Reflector Lights

[Flyinfool]

There was a thread a while back where someone peeled open the reflector on the trunk of a 1st gen and installed strips of LEDs to act as running brake and turn signals.

I have been doing searches for 2 days and can not find it.

 

I really do not like having just one light on the back of the bike at night.

I have about 6 feet of the red LED strips left over from a different non bike project that I can now use for this project.

 

I will be creating a progress thread of the illumination of my Venture with links to products used and any special procedures or techniques that I had to use.

I will be skirting the edges of the law and adding as much light as I can figure out how to, with out getting in legal trouble.

 

A lot of what I intend to do is scattered about on VR.org and will end up getting compiled here, I also have a few new ideas .

 

The steps will be completed in order of importance with safety first, functionality second and cosmetics last.

[sarges46]

Is this link helpful? It might be the one you thought of.

 

 

http://venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21986&highlight=rear+lights

[mbrood]

The stock trunk refelctor is VERY thin and I've never heard of anyone "breaking in".

 

The optional (and discontinued) BigBikeParts trunk light kit has lenses held on with hot glue so cautious use of a hair dryer will get them loose.

 

I have opened the YAMAHA reflector below the brake light and installed wedge holders and lights. You clamp a straight edge along the seam between the red lens and black housing and using an x-acto blade... run it time after time over the seam until you get through... this will leave you a clean edge that can he hot glued or RTVed back together.

 

I have also changed the single filament rear turn signal bulb holders to the ones used in the front which gives you the yellow rear "running light" as well as the turn signal.

 

LEDs go a long way to lighting up the bike without the horrendous current draw of incandescents!

 

This is what folks see when "I" hit the brakes!

 

http://www.bergall.org/temp/venture/rearlight.jpg

[Flyinfool]

Is this link helpful? It might be the one you thought of.

 

 

http://venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21986&highlight=rear+lights

 

Thanks Sarges46, that is the thread that I was looking for.

 

I have the reflectors off the bike now and am working at trying to separate the red lenses.

 

I will start a new thread detailing my progress, or lack there of.

 

My new thread is here

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=41588

Edited April 28, 2010 by Flyinfool