Several options for adding lights at the back

[JML]

I'm considering several options to add some additional lighting to the rear of my R1150R. Currently I only have the stock tail/brake light, and that hides under a top box. Below is a picture of what I'm starting with (without the top box).

• P3 Lights Bright modulated tail light LEDs, with flashing brake lights, about $150 including mounts.
• Hyper-lites Tail light LEDs, with flashing brake lights, about $115 with mount.
• Kisan signal minder Converts turn signals to running lights and flashing brake lights. About $145 including clear lenses from Clear Alternatives and red 1156 bulbs for the rear tail/turn/brake lights.
• Top Box solution, replacing the 2.25" reflector on the top box with a 2.25" LED circle. This costs about $70.
• Ghetto solution, an LED truck stop/tail/turn light mounted below the license plate. This could be as cheap as $15.

I know the first three options will work correctly with the R1150R and won't cause the brake warning light to come on, but I'm not sure about the last two solutions. Can I splice an LED light into the tail and brake light? Will the extra small amp pull of the LEDs cause a problem?

I'm currently leaning towards the Kisan based solution, as it gives me running lights at the front as well as the rear, and also seems like the simplest setup to install.

Due to the location of my parking pass bracket, it will be difficult installing the P3 Lights or Hyper-lites next to the license plate, as most people seem to do. I could go without the parking pass bracket, and attach the pass directly to the fender, below the license plate. It also might be possible to modify or use a different mounting bracket to put the LEDs below the license plate.

I like the top box light because it will give me a high center brake light, but I don't always have the top box on, though I usually do for commuting. Mostly, in order to even consider the truck light or top box solution I need to know if there is any problem splicing into the tail light and brake light wiring.

Thanks in advance for any advice, and I'm also interested in pictures of what other people have done.

[johnnyjs1]

I use hyperlites. Everyone i ride with that is behind me always tells me how well they work and they need to get a set.. They are small, unobtrusive yet extremely visible.

[Trout]

Here is my solution. The signals override the other lights and flash brightly:

Lights off:


Running lights:


Brake lights:

[MattPie]

I have the BMW LED aux taillight on mine. Similarly doesn't affect the computer*. It's low-mounted, so probably not ideal. I also have a kissan signal minder that I run the signals as running lights with. I believe that orange lights on the rear of the bike are illegal in some states (including mine), so beware.

I have been thinking about putting new signal stalks on, however, with red lenses.

http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=1382

[JML]

I have the BMW LED aux taillight on mine. Similarly doesn't affect the computer*. It's low-mounted, so probably not ideal. I also have a kissan signal minder that I run the signals as running lights with. I believe that orange lights on the rear of the bike are illegal in some states (including mine), so beware.

Yeah, that's why I'd get the clear lenses and red bulbs to go with the signal minder. As well as avoiding some type of equipment ticket, I also don't want to confuse drivers behind me, who won't be used to seeing solid yellow lights on the back of vehicles. Flashing yellow lights on braking would be even more confusing.

I have been thinking about putting new signal stalks on, however, with red lenses.

http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=1382

That LED light bar looks like it would fit better than the P3s or Hyperlites. Wish it was cheaper, though.

[JML]

Here is my solution. The signals override the other lights and flash brightly:

Is that with the Kisan signalminder? I think that is the effect I'd like.

[Trout]

Here is my solution. The signals override the other lights and flash brightly:

Is that with the Kisan signalminder? I think that is the effect I'd like.

No. I wanted a Kisan, but it was $110 and I found this Kuryakyn Universal Run/Turn/Brake controller on the clearance table at a local cycle shop for $34. I'm a tight wad.

The signals in the photo's are not BMW. I couldn't find red lenses for my BMW signals Since finishing this project, I read about how to turn amber lenses into red ones. Yesterday I sprayed my amber BMW lenses with Testors Model Paint, Candy Apple Red. The paint is dry today and they look fantastic, just like oem red lenses. I plan to put my stock signals back on with these red painted lenses.

FWIW - One of the posts above suggests clear lenses with red 1156 lamps. Bad idea... my opinion. My friend had that setup. First of all, they charge something like $10 for a single red 1156 (as opposed to 99 cents for a clear), the two lamps he had were coated with different thickness of paint so the intensity was different between the 2 lamps, and the overall intensity was much less than a regular clear lamp with a regular OEM lens. I was not impressed at all with red coated 1156 lamps. One of the great benefits to using an 1156 is the cost to brightness benefit. That benefit goes away if the lamps cost $10 each.

