[Soccermasta]

Has anyone hooked led lights up to their bike? I am talking about the ones that would iluminate say your engine, or under your rear fender.

I have one coming, but am unsure of where to connect the wires to. I remember reading about some accessory plug under the tank. Could one use that if they so desired?

 

[5bassman]

On 2007-01-10 16:13, Soccermasta wrote:
Has anyone hooked led lights up to their bike? I am talking about the ones that would iluminate say your engine, or under your rear fender.

I have one coming, but am unsure of where to connect the wires to. I remember reading about some accessory plug under the tank. Could one use that if they so desired?

uke:
Sorry, just had to do it. :wink:

[ This message was edited by: 5bassman on 2007-01-10 17:35 ]

 

[Silverado57]

I've seen this on a bike or two and it can look kind of cool.

Just be advised it's a thin line between cool and "LaCucaracha". :-D

 

[Ridge]

Hey Soccer, I recently I added some additional LED turn signals to my bike. While playing with them, I decided that I will be adding a couple of accent lights in key locations for nighttime driving.

I'm hiding mine so that the LED's themselves are not visible. And I'll be adding a switch to turn them off (so as not to offend other "old school" Bonnie riders, like 5Bassman ;-) )

 

[sweatmachine]

uke:
Sorry, just had to do it. :wink:

+1

 

[AcidKat]

I am planning on replacing my headlight with a sealed beam unit. That would leave the little headlight light with no where to go. I was thinking of using the wires to power a couple led accents under the flyscreen.
I gotta figure out how to do it though.

 

[1962gypsy]

Hey Soccer, I am also in FTW and now I will know you if I happen upon you out for a ride after dark. Make sure you let us know the color of your lights though. Could get confusing.

 

[whoa]

On 2007-01-11 08:01, 1962gypsy wrote:
let us know the color of your lights though. Could get confusing.

Don't let them push you around man. They made fun of me when I put streamers on my bar ends.

The Triumph and Haynes manuals have electrical schematics. You need to get your hands on the diagram to know where to place your electrics.

 

[1962gypsy]

Soccer, Whoa is right. You should do exactly what you please to your bike. I'm just having a good time with ya. Seriously, I believe the pic I saw of your bike in another thread showed it to be green. Maybe a couple of well hidden green LED's will give you the effect you are looking for. What part of FTW are you in? I am far northside, very close to the BNSF railroad corporate HQ. Couple of streets further west and I would be Saginaw. If you haven't ever checked it out you should go to the Bull & Bush Pub on Montgomery St, near the museums. A very proper little pub that is frequented by 59 clubbers. A tasty collection of British iron can sometimes be seen parked out front.

 

[Soccermasta]

LMAO. Thanks for the laughs guys.

I am not going nutz with these LED's. Once I figure out how to hook them to power, if it looks like chit, then they will be used as toys around the house I assume. Its only 3 lights, they are green leds and I Was thinking either somewhere under the rear fender, or possibly under the tank shooting onto my new chrome cam cover. lol it actually shoots out in 3 directions. / | \ is the basic look I think.

My bike is green, so hence the green leds. I have been caught out riding after dark numerous times this past summer. Each time, almost ran over by idiots er cagers not looking. There is not a whole lot you can do to avoid and 80mph SUV coming up on your arse on a one lane road. I was thinking using these more for safety than looks, but looks factor in as well. If my riding habits continue, then I know I will be out well after dark in the warmer months. I no longer have to be home when the street light comes on, so I take full advantage of my riding time.

gypsy, I too am in north Fort Worth. Up around Basswood and I35. Soundslike your right around the corner from me. We will have to meet up sometime. Maybe you know more roads around this area than I do. Our trips have been mainly taking us up around Bridgeport and back. Usually on Sundays. I ride to and from work weather permitting at least 3 times a week, running right in front of the BNSF complex. Usually bluemound to main on into downtown. The weekend rides are for me. The ride to work is practice. lol I ride an 05 Green Bonnie with a summer screen. I have only seen one other around the area, so I shouldnt be hard to miss.

Oh and thanks for the tips on the lectrics. I have the haynes manual, but truthfully, that diagram showing how everything connects in the electrics is for the birds. I am fairly technical by profession, but I cant make heads or tails of that thing. Plus its nearly impossibly to trace any wire through that harness. I tried to locate the Diodes a few days ago, was never really sure it was an actual location to find on the harness, still dont have a clue, but anyway that was in working on ym neutral switch issue. Another post I have out here.

Sorry to go on and on, bored at work. Ready to go home and finish up on my bike so it will be ready for the next good day to ride. Supposedly going to get bad around here this weekend.

