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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Lexington Park, MD | Just wanted to post a thanks to Nozzledog for the two tech notes he wrote concerning adding switchback LED's and chaining both turn signals together. Just finished up the mod's this morning and WOW! I AM DIGGING the new look and think it really cleans up the front end. In addition to his two notes I relocated the temp sensor for our outside air temp to the tank/fork area.. Now it is almost on the money and you see it change as you actually feel the temprature change.
For parts:
-I picked up my clear lens from Honda East toledo for just under 160 shipped. No backlog either, had them in about 7 days, ask for Kate if you use them.
-Switchbacks were the 120 LED AO (good call, I like the appearance and contrast) and load equalizers both from autoillumination.com. Quick ship and got it all (4 switchbacks and 2 equalizers) for about 140 I believe.
-Pins for the connectors from ballanger (order spares for some other lighting I will be doing). My only complaint was they charged me a 5.00 fee for "LOW QUANTITY" ordering. I thought that was a bit cheesy but what ever. They also sent me the GT 150 wire plugs yellow instead of the Metrapak 150 (brown) but again, it was a 5 dollar order. So, I packed it with dialetic grease and called the smaller plug good.
Mod lessons learned... Was pretty much straight down the notes, easily a 4 hour start to finsh job including replacing the lens with clears but I got side tracked with some stuff. Mechanical fingers came in handy when I dropped a bolt right at the end and I was able to use regular crimpers with no problem for the connectors. Chapter 3 of the service manual is spot on for getting in there and back out to replace the lens and with Nozzledogs notes it was a breeze.
Just wanted to post a note of thanks for contributors to the forum of stuff like this and show some pics of the mod. Next up, HIDS for my driving lights to even out the lighting color.
(LED1.jpg)
(LED2.jpg)
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 LED1.jpg (83KB - 9 downloads)
LED2.jpg (84KB - 6 downloads)
LED3.jpg (84KB - 6 downloads)
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Iron Butt
Posts: 752
Broken Arrow, OK | looks really great. I feel the lighter color bikes, especially white, really benefit from the clear lens more than the dark bikes.
Good job |
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Cruiser
Posts: 231
Desert Hot Springs (Palm Springs area), CA | I love my clear lens on my black Nessy too! Thanks for sharing your project! |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Your welcome, looks great!
I just walked into a Pepboys yesterday, and it looks like you can get the Delco connectors there, 10 for $5. Wasn't sure if they were exactly the same, so I haven't posted it yet in the tech reference. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | okie vision - 2013-02-12 7:42 PM
looks really great. I feel the lighter color bikes, especially white, really benefit from the clear lens more than the dark bikes.
Good job
I agree that the lighter color bikes benefit more. Looks good on white. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 160
Camas Washington | Agree, Nozzledogs instructions and his e-mail help was awsome. I did mine a couple of months ago, did a nice ride this weekend with several other bikes and they all commented on how visable I was with the wing lights changed out. I have the 2011 red wine color and the lights really stand out. Might be the best mod you can do for the vision. Now if can just get the tail-light to be LED!! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Lexington Park, MD | Thanks for the comments! I did not think I was going to like the change in appearance as much as I do. I think the biggest + out of the note I think is using the 120 AO switchbacks.. I really like the amber on off contrast! I will stop by pep boys and check on the delco parts before I work on the TC's wiring. Can't believe I waited so long to tackle this. Absolutely dig the new look on the front end!
Tail-Light LED's... Looking forward to some new progress on this too. Hate to drop the bucks onto LED Bulbs and then something for the tail finaly comes out.. lol.. Safe ridin all!!!
Tim |
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Cruiser
Posts: 50
| Tims your ride look great with the clear lenses. JS5Owner black ness looks sharp also. Mine is Crimson Red and Black, I'MMM thinking maybe mine would look good with the face lift you gave yours. Thanks for the pic's. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | Tims_11Vision - 2013-02-13 5:37 PM
Tail-Light LED's... Looking forward to some new progress on this too. Hate to drop the bucks onto LED Bulbs and then something for the tail finaly comes out.. lol.. Safe ridin all!!!