[digga]

Can i ask why you feel the need to fit more lights at the rear?

is it a big problem in the 'States being rear ended or such like ??

i have some neat led boards mounted inside the BMW clear lenses .... these are more bling than for a specific purpose. Look neat though

[klrstix]

I do not have pics but I went the inexpensive route. I bought the DOT approved reflective tape that you often see on the back of 18 wheelers and plastered them on the back of my bike, bags and top case. I just figured to let the lights from the cars behind be do the work!!

Obviously the major benefit is at night. Not so much during the day.

[Trout]

Can i ask why you feel the need to fit more lights at the rear?

is it a big problem in the 'States being rear ended or such like ??

i have some neat led boards mounted inside the BMW clear lenses .... these are more bling than for a specific purpose. Look neat though

Yes, in the 'States, driving has become a "Secondary" task to whatever else the driver is doing at the time. "Primary" tasks include:

Talking on the phone
Texting on the phone
Finding a song on the iPod
Putting on makeup
Eating a burger
Eating a salad
Drinking coffee
Yelling at another driver
Flipping off another driver
Reviewing a shopping list
Getting a blow
Etc.

Then there are the "blue hairs" that have a reaction time measured in minutes. They can pass the eye test, so the DMV continues to allow them to drive. They are the ones who hit you on your bike in broad daylight and say "but I didn't see him."

Visibility (being visible) is crucial.

[JML]

The signals in the photo's are not BMW. I couldn't find red lenses for my BMW signals Since finishing this project, I read about how to turn amber lenses into red ones. Yesterday I sprayed my amber BMW lenses with Testors Model Paint, Candy Apple Red. The paint is dry today and they look fantastic, just like oem red lenses. I plan to put my stock signals back on with these red painted lenses.

I'm very interested to see how those turn out once you have a light behind the red paint, keep us informed when you get them mounted (or attached to 12v power source...) If it works out I'd probably go this route.

FWIW - One of the posts above suggests clear lenses with red 1156 lamps. Bad idea... my opinion. My friend had that setup. First of all, they charge something like $10 for a single red 1156 (as opposed to 99 cents for a clear), the two lamps he had were coated with different thickness of paint so the intensity was different between the 2 lamps, and the overall intensity was much less than a regular clear lamp with a regular OEM lens. I was not impressed at all with red coated 1156 lamps. One of the great benefits to using an 1156 is the cost to brightness benefit. That benefit goes away if the lamps cost $10 each.

The red bulbs I found were $5/pair, but if they lose a lot of brightness due to the coating, then yeah, I may as well go with LEDs. I should go to the local salvage yard and see if they have any wrecked R bikes I can get lenses from to experiment with.

[JML]

Can i ask why you feel the need to fit more lights at the rear?

is it a big problem in the 'States being rear ended or such like ??

i have some neat led boards mounted inside the BMW clear lenses .... these are more bling than for a specific purpose. Look neat though

The answer is pretty much, "yes." The rear of my bike presents a single 1157 bulb, which is shadowed beneath a topcase. I have some reflectors and such, but they only improve visibility from some angles. Nothing can substitute for riding defensively and maintaining situational awareness, but anything I can do to make it easier for other drivers to notice me is going to help.

It's also nearly unheard of for riders in the US to use orange safety vests and such (people would think you were headed to work at a construction site) as many riders in Europe wear. Having a few extra lights on a bike is pretty typical, though.

[chrisknuet]

I have both the Kisan signal minder for running lights (I don't really care about the automatic cancellation feature). I do not have them hooked into the brake lights at all.

I then have the Hyperlites for flashing brakes. I too have gotten lots of comments from folks following about how visible they are.

The Hyperlites bracket I have is installed behind the license plate. I can't fully tell from your photo but it looks like you could mount hyperlites between your license plate and the parking pass bracket? perhaps not.. The lights themselves wouldn't obscure much of the parking pass.

All told a couple hundred bucks I guess, but I bought them 6 or 7 years ago, so average that cost out and it's nothing.

