German traffic regulations require bicycles to be equipped with a taillight and a large area reflector labelled 'Z'. And while the taillight and said Z-reflector can be combined into a single unit, I am not aware of any fender mounted option here.
![Schmidt SON fender mounted taillight and custom reflector mount, Gilles Berthoud fender Schmidt SON fender mounted taillight and custom reflector mount, Gilles Berthoud fender](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuhw9B2ZVhNdwnPGMZfsGLoAL8I-Vv36s4xE8EIZVH2vAFXRYvbsRIWo7BRYPv4Aq3RmIo3xYmeqlfF7uznXxM_Fe7rgzzU3YI1UpyxMWkPu8OCBF5YtbwhEIPBqZuKv_f5V55m-A4Nc/s400/IMG_5441.jpg) |
Schmidt SON fender mounted taillight and B&M Z-reflector with custom mount
on Gilles Berthoud Fender. |
There is a large choice of rack mounted taillights integrating the Z-reflector, but they somehow do not fit with the aesthetics of a vintage tandem.
![Busch und Müller rear reflector with custom mount Busch und Müller rear reflector with custom mount](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vM7Chyphenhyphenxek-if7jp0H34SVq9o9EtsmzD-VtXsiB1l8UfeGF4mFVW_DqX-WK_jxhsmC7R7tSiylgzsp6aZTUOP2aarAAo05zJkfy6WxA8DiESO9-VXBxe-QoIOsHWidF1hoY1U40Vr3-g/s400/IMG_5426.jpg) |
Jigsaw exercise. |
And among the many fender mounted reflectors, I could not find a single labelled 'Z' - which means it qualifies as a large area reflector (in contrast to simply 'optional' fender mounted reflectors). The smallest reflector labelled 'Z' with a low aspect ratio is made by Busch and Müller and actually intended to be mounted on the seat post.
![Busch und Müller rear reflector with custom mount Busch und Müller rear reflector with custom mount](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowisx5bgnX64dO7cbMx2KfFAO4lYbyYMBCOG_QHKkhQ0KE5olrjUzfZFnLLtxhjFlVS_JrAs1cDjlNV6xv6CYexu_BPD8BhIJVDf5NPoyXxOFUQa0lZqtmLRF647H285gHn-YqXGyKJY/s400/IMG_5429.jpg) |
Prototypes and final result. The 'Z' in addition to the 'K' approval on the reflector
indicates that its a homologated large area reflector. |
With that as a starting point I was now looking for a small fender mounted taillight without reflector and for a design to mount said reflector there as well.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlnXqY2g1LC6_V30n53lGtWnFAXdq1kvw-kSx-QepXtO8UMzidQXaizvAt5Iojg2zhop87X7uTOxBl11GkDwUgDlZNXx18RvStFxEPeSdCz7GBimyl8oSGc8WblZD4BMLbDor_yqFglTc/s400/reflector_holder_2_image.png) |
First attempt and final shape. |
This left me basically with two choices, the brand new Busch and Müller 'Mu', and the little gem made by Schmidt, which I finally selected. For the mount of the reflector, I was looking into a folded sheet metal piece picking up the theme of the
headlight mount to give the whole seeing-and-visibility-thing some unity front to back.
![Busch und Müller rear reflector with custom mount Busch und Müller rear reflector with custom mount](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXNtedbLLF4lY-qb6s9L6Sg7viaJzGyzQoIxxBriTmu1CLIOtEMVzR5jVi1InWVFF4khPOoFOieS7Eu223_WL7mpye9RUPdrJw5uIvoM2jXqS9GvWkZKGn8MgPQZ4762TPuWK8JuVww4/s400/IMG_5436.jpg) |
Rear reflector riveted to the Gilles Berthoud fender. |
I came up with another U-shape, wrapping the bulky mount originally linking the reflector to the seat post mounting band with a ball head. It took me some iterations with the jigsaw to find a workable shape, placing the reflector at the desired height.
![Busch und Müller rear reflector with custom mount, Gilles Berthoud fender Busch und Müller rear reflector with custom mount, Gilles Berthoud fender](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LL99i8GvYtxbpfh1XUIPlHiRT4MmfWTniz_jEQiTczvc5JuXjY3x7qlS6MQzEuXLEkN4vG84zHoaDcwneQHIiTFVQoizL6sj6NBPK2BVQWkOgQGFGIXPdicwkdRK051tsMlZPkFw2lk/s400/IMG_5433.jpg) |
4 mm plain alu rivets. Lightweight, strong, and do not rattle loose. |
As for the headlight mount, simple plain alu rivets were chosen as fasteners for being unbeatably light, low profile on both sides, and absolutely insensitive to vibrations.
![Schmidt SON fender mounted taillight and custom reflector mount, Gilles Berthoud fender Schmidt SON fender mounted taillight and custom reflector mount, Gilles Berthoud fender](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSayvcA9FHHFm1L9FlbukPP6FXydAimfO1xPyj0diPjX4knJrez-9azf8qd65bU9md4DVxQy2-6u23fs_3RnANoBfVMn0h_uH1sJ7bWKUNqeVEmIiF-aW11q6gO4pdOFPJTCRiop7-25c/s400/IMG_5440.jpg) |
Fully STVZO conform taillight and Z-reflector escaping the
ubiquitous, and tiring look of the german-safety-add-on afterthought. |
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