2017 EX Taillight - US vs UK

[Cormanus]

Curious. We know members of this forum bought both the 2016 with the chequered tank and the 2017 EX.

[peterbaron]

Joe, '13/white, ABS-combine, '14/blue, ABS, '16/black-checkered flag tank, '!7/red, ABS, spoke...and after =
Hey fellow Canadians, correct me if I was wrong...

I looked on GPbikes.com and SnowCity and neither had anything beyond 2014.

I looked on GPbikes.com and SnowCity and neither had anything beyond 2014.
I usually go to KW Honda ( Honda dealer/not Powersports, marine engines, snow machines+++ only Honda products)) and sat on each^^of them, used or new.
This is very professional dealer, family run & owned. They did my set of tires twice, never had any problem.
Lash treaded in his blue '14 CB for new, DCT Wing a few years ago.

Never been to SnowCity.

Visited GPbikes a few times and spent with them (gear + acc) C$1800, big store/2 levels and good selection, not cheap. They mostly specialize in Ducati, KTM + some English bikes... , soon will have to go again to update my gear.

[Richard_imp]

I found this comparison interesting, and had to stroll out to the garage to look at the situation on my 2017 EX. The red LED tail light has a clear portion on the bottom, to illuminate the rear license plate. I do not know if the UK LED tail light unit has the same set up or not for "number plate" illumination. Just looking at it, it would appear the the longer US chrome housing was done to put more light on the rear license plate, as it looks like the shorter UK version would be putting less light on the LP, and more on the top of the LP frame? No doubt the longer housing was done to conform to some sort of NHTSA lighting requirement.

I definitely like the look of the shorter housing. The shorter housing in combination with the chrome and red, reminds me of the CB750 Four set up from back in the day. I do wish Honda had made the CB1100 tail light chrome parts from stamped steel instead of plastic though.

A few pictures of my UK model...

[url=https://postimg.cc/476HvXGT]

[url=https://postimg.cc/6TKvW4V6]

[url=https://postimg.cc/ctdgXP1t]

[url=https://postimg.cc/NLxr5Gb6]


As you can see, it does have the clear portion for the licence plate illumination - although whether or not it would conform to US regulations, I have no clue.

[2017EX_imp]

Richard, Thanks for the pictures that put to rest my lighting theory as not valid. With a lighting difference now obviously not the reason for two different length tail light extensions, I cant see any functional reason there would be the need for two different parts.. From what I can see in your pictures, the shorter housing looks like it sheds plenty of light on the license plate.

[pekingduck]

The license plates on US bikes are at a near vertical positioning, so the light has to be extended further back. If you look at license plate lights on some other bikes, you'll see they have an interim metal license plate bracket that straightens the plate and black plastic extension pieces for the light. It would be so easy to just bolt the plate to the plastic fender at an angle like UK bikes.

[Richard_imp]

The license plates on US bikes are at a near vertical positioning, so the light has to be extended further back. If you look at license plate lights on some other bikes, you'll see they have an interim metal license plate bracket that straightens the plate and black plastic extension pieces for the light. It would be so easy to just bolt the plate to the plastic fender at an angle like UK bikes.

I think that's right. The UK plate is bolted to a bracket which is part of the rear light assembly:

[url=https://postimg.cc/3yDKp9hM]

But I think the crucial point is - as you say - the angle of the plate. My 2019 UK version is at an angle which means a shorter light is ok.

[pekingduck]

I found this comparison interesting, and had to stroll out to the garage to look at the situation on my 2017 EX. The red LED tail light has a clear portion on the bottom, to illuminate the rear license plate. I do not know if the UK LED tail light unit has the same set up or not for "number plate" illumination. Just looking at it, it would appear the the longer US chrome housing was done to put more light on the rear license plate, as it looks like the shorter UK version would be putting less light on the LP, and more on the top of the LP frame? No doubt the longer housing was done to conform to some sort of NHTSA lighting requirement.

I definitely like the look of the shorter housing. The shorter housing in combination with the chrome and red, reminds me of the CB750 Four set up from back in the day. I do wish Honda had made the CB1100 tail light chrome parts from stamped steel instead of plastic though.

That got me thinking about chrome on plastic vs. chrome on steel. They haven't been doing it as long by comparison, but I can't recall if chromed plastic corrodes or flakes off. I think it may be more durable in that regard. I know it can be rubbed/scraped off easier, and I think I've seen it flake off if compromised.