Side Reflectors to LED's

[Hotrod]

I know I've seen a post before where some one changed their reflectors by the front wheel and the rear crash bar to LED's.The front would be no problem,but I have the saddle bag rails and cannot figure out how to hide the wires with out them being seen.
Does any one that has done this give me detailed instructions? Pictures would be even
better,if that is possible.

[V7Goose]

There is a hole in the crash bar right behind the screw that holds on the bag rails. Just run the wire through the bar to there and then out the hole. The rubber spacers in the reflector mount that you need to use to make them fit the bag bars are slit, so just position that slit to the back and run the thin wire out the hole in the crash bar and over through the slit in the rubber spacer to get it inside the reflector mount. Only about one inch of wire is exposed that way, and being behind the rail, you will never see it. :080402gudl_prv:
Goose

[CMIKE]

There is a hole in the crash bar right behind the screw that holds on the bag rails. Just run the wire through the bar to there and then out the hole. The rubber spacers in the reflector mount that you need to use to make them fit the bag bars are slit, so just position that slit to the back and run the thin wire out the hole in the crash bar and over through the slit in the rubber spacer to get it inside the reflector mount. Only about one inch of wire is exposed that way, and being behind the rail, you will never see it. :080402gudl_prv:
Goose
:sign yeah that: Yeah what he said.

See my profile...easy to hid the wires to swap the red reflectors to LEDS near the bags. Put some black heli wrap on the wires and run them throw the bars and run them near the rear shock air valve into the battery box.
http://www.venturerider.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=276&pictureid=1932
Front wrap them again with black heliwrap and tyrap them to the brake lines..
http://www.venturerider.org/forum/picture.php?albumid=276&pictureid=1938

[SteveP]

I didn't replace my front reflectors, rather I added LEDs to the reflectors (need to keep the reflectors to pass annual state inspection). Anyway, check this thread for pics of running the wires along the brake lines, but completely hidden using black tubing.

[V7Goose]

I didn't replace my front reflectors, rather I added LEDs to the reflectors (need to keep the reflectors to pass annual state inspection). Anyway, check this thread (http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=36949) for pics of running the wires along the brake lines, but completely hidden using black tubing.
Steve, there is no problem replacing the existing reflectors. The "drop in" replacements you can get from JCW and other places are both LED lights and reflectors.
Goose

[Gray Ghost]

If you do the rear replacement, just be careful when you remount the crash bars. I lost sight of one of the wires and squeezed it pretty bad between the bar and the frame.

[Hotrod]

Thanks,appreciate all the responses.

[SteveP]

Steve, there is no problem replacing the existing reflectors. The "drop in" replacements you can get from JCW and other places are both LED lights and reflectors.
Goose


Thanks for the info. I like the look of the total replacement, but have never seen them up close and in person. Sooooo..... now I have another project for the winter! :mo money:

[RandyR]

I wonder how long the led's will last in the front where they bounce with the front tire?

How long have people had led's mounted there without problems?

I like the idea of leds on the side of my bike. I'm also thinking about putting them on their own circuit so I can use them as true parking lights, the led drain on the battery shouldn't be excessive.

[birin]

I was wondering if there was some specific units - part numbers - that replace the front and rear side reflectors?

Birin

[KiteSquid]

I wonder how long the led's will last in the front where they bounce with the front tire?

How long have people had led's mounted there without problems?

I like the idea of leds on the side of my bike. I'm also thinking about putting them on their own circuit so I can use them as true parking lights, the led drain on the battery shouldn't be excessive.

Sense LEDs are solid state, they should last longer than the bike....

BUT it also depends on if they were "potted" into place. this would add a mechanical bond in addition to the mechanical bonding that the leads have.

I doubt they are tested to MIL-STD-810 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIL-STD-810) shock and vibration specs.

[V7Goose]

I was wondering if there was some specific units - part numbers - that replace the front and rear side reflectors?

Birin
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2003411/c-10111/Nty-1/p-2003411/Ntx-mode+matchallpartial/N-111+10111+500000/tf-Browse/s-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=led

[CMIKE]

I was wondering if there was some specific units - part numbers - that replace the front and rear side reflectors?

Birin
Whoa...
Got mine from JP Cycles 19.99 each amber or red
Part number 3300773 Amber and 3300774 Red
15 single density LEDs per light. They are exactly like the stock reflectors except they have chrome trim around the outside of the LED. The have the 3m stick tape on the back of them just like the rear reflector. I took a 1" aluminum flat bar and installed a bolt flush to mount them on the front.

