Add rear running lights without changing to dual filament bulbs

I've seen a few posts about changing the rear turn signals to dual filament bulbs to add rear running lights.   I have a method that allows the single filament bulbs to be kept.   I haven't done this on my swing yet but I have done it on other bikes and will be doing it again soon.

OK so the trick is to use normally closed relays.   Run a power wire from somewhere that is key on to a normally closed relay (I usually use the brake lights key on circuit I change to led bulbs at the same time so overloading isn't an issue) then from the relay to the turn signal bulb and on to ground (depending on how they signal is factory wired the ground may already be there or not).   Then wire the hot and ground that originally went to the bulb to the trigger on the relay.

What happens is the bulb will be lit all the time.   When the turn signal is on and power is applied the normally closed relay will open and turn the bulb off. Then when the blinker relay opens the relay will close again and the light will turn back on..... On off on off blinky.  When the turn signal is canceled the bulb will go back to being on all the time.

I think this is a much better solution than trying to hack a different base into the light housing:)

Why add running lite ? Standard set up is the legal and accepted way. Adding junk may confuse the idiot behind you.

Because it is "less than legal" to have amber rear lights ON all the time I converted my rear turn signals to red dual filament 1158 bulbs. I used these bulb sockets: http://www.ebay.com/itm/331353556531?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT wired up to my Plug & Play tail light wire harness adapter keeping with the Honda wiring color code --brown/black = running lights; green = ground; green/yelloe = brake; blue and orange for turn signals.. No need to hack the bulb socket base or the tail light housing either. The trick is to use the O-ring from the Honda bulb socket in place of this eBay socket. 

No confusing relays or wiring bodge. But then without wiring in a relay you wont be able to use LEDs --unless you want the turn signals to hyper flash.

Red running lights make the scoot more visable from the rear and are legal in all states. 

Tim

[EDIT] However, it seems to me that if one were going to wire a relay into the blinker circuit that it would be great to incorporate a 4-way flasher switch too

Oh...

Cool! I actually hadn't even looked at how the bulb bases worked. I'm so used to working on older bikes with bases that are integrated into the mount I didn't even think that the bases themselves just popped in and out.

Your way makes a lot of sense.

These might be really cool for the rear

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261840932215

And yeah the point of adding the lights is to make the bike appear wider for better visibility. Peoples brains as wired to look out for the widely spread lights of a car not a single light of a bike.

As my motorcycle instructor used to say "drivers are programmed to look for the absence of cars not the presence of anything else"

Good Bad or Ugly I think I must take the hit for adding additional rear lights after installing them 06 S/W. It was not for the benefit of other bikers who usually are more observant but for the occasional senior or tailgater.However you want to install them of course is up to you. I usually try to make things simple (KISS-it). Howard

Oops, due credit: It was Howard who did the original dual-filament rear light conversion. In fact IIRC he switched to Amber LED bulbs with the unintended consequence of the scoot being that much more noticeable when the turn signal(s) hyper flashed.

Tim

Yeah I actually really like the hyper flash. I went a head and ordered a set of the dual filament bases and some red leds.

Awesome info on the bases!

I ordered a set of red/yellow switchback Leds. This will give me red all the way across then yellow on the side when the turn signal is on. Should work well.

On any bike, I am the Invisible Man/bike.

I like this Idea, Better visibility is my goal.

After the rear lights are done, then On to the front of the bike for the front lights

I installed 4 of these across the back of my Givi box. Easy install, small (1/2") but piercing bright. And available at any truckstop, auto store and are cheap. $8 approx.

Jus sayin

truck-lite.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?urlRequestType=Base&catalogId=10002&categoryId=13109&productId=50422&errorViewName=ProductDisplayErrorView&urlLangId=-1&langId=-1&top_category=15554&parent_category_rn=15554&storeId=10001 (jsut thro a www on the link)

This is what Admore Lights look installed behind the red lens of my GIVI E52 Monokey top box. It has tail, brake, and turn signals.

I'm thinking of putting 2 strips of LED brake lights in my Givi top box so as to add better visibility at a higher level at the back. I have done this on previous scooters as I feel the brake lights on bikes/scooters are pretty low and not at eye level in a following car. After all who wants to be rear ended by a car.

shyted wrote:

I'm thinking of putting 2 strips of LED brake lights in my Givi top box so as to add better visibility at a higher level at the  back. I have done this on previous scooters as I feel the brake lights on bikes/scooters are pretty low and not at eye level in a following car. After all who wants to be rear ended by a car.

shyted,
Well, my picturs in my post above shows the lights​ up high in my GIVI top box. About four feet above the ground.