Lighting query

[oblertone]

My 1993 FLHS is pretty much standard as far as I can make out, however I think there is something amiss with the lights. It has a separate on-off switch for the 'Passing' lights or spotlights, however they only activate on low-beam, switch to high beam and the spotlights go out, is this normal for HD ?

Having much needed extra lights on my 1150 they are relayed in just the opposite manner i.e. the main spotlights are there to assist the feeble main beam and are triggered by relay, turn off main beam and the spots go off; this seems logical to me.

Assuming that the HD lights work off a relay would it just be a case of relocating the trigger wire from low beam to high in order to make them behave as I'm used to ?

 

[Rob Farmer]

That's just how they are meant to work.

It should be straight forward Paul but if they're anything like the lights on my FLHS then they are more for decoration than anything.

Just had a look. There are no relays involved. It's just a case of moving the red wire that goes to the spot lamp switch from the Yellow wire to the white (coming from your high/low switch).

I'm going to look at removing mine and replacing them with a decent set of spots to come on with the main beam - just got to sort out the handling first.

 

[twizzle]

Mine do that as well.....

IMO Touring models are really fussy about pressure etc....I run mine at 40psi and the handling is ok...(for a Harley) below 36 psi and I really notice the difference.....(Avon venoms)

Mutley has fitted a touring link. Which is supposed to help ...

 

[Melch]

Mine do that as well.....

IMO Touring models are really fussy about pressure etc....I run mine at 40psi and the handling is ok...(for a Harley) below 36 psi and I really notice the difference.....(Avon venoms)

Mutley has fitted a touring link. Which is supposed to help ...

They are talking about lights – you daft old sod!

 

[oblertone]

Just to add ...

... to the growing sense of confusion; thanks Rob, I've just been bought a suspension link ala Mutley for my birthday

 

[Rob Farmer]

... to the growing sense of confusion; thanks Rob, I've just been bought a suspension link ala Mutley for my birthday

How much? Where from? or aren't you supposed to know

be nice to sort the narrowboat type handling out.

 

[oblertone]

Try ...

How much? Where from? or aren't you supposed to know

be nice to sort the narrowboat type handling out.

... here

 

[Rob Farmer]

... here

Cheers Paul

 

[too loud man]

HD Forums

Paul, join H D Forums, enter passing lamp options and be prepared to spend a good few hours reading our american friends wiring escapades.

For my 'king, I found a guy who makes a plug and play kit that is a swap for the chrome toggle switch and gives three options

1 Head light only main and dip
2 Passing lamps come on with dip off on main
3 you guest it!! passing lamps come on with main off on dip.

Brill solution and switch remained stock looking.

Mark

 

[twizzle]

- just got to sort out the handling first.

They are talking about lights – you daft old sod!

 

[Rob Farmer]

For my 'king, I found a guy who makes a plug and play kit that is a swap for the chrome toggle switch and gives three options

You just need a three pole switch to do that.

Yellow wire from high/low switch to one of the on contacts, white wire to the other. Spots to the common contact. A switch, a bit of wire and and an hour of your time. How much was the plug and play kit?

 

[oblertone]

No need ...

... for plug and play; sorted following sage advice from Rob. It would appear that someone has been in there before me as some of the wires were connected with chocolate block I've sorted those, and swapped the wire as Rob indicated, all working as I like now, spots on with main when switched on. The biggest pita was reconnecting the speedo drive, but why oh why does the main headlamp support need Seven self tappers to hold it in place

 

[too loud man]

Not much

You just need a three pole switch to do that.

Yellow wire from high/low switch to one of the on contacts, white wire to the other. Spots to the common contact. A switch, a bit of wire and and an hour of your time. How much was the plug and play kit?