Lot cheaper than $80 a pair

http://www.jpcycles.com/Search/ProductDetail?sku=3300773&Ntt=3300773&Ntk=product_number&Ne=0&N=0&Ntt=3300773&Ntk=sku_search&results=10

http://www.jpcycles.com/Search/ProductDetail?sku=3300774&Ntt=3300774&Ntk=product_number&Ne=0&N=0&Ntt=3300774&Ntk=sku_search&results=10

[V7Goose]

JCW prices have gone through the roof in the past two years - I have about quit ordering from them. Those lights used to be $40 a pair there, and I thought they were too expensive then. The gauges I use to sync carbs were $50 for about 20 years, but now they are selling them for $120 when everybody else sell them for $80. Glad you posted a better source.
Goose

[birin]

I was wondering if there was any "trick" to seperating the existing relector from the plasctic mounting unit - so the LED can be taped in.

Apply heat etc? I dont want to wreck the plastic housing.

Thanks

[Cougar]

Thanks for posting those Mike. I got a pair of fronts on the way.
Heck, everting else EXCEPT to small light bulb for the lic plate
is now LED.

Did you just run a wire up behind the brake hose's?

birin, I was thinking the same thing , I think I am going to use
a little heat as well. I will remove them first.
Jeff

[Sylvester]

I replaced three of the original JCW LED lights with the one sold by J&P and the new ones are much brighter than the JCW's plus a chrome accent. I had them on for six years and the plastic was failing but the lights were still working.

:farmer:

[Flyinfool]

Now why did you have to post a link to J&P.

They have way to much cool stuff for me to have seen.:mo money:

[Hulk]

Hope this helps, used a heat gun and pushed from under there's not much two sided tape under holding the reflectors on.

[Cougar]

Thanks Hulk, That confirms my thinking!

[Seaking]

Anyone know where to get these in Canada?

[CMIKE]

Thanks for posting those Mike. I got a pair of fronts on the way.
Heck, everting else EXCEPT to small light bulb for the lic plate
is now LED.

Did you just run a wire up behind the brake hose's?

birin, I was thinking the same thing , I think I am going to use
a little heat as well. I will remove them first.
Jeff

Just took some heli tubing and wrapped the two wires then tie wrap them to the brake lines...on the back side with small black tyraps.

Also to remove them...if you do not have a heat gun...3m makes a adhesive remover that desolved that sticky stuff so you can pull them off. I you destroy them, who cares, if you save them, what are you gonna do with them anyway...loose them in your stack of stuff?

[birin]

Anyone know where to get these in Canada?


Sorry Seaking - have not found any in Canada - as these are pretty size specific.
Bought mine from J&P

[Seaking]

Sorry Seaking - have not found any in Canada - as these are pretty size specific.
Bought mine from J&P

How was it with customs, what does J&P use for shipping?

Thanks M8

[Cougar]

:rolleyes:I just found out today after all these years that J&P is in my state:confused24:
and ONLY about 45 mins away from me :whistling:

I guess I need to go to there open house and ride-in's once in a while now.

what a dummy! could have been saving on shipping all this time :D and man
1 day shipping all the time sheesh I thought that was fast.

OH MY, I will go back to hanging my head in shame now.:think:
and yes I thought I would share this finding with you all *LOL
And thanks for the tip on the LED's they are great.
Jeff

[Seaking]

I got my LEDs in yesterday and was out working on them this evening..

Pulled the rear red ones off and got them separated nicely and with a small dremel bit got a small hole carved out the back to pass the wired through.. Glued the new red LED panels on the housing using Automotive "Goop"... this is a neat adhesive that really sticks to stuff..

Right now looking to figure out how to pass the wires through the crash bars without taking them off.. I shall be hooking these LEDs up to the Saddle Bag light bars connectors so I won't need to route them up but down through the bottom. There is already holes where the housing fits on.. Just not sure how to fish these wires through the crash bars..

Amber front.. Ok.. stumped.. how do you keep these attached to the front? Again I could used a good dollop of Automotive Goop there to glue them on but would feel much safer if they were bolted on like the OEM ones..

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance..

(I'll be posting pics later this week of the additional safety lighting I've done to the bike this past week.. Quite 'attention getting' for the cager to notice you...)

[Cougar]

they will never move or come off with household goop. I am sure the auto goop is the same thing. that is how mine are going on. then have (2) black wires , remove the yellow one, and come up the back of the brake line so you will not see the wire.
you are going to remove the amber lens and have the whole black base to attach goop that is a lot of area to apply to.

[Seaking]

they will never move or come off with household goop. I am sure the auto goop is the same thing. that is how mine are going on. then have (2) black wires , remove the yellow one, and come up the back of the brake line so you will not see the wire.
you are going to remove the amber lens and have the whole black base to attach goop that is a lot of area to apply to.

Remove the yellow wire? What are you using as ground then? I tested the lights using the yellow as pos and black as neg which worked..

If I pop the OEM amber out of it's housing, the housing is too small for the new LED lens to fit in there, know what I mean? I'd have to do a lot of trimming to remove the edge of the housing to make it flat to glue to the back of the new LED lens.

Or am I missing something?

