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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Esteban on July 20, 2008, 09:11:32 PM

Title: Passing Switch
Post by: Esteban on July 20, 2008, 09:11:32 PM
I bought a new '07 GS500F about a month ago and have racked up about 900 miles so far.  I love the bike, but I'd like to install a passing switch, which I noticed is present on other bikes (such as the SV650).  It looks like there is a punch-out for the passing switch and that the European model already has the switch installed.

Compare:
http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Main/USEKModel
http://cgi.stanford.edu/~sanjayd/gs500/Main/UKEKModel

Any suggestions for finding/buying a passing switch and if it is a simple drop-in installation?

p.s., Any idea if emergency/hazard blinkers can be installed?
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: Mdow on July 20, 2008, 09:34:39 PM
(whats a passing switch?)
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: fred on July 21, 2008, 12:18:18 AM
Quote from: Mdow on July 20, 2008, 09:34:39 PM
(whats a passing switch?)

A passing switch is a momentary button on the left side that lets you flash your high beams at people. I just went with a headlight modulator... Now my headlight modulates all the time during the day and I don't have to worry about hitting a passing switch. It doesn't seem like it would take much to install a patching switch in terms of wiring, you're basically adding a momentary switch in parallel with your normal high beam selector..
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on July 21, 2008, 01:27:23 AM
what about just hitting teh high beam switch then back to low?
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: Esteban on July 21, 2008, 01:46:27 AM
Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on July 21, 2008, 01:27:23 AM
what about just hitting teh high beam switch then back to low?
That's what I do now, but because of the high/low position I am forced to shift my left hand and use my thumb when I want to flash.  It works, but the passing switch is much faster and more elegant due to its location (right next to the left index finger) and operation (depressed it switches on the high beam and returns to low beam when released).

fred, what does the modulator do?  I am used to modulating lights to decrease the brightness (e.g., flash them with a 50% duty cycle at a rate that is imperceptible), but I'm not sure how a headlight modulator would operate?
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on July 21, 2008, 02:49:17 AM
ahhhh i se. mostly ive ridden with teh highs on constantly. but to each teir own i guess  :thumb:
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: DoD#i on July 21, 2008, 04:19:53 AM
I ride with the high on during the day, to more or less average out beam/filament use as (barring the wide open empty road) the low beam gets  most of the use at night. Unless it's dark enough for cars to put their headlights on (when I'd switch to low beam), it's not going to blind anyone in daytime.
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: sledge on July 21, 2008, 11:00:43 AM
Easiest way is to buy a LH switch asseambly from a European source on e-bay, fit it to your bike and alter the exsisting wiring to suit. Breakers yards over here are full of GS5 bits.....something like this one would do  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUZUKI-GS500E-GS500-E-LEFT-HAND-SWITCH-ASSEMBLY-s37_W0QQitemZ260092222952QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260092222952&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318

Connecting the black, blue and green wires going into the indicator switch would cause all 4 indicators to come on but with x2 normal current flowing through the relay it would be operating outside normal parameters and the results would be....... unpredictable. My guess would be that they would flash at a very slow rate.....if they flash at all.
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: Mdow on July 21, 2008, 12:03:50 PM
ahh thanks
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: The Buddha on July 21, 2008, 12:45:17 PM
GS500 doesn't need passing switch, It doen't have the power to pass anything.  :2guns:
It runs on wind power doesn't it.  O0
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: DoD#i on July 21, 2008, 02:26:38 PM
So, when you want to pass, hit the switch, and the automatic can opener opens a can of beans - chow it down - passing wind power!
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: The Buddha on July 21, 2008, 03:14:37 PM
Yea and make sure the rear spark plug is working and definetly make sure your hhhhmmmm "exhaust" is pointed to the back ... and you may want to have like a fine mesh solid particle filter installed too.
Talk about afterburner effect.
Cool.
Buddha.

Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: fred on July 21, 2008, 06:24:24 PM
Quote from: Esteban on July 21, 2008, 01:46:27 AM
fred, what does the modulator do?  I am used to modulating lights to decrease the brightness (e.g., flash them with a 50% duty cycle at a rate that is imperceptible), but I'm not sure how a headlight modulator would operate?

The headlight modulator makes the headlight flicker at about 4 hertz. It basically fades between high and low really fast. It is almost like flashing, but because flashing is illegal in non-emergency vehicles, it is just a really fast fade. The modulating headlight makes you way more visible and since I got it I've noticed many fewer people trying merge in to me and that sort of thing. I got one made by this company

http://www.kisantech.com/index.php?cat_id=2

at my local dealership, but you can get them for cheaper if you don't mind waiting for shipping...
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: simon79 on July 22, 2008, 03:06:57 AM
Quote from: fred on July 21, 2008, 06:24:24 PM
... because flashing is illegal in non-emergency vehicles...

Is this why US-spec bikes don't have a passing switch installed?
Always wondered why, never found out the reason. :dunno_white:
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: 08GSSteve on July 22, 2008, 06:17:01 AM
never used the pass switch on any of my bikes. 

Quick flick of the high and low does the same.

Never saw the need to ever use it.  Is llike a second high low beam   ......WHY...... :cookoo:
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: scottpA_GS on July 22, 2008, 06:31:53 AM

Most times I have ever tried to use passing lights on a car or bike, no one ever moves out of the way  :dunno_white: Most people have no clue what that means here in the USA  :flipoff:

Ooo Look Hank, that motorcycle is flashing his lights at us... What should I do? Just keep driving Margret, hes probably one of those hooligans trying to pass you so he can go faster.. 35 is fast enough for the highway... Just dont move out of his way or he will win  :mad:
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: simon79 on July 22, 2008, 07:54:32 AM
Quote from: scottpA_GS on July 22, 2008, 06:31:53 AM
Ooo Look Hank, that motorcycle is flashing his lights at us... What should I do? Just keep driving Margret, hes probably one of those hooligans trying to pass you so he can go faster.. 35 is fast enough for the highway... Just dont move out of his way or he will win  :mad:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Quote
Most times I have ever tried to use passing lights on a car or bike, no one ever moves out of the way  :dunno_white: Most people have no clue what that means here in the USA  :flipoff:
We all use pass signals here.
Common sight on highways especially...if you ever happen to drive on our highways' left-most lane and see a Mercedes sedan or a SUV or an estate Audi flashing lights at you from behind coming at 100+ mph, get out of the way QUICK. :o
Its driver is in a hurry by definition and has NO TIME TO LOSE with you. :laugh:
Title: Re: Passing Switch
Post by: spc on July 22, 2008, 08:01:30 AM
Quote from: scottpA_GS on July 22, 2008, 06:31:53 AM
Ooo Look Hank, that motorcycle is flashing his lights at us... What should I do? Just keep driving Margret, hes probably one of those hooligans trying to pass you so he can go faster.. 35 is fast enough for the highway... Just dont move out of his way or he will win  :mad:
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:  I was behind some assholes like that once and just got tired of it.  I ended up momentarily using the Duc as a motard :oops: :oops:  But, I got past their stupid ass.  (BTW, they were going 30 even on a 55 :cookoo: )