Getting Started: What You'll Need
Installing a bike rack light board for the first time can feel daunting, but it's easier than you think. A proper setup ensures your number plate is visible, your supplementary lights are functioning, and your panel is securely mounted. Follow this beginner-friendly guide to get your light board installed correctly and legally.
Before diving into installation, it's important to understand why bike rack lights matter. Modern bikes cost a fortune, and when they're mounted on your rack, they often obscure your vehicle's brake lights and indicators. The Safelite light board is built specifically for NZ drivers carrying expensive bikes, keeping your lights visible and protecting everyone on the road.
Understanding NZ Legal Requirements
New Zealand law is clear about carrying bikes on vehicles. It's illegal to obscure your vehicle lights or number plate when using a bike rack. Your lights must be clearly visible in clear weather from at least 200 metres away. If your bike rack or bikes block any lights, you must fit supplementary bike rack lights.
Similarly, supplementary number plates are mandatory when your rack obscures your original plate. These plates must be fixed to a hard, flat surface and illuminated at night. Only official NZTA supplementary plates are permitted.
The Cost of Getting It Wrong
Breaking these rules isn't just unsafe, it's expensive. You could receive 20 to 25 demerit points for each offence, alongside hefty fines. More importantly, you're putting yourself, your family, and other motorists in danger.
Step-by-Step Installation Guide
1. Check Your Bike Rack Compatibility
The Safelite panel offers universal fit bike rack lights that slot straight onto virtually every bike rack sold in NZ. The mounting holes suit inner and outer distances from 31cm to 52cm, making it compatible with most setups.
2. Secure the Light Board
Installation is designed to be quick and simple. The panel uses two heavy-duty bungee cords with easy-lock toggles to secure the light board fast. This means no tools, no fuss, and no fiddling around in the rain. The system is on in seconds, off in seconds.
3. Connect the Wiring
The plug-and-play wiring system includes 1.4m of cable and a standard flat 7-pin trailer plug. This plugs straight into any standard NZ towbar socket with no additional wiring or adapters needed.
4. Attach Your Number Plate
The board comes with pre-drilled holes and bolts supplied, ready to fit your NZTA supplementary number plate. This keeps you 100% road legal from day one.
Built Tough for NZ Conditions
The Safelite bike rack light board is made from UV-stable, waterproof aluminium composite. This construction means it shrugs off rain, dust, salt spray, and everyday knocks that come with NZ driving conditions.
Your Investment Protected
Every Safelite bike rack light board comes with a full two-year warranty. This commitment means you can buy once and buy right, knowing your investment is protected.
Installing a bike rack light board doesn't have to be complicated. With the right equipment and this straightforward approach, you'll have your setup road-legal and safe in minutes. Remember, protecting the value of your bikes starts with making sure other drivers can see your brake lights clearly.