[Cougar]

yes, replace the yellow with black (hiding wire color)
run both wires (black) behind each brake line.
you could even goop (dot) them up the back side
holing them temporally with tie wraps until goop is fully cured.

Yes you will have to dremal the edge of the
old base. and then goop away.

[Gray Ghost]

Just not sure how to fish these wires through the crash bars..

I found it was fairly easy to run a line through the bars, then use that to pull the wires with the bars off. You might try pushing a solid copper wire through and then pulling the wires through with that. I think you will spend more time doing that than you would just removing the bars and fishing it, though.

[camos]

Just took some heli tubing and wrapped the two wires then tie wrap them to the brake lines...on the back side with small black tyraps. Why not just wrap the wires and the brake line together with a slightly larger tubing? I'm thinking it would look neater.

[Hulk]

Right now looking to figure out how to pass the wires through the crash bars without taking them off..


I did like Gray Ghost and ran a wire in first, pulled them through (also greased them up a little bit) BUT make sure you sand/file down the holes as smooth as you can I found that on my first attempt the holes cut, shaved off some of the wire wrap(coating)

[Seaking]

yes, replace the yellow with black (hiding wire color)
run both wires (black) behind each brake line.
you could even goop (dot) them up the back side
holing them temporally with tie wraps until goop is fully cured.

Yes you will have to dremal the edge of the
old base. and then goop away.

Understood.. I even went back out to reverse test the wiring to see what you were going on about.. silly me, sorry about that..

I have to dig out my old VStar reflectors to trial on those as here also we have to have front reflectors on our bikes.. if I pooch this task up then I'm on the hook for a moving violation if I don't have them up on the bike proper ;)

BUT my red LEDs are installed and wow.. looks snazzy.. you don't notice them much during the day time but any shade or dusk / dark and these pop up nicely!!

I was surprised at how easily I was able to fish the wires through the tubes while they were still attached.. nice.. I just used a length of lockwire (stainless steel wire) with a hook on the end of it, passed it up through the bottom end of the crash bar tubing near the wheel, when the loop showed up near the two holes that are located under where the reflector light housings sit, I then used another hooked lockwire to hook the first one, needle nose pliers to pull it back out of the tubing. The red/black wires were taped together at the end, then the long lockwire hook placed between the wired and taped together down to a taper towards the long end of the lockwire and basically snaked it all back through gentle, being careful not to shave off any insulation.. and poof, just like that.. start to finish less than two minutes on each side.. wow.. I have to admit *I* was impressed how easy THAT was..

I connected the red to the saddle bag light bar system from Diamond Accessories ( http://www.diamondraccessories.com/yamaha/proddisplay.php?name=RSV/RSTD%20LED%20Saddlebag%20Light%20Bar ) and hooked the ground and toot fini..

Now, with all these lights I have on the BACK and side of the bike.. I pity the cager who runs into me with that bovine look of incomprehension saying "Sorry, I didn't see you"..

I would be justified in rendered him a severe beating about the head and shoulders with a wet rag.. you know, just saying.. cuz, yeah... you know.. ;)

Once I locate my VStar reflectors, I'll add those on as well..

next winter project will be cleaning up all this wiring work I've been doing.. I wants to ride, not be an electrician ;)

w000t

[birin]

I got my lights today
I purchased the leather studded wraps from Chilhowee
http://www.chilhowee.net/saddlebag-guard-covers/080428001.html

I have the bag guards on my MIDNIGHT and the reflector is mounted on the bag guards - not the main stock bar at the rear.
I plan to simply run the wire under the leather wrap to the base of the bike and then into the battery box.

I see I have a red and and black wire on the new LEDs. Can anyone help with where these connect? What color is the primary running light wire- where does the RED LED ligt wire connect too ? And the black is simply ground?

Appreciate your help

Bill

[Seaking]

I got my lights today
I purchased the leather studded wraps from Chilhowee
http://www.chilhowee.net/saddlebag-guard-covers/080428001.html

I have the bag guards on my MIDNIGHT and the reflector is mounted on the bag guards - not the main stock bar at the rear.
I plan to simply run the wire under the leather wrap to the base of the bike and then into the battery box.

I see I have a red and and black wire on the new LEDs. Can anyone help with where these connect? What color is the primary running light wire- where does the RED LED ligt wire connect too ? And the black is simply ground?

Appreciate your help

Bill

RED is usually always "hot" or POSITIVE while black is usually always "ground" or negative. The black can be attached to any solid metal part of the bike. The RED can be connected to the running light wire in the bundle of wires found behind the license plate.. Or as in my case, I jumped onto the under the bag lighting wire (Diamond Accessories) but failing that, go behind the license plate, you just have to figure out where to route your wires..

Nice link to the wraps.. though it wouldn't load (no link referral access) I'll have to check that out too as I got my bag guards and was thinking out loud where to run my wires.. Hmm

Cheers M8