Tinting Signals and Lenses

[Scud]

This came up in another thread and Martin asked me to say more about it (without hijacking that other thread).

So..... I used VHT Night Shades. It's a rattle-can spray-on lens tinter. Each coat makes the lens a little darker, so you can go a bit at a time and stop when you're happy. A couple light coats do not noticeably reduce the brightness of the lights - but (IMO) it declutters the look of the bike during the day - gives it cleaner, more fluid lines with less breaks. I tinted all four turn signals and the tail light and removed the chunky side reflectors from the forks and the mudflap. I also put huge black reflective stickers on the saddlebags to help with visibility from the rear. Here are some pics of the bike that I've already posted elsewhere.

[Martin]

Thanks Scud nice bike, and your snakes are nearly as big as ours. I tried looking for pictures of your bike, by looking you up and then hitting attachments, and it came up with no attachments posted yet. :dunno When I first started looking for a BMW 18 years ago I was looking for a R80, but found a post on K75's and the more I read, the more it seemed like a better choice. The local BMW wrecker come second hand dealer had three an RT, a Std with an R fairing and the S. The Honorable Minister for Finance & Recreation had given me a budget and the 75S was a grand out of the budget. I rode the two others and liked the Std the most, when I got home she asked me how it went and I told her. I also mentioned the really nice 75S that was there, she asked me what it rode like and I said I didn't ride it. She said why not and I said it was out of the budget she set. She asked by how much, I said a grand and she said if it was so nice I should have ridden it. I'm not that thick, I don't need to be told twice bought it the next day. Best bike I have ever owned and the best looking K also in my opinion. I will think about the lens tinting not sure at this stage.
Regards Martin.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Judging by your story on the S, Martin, the Honourable Minister of Finance & Recreation sounds like a keeper.

[Martin]

Most definitely one in a million. haven't had a blue in seventeen years. And the funny thing is she doesn't like motorcycles, her brother got badly smashed up when his RD350 hit a taxi, drunk at the time. I have always had bikes, and once asked her why she has never tried to talk me into giving them up. A lot of mates have suffered the I don't like you riding it's dangerous fate. Her answer was she would never try to stop me doing something she knew I loved doing. I have raced Karts and bikes and had accidents while racing, and while she would never come and watch. It scared her, she never tried to stop me. A definite keeper.
Regards Martin.

[Justjub]

It looks great Scud! I'm glad to see what it looks like as I was thinking doing this same simple modification. But before doing this I would like to tint my windshield just like yours. Is it a custom made tinted windshield you have? What technique did you used?

[Scud]

The spray is great for tint over lenses, but I would not recommend it for a windshield. I think it would be very difficult to get a uniform finish over a large clear surface.  But you could try. The tint can be removed (but I forget how).

My windshield was on the bike when I got it - and it was made that way, with smoke plastic, not a surface tint.  You can buy tinted windshields oversized (like mine) or in the OEM shape.  I'm probably going to go back to the smaller, OEM shape soon, the one on my bike is cracked at the lower mount holes and I like the OEM shape.

[K1300S]

the windshield looks like an aeroflow.  i have one like it.  plastic is that color.

you can buy new tinted S windshields from bmw.  i just got one a month or so ago.

[stokester]

I guess it may just be me but why would you ever want to diminish the amount of light on a motorcycle.  :dunno

[nine]

I guess it may just be me but why would you ever want to diminish the amount of light on a motorcycle.  :dunno

Lens tints (both spray and stick-on sheets) in the majority of cases don't reduce the brightness of the lights behind them, there's plenty of research available on the subject. Scud even mentions in his post that the tint didn't affect the brightness of the lights. It might if you applied a ridiculously dark tint, but a gentle smoke will provide a more clean and modern appearance without diminishing the brightness or safety of the light.

[stokester]

Lens tints (both spray and stick-on sheets) in the majority of cases don't reduce the brightness of the lights behind them, there's plenty of research available on the subject. Scud even mentions in his post that the tint didn't affect the brightness of the lights. It might if you applied a ridiculously dark tint, but a gentle smoke will provide a more clean and modern appearance without diminishing the brightness or safety of the light.

I don't understand how a tinting substance that is put between a light-emitting device and the eye does not diminish the output but I'm not a lighting engineer.

But they will not pass inspection in Virginia...
- extra subparagraphs cut out...

--------
19VAC30-70-360. Motorcycle lights: headlamp, rear, signal, warning.
A. Inspect for and reject if:
       4. Any motorcycle lights-headlamp, rear lamp, signal or warning lamp has any wire, unapproved lens or plastic covers, any other materials that are not original equipment or any colored material placed on or in front of lamp or lens.
---------

The same goes for cars.

[Scud]

Well.. you do have to pay attention to local laws. And if you have to pass an annual inspection that pretty much takes tinting off the menu.  I applied the lightest tint to the taillight and a bit heavier to the turn signals (which I confess to not even using sometimes). To me, it's just fun to personalize the bike a bit.

I assume I am invisible to car drivers no matter what. I'm most concerned about visibility at night - that's why I wear reflective gear and put so much black reflective material on the back of the saddlebags.

On the science side... I think anything you put on a lens will diminish the light that can pass through it. But the question is by how much. I played around with it on other bikes too - there was no difference to my eye between a stock lens and a lightly tinted one.  The label cautions against applying too many coats - you're not supposed to black it out.