I bought 5 of them for $48 dollars and hawked them out on ebay a while back. So mine was actually gratis. I would have done the yellow wire white wire thing otherwise and being unbelievably accident prone when playing about with wires, I thought better of it on a 6 month old £17k bike

 

[daveg]

... to the growing sense of confusion; thanks Rob, I've just been bought a suspension link ala Mutley for my birthday

I'll be really interested to hear if you find this makes much difference as I'd thought about buying a 'Link' myself but worried it might be more accessory snake oil so wait to hear what you think. I've had a few 'Glides' and find , like Twizzle said, that most of the handling improvements are made through tyres set up. Also the air suspension settings. The whole drive train is a bit 'elastic'.

I'm very happy with the way my RK handles but having said that if I was getting on it as my first HD I reckon I'd be fretting a bit after getting off a GS.

 

[Rob Farmer]

I bought 5 of them for $48 dollars and hawked them out on ebay a while back. So mine was actually gratis. I would have done the yellow wire white wire thing otherwise and being unbelievably accident prone when playing about with wires, I thought better of it on a 6 month old £17k bike

5 for $48 dollars isn't too bad. He wasn't ripping anybody off at that price. I thought you were going to say something outrageous.

 

[Rob Farmer]

As a side issue. those harley switches with the LED in the end can be had for £4 each from vehicle wiring products - GE35LB here --> http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlinestore/switches/lever.php

 

[Melch]

I'll be really interested to hear if you find this makes much difference as I'd thought about buying a 'Link' myself but worried it might be more accessory snake oil so wait to hear what you think. I've had a few 'Glides' and find , like Twizzle said, that most of the handling improvements are made through tyres set up. Also the air suspension settings. The whole drive train is a bit 'elastic'.

I'm very happy with the way my RK handles but having said that if I was getting on it as my first HD I reckon I'd be fretting a bit after getting off a GS.

As mentioned in this thread: http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=331147
I have had one on for about a year. Although mine is a Twin Cam and not an Evo, it still suffers the same handling problems as the Evo tourers. I think after about 2009 (possibly) they altered the frame and have cured it.

I realised something had to be done when I was on a smooth fast sweeping bend and it just went completely out of shape like there was a hinge in the middle of the bike and nearly spat me off. I fitted the Touring link shortly after getting home. It certainly has improved matters and tightened it all up. I wouldn't say it is a miracle cure and the best thing since sliced bread but definitely a marked improvement and I guess every little helps. At the end of the day though it is a 500lb dinosaur I suppose. Would I put one on having tried with and without? Yes.

There are various companies supplying many different types of the same thing. I went with the Progressive Suspension one as you don't lose any (rather precious) ground clearance and you like to think they would know a thing or two about suspension issues etc.

 

[Mutley]

Sorting Glide handling

It's quite easy really. Once you've checked that the oil levels in the forks are correct and the air pressures are balanced in the rear etc.:

1. Manage your own expectations, this will never be an R1

2. Tyres: fit Venoms and run 38psi in the front and 40psi in the rear (check very regularly)

3. Engine mounts: the rear of the bike hangs off the rubber mounted engine. If the rubbers are shot, so is the handling

4. Swing arm bushings: these two are rubber. Check them out.

5. Fit a touring link: the engine is only anchored to the frame in 2 places, not 3 as any fool would do.

After that you can piss money up the wall on progressive springs and stuff but it will only make marginal improvements for a big outlay.

Of course you could always buy a 2010 onwards bike as they all handle really sweet out of the box

 

[daveg]

All good points M & M

Sorry I didn't spot the other post dealing with handling. But while I'm here...I suppose I've got used to the handling on my RK after 17 yrs of ownership. It is after all a totally different style of riding to most other bikes and you do have to get into 'the groove'.

If you want shit handling you should have tried my old Panhead Yet everybody thought it was the 'dogs' but they didn't have to ride it.

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

i'm confused - is this the lighting thread or the handling thread ?

anyway - what i would like is to keep the std chromey aux lights but just make them main/dip with a decent light output.

any ideas ?