Speed Twin With No Tail Light?

Discussion in 'Bonneville' started by bruce johnston, May 20, 2021.

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  1. bruce johnston

    bruce johnston New Member

    May 6, 2021
    10
    3
    Manchester, CT, USA
    Hi there, I picked up a used Speed Twin just last night, and was wondering where this setup that removed the tail light from the fender came from. I am not sure I like not having a tail light, but would appreciate knowing what kind of accessory it might be, and what I might be in for if I have to source the original parts.

    It was a very pleasant ride to work, nonetheless, and well worth the trouble of getting a proper tail light back on it, given the poor availability of bikes right now.

    Thanks!

    4.JPG
     
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  2. Jadorff

    Jadorff Noble Member

    Apr 14, 2019
    873
    443
    Adelaide Australia
    yes I would change it ,I like people to see I am braking. you would have to replace the mud Gard with the original lights I think
     
  3. brown mouse

    brown mouse Elite Member

    Sep 15, 2018
    2,288
    943
    East Midlands, UK
    Are you sure what look like indicators don't also act as brake lights? Seems to be the fashion nowadays with cars and bikes to combine all functions into the same unit.

    Meaning you can't see rear indicators clearly if someone is braking, or front indicators which act a daylight running lights. :(
     
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  4. darkman

    darkman Crème de la Crème

    Oct 26, 2015
    7,544
    1,000
    Southcoast of the UK Earth
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  5. bruce johnston

    bruce johnston New Member

    May 6, 2021
    10
    3
    Manchester, CT, USA
    Yes, I did mean that the indicators on the bike now (the two stalks) are integrated running lights, brake lights, and turn signals. I am also being told that this is new, as-delivered, and not an accessory. I guess I am too old fashioned in my sense for style/function, but I would have sworn it wasn't even DOT legal here in the US, let alone a good idea. If the Euro spec setup has a tail light, I would definitely prefer it, but I also want to keep it legal. I was able to own two different Speed Triples with as-delivered, 50-state legal lighting, as I am serious about not messing around with safety equipment on a road going vehicle.

    All that said, I love the bike. If it is truly as-new with this light setup on it, I will seek to enhance it appropriately.
     
  6. bruce johnston

    bruce johnston New Member

    May 6, 2021
    10
    3
    Manchester, CT, USA
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  7. RevPaul

    RevPaul Senior Member

    Apr 21, 2020
    678
    193
    Cheshire, UK
    Hi Bruce

    It looks like the bike has Triumph's Multifunction Rear indicators fitted. They are an option in the UK. These are the part numbers:-

    MULTI FUNCTION FITTING KIT

    PART NUMBERA9838081

    MULTI FUNCTION LIGHT KIT SHORT
    PART NUMBERA9830140

    And this is the website for the Triumph UK's Configurator where you can find all the rather pricey options for your favourite Triumph and get an idea of what your bike would look like with them fitted. There's probably a US equivalent.

    www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/configure/

    I've found Triumph dealers to be pretty good here in the UK, but I always back up visits with my own research (as you're doing) because in the end they are trying to sell and have loyalty to the dealership and Triumph rather than the customer.
    It would be worth asking if Triumph could supply the bike with a normal rear light set up or getting in touch with Triumph (US) themselves. Their website should point to customer service dept.

    I agree with you I'd rather have a separate brake light. Motorcycles have small enough lights close together to start with (compared to cars) and anything that helps the vehicles behind or in front of me to see me, understand what I'm doing and not hit me has to be a good thing.

    If you go for the bike though, I'm sure you'll love it.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  8. bruce johnston

    bruce johnston New Member

    May 6, 2021
    10
    3
    Manchester, CT, USA
    Thank you all for your information. My determination is that the multi-function setup on the bike is the new, "as-delivered" spec here in the US, and not an option. The dealer salesperson said so, but as they had no new inventory to check against, I found a dealership online selling brand new ones with the same setup, with one set of pictures appearing to have been taken with the bike still sitting in the crate.

    As a used bike that already had a few of the Triumph custom parts on it, I fully expected that the multi-function lights were as well. I am truly surprised, having believed that US DOT required a (single) red tail/stop light in the back. Live and learn, I suppose.

    So, I guess I am going to buy a "custom" tail light for the first time ever...

    I had a nice 150 mile ride around on the weekend with the bike, and loving it more each time I get on it. I don't think it is possible to miss a shift with the gearbox, and the bike just rolled 5K miles on the odometer on Saturday. Truly a smooth and easy riding bike.
     
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  9. Golgotha

    Golgotha Guest

    #9 Golgotha, Jun 16, 2021
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 16, 2021
    I've been having warranty woes with my US spec rear lights since right after I rode off the dealership. Left one went out- wiring connectivity problem. Not long after, right one went out- faulty part altogether. Bike's been back at the dealer for over a week now waiting on word from Triumph if they'll even warranty the part/install. Needless to say I'm NOT happy and I've been researching alternative configurations altogether.

    There's a couple options for signals in addition to switching out the blanking plate for a proper brake light, both via Triumph and after-market. Personally, I like the factory larger bullet style signal housings. They lend themselves to the retro vibe of the bike. The blanking plate looks almost comical as it obviously should be a brake light. AFAIK the US-spec lighting is an import mandate and not necessarily required for street-legal status, although this could vary by state.

    I'd like to switch out for the "Euro-spec" brake light with amber dedicated rear signals. So far I haven't seen any options for this as proper kits but it's been suggested that I can go with a custon job using similar amber lights from other Triumphs and modifying the wiring. I don't think I'll pursue this until my warranty is up in anothr year and a 1/2 but it's on the to-do list. Perhaps there will be more options in the coming months.

    Right now I just want the lights to work.
     
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  10. bruce johnston

    bruce johnston New Member

    May 6, 2021
    10
    3
    Manchester, CT, USA
    My thoughts exactly. Since mine are in working order right now, I will have to decide how much it's worth to me to get a central tail light on the bike. I would not be at all happy if the lights were not working, and probably feel more pressure to upgrade/modify the existing setup under those circumstances.
     
  11. BiMiWi

    BiMiWi Well-Known Member

    Apr 11, 2021
    44
    63
    New England
    I wanted to change to the Euro spec rear lights because the U.S. spec lights do not allow mounting of any of the available rear racks unless you use relocating brackets. But when I realized the total cost including wiring harness, brake light, rear turn signals/housings, front turn signals/housings (don't want mismatched front and rear housings) and whatever else it would take comes in around $700 I just bought a nice Oxford tail bag instead.

    Nice bike, by the way. I've had mine for a few months and every time I ride it return with a smile on my face.
     
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  12. bruce johnston

    bruce johnston New Member

    May 6, 2021
    10
    3
    Manchester, CT, USA
    Thank you for that. I have to agree, that $700 can buy me a lot of things I want more.

    I have made a point of looking at it at different times of day, and while I would still prefer the Euro light on the fender, the US spec does work, and LEDs are bright and attention-grabbing. I also kind of bought this bike to be good to go, right away. If I wanted a project, I would get a Royal Enfield for a good enough price to bankroll the improvements I would want to do to it. I did buy the alloy piece from Tec bike parts to relocate the license plate to just under the fender, and for less than $100, I am very happy with the improvement with how it looks overall at the back of the bike.
     
  13. Jet City

    Jet City Noble Member
    Subscriber

    Sep 24, 2018
    520
    343
    Seattle, Washington USA

    Yeah it’s awesome. Gets you back to the things you really love about motorcycles. Great motor, great handling, it’s like they finally came up with the jet pack.
     
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