No; under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, all a bike needs when crossing borders is:
-An efficient brake
-A bell – and no other audible warning device
-A red rear reflector
-A red rear lamp
-A white or selective yellow front lamp
If I've read that correctly you don't have to have the bell or lights when in France, as they don't require either in their regs - you just need the lesser of the Vienna or local requirements.
No; under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, all a bike needs when crossing borders is:
-An efficient brake
-A bell – and no other audible warning device
-A red rear reflector
-A red rear lamp
-A white or selective yellow front lamp
See http://www.cyclinguk.org/cyclists-library/regulations/international-traffic for more info.
If I've read that correctly you don't have to have the bell or lights when in France, as they don't require either in their regs - you just need the lesser of the Vienna or local requirements.