Tim
I think metalman's working on some sort of LED tail lights. All I know is there's nothing out there since MBW didn't come through. (The least he could have done was state that he'd dropped the project for whatever reason.) |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 9
| Looks incredibly sharp. Didn't realize DoD was still using stickers though. They did away with all of them in the D.C. region |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 612
| I did the clear lenses on mine as well, and it greatly improves the look of the bike. But I just couldn't see dropping the coin on those switchback bulbs. Fortunately, clear/white turn signals are legal just about everywhere, so I just used that instead. Already had them from the original lenses, as well as the new clears. I did splurge on Gary's sequencing harness though, so they both act as turns/running lights on each side.
Edited by Turk 2013-02-14 7:56 AM
(20120803_075136.jpg)
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20120803_075136.jpg (75KB - 6 downloads)
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Iron Butt
Posts: 752
Broken Arrow, OK | I too used some PIAA 3157's in my clear lenses but now I'm going to drop the coin on the 120 AO's. Already ordered 4 of them and 2 equalizers.
I think I understand what's involved but when I hook up the other 2 LED's for the signal mod, I'm still just relying on the 2 equalizers on the initial install,,,correct? Thanks
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Iron Butt
Posts: 752
Broken Arrow, OK | and the clear lens do indeed look great on any color. I think the darker bikes just have the advantage of a lesser "bozo" look with stock lenses compared to lighter bikes. I like the dark bikes w/ smoked lenses too.
Edited by okie vision 2013-02-14 9:09 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Lexington Park, MD | okie vision - 2013-02-14 10:03 AM
I too used some PIAA 3157's in my clear lenses but now I'm going to drop the coin on the 120 AO's. Already ordered 4 of them and 2 equalizers.
I think I understand what's involved but when I hook up the other 2 LED's for the signal mod, I'm still just relying on the 2 equalizers on the initial install,,,correct? Thanks
Thats correct. Your going to pin the capped hole of the connector jumping the blue (check your wiring scematics) from your active turn signal to the open on the other connector. From there, tap the blue and the black with the load equalizer and your done. Wire taps were included and only thing I needed was some 20ga wire taps for the dual light mod. I had some sticky tape left over from the rear LED's which allowed placement on the lens just like it was suggested. Reminder (again this is all in nozzledogs notes) the switchbacks do have a right and wrong way to be put in. Right will give you light and no light if in backwards. Make sure you check'em before putting in. I see no way other than loosing the lens to get the bulbs in as they are that long.
Just to keep it simple, here is Nozzledogs link: http://www.vision-riders.com/bb/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=12778&po...
but the attached pic he has is solid showing the load equalizer tapped in.
Coin - Yup, they were pricey but man do they pop! I really like the AO's that go dark then amber for signal. Overall, yup it was a buck fifty but it was for "safety" as I told the wife.. hehehe She likes the new look too so not much complaint.. hehehe
DOD stickers - Sucks I gotta have'em but Hampton Roads refuses to get on board. Stuck it there cuz I figure I will replace it one of these days...
Thanks for the comments, very happy with what I got and the info I find on this forum! Appreciate all your help!
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load.jpg (22KB - 2 downloads)
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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Lexington Park, MD | Turk - 2013-02-14 8:34 AM
I did the clear lenses on mine as well, and it greatly improves the look of the bike. But I just couldn't see dropping the coin on those switchback bulbs. Fortunately, clear/white turn signals are legal just about everywhere, so I just used that instead. Already had them from the original lenses, as well as the new clears. I did splurge on Gary's sequencing harness though, so they both act as turns/running lights on each side.
Bike looks good Turk, you got the rear sequencing as well? If so how do you like those??? I want to do something back there but afraid Im just going to have do something from AutoIllumination like the Flashing brake on the bottem with a 3157 LED in the middle and on the turn. I will post some pics of what I did on the trunk, put a 9LED strip in for my turns in addition to the MBL mod for the brake. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 752
Broken Arrow, OK | Thanks very much. My wire colors are the same as yours, 2011 VV.
