My 2009 Bonneville was delivered with reflectors front and back. One of the front ones came off in a brush with the pavement, I removed the other.

 

I remember now. The front ones were mounted to the frame. I had to look at somewhere besides the triumph website. They omit the reflectors. Maybe reflectors are just an american thing.

 

The front reflectors are mounted to a bracket that mounts to the front of the frame using the same bolt that mounts the horn. The rear reflectors were glued to each side of the rear fender and one circular one mounted to the rear of the fender.

http://www.streetmaster.net/images/oil-cooler/wide%20after-525.jpg

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/OTAxWDE2MDA=/z/gcQAAOxyZzlTcWd-/$_35.JPG

 

Mine came without side reflectors (2009 model). I don't think they're required in Europe yet. Japanese bikes come with them as they feel they might as well fit them as standard to comply all over the World without making small changes on the production line. Triumph must have felt it saved a few bob by not including them in Europe unless they had to.

Note the photo of the Bonnie on the factory site shows no side reflectors:

http://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/motorcycles/bonneville/2016/bonneville

However look at this picture of a US Bonnie and it's plastered with them: Two yellow ones either side of the horn, two red ones on the sides of the rear mudguard and presumably there's one stuck on the back of the guard:

 

Yeah the factory site mislead me. I forgot about the ones being on the frame. And I was the one that removed them. Kept thinking they would be on the forks like other bikes. I didn't pay attention to the ones on the rear fender. My original fender had been repainted so they were most likely removed and that's why I don't remember them.

I told the officer I would find spot to put reflectors back on but he said he really didn't give a damn about the reflectors just something he would use to pull me over to make sure I'm legal.

 

My front reflectors were on the fork legs, not the frame.

I think that automobiles (at one time) were also required to have side reflectors, front and back.

 

Think newer cars have the side reflector integrated with the lights.

 

Well, you know, side reflectors prevent you from being hit by texting drivers............

Jim

 

LOL, Jim!

 

Forchetto Trigger Warning: Content may be boring
On the subject of reflectors in the US, the US Department of Transportation through the National Highway Safety Administration issues Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Regulations. The current regulations require 3 red and 2 amber reflectors (as seen in US photos of Triumphs)

But local cops (state level and down) do not enforce DOT rules. Some states have reflector requirements, which vary by state, while others don't require them.

If your Hillsboro is in Oregon the requirement is "and a rear reflectors." Similarly for Hillsboro TX, "at least 1 rear red reflector." In Ohio, where there is a Hillsboro, there is no state reflector requirement. State reflector requirements can be found here

 

Thanks for that info. Yeah I'm in Oregon.

Yeah it only seems helpful of your parked and even then I can't think of a scenario where it would help. Unless you had a sudden loss of lights and couldn't safely stop.

 

Do a Google search for motorcycle reflective rim tape. I plan on using this during my rebuild on no the front and rear rims. It comes in colors (to match your bike) But reflects white when hit by light.

 

Fronts came off when I moved the rectifier...rears came off when I trimmed up the rear fender...I still have the ones in my spokes...

 

I took the front ones off when I relocated the horn. The rears were gone when I got it. I know the rationale for them but I also know that if a headlamp on high beam or a tail light illuminated can't get the attention of car zombies, approx. 5 square inches of reflector ain't gonna do it.

 

Yep.



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Just bought new saddlebags for the T100 and they included reflectors in the packet to put on the saddlebags to comply with the US requirement. I'll eventually put them on, but it pains me to do so as they look great without them.

 

I have never been smashed in the side at night so my reflectors must be working…Also, I've had the delightful opportunity of cruising up to the side window of a car when the driver was texting and not moving at a light, and honking my louder that stock horn right in their ear…makes me happy just thinking about that.

 

First thing I've done on all new bikes - remove the cheap, infantile reflectors.

I'm not a kid who just bought a Schwinn from Wal Mart.

Then I install a ridiculously bright, quasi-legal LED Cyclops H4 bulb, backed by Vision-X or Denali aux lights... and bring the highbeam hammer to the street fight.

 

Exactly!
Plus a horn upgrade and I'm good to go.
And let's not forget those Predators barking away.

 

What was written .............

I have never been smashed in the side at night so my reflectors must be working

What I read ................

"I still have blank checks ...... so I must still have money".

First thing I've done on all new bikes - remove the cheap, infantile reflectors.

:agree

 

When out driving I don't recall ever noticing the reflectors on any bikes , and I'm sure many bikes had them . So that tells me how effective they are . I do notice the headlights ,brake /tail lights and turn signals though .

 

Having read a number of comments about it.
Other posts, other threads.
This comes to mind ....................

Besides "sight", we use other "senses" to evaluate things around us.
"Sound" is one of those.

I would make the claim (for argument of course) that a "louder" than stock exhaust system is probably more affective at discerning the proximity of a motorcycle than are the reflectors.

ANYTHING that keeps "touch" out of the picture is a good thing. "Touching" the pavement, or being "touched" by another car.

 

Having read a number of comments about it.

Other posts, other threads.

This comes to mind ....................



Besides "sight", we use other "senses" to evaluate things around us.

"Sound" is one of those.



I would make the claim (for argument of course) that a "louder" than stock exhaust system is probably more affective at discerning the proximity of a motorcycle than are the reflectors.



ANYTHING that keeps "touch" out of the picture is a good thing. "Touching" the pavement, or being "touched" by another car.

Well, that's surely been beat to death in other threads.

 

FWIW, bolted or glued-on reflectors have been the first thing to go on each new street bike I've had and I've never had an issue. Surprised an officer would bring this up.

 

Tapeworks Graphics' Reflective Rim Strips <Mick Jagger voice on> Comes in colllloooorrrrs! <Mick Jagger voice off>

 

I use a Hella lens Cree LED headlight rig (I can clearly see what I'm about to run into), a Matchless-Clueless LED tail light (new…amazing thing) along with my stock infantile reflectors. Now that I've had a moment to reflect on this, I realize they're ALL working for me…lucky I guess...

 

Harley just recalled somewhere around 9000 bikes because they forgot to put the reflectors on them. Wonder how many people are going to take the time to go get them installed?

 

Fronts were really ugly, took em off pretty quick. Rears on the Scram are really hidden though so they don't bug me. But then again, that means they aren't really doing much anyways. Better take em off now than have them look old and worn.