Hey, all!

Newbie here with one question. Since additional lights (to a certain extent) would seem to help increase your visibility, has anyone tried getting the turn signal lights to stay on all the time, blinking only when turn signals are activated? It would seem to me that the extra two lights on each end would markedly increase your visibility at night--not to mention the fact that double-stalked lights would also define your perimeter and identify you as something other than a car with a missing headlight.

Thoughts anyone?

Thanks,
Shawn

New '05 GS500F--just got first 100 miles  on the clock 

you could do it if you had the right internals (or were really good with wiring and such). My 600rr has them so I think if you took new turn signals off another bike, even another suzuki and swapped them, then ran the runnign light wire to the headlight or taillight wires you'd be set...

and welcome to gstwin and gs500 ownership!

That's actually a nice idea for visibilities sake.

Isn't there some headlight mod you can do to make it flicker on and off at high frequency? I was thinking about getting this, i remember reading something about it being applied to unfaired GS's, seems like on the faired ones you might be able to just work it in behind the fairing?

thats called a headlight modulator. quite annoying to others. I hate them.
I think their legality in your particular state could be an issue.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-technical-articles/modulator.htm

Legal in all 50 states, I think anything that helps make you more visible is good, although I know what you mean when you say annoying. One thing I've noticed is that it also makes motos seem closer than you really are in the dark, which also helps keep cagers a little more at bay I would think. I'd get one if I had the $

Quote from: pantablo on October 25, 2006, 11:25:39 PM
you could do it if you had the right internals (or were really good with wiring and such). My 600rr has them so I think if you took new turn signals off another bike, even another suzuki and swapped them, then ran the runnign light wire to the headlight or taillight wires you'd be set...

I'm not great with electricals, but I can muddle my way through a schematic--a little trial and error would ensue, but I can figure it out.

One question: If the bike is under warranty, how much do these kinds of mods affect coverages? Would Suzuki void the warranty if I were to tinker with the wiring--assuming I don't set something on fire?

well, technically if you had a problem they would of course call you out and not warranty it. Then you'd pull out the case precedent, which escapes me, that says by law they would have to prove that your screwing up the wiring was a direct cause for your wheel bearing falling out (for example). No, they wont void the warranty unless you claim something directly related to your wiring job.

Seriously, I think swapping signals would be your best bet and pretty easy actually. There are LOADS of stock turn signals available, what with every sportbike rider and their brother swapping to aftermarket flush mounts...

45fd

Change the sockets and bulbs to dual filament and hook up the low side to a switched positive. Hardest part is switching the socket. (Not very.)

Or you could try a Kisan Signal Minder, running light, emergency flasher, and automatically cancels turn signals too.

I got it, like it, works fine for me.

http://www.customdynamics.com/kisan_signal_minder.htm

Jim

Check this out.........Ginoe uses it and it makes a big difference.....he said the model he has the the priority lites:

http://www.soundoffrec.com/Default.aspx

Wayne

Hi Shawn,
Adding running lights to your front turn signals is easy.
I described how to do it earlier this summer to someone else:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=29694.0

Hi all,
Actually, this is very easy to do -- to add running lights like those on the Kawasaki in the photo. I did that mod to my bike to add running lights to the front of my GS500E years ago.
What I did was removed the stock turn signals and disassembled them, removing the stock two-wire bulb sockets. Then I went to an auto parts store, bought replacement "universal" three-wire sockets, and installed them into the turn signal housings, then put everything back together. The two-wire sockets allow the use of bulbs only for a single turn signal function, while the three-wire sockets allow the use of BRIGHT turn signals (one of the wires plus the ground wire) and the use of DIMMER running lights (the other wire plus that same ground wire).
It was a simple mod and cheap -- the sockets were only a couple dollars each.
The sockets I bought were:
Calterm Inc. brand, Stock no. 08547  (PS-47), universal sockets for stop, tail, turn and parking lights, DOUBLE-CONTACT assemblies, fits 3/4-inch hole.
They allow the use of 1157 bulbs (dual contact for turn signals and running lights).

