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Message started by Ari on 07/26/21 at 05:26:39

Title: Cheap turn signal mods
Post by Ari on 07/26/21 at 05:26:39

Good morning.  I bought some cheap turn signals as the bike I'm working on came with the front right one only.  Has anyone modded the chinese two wire ones to work with the three wire connection in the fronts?  If so, any tips and tricks to get them up?  

Best regards.

Title: Re: Cheap turn signal mods
Post by badwolf on 07/26/21 at 09:15:41

The S40 has 3 wires for--

running light positve (on all the time )
turn signal positve
ground

If your new ts's only have 2 wires, you will lose the running light.
( check your local laws )

Title: Re: Cheap turn signal mods
Post by Dave on 07/26/21 at 09:16:13

The stock front lights have a turn signal and a running light.  The three wires are a ground, running light and turn signal.

Your new turn signal lights have only two wires because........either they are turn signals only - or they are running lights and turn signals and use the body of the housing and mounting point for the ground.

If they are LED - you are also going to need to install an electronic flasher module in place of the existing mechanical one.

Title: Re: Cheap turn signal mods
Post by JED on 08/27/21 at 07:07:54

Related:

When buying knockoffs for the rear don’t accidentally order 3 wire like I did.  The wires are too short and now I have to solder extensions. >:(

Title: Re: Cheap turn signal mods
Post by Dave on 08/27/21 at 07:40:24

The really sad part is that the cheap Chinese turns signals are most often not very bright.  They are visible when you stand 20 feet behind the bike and look at them - but get them out in the bright sun and traffic and have a car going 60mph behind you as you are signaling - and chances are they won't be able to see your turn signal when they are back 100 feet.

I realize new factory turn signals are expensive - but there are a lot of used turns signals on eBay that are affordable.  Cheap LED bulbs are not as visible as the stock filament bulbs - it takes a more expensive LED to be equal to the stock turn signals.

Title: Re: Cheap turn signal mods
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/28/21 at 14:00:03

Dave, Ari is new here and hasn't seen your lamp testing posts.
You want to tell him how many dollars and hours you've spent gaining the experience that lets you offer advice on this topic?

Ari if he won't say,, it's
A Lot
And
A Lot..

Sometimes ditching something is better than not..
Or maybe you can replace the bulbs..

Getting run over because it's cheap?
Let's don't, okay?

Title: Re: Cheap turn signal mods
Post by Dave on 08/29/21 at 03:44:34

Jog:

I didn't buy a lot of them - but I did buy a couple of sets and learned my lesson.  You just cannot expect much when you pay $17.98 for a set of turn signals.

Not only did I have that experience personally - I have ridden behind a lot of motorcycles while out riding that have replacement turn signals or tail lights that are pretty much worthless in sunlight.  They have given up a bit of their protection from being "rear ended" for the sake of looks.  If you install a set - either park it out int the in sunlight or just trade bike with our buddy while riding to see if the new lights are bright enough to get the attention of a distracted driver. 

The LED turn signals that use a dozen or so of the little LED emitters that are smaller than a pea are worthless in sunlight.....it doesn't matter how many of the little LED's are installed.  The little LED units are mass produced and cheap and therefore a lot of folks use them to make turn signals - but the LED units just aren't bright enough to be useful.  If they look like the ones below......they are not bright enough to be useful.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224489000021?hash=item3444964c55:g:VP4AAOSw1ghgveLN
https://www.ebay.com/itm/154151340826?hash=item23e422cb1a:g:2O8AAOSwwQ5e10N9

Title: Re: Cheap turn signal mods
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 08/29/21 at 07:15:16

I too have stopped using LED brake and turn signals on my bike builds. They just don’t have enough candle power to be seen in daylight and are useless in direct light. There are plenty of great incandescent designs out there to choose from.

Title: Re: Cheap turn signal mods
Post by Ari on 03/11/22 at 13:25:44

Yeah, I ended up finding that the wire was not the proper gauge, nor length.  They were incandescent bulbs, but the build quality once I dug one apart ended up being super NOPE.  So back to the search.  

A few months later, I managed to find a pair of newer OEMs for the rear on FB Marketplace(2014 for my 2000), and the missing left front on eBay.  Now I just need to take the time to assemble everything.

I'd rather not get squished when I go out, especially first year riding too.  



Title: Re: Cheap turn signal mods
Post by och on 03/11/22 at 15:03:05

This is probably the opposite of "cheap" turn signals, but when I did my custom cargo rack, I bought a set of used Harley turn signals that I bolted to the rack, and a set of Kuryakyn Tracer LED inserts that are made specifically for Harleys. The are much brighter than OEM, and look freaking awesome.

https://www.kuryakyn.com/products/6533/tracer-led-rear-turn-signal-conversions

https://youtu.be/yWJjDkjY6n0

https://youtu.be/4Gm9TK5ZbX4


Title: Re: Cheap turn signal mods
Post by noob on 03/15/22 at 12:26:25

thx for the info, I'm thinking to replace the freaking dim stock lights


565A51390 wrote:
This is probably the opposite of "cheap" turn signals, but when I did my custom cargo rack, I bought a set of used Harley turn signals that I bolted to the rack, and a set of Kuryakyn Tracer LED inserts that are made specifically for Harleys. The are much brighter than OEM, and look freaking awesome.

https://www.kuryakyn.com/products/6533/tracer-led-rear-turn-signal-conversions

https://youtu.be/yWJjDkjY6n0

https://youtu.be/4Gm9TK5ZbX4


Title: Re: Cheap turn signal mods
Post by Tocsik on 03/15/22 at 14:49:13

I will add that cheap incandescent turn signals are also not a great idea.  Same issue as cheap LED's (visibility) and they just don't last like the OEM's.  You have to shell out a bit of dough to get good ones, be they LED or incandescent.

Kuryakyn does make some fine products!

Title: Re: Cheap turn signal mods
Post by och on 03/15/22 at 16:31:10


49727E6E74761D0 wrote:
I will add that cheap incandescent turn signals are also not a great idea.  Same issue as cheap LED's (visibility) and they just don't last like the OEM's.  You have to shell out a bit of dough to get good ones, be they LED or incandescent.

Kuryakyn does make some fine products!


Yep, I have the Kuryakyn tracer signals on the rear of my S40 and the front of my XVS950.

I am planning to upgrade the front signals on my S40 to the Kuryakyn as well.

https://youtu.be/W95672x3f50

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