 

[Soccermasta]

OK I just posted new pics of my bike in my gallery. Cam cover, chain gaurd installed. Oh and Neutral switch replaced, my N light works again. Yea.

then I went and put those darn lights all over the bike. lol I dont think I went low-rider, least I hope not. I am changing the license plate ones, so no wise cracks on that. It was late and just an idea that hit me at 4am. So I put em there. Asked myself the next morning... *** did you do that for? lol Might just try to find some kind of cap to redirect the light downward and radiat the rear. lmao I have no idea what I was thinking on those two. You can do some strange stuff when your bleary eyed. I had a blast working on my bike this weekend though. Since I cant ride, I polished her up as well.

Please be honest, tell me how bad or good it looks.

 

[whoa]

On 2007-01-14 03:32, Soccermasta wrote:
I am changing the license plate ones, so no wise cracks on that.

Yah, in Texas we have restrictions on color showing front and rear. But come Christmas, you may want to put those back on the LP bracket.

 

[D9]

Soccermasta, gotta make it easy for us - it don't mean a thing if it ain't got
that radioactive bonnie link! schwing...

... and here's a pic for the really lazy ;-)

I'd like to see a better pic, maybe one from the side?

Also, here's a link to member JTJansen's album, where as part of a very cool Thruxton rear fender removal/tailight relo project, he got an effective and unique use of LED...

Cheers,

D9

 

[Soccermasta]

On 2007-01-11 09:02, 1962gypsy wrote:
Soccer, Whoa is right. You should do exactly what you please to your bike. I'm just having a good time with ya. Seriously, I believe the pic I saw of your bike in another thread showed it to be green. Maybe a couple of well hidden green LED's will give you the effect you are looking for. What part of FTW are you in? I am far northside, very close to the BNSF railroad corporate HQ. Couple of streets further west and I would be Saginaw. If you haven't ever checked it out you should go to the Bull & Bush Pub on Montgomery St, near the museums. A very proper little pub that is frequented by 59 clubbers. A tasty collection of British iron can sometimes be seen parked out front.

I will have to get by there and check the place out. Hate to sound ignorant, but what is 59 Clubbers? Is this a bike club? I tried looking them up, but no hits on google.

 

[Soccermasta]

I will post some better pics tonight. These I snapped off when I had finished up. MY digital cam isnt that great with night shots. Will have to break out the tripod to get a good in-focus dark shot with the leds on.

I just hooked these up to the accessory plug under the tank. Worked fairly well. Have to wait and see if they have any effect on the electrics, once it warms up around here for a ride.

 

[1962gypsy]

Someone that knows alot more about it than me please chime in and tell Soccer about the 59 Club. I'm somewhat familiar with it, and it's history, but there's got to be someone else here that is very well versed on this subject. There's probably even a 59 club member on this forum. Maybe one of our UK bretheren? Soccer, if you want to know about the Gypsy MC, I know a little about that too

 

[meatwagon]

Here ya go .null Clicky
Oddly enough I am not a member!

[ This message was edited by: meatwagon on 2007-01-16 19:20 ]

 

[bonniesaltrat]

For what it's worth, here's a bit clearer description of the 59 Club.

 

[DrEnglish]

Back on the original topic, the LED lights are not really in line with the retro esthetic of the Bonnies, but it's your bike, right?

BTW, I was wondering if there is a practical use for them besides increased visibility of the bike. It might be nice to have them strategically positioned to illuminate the ignition switch and the fork lock, if you could also turn 'em on and off easily. Maybe that's what the Triumph button is for.

 

[Soccermasta]

Thanks for the links guys. Look sto be a lot of info about them there. I am not a history buff, so never really knew of the old days of Rockers and the like. Will read up on it.

As for the the retro look for the bike. I threw that idea out when I put an HD seat on there. lol I know blasphemy right? I was mainly more concerned about comfort for long rides. I compared the original seat to an old truck bench seat. Not comfy at all. Now with this new seat I have on here, I dont slide back when taking off. lol I didnt have the cash to buy the alternate seats from the dealer and to be honest, I dont like the looks of the other options. I put the LED's on for safety, but placed them under the tank to hide them. I know when I am in my truck, I notice cars or bikes more easily when they have the neon and led lights on. Just hope it doesnt cause the mosquito effect and the cages get drawn to me. lol That would not be fun and render my efforts pointless.

I chose my bike for a few reasons.
1 I do not really like Harleys. Too loud and gawdy for the most part. Some are very nice looking though. Plus all of them are cruiser style bikes. I took my Safety course on a cruiser, just not the way I like to ride. I started on the dirt (upright on the bike)
2 I did not want a crotch rocket, mainly due to the fact I know I would have ended up killing myself with that much speed capabilities. Call it a self imposed governer. lol
3 The Bonni was the only bike that stood out to me. It reminded me of my Dads Honda CB350. It has a classic look yes, but it was the only upright bike I could find I liked. I have no regrets, this is one of the funnest bikes I have ever ridden. I think a cross of old school and new are fine. Just dont let me go overboard. lol

I have not had a chance to post the pics yet. I have them and they are much better than the first ones. I used my tripod this time. Still a little blury though.