Reading Roy Bacon’s excellent “Restoring Motorcycles: Electrics”, in the chapter “Lighting and the law” regarding indicators he writes
“There are positional and view-angle requirements that the Norton Electra and early 1960’s BMWs could have trouble with”.
These of course are fitted into the ends of the handlebars, and always struck me as being in a vulnerable, albeit visible position. I cannot say as a certainty, but I expect that the Construction and Use regulations, or whatever is subsequently in force (this was written in 1988) has something to say on the arrangement of motorcycle indicators.
Has anybody ever had trouble with Plod or the MOT chappie with this arrangement (and yes I know it’s MoT & Tax exempt)? My early Electra “project” (aka a pile of boxes and bits) has an original pair of these lamps, and I was able to get a replacement amber lens from Germany (you should see the size of the box Amazon shipped it in, when a Jiffybag would’ve sufficed!). I’m torn between something approaching original, or just keeping things simple as regards the handlebars, loom etc. I’m bearing in mind it will need a vehicle inspection to regain its original reg number, as it never had a V5C document.
bear in mind
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Electra Indicators
If you want original, then stick with them. The lenses have 'prisms' in them, to angle the light behind you, and not into your tummy. But as Al says, not all flasher units will work with a single light bulb on each side.
If safety, rather than originality is your goal - then fit a modern set of flashers front and rear
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Bear in mind that if fitted they must work! And if fitted with a single 10W bulb you might have trouble getting them to work with an appropriate flasher? You also can't chuck the bike against the garage wall either. Why bother? After all the hand out is an automatic cancel. And what MOT guru will know that a 1964 Norton must have indicators? But then the fitting of them is more construction and usage.
By the way Mike this box project seems to be lasting well!