[Oilhead]

What do you guys think of the one that Pirate's Lair sells? I was thinking of getting that one.

http://piratesk12site.net/LED1.htm

[brem]

I've got one of the BRAKE! LED taillight replacements. They're pretty good- when you brake it flashes for 1-1.5 seconds I think, depending on what you choose when you install it. They do seem to do a fine job of getting the attention of people behind me and my girlfriend continues to comment when riding behind me that she'd like to have one for her scooter. It's not particularly cheap and also (I found) a bit tricky to install, just from a manual-dexterity point of view, but once installed it works great. I was under the impression they'd gone off the market?

[challey]

Can i ask why you feel the need to fit more lights at the rear?

is it a big problem in the 'States being rear ended or such like ??

As you've seen, the answer to your question is an emphatic YES! I can't tell you the number of times that I've had to scoot off to the side to avoid being rear-ended while waiting at a traffic light. Tailgating is also common and since a bike like the R slows down a lot faster than the car that's oftened glued to your rear, something that lets them know you're slowing, like flashing Hyper-lites, can literally be a lifesaver.

The average level of driving skill in the US is atrocious. Combine that with mobile phone use - freuqently texting rather than talking - the 5 second rule at red lights (drivers feel that if the light changes while they are anywhere near the intersection, they have an additional 5 seconds to get through), not stopping at stop signs, high rates of speed in residential 25mph zones (my parked car was recently totaled in front of friend's house by a driver doing at least 50 mph who hit it and drove it up on his lawn) - I think you get the picture. I lived in England for several years and I've driven in almost every country in western Europe and almost never saw the kind of poor driving that is routine here.

So yes, extra visiblity is a big plus.

Charlie

[Oilhead]

I've got one of the BRAKE! LED taillight replacements. They're pretty good- when you brake it flashes for 1-1.5 seconds I think, depending on what you choose when you install it. They do seem to do a fine job of getting the attention of people behind me and my girlfriend continues to comment when riding behind me that she'd like to have one for her scooter. It's not particularly cheap and also (I found) a bit tricky to install, just from a manual-dexterity point of view, but once installed it works great. I was under the impression they'd gone off the market?

Brem, what made it tricky to install? Pirate advertises it as an easy plug n play.

[brem]

[quote="Oilhead"]Brem, what made it tricky to install? Pirate advertises it as an easy plug n play.[/quote]

Well, getting the existing rear light assembly off the back is easy, it's the installation of the new part that's more challenging. Basically the hole in the plastic light casing isn't large enough to install the new LED board straight on, you have to insert the board sideways and then use a ribbon attached to the board to pull it back against the mounting point while you screw it down. It's a little hard to describe without photos (didn't take any when I did it) but I managed to get it done in about 20 minutes just by trying half a dozen times. I'm sure someone who wasn't doing it on the street with a Leatherman and a screwdriver would find it easier. I've been really happy with it since I installed it three years ago - no hint of problems and it's nice to know I don't have to worry about the brake light burning out unexpectedly. It also doesn't require any wiring or figuring out another mount point since it just replaces the original light.

[Oilhead]

Brem, what made it tricky to install? Pirate advertises it as an easy plug n play.

Well, getting the existing rear light assembly off the back is easy, it's the installation of the new part that's more challenging. Basically the hole in the plastic light casing isn't large enough to install the new LED board straight on, you have to insert the board sideways and then use a ribbon attached to the board to pull it back against the mounting point while you screw it down. It's a little hard to describe without photos (didn't take any when I did it) but I managed to get it done in about 20 minutes just by trying half a dozen times. I'm sure someone who wasn't doing it on the street with a Leatherman and a screwdriver would find it easier. I've been really happy with it since I installed it three years ago - no hint of problems and it's nice to know I don't have to worry about the brake light burning out unexpectedly. It also doesn't require any wiring or figuring out another mount point since it just replaces the original light.

Thanks Brem. Actually Pirate does say that in the website that you have to jiggle it to make it fit. Other than that, it's plug in play. I was going to order it and now it says it's temporarily sold out.

[Trout]

I'm very interested to see how those turn out once you have a light behind the red paint, keep us informed when you get them mounted (or attached to 12v power source...) If it works out I'd probably go this route.

Here you go. I'm very happy with the results!

(I know, the camera makes the lights appear amber, but they are very red in real life.)

Testors Candy Apple Red:


Powered up on the bench:


No lights:


Running lights:


Brake lights: