Can I get a free headlight

[D-Rider]

I guess it would help to know whether your bike (and any other) is one intended for another market but sold here or is a miss-build.

We can easily see what market it's meant for from the label under the seat (I'm going to check mine).

I guess the headlight's part number must be on the headlight somewhere - but that may be harder to find. If anyone can inform us where to look, that would help.

My concern for you Paddy is if they see yours has been repaired and if they want to be difficult, they could suggest that you'd smashed the "original UK light" and fixed up a second hand Euro spec one that you'd obtained from elsewhere.

However, if this affects more than you, then it is clear that there has been some bog-up - either by Aprilia or the dealer network. If that is the case, we may be able to make progress more easily.

First step is for those that want to, to go and check out the situation on their bike and report back - especially those of us that have not yet faced an MOT.
This may clarify things a bit.

However, I realise this may not fit into your MOT timeframe ....

[fastasfcuk]

mine to was from dk and is up for mot in may 2008, on the sticker under the seat it's marked with a black dot on no 2 after year, same on the letter A after Lm ? and another dot on EU.i think sat morning i'm going to the test station and have the headlight tested and go from there, i'll let you know.

[paddyz1]

mine to was from dk and is up for mot in may 2008, on the sticker under the seat it's marked with a black dot on no 2 after year, same on the letter A after Lm ? and another dot on EU.i think sat morning i'm going to the test station and have the headlight tested and go from there, i'll let you know.

I got mine in May 05 aswell. You did not happen to test one of them slow blue falcos did you. I took it down the A500 and was instantly hooked.

[fastasfcuk]

mine to was from dk and is up for mot in may 2008, on the sticker under the seat it's marked with a black dot on no 2 after year, same on the letter A after Lm ? and another dot on EU.i think sat morning i'm going to the test station and have the headlight tested and go from there, i'll let you know.

I got mine in May 05 aswell. You did not happen to test one of them slow blue falcos did you. I took it down the A500 and was instantly hooked.

snap.

[D-Rider]

Got mine in May 05 too - but from OnYerBike.

.... so we've a few months to sort this out.

[Syltiz]

Similar experience to me... it took an MOT tester to point out that the light actually shines up on the right. Taz Motorcycles told me to take a flying leap and I did not have the energy for a fight with them.

[D-Rider]

Right .... just taken my headlight out and checked the part number against the Aprilia parts catalogue.

I have a European headlight not a UK version.

I'll take some pictures (sorry - crappy phone camera) and post them up.

Time to get ourselves organised!

[Fausto]

I thought that this 'parallel import' issue was common knowledge. That's why so many Falcos went for so little cash from 'dealers' like Taz and DK.
It has always been a timebomb due to the 3 year delay for MOTs but it's a common problem for most makes/models that are EU spec and it was always being discussed in the bike press..... I just can't remember the outcome

Surely a good search of some other model forums will turn up an answer.

As for the MOT test itself I have never had anyone look at the headlight to see which way it dipped - however it's possible that the headlight 'machine' they wheel up to test the beam height will expose this. How about lowering your beam (temporarily) so that the high point of the dip beam cut off is still within the parameters???

[D-Rider]

Don't they only have to make it legal.
In other words stick a beam bender on it.

According to the MOT testers guide:

Right hand dip headlamps can be temporarily altered for use in the UK by fitting masks or converter kits which remove the beam 'kick-up' to the right.

A headlamp altered in this way is not a reason for rejection, if

a. the headlamp aim is not rejected for the reasons listed under diagram 1 (except that the top of the beam image will be a straight line)

b. the light output is not unduly
reduced - not usually a problem with commercially produced kits

c. the mask or converter is securely attached

.... so this could get you through an MOT but I think that the fact that it states that headlamps can be temporarily altered with masks or converter kits suggests that this is not an acceptable permanent state and the bikes should not have been sold like this.

[D-Rider]

I thought that this 'parallel import' issue was common knowledge. That's why so many Falcos went for so little cash from 'dealers' like Taz and DK.