I had already spliced some 5 inch amber LED strips from Custom Dynamics to use as turn colors since my 3157 bulbs were all white. Didn't like how the added LED strip looked stuck on to the outside of the lenses so this gave me the ummphh to go ahead and complete it how I personally think looks best. Ordered the pins too but they only charged me $3.00 for low order, lol. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Lexington Park, MD | Yea, I guess if I had looked at your sig... lol... 3.00? Them son of a guns, they charged me 5.00!!!! lol... Again that was my only complaint with them. I am going to go to PeP boys and check out that sighting of DELCO pins.. Not that I need anymore, have enough for my other mods and some to spare... Keep us posted and lookin forward to the updated pics!!! |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 612
| Tims_11Vision - 2013-02-14 4:48 PM
Turk - 2013-02-14 8:34 AM
I did the clear lenses on mine as well, and it greatly improves the look of the bike. But I just couldn't see dropping the coin on those switchback bulbs. Fortunately, clear/white turn signals are legal just about everywhere, so I just used that instead. Already had them from the original lenses, as well as the new clears. I did splurge on Gary's sequencing harness though, so they both act as turns/running lights on each side.
Bike looks good Turk, you got the rear sequencing as well? If so how do you like those??? I want to do something back there but afraid Im just going to have do something from AutoIllumination like the Flashing brake on the bottem with a 3157 LED in the middle and on the turn. I will post some pics of what I did on the trunk, put a 9LED strip in for my turns in addition to the MBL mod for the brake.
Thanks. Yes, I have the rear sequencing harness and love it. I would seriously consider changing those bulbs out to LEDs at some point, but not sure which ones to get, as far as style and color (red or white?). Is anyone running LEDs in the back in conjunction with the sequencing harness? Is a load equalizer required? Which brand/bulb is the best/brightest?
I also did the LED trunk mod, but I split it up into three segments that pretty much butt up against each other. I have a center strip that acts as the brake light, and the left and right strips are turn signals as well as brakes.
Edited by Turk 2013-02-15 8:18 AM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 752
Broken Arrow, OK | My connector pins finally arrived so I completed the front signal mods. No pics but it looks like Tims, lol.
Thanks Nozzledog and company for the great instuctions. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Lexington Park, MD | okie vision - 2013-02-21 5:42 PM
My connector pins finally arrived so I completed the front signal mods. No pics but it looks like Tims, lol.
Thanks Nozzledog and company for the great instuctions.
Good to hear Okie! Get a pic posted anyway! lol... Had nothing but compliments since doing the mod and I really dig checking out the reflection in the vehicles in front of me at the light... lol... Now if I can just narrow down what I want to do with the lights in the V... Im thinking a set of strobing stop LED's in the lower brake, 3157 LEDs in the middle and Turns... Im HOPING that the strobing brakes that supposedly have the auto cancel fix built in don't cause a headach with the cruise. Will see, next mod up! lol..
Safe ridin all! |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Tims_11Vision - 2013-02-21 3:32 PM
I'm HOPING that the strobing brakes that supposedly have the auto cancel fix built in don't cause a headach with the cruise.
The cruise control will only work if it can sense that the brake circuit is unbroken to ground. It monitors it for a -12V signal. If it gets 0V then it thinks the line is broken and disengages. If it gets +12V then it thinks you are braking and disengages.
LEDs will show a 0V to the cruise control and it will not engage.
Some people have been able to use "CAN-Bus" LEDs without a problem but others still do and I have yet to find a CAN-Bus bulb bright enough for brakelights.
Easy solution is to add in a 25 ohm resistor with heat sink so that there will always be a path to ground. Then you can use whatever bulb you want. I installed a 'Back-Off' brake modulator and found it required me to add the resistor even if I was using standard bulbs.
Edited by Nozzledog 2013-02-21 6:23 PM
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Central Wisconsin | Tim, I added my turn signal mod video to your thread, trying to keep the information together. I do enjoy reading your write ups.
Nozzledog, Darrell thank you for posting your details on ADDING FRONT TURN SIGNAL LEDs and LOAD EQUALIZERS plus your post on FRONT TURN SIGNAL INNER BULB MOD.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 752
Broken Arrow, OK | these ideas are great. thanks for sharing.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | After listening to that vid, Thomas, it's almost impossible to tell you're from Wisconsin. :D |
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Central Wisconsin | Monkeyman - 2013-02-24 3:25 AM After listening to that vid, Thomas, it's almost impossible to tell you're from Wisconsin. :D Okay I'm pegged a Wisconsinite ;-) ...but hey, sometimes I sound like I'm from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan ... EH! ... lol! Do you have turn signal mods in your future?
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Clear front LENS, Switchbacks and Dual light mod
