Has anyone added something like running lights for visibility?

[tensixmom]

My husband added one of those little sets of color changing running lights to his motorcycle for show and a bit of added visibility. I have been thinking about something similar for mine, particularly because the paint is not shiny and I sort of blend into the night after dark.

I am concerned about messing up the electrical (I am in the US so I am not sure about European electrical wiring compatibility). Does anyone have any experience with a specific product similar to this that they've had good luck with?

 

[TwoPort]

My husband added one of those little sets of color changing running lights to his motorcycle for show and a bit of added visibility. I have been thinking about something similar for mine, particularly because the paint is not shiny and I sort of blend into the night after dark.

I am concerned about messing up the electrical (I am in the US so I am not sure about European electrical wiring compatibility). Does anyone have any experience with a specific product similar to this that they've had good luck with?

Bark busters upside down and Darla's with yellow lens.

 

[Guud Stuff]

Hello TwoPort, can you point us to where we can find more information where to tap for power for your aux lights?

Thanks,

 

[Bornfree]

On the shelf at Wal-Mart for about $10. Wired into the "Aux" circuit behind the fuse panel under the right-side top panel. Mirror posts were loosened enough the feed the wires inside and under the base.

 

[bicyclenut]

Like TwoPort I have the Clearwater Darla lights, expensive but very high quality, very bright and superb customer service. You could move these to a new bike and will last for years. The power for these is wired directly into the battery and then a relay is used to power on only when bike is running. This is a tap into the fuel pump power (I think an article on WebBikeWorld explained how he used this for another brand of lights). The relay switches on the lights only when the bike is running. There is also a dimmer switch and an option to go full bright when high beams are on by accessing high beam power wire. With yellow light cover on makes you very visible during the day and with clear or no covers can be very bright at night.

If you are talking about more of side or accent lights, an option to avoid messing with bike power is to go to auto store or Wal-Mart and get some auto LED strip lights and mount these where you would like. You can run the power cord to under the seat and use a 12v battery pack to power these, especially if only wanting for night use. With my previous Honda I decided not to add onto electrical system and I ran 2 sets of LED strips on the rear top box in red and drilled a small hole and ran power cable inside and in the box I had a small 12v battery pack that I could switch on at night. This would add a nice always on red light to top box which was up high to make me more visible at night besides tail lamp plus could be seen from the sides. This battery pack would easily power these lights for 6-8 hours as they were LED and don’t use much power. You can buy these 12v battery packs on Amazon in various sizes.

Another option for visibility from the side at night is that 3M makes a reflective black tape in various sizes. You can stick strips of this on the black or dark parts of your bike and it either blends in to the black areas or at least doesn’t stand out like a red or white reflective tape and can be maybe even be made to look like a pinstripe or accent stripe and by day it looks black or dark gray but at night when hit with light or headlights it glows a white color like a white reflector. Running this along the lower black part and you can add a reflective accent to stand out to autos from the side at night. I think if you search for black reflective 3M tape you will find it on Amazon.

My husband added one of those little sets of color changing running lights to his motorcycle for show and a bit of added visibility. I have been thinking about something similar for mine, particularly because the paint is not shiny and I sort of blend into the night after dark.

I am concerned about messing up the electrical (I am in the US so I am not sure about European electrical wiring compatibility). Does anyone have any experience with a specific product similar to this that they've had good luck with?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[tensixmom]

Wow, lots of good ideas here! Thank you all so much!

 

[davidh]

Lots of good information here and some aux lighting here including a good location to grab power. I've had mine installed for 3+ years and been very happy with them. Makes me MUCH more visible.

 

[TwoPort]

Hello TwoPort, can you point us to where we can find more information where to tap for power for your aux lights?

Thanks,

I ran a line to the battery and used a relay. You need to remove one side cover and I removed the plastic at the center of the handlebars. Then I tapped into the power wire going to the nav to power the relay. The Clearwater instructions are VERY good to understand what's going on. I also used tie straps to keep it all where I wanted it. Its not as bad as you might think after you