Dunno about the others who have this problem but I bought my Falco from an Official Aprilia dealer and there was no mention of it being a parallel. As far as I'm concerned, it was sold to me as an official UK market bike.


..... and whether parallel or not, it should only be sold having been modified to meet UK regulations - otherwise it contravenes the sale of goods act as it is not fit for the purpose.

[Goldie]

Eyes wide open, or eyes wide shut....

I bought mine from Taz as a parallel import. I placed the order over the phone (Oct 2003) and specified that I wanted the headlight to be "UK Legal". I got the paperwork through the post and the standard Taz docs said it would be an EU headlight. I called the salesman - on holiday; spoke to his boss who tells me I can have a UK headlight at cost. I choose to postpone spending £200+ for three years. I bought a shiny new UK headlight for the first MOT this year.

Anyone want to buy a headlight unit with a squint????

So check your (pre-)delivery documents carefully.

Andy, if you bought yours from an official dealer I would expect you would get a replacement free-of-charge...

...good luck!

[D-Rider]

OK - I've been looking into this and I believe that all of us with this problem are entitled to a replacement headlight - even you Goldie.

Here are the Rules of the Vehicle Certification Agency

In summary the relevant details are that to register an imported vehicle from the EU (that has not already been registered elsewhere) it must have:

1) The European Certificate of Conformity.
AND
2) A written statement from the applicant confirming that the following items are fitted to the vehicle:
* That the headlamps have been permanently adjusted to be suitable for use on the left hand side of road, namely that the beam is adjusted to dip left. Please note that stickers, beam-deflectors and other non-permanent changes are not acceptable.
* ......

So methinks that if the dealers have managed to register these bikes - which they clearly have - they have either registered them believing them to be fully UK spec bikes or have known that they are not and falsely stated that they have been converted ..... or something.

The fact that Goldie may have been told they wouldn't be changing his headlight appears to be no defence against their obligation to do so to register the vehicle.

Now I guess that doesn't stop the dealers telling us to sod off, but it is evidence that we almost certainly have a right to this being sorted.
Our rights would be protected under the sale of goods act as the goods would clearly not be "fit for purpose".

Therefore, our local Trading Standards Offices should help us to sort this out.

Now I'm not a lawyer myself but that's my understanding of things.

Also, I think that if we need to we can bring pressure by getting together. If they won't play ball, they may think twice if we let them know that there are a fair number of us in this situation and if we don't get things sorted we'll highlight this via MCN - I doubt the dealers or Aprilia would relish this publicity. Of course I hope it won't come to this.

Anyway, I'll try to get some confirmation of my understanding of the situation described above.

In the meantime we can start to get together a record of who is suffering from this problem. I'll post up a new thread explaining this and telling people how to check (probably do this tomorrow).

[Falcopops]

Go get em Andy!

Can you have a look at the sticker on the frame under the seat and see what country has been punched.

I bought my Falco from Riossi and it's got the UK punched. It's been through an MOT no problem,so I wasn't concerned. Now I'm starting to think it might not be cosher.

Where's the part No. on the headlight? and how do you tell if it's the UK spec one?

[D-Rider]

Go get em Andy!

Can you have a look at the sticker on the frame under the seat and see what country has been punched.

I bought my Falco from Riossi and it's got the UK punched. It's been through an MOT no problem,so I wasn't concerned. Now I'm starting to think it might not be cosher.

Where's the part No. on the headlight? and how do you tell if it's the UK spec one?

Hi Dale - I'll post up info and pictures later today (probably this evening).

Removal of plastics is unavoidable unfortunately - but now I know what's where, others shouldn't have to remove quite as much as I did!

If your sticker shows UK I think it's likely to be OK as those of us that definitely have the problem seem to show EU. There again showing UK on the frame sticker may be no guarantee it's correct - just as showing EU may not guarantee it's wrong. We need to investigate further.

[Syltiz]

Thanks for doing this D-Rider.

My sticker shows "EU"