When shopping for motorcycle lighting, you need to consider many things and know how to pick out the best ones. We suggest looking out for DOT, SAE, or ECE-approved lights, so you’ll need to know what this means.
SAE Standards
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) is a worldwide organization. This group sets technical standards for the manufacturing and design of lighting for vehicles, among other things. While these regulations aren’t legally binding, most places around the world use them in their own laws to set the standards for manufacturing.
DOT Compliance
The DOT is the American Department of Transportation, in charge of all the manufacturing and legal regulations around vehicles and their use. In America, all vehicles must meet the minimum requirements for the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). This includes any lights for a motorcycle, which is why DOT compliance is so important for people who own bikes in America.
ECE Approval
The ECE (Economic Commission for Europe) is similar to the DOT, but it only relates to vehicles in the EU. Many other countries use the ECE regulations for their own vehicles to standardize them. You’ll want ECE-approved lights to avoid issues of improper lighting on your vehicle.
What You Should Get
When choosing lights, you’ll want to pick ones that follow the standards in your location. That way, you can safely drive without worrying about a citation for your vehicle. For example, someone who drives a Harley in America will need Harley LED turn lights compliant with DOT.
Now that you know about the differences between SAE, DOT, And ECE compliance for lighting, you can choose what’s best for you and your bike. This will help you stay street-legal with your vehicle, and you’ll have high-quality lights that you can trust to light up the night.