The turn signal wires will plug into the existing turn signal wires.
The running light wires (use the wires that have the dimmer light element for the running lights, switch it to the other wire if it is too bright because that's the turn signal) can be plugged into the BROWN wires in your bike's wiring harness. Run wires to any brown wire you can find. I ran correct gauge (thickness) wires from the rear signals up to the headlight shell then plugged mine in inside the headlight shell to existing connectors there. Be sure to route the wires safely where they won't get pinched and use the proper 16-gauge quality wire. (I think it's 16 gauge -- use whatever thickness the turn signal wires are on the new sockets you buy).
The ground wire on the turn signals/running lights gets plugged back into the stock Suzuki ground wires, which are the black/white connectors.

It may sound complicated, but it's not.
Let me know if you need help.

Yours,
Todd

Quote from: spotswood_suzuki on October 26, 2006, 06:04:46 AM
Check this out.........Ginoe uses it and it makes a big difference.....he said the model he has the the priority lites:
http://www.soundoffrec.com/Default.aspx

I LIKE this lighting idea. I'm going to save that site and do that eventually. I also want the modulating headlight, because when I've seen them on other bikes, I've really SEEN them! 

Quote from: Wrecent_Wryder on October 26, 2006, 03:04:13 AM
Maybe I'm missing something, but how is swapping signals going to change them from "normally off" to "normally on"? There's still no current coming from the wiring.

Seems do-able, but I'd expect the changes to be mostly around the relay...

some signals come set up to run as both running lights and turn signals so they're wired with three wires (ground, running, turn signal). You wire up the ground and turn signal to the existing wiring, then run the third wire to a light that normally is powered, which will run the running light part of the dual filament bulb. When you use the turn signal it will flash brighter than the running light.

Quote from: Toledo Jim on October 26, 2006, 04:48:57 AM
Change the sockets and bulbs to dual filament and hook up the low side to a switched positive. Hardest part is switching the socket. (Not very.)

Or you could try a Kisan Signal Minder, running light, emergency flasher, and automatically cancels turn signals too.

I got it, like it, works fine for me.

http://www.customdynamics.com/kisan_signal_minder.htm

Jim

This little guy is intriguing to me.  I don't really need the signal cancel but I like the idea of running lights and hazard lights.  It is spendy though.

What model do you use? SM-3S?  Does it just replace the TSR (turn signal relay) and plug into the TSR connection?

I'm also curious if it would get my Buell turn signals to blink at a proper rate (they blink too fast with the stock TSR)

Hey there Manofthefield,
Skip the pricy box and swap your light sockets over to allow you to run dual-filament bulbs. It's easy to do.
Look at my post a few messages higher in this thread.
Let me know if you need help.
It will cost you under $10 to do it yourself to have running lights.
Good luck,
Todd

Quote from: manofthefield on October 26, 2006, 11:08:33 AM

Quote from: Toledo Jim on October 26, 2006, 04:48:57 AM
Change the sockets and bulbs to dual filament and hook up the low side to a switched positive. Hardest part is switching the socket. (Not very.)

Or you could try a Kisan Signal Minder, running light, emergency flasher, and automatically cancels turn signals too.

I got it, like it, works fine for me.

http://www.customdynamics.com/kisan_signal_minder.htm

Jim

This little guy is intriguing to me.  I don't really need the signal cancel but I like the idea of running lights and hazard lights.  It is spendy though.

What model do you use? SM-3S?  Does it just replace the TSR (turn signal relay) and plug into the TSR connection?

I'm also curious if it would get my Buell turn signals to blink at a proper rate (they blink too fast with the stock TSR)

As Trwhouse and many others (including me) said earlier, if all you want are running lights just replace the sockets with dual filiment ones, much cheaper and very easy.

SM-3S = yes,   straight replacement plug in = yes (on my 93 at least).

I changed my front turn signals to large led displays (40 leds each side) and ended up removing the indicator bulb in the triple to get proper operation. (Instead of installing diodes or resistors as usually recomended.)

note: I do some escort type work from time to time and need more visibility, as well as emergency type flashers.

The leds are somewhat directional and are VERY bright when viewed from better angles than pics show.

 
 

Jim

Toledo Jim,

In an earlier post, you mentioned you had the LEDs lying around in your garage.  Where did you initially get them?  They look like they would attract a lot of attention.

Sincerely,

Chilly

Spares from setting up some patrol cars.

Can get them from: http://www.able2products.com/Update/11_9000_RB0.htm

I got them on sale, and with a dept discount also.

Jim

    >>note: I do some escort type work from time to time and need more visibility, as well as emergency type flashers.


How does being an escort work with the whole law enforcement thing?