Interpretation ID: aiam2232
Cal Light Co.
50 Oak Court
Walnut Creek
CA
94596;
Dear Mr. MacEachern: In your latest letter, dated February 17, 1976, you asked 'Does th Federal motor vehicle safety standards allow the use of one half of an automobile headlight system on a motorcycle?'; There is no Federal prohibition against an owner modifying hi motorcycle to use any lighting configuration, though there may be State or municipal restrictions. The answer where a manufacturer is involved, however, depends upon the type of automobile headlamp system used. Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 requires a motorcycle to be equipped with a headlamp system conforming to SAE Standard J584, *Motorcycle and Motor Driven Cycle Headlamps*, April 1964. Two options allowed are use of a single 7 inch sealed beam unit, or of one 5 3/4 inch Type 1 and one 5 3/4 inch Type 2 sealed beam unit, provided these headlamps meet the requirements of SAE J579a, *Sealed Beam Headlamp Units for Motor Vehicles*, August 1965. Thus, 'one half' of a two-headlamp, or of a four-lamp circular lens passenger car headlighting system could be used on a motorcycle. But use of a system comprised of one Type 1A plus Type 2A (rectangular lens), is not currently permitted under Standard No. 108.; Since there is an equivalence of performance between rectangular an circular lens headlamp systems, if you wish to merchandise a two-lamp (Type 1A plus Type 2A) rectangular system for use on motorcycles, you may wish to submit an additional petition for an amendment of Standard No. 108.; Yours truly, Richard B. Dyson, Assistant Chief Counsel