R6 LED Taillight Help Needed

[My Name Is Dave]

OK, like I've said a million times, I have an R6 taillight that I wanted to install. However, I have integrated rear signals, which screw it all up when adding in LEDs. But I've decided to get some rear blinkers anyways; I like how the integrated set-up looks, but signals are safer in the end.

I went and mucked around with the taillight and tried to fit it. Here are some pictures. The problem is that there's too much space in the hole where the old light was, as you can see here in these 2 pics:







Any ideas on how I could make this look better? Could someone fabricate me a simple piece, even out of plastic, that would fill this in and make it not look so...well...shitty? It looks like I took out the old part and threw in a new one without modding it to fit. Which is what I did, but isn't how I want the end results to look.

Oh, here are a few pictures of it sitting where it would go (that's a screwdriver under it to prop it up), with the running light on, and the brake light on. They're bright!

[RVertigo]

Does the R6 have a plastic bit going around the tail light that you could cut to fit into the GS?

[My Name Is Dave]

Not so much, the plastic around the light is a part of the tail plastics on the R6.

[Yankee Punker]

All of a sudden I just remember this word that I heard today " getto-ize" , then I pictured stuffing some bondo in there. I'm sorry I don't think this is really going to work, I wish people would stop comming up with new words.
But really you could cut up some lexan with a dreamel tool, give it a little sanding to fit, and maybe some spray paint before the final install.  You can do It!!!!!!!

[budget speed demon]

I was thinking thin aluminum. Make a paper template first, then cut it out in aluminum and put the appropriate bends in it and install! Then you can either polish to a chrome like finish, or paint it. Instant bling. Btw, why not just make the R6 tail light into an integrated system?

[My Name Is Dave]

Yeah, I'd prefer not to "ghetto-ize" it.  But I think if it was done right, it would look good.

I was thinking thin aluminum. Make a paper template first, then cut it out in aluminum and put the appropriate bends in it and install! Then you can either polish to a chrome like finish, or paint it. Instant bling. Btw, why not just make the R6 tail light into an integrated system?

I am pretty sure I'd F this up. I've never worked with aluminum, so that's sounding rough. I'm not trying to "bling" it, so I'd paint it black.

As for integrating, the LED fast blink issue is making me steer away from that. And adding some blinkers would make it more clear on my intentions of turning. Or so the legend goes...

PLUS, I'm not sure about opening up the unit and seeing if there are separate wires for each half of the LED unit. It seems that there's only one wire coming from it, as opposed to my current set-up where there's a power wire from each bulb. So I'm planning on having that unit only for the brake lights.

Dave 

[joedude]

Hey, 2005-GS500-PDX
Can you show how you wired the R6 tail light to the existing GS wiring please? I bought a R6 light and I should get it in the mail soon, but I'm not sure how to do the wiring from the 3 wire per side of the GS to the 2 wire connector of the R6. Or is there three wires on the R6 light? But even still, which wire is which?

PS: for mounting I'm planning on making a fiberglass undertail that will hold the light in there. but that will take a while.....

[pantablo]

try using the mudflap you cut off to make infill peices. or get someone's fender to do that with.

[My Name Is Dave]

Hey, 2005-GS500-PDX
Can you show how you wired the R6 tail light to the existing GS wiring please? I bought a R6 light and I should get it in the mail soon, but I'm not sure how to do the wiring from the 3 wire per side of the GS to the 2 wire connector of the R6.

PS: for mounting I'm planning on making a fiberglass undertail that will hold the light in there. but that will take a while.....

There are 3 wires from the R6 light- the ground, the running light, and the brake light. I'm not by the light right now so I can't tell you which wires serve which function, but I'll look tomorrow and let you know.

Oh, and I haven't hooked it up. I played with it that one day but never found a way to make it fit and look right in the GS's tail section, so it's sitting on my bookshelf. But after reading Pablo's suggestion, I may have another try at it.

Dave

[joedude]

Cool thanks!
I wait in anticipation for wiring information! (eventhough I don't have the light yet!!! )

If you try with the plastics... don't forget to post pictures! 

[Cal Amari]

I have to agree with Yankee Punker and joedude; first, get a thick piece of cardboard and use it to finalize the design; that way, you'll know the exact dimensions to cut the openings in the Lexan before you even buy it. Then, go to Lowes, Home Depot, or a local craft/hobby shop, and buy the Lexan. You might find it in a tinted or smoked color; odd-sized scraps can be had for next to nothing.

Use Black Krylon Fusion spray paint to black it out. Krylon Fusion will make the Lexan look perfect without reacting to either the Lexan or the R6 light housing; you don't want any of the plastic melting because you used the wrong type of paint. You'll pay about $5 for the Krylon, and a few bucks for the Lexan. Get a THICK sheet (or double it up if the stuff is thin), so it will be strong enough to hold together without cracking under the stress, vibration, and impacts of motorcycling. A bead of silicone sealant around the edges of the Lexan should provide a nice cushion between the Lexan and the tailpiece.

I really think you could do this in one day, or over a weekend, without a lot of fuss; the work will go even faster if you own (or can borrow) a Dremel.

[joedude]

Good call Cal Amari!

[My Name Is Dave]

Cool thanks!
I wait in anticipation for wiring information! (eventhough I don't have the light yet!!! )

If you try with the plastics... don't forget to post pictures! 

Yeah Cal, good thinking. I'm gonna work on this. I already have Krylon Fusion black from tinting my windscreen, so that's a plus.


The R6 wiring is simple. There are 3 wires: a black, a blue, and a yellow. Black is (you guessed it) ground, blue is the running lights, and yellow is the brake lights. Easy. And look at my write-up on integrating the taillights in the How-To section for info on what wires are what on the GS: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=20791.0


HEre's a good picture of the GS' wires:



Brown=tail (running lights), b/w=ground, w/b=brake (hot when you hit the brake lever)

Hope this helps!

[joedude]

Awesome! thanks!

[joedude]

Hey Dave... Any updates yet? I havn't tackled mine yet, so I'm wondering if you have any tips or any development.

oh and as always... pictures, pictures, pictures!

[My Name Is Dave]

I haven't done shiat to it.

So...here's a picture of my dog talking on the phone instead.

[joedude]

I haven't done shiat to it.

So...here's a picture of my dog talking on the phone instead.

Well done