked up a section of the regulations for me. Their first answer was to tell me to call the other office!

[The Anvil]

Get some of that reflective tape that trailers have on them and get creative.

[Farther]

I went this route:  https://www.directlineparts.com/product.asp?pid=150&str=2&ID=799921255

[BF]

You guys that replaced them with lights......where did you get them.....and what kind did you replace the reflectors with?

I was thinking about replacing the reflectors with these......

http://www.directlineparts.com/product.asp?pid=43735



I'm wanting to replace the tail and turns with clear lens (already have them, just haven't put them on yet).....and these have a clear lens but have a red led and would shine red.  They're the same depth, but a little wider than the reflectors.  

What ya'll think about those?

[BF]

I went this route:  https://www.directlineparts.com/product.asp?pid=150&str=2&ID=799921255

Never seen one of those before Farther.  That's a possiblity......but I do like the idea of adding lights.  The more the rear end is lit up the better IMHO. 

[Ricky-D]

There's another thread going on right now about the rear fender, the lower half starting to crack.

So keep in mind when you start adding more weight to the rear fender, that can aggravate the situation, and cause your fender to start cracking.

Jus sayin'

***

[Chrisj CMA]

There's another thread going on right now about the rear fender, the lower half starting to crack.

So keep in mind when you start adding more weight to the rear fender, that can aggravate the situation, and cause your fender to start cracking.

Jus sayin'

***

a LED light weighs about as much as the dirt that would be on the fender after a wet ride.  Although I have always had a support bracket mounted to the back side of the tail light area down to (now my Hitchcoc) before to the fender trim, so weight is not really an issue for me

[Daniel Meyer]

Get some of that reflective tape that trailers have on them and get creative.

I once had pinstripe tape in various widths that looked gloss black in the daylight but reflected brilliant red in headlights/night. Cool stuff. Had a black truck that was riddled with this stuff. VERY neat at night.

Haven't been able to find it again...would be cool on a fast-black valk though!

[John Schmidt]

This is what I did, tossed the OEM bracket w/reflectors. At InZane in Paducah I bought the last chrome wedge block that Justin had. Mounted it and had a local outfit make up an SS license mount. I already had the bullet lights(Radiantz) with their super bright LED's. When I had the SS mount made, I had them make an extension on each side and bend 90 deg. and drill it. That's how my lights are mounted. The little bar across the top of the license chrome trim is a white LED that lights up the plate. Didn't know I had to have reflectors, maybe I can find some of the tape Daniel is talking about. Hate to mess up the looks, been on there for 5-6 years with nary a comment from the cops. The run/turn/brake lights are narrow enough now so if I have some helping hands I can remove the bags and rails in one piece.

[sugerbear]

Get some of that reflective tape that trailers have on them and get creative.

I once had pinstripe tape in various widths that looked gloss black in the daylight but reflected brilliant red in headlights/night. Cool stuff. Had a black truck that was riddled with this stuff. VERY neat at night.

Haven't been able to find it again...would be cool on a fast-black valk though!

here ya go

http://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Reflective-Safety-Tape-Adhesive/dp/B000NPNXP6

[BF]

That tape reflects white.  Would that be legal on the rear of a bike?

[Gryphon]

I once had pinstripe tape in various widths that looked gloss black in the daylight but reflected brilliant red in headlights/night. Cool stuff. Had a black truck that was riddled with this stuff. VERY neat at night.

Haven't been able to find it again...would be cool on a fast-black valk though!

Here you go Daniel:
http://www.reflectivedecals.com/stripes.htm
orhttp://www.streetglo.net/reflective.tape/

Although I think you might like the black reflective dragons here more:
http://www.purpleharley.com/reflective_decals.htm
orhttp://www.streetglo.net/catalog2/

Lots of options out there.

[JetDriver]

You guys that replaced them with lights......where did you get them.....and what kind did you replace the reflectors with?

I was thinking about replacing the reflectors with these......

http://www.directlineparts.com/product.asp?pid=43735



I'm wanting to replace the tail and turns with clear lens (already have them, just haven't put them on yet).....and these have a clear lens but have a red led and would shine red.  They're the same depth, but a little wider than the reflectors.  

What ya'll think about those?

I believe these are not only LED lights, but reflectors as well.