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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Rear Turn Signal Conversion
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Message started by Hard Corps on 02/15/09 at 16:41:33

Title: Rear Turn Signal Conversion
Post by Hard Corps on 02/15/09 at 16:41:33

So, I just took the bike out of winter storage last weekend as the temps were in the 60s. Had a couple great rides, but I realized my rear turn lamps were out. The bike had been laid down twice- both low speed- once by me and once by the PO. So both lamp housings were cracked, but last Fall they still worked. Guess some moisture got into them over the winter and killed 'em off for good. Went to the stealership and they wanted $60+ for each. I wasn't too keen on the OEM ones anyway and had been looking for something smaller. Grabbed some little cat-eyes off the shelf for $15. They weren't an exact fit for the holes in the fender and the wires were only about 18" long. But a few crimps and splicers, some electrical tape, some washers and nuts did the job.

The toughest part was getting my ratchet wrench between the tire and under the fender to take off the rails to re-run the wires. These little guys are twice as bright as the OEM, and should I (god forbid) break these guys, they're dirt cheap to replace. Overall, I'm pretty happy. Now I need to swap the front lights to something similar and change the tail light to a tombstone or cat-eye.

(On a side note, I had ordered whitewall tires but they just called to say they no longer make them. >:( Any opinions on Dunlops?)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/3283299510_a268ed3a6a.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3274/3282477025_1cc248cc24.jpg?v=0
Incidentally, that's the license plate bracket/light assembly I bought from Yonuh Adisi. The frame and skulls are my additions, of course 8-)

Title: Re: Rear Turn Signal Conversion
Post by Chopped on 02/15/09 at 18:58:45

All I can say is SEMPER FI!

Title: Re: Rear Turn Signal Conversion
Post by diamond jim on 02/15/09 at 19:25:00

I think those are the same ones that I've got except with clear lenses. You're right- they are low price, nicely made and bright.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh128/russ_diamond_jim/rearlights.jpg

I haven't tried them in the rear fender supports. Did the mount in good with the little retaining screw? It seems like the stockers have a little bit larger diameter metal stem thingy where the retiaining screw locks it in.

Title: Re: Rear Turn Signal Conversion
Post by Hard Corps on 02/16/09 at 15:24:54

Oohrah, Chopped!

Diamond Jim-
I actually didn't even mount them all the way through the fender. The post fit through the rail, but not through the fender. IIRC, it wasn't even long enough to reach through. So they're just mounted to the rails and the rails are held tight by the other 4 bolts. I used the nut they came with and added a larger washer just to keep it tight.

Title: Re: Rear Turn Signal Conversion
Post by AzDon on 02/16/09 at 20:49:02

DJ- Your under-the-fender taillight conversion looks very cool! Here's a picture of mine:

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr107/AzDon/motorcycles/taillight-and-signals.jpg

Turn signals were six bucks each from the local truck stop.

Title: Re: Rear Turn Signal Conversion
Post by AzDon on 02/16/09 at 20:52:09

Here's how I did the front...

http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr107/AzDon/motorcycles/front-signals-and-brackets.jpg

Title: Re: Rear Turn Signal Conversion
Post by diamond jim on 02/17/09 at 04:50:16

Don, I love the clean look of your front and rear turn signals. I remember seeing the front ones on an earlier post and I seriously considered doing the same setup. I'm think I'll look for some like those for my custom bar end turns/mirrors. Do you have a link for those?

For mine, the tail light is simply a tail light. The brake light is the LED strip wrapped around the tail light. I wanted a brighter light when I braked than what the cat eye tail light provided.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh128/russ_diamond_jim/S4020192-1.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh128/russ_diamond_jim/S4020193-1-1-1.jpg

Title: Re: Rear Turn Signal Conversion
Post by PerrydaSavage on 02/17/09 at 08:50:12

Great lookin' mods folks! 8-)

Title: Re: Rear Turn Signal Conversion
Post by AzDon on 02/17/09 at 11:24:41

Sorry, no link.... I found these lights in the lighting section at Love's truck stop in Indio, Ca. (and I've seen them in other truck stops, as well)
They ARE bright enough to be seen in the daylight, but are "less than blatant" if having your turn signals noticed is important to you.
I personally have no use for turn signals because I feel like they are no excuse to put yourself in a situation that gives somebody an opportunity to run over you. Long before MC turn signals were legally required, proper space management tactics and riding in an obvious manner made signals pretty much unnecessary

Title: Re: Rear Turn Signal Conversion
Post by eanon on 02/18/09 at 17:51:39

I just converted to the same ones (the cats eye) about a month ago. Good, generic turn signals. A lot smaller and a little brighter. and yes, nice and cheap!