I'm looking at doing some custom work on the GS500F mirrors. I am planning on adding a blinker into the housing for a front facing signal so I can remove the stock signals from the bike. Along with that I am planning on putting "ghost" blinkers behind the mirror to face backwards(like on newer cars).
My question now is style, what do you guys think would look better. I'm debating about grafting in a single high density led strip about 3.5" long. It would have a smoked lens cover and be pretty stealthy. Or buy something like this and modify it a bit and graft it in to the mirror housing.(Note this is used to replace the mirror but that is not how I intend to use it)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Clear-Suzuki-Mirror-Block-Off-LED-Turn-Signals-Blinker-Indicator-Flasher-Light-/00/s/NDU0WDY0MA==/$T2eC16N,!)!E9s2f!qbYBQJ!h,Y1uw~~60_3.JPG)
This would be less stealthy but maybe a bit more OEM look.
I'm more of an engineer than a designer so my since of style and looks doesn't match 1:1 with the rest of the world. Functionally I think they will both have the same desired effect.
Sounds like a good idea.
Others have had similar designs...some of the GSXR mirrors can be modified to fit as well.
See this link...http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Upgrades.GSXRIndicators-FModel
What will you do with the mirror holes n the fairing?
Consider this (which is why I have side marker lights/turn signals added). A vehicle to the side can not see forward facing turn signals and may not see rear ones. If changing lanes, it is good to have something on the side that cagers to each side of you can see blinking.
Quote from: adidasguy on February 15, 2013, 11:44:26 AM
What will you do with the mirror holes n the fairing?
Consider this (which is why I have side marker lights/turn signals added). A vehicle to the side can not see forward facing turn signals and may not see rear ones. If changing lanes, it is good to have something on the side that cagers to each side of you can see blinking.
I am redoing my entire bike right now, powder coating frame, refreshing the engine, carb clean, new wheel and swing arm bearings, rewiring and custom paint. So I'll just fill the fairings before I paint.
As for the cagers, If you read my post closely I am planning on having both front and rear facing blinkers in the mirrors. Ones in the front using the high density led strip or those blinkers shown above and blinkers hidden behind the glass facing backwards like some modern cars. That would give the cager that is to my side a good High up visual indication that i'm changing lanes. To accomplish this I am planning on stripping the old mirrors to glass and re silvering the mirror so it acts like a one way mirror. This will let the light behind the mirror become visible when the blinker is activated.
My thought are that this will be more visible to someone in a car than the stock blinkers down low. The stock blinkers could possibly be blocked by my body/knee from the cager's perspective.
Something similar to this:
(http://a.cdnbrm.com/images/products/med/driving_accessories/street_scene_signal_mirrors_rear_facing_signal.jpg)
In your sample photo, those are only visible from behind.
I am referring to someone to the side. Even stock blinkers are not that visible from the side. Just suggesting something. I'm just an old geezer who like to be visible to the cagers since they're out to kill us. Though you can't do anything about what happeded an hour ago.
Coming to intersection to turn right for my office. Van takes off from the stop sign to the right (I had no stop, but was turning right anyway). I see this idiot is ONLY looking to his RIGHT. Never ahead, never to the left. If I was a bus going straight he would have been creamed. I was on Junior which has added fog lights. If they don't turn your head in your direction, nothing can get them to see you.
You can see my side marker lights. Totally visible from the side. You could put similar where your stock turn signals used to be. These are white when on. Flash orange with turn signals. Just something to think about.
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb442/adidasguy/GS500/DSC00401a.jpg)
Quote from: adidasguy on February 15, 2013, 12:41:45 PM
In your sample photo, those are only visible from behind.
I am referring to someone to the side. Even stock blinkers are not that visible from the side. Just suggesting something. I'm just an old geezer who like to be visible to the cagers since they're out to kill us. Though you can't do anything about what happeded an hour ago.
