New FAT ASS design..!

[rocks]

After many hours of slaving away over plans, electronics and much effort I have a new design to improve the visability of the 1150 GS and ADv from behind.

I hope you will agree from the pictures below.
The units are neat, easily fitted. Extremely bright. They only operate and supplimentary rear running light, sadly no brake light option. No wires are needed, so no hackinginto the loom.
They can be set individually so can choose to have one on at a time or both on. They have a lensed reflector prism, which projects the light a long way. They also act when not switched on as additional rear reflectors.

Easy to fit.. under 5 minutes and I mean under five Minutes.

Sadly no night shots yet, just daylight ones. But I hope you get a feel for what they offer.

Question is, what would you be reasonably willing to pay for a set? Have not set a price yet. Would suppliment Malkys wide tails well, or Nippy Normans lite buddys.

 

[rocks]

Pme woth brake light on too..

Another picture, with break light on too..

Look nice dont they?

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

looks like battery operated pushbike rear lights to me.

I' m looking at similar ideas to use as running lights, but i'd want them wired in to the sidelights, so they come on with the ignition.

Most of these light units run on 3v - so how do i drop the voltage to 12v ?

is it just a case of fitting a resistor into the battery compartment?
if so what value and wattage ?

anyone know ?

 

[GSAde]

Power supply?

Look neat Rocks, how are they powered? presume batteries? if so what type & estimated lifespan.

Ade

 

[rocks]

Dam.. busted..

Shucks.. was hoping to fool someone at least.. yeh they are bike LEDs.. but these ones have three modes.
1st is Constant on, 100hrs operation off 2x AAA size bats
2nd is knightrider style,
3rd is Alternate sides flashing.

I actually have three seperate units fitted, one you cannot see on the picture.

The two units are mounted on the indicator stems. They are design to clip off the mounts, soi have positioned them so they cannot clip off, ie they hit the central lamp..
The 3rd if off my right hand side pillion foot peg hanger, it actaully site below the system panniers and works great with the panniers on or off. Really simple to install.. and Very cheap. £9 each from local shop.

They also act as good reflectors. Takes a bit of getting used to remembering to switch em on and off, but i can even do it with gloves on. And they last a fair while considering the small batteries and dont need any wiring..

CHeap, simple and effective!..

I am going to fit either widetails or lite buddies.. as extra's.. but not heard back from Malky.. has he disappeared to europe .sent two emails and not had any reply in over a week?

THe units i have fitted are called " taillight" by a company called "Smart"..

 

[rocks]

Here they are

I could only find these guys supplying over the net.. but
sure some cycle shops will have them.. I got mine for £9 each.
http://www.cobr.co.uk/acatalog/e_cobr_Online_Shop_RL307R_Rear_7_LED_8423.html

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

if you look at this page

http://www.cobr.co.uk/acatalog/e_cobr_Online_Shop_e_smart_lights_2004_8419.html

Theres lots of designs.

I was thinking of using the front ones, the headlights as daytime running lights , maily cos the brackets fit straight onto the crash bars.

I'd still want them on n off with the ignition though.

 

[Repoman]

If anyone is thinking of using pushbike led units be aware that quality varies widely and waterproofing and vibration can be a problem.

I use my pushbike to commute quite often even in the winter so I have a fair bit of hard won experience in this.

Smart are good value but can be prone to water or vibration problems: by far the best are Cateye (who also make bike computers btw) - their stuff is great but more expensive.

You should also be aware that the clamp units are often not robust enough for moto use - I know this cos I had one on the back of my Lambretta (because of an earth problem in the main unit). They can ping off, which is annoying. Rocks idea of mounting in a non removable position is sensible.

 

[rocks]

sound advice..

Repomans advice is sound.. i chose the ones i have used due to them having diaphram to seal the battery compartment and the led unit..have bucket tested em.. ie chucked one in a bucket..
it still work 5 mins later..

Any its illegal to have flashing red lights.. so the ones i chose have a constant on function..

just looking at the unit now, to see if i can wire em in...
Need to drop the 12v line to the break light to 3v.. how can i do it?? Any elecs out there with easy solution.. ie inline fuse?

 

[rocks]

Fist stage complete..

I have just bypassed the 3 stage swithc in one of my units, with some temporary wiring.. when the batteries are directly connected to the leds.. they simply shine constantly on as expected.

So all being well if I can get a way of getting a 3v line off the breaklight,, then sortted a bit of soldering and a small drill hole to get the wires into the unit and whallaaa! (sounds easy in planning anyhow..)

Ok who is an electrical whiz and can tell me what fuses i need?

Cheers rocks..

 

[rocks]

lite Buddies fitted..

Well i ordered a white LED bulb to replace the tear standard break light. First one has gone astray in the post, second one made it (cheers NN).. also got some lite Buddies..

Spent about 30 mins fitting them..
Lite Buddies work well.. very bright and make the whole clear indicator lense glow a soft red.. looks top and makes bike far more visible.

Sadly the new bulb of LEDS (white) were not as impressive as i had hoped, so have left the std bulb in..

Will do some night trials and check..

Instruction for lite buddies could be a bit better, and its tricky to pack the wiring and inline fuse into the back of the indicators behind the reflector, but its doable and once in look ok.
No need to cut wires either, they use piggy back connectors, so only have to undo the spade connectors, and put in the piggy back ones.. a doddle if a bit fiddle.. Needle nose pliers a defenite boon..

Also some scrap wire to feed through the indicator stems so loop the LED wire through and then pull back.. as per wide tails instruction method.

Will post a piccy when i have a minute and got the bike out of the garage..

The Lite Buddies are also a lot brighter than i was thinking they were going tobe in daylight,, should be cracking at night...