Coming to intersection to turn right for my office. Van takes off from the stop sign to the right (I had no stop, but was turning right anyway). I see this idiot is ONLY looking to his RIGHT. Never ahead, never to the left. If I was a bus going straight he would have been creamed. I was on Junior which has added fog lights. If they don't turn your head in your direction, nothing can get them to see you.
You can see my side marker lights. Totally visible from the side. You could put similar where your stock turn signals used to be. These are white when on. Flash orange with turn signals. Just something to think about.
http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb442/adidasguy/GS500/DSC00401a.jpg
If I sound argumentative I don't intend to, I value your opinion. You seem level headed and your opinions and ideas seem to be based on facts and reality and not emotion. I also enjoy a good discussion. If views and opinions are not challenged no one ever progresses.
Let me digress from the main subject of this post a bit.
So you are talking about a worst case scenario of a 90 degree view, am I correct on that? In that case using something like you have were the stock blinkers are could be beneficial.
Stating that the scenario variables are as follows; The other driver is looking, I am looking, I'm hit at a 90 degree angle, I assume I am moving, I assume the driver is moving. Giving these conditions that means the driver had to see me at some angle relative to my position vs the point of impact that is dependent on both of our velocities(mathematically speaking our angle will be complementary). Understanding a standard speed relationships between intersecting roads that angle should be enough to view the mirror lights from the front. If I am going really really slow and they are going quite fast their viewing angle becomes quite small but that is an extreme case.
Now a new scenario with the following variables; Both of us are looking, They are viewing my bike from a 90 degree angle, We are both moving, and there has not been an impact. If they are viewing me by a 90 degree angle assuming I have sufficient speed to clear the width of their car and they are far enough away I should clear their car. If either of those two conditions are not meet then one of us were not paying attention.
Regardless all of this can easily be ruined by one cellphone, one drunk, one foggy morning, or most likely in my case one deer. I guess my point is that if you are in a position where a light like that will "help" you it is either to late or you wouldn't have had the impact to begin with. Also if your turn signal is on you should be or are about to be turning. That should avoid all impacts right there from a cager who is 90 degrees off. If you aren't turning then your turn signal wouldn't be on so that situation is also moo.
Back to the main subject, does anyone have have any opinions on the larger blinker vs the smaller sleeker blinker to be grafted into the turn signals? Style wise is a large shiny blinker pretty? Or would it look nicer to have one a bit more stealthy. I am worried that the smaller inline LED's would be less visible.
Wow! and I though Sledge liked to drag things out for no apparent reason.....
Sledge: you have competition!
I'll be quiet and not make any more suggestions.
I have actually considered what you are talking about, but that long post deserves a cat
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ50PvbMa8_dUzfI7YOk_2VO1xSzRoG3QkIPLynr24imOE-Xifx)
Besides the cat, my worry with the ghost signals is that they exist in the only usable part of the mirror. The part not obstructed by your shoulders. Are they invisible when they are off? Won't they make lane changes difficult because when you go to check your mirror all you will see is the turn signal?
Quote from: Bluesmudge on February 15, 2013, 03:18:18 PM
I have actually considered what you are talking about, but that long post deserves a cat
(http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/32900000/funny-kitty-funny-cat-pictures-32928944-720-518.jpg)
Besides the cat, my worry with the ghost signals is that they exist in the only usable part of the mirror. The part not obstructed by your shoulders. Are they invisible when they are off? Won't they make lane changes difficult because when you go to check your mirror all you will see is the turn signal?
That brings up a valid concern that I have not thought about.... They would be invisible when they are off and it would look just like a normal mirror.
Maybe just one well placed LED behind the top outside part of the mirror would be best. That would be slightly less "used" part of the outside of the mirror. My next thought would be glare and night vision when riding at night. Would that create issues if your blinker is on you check with your mirror the in the lane next to you and the light hits your eye pupil retracts you go back to focus on the road and it takes you eye time to readjust.
As for the long post.... I've thought about this a lot and had many discussions about the same issue in terms of cycling and wheel reflectors... As far as being long, well i'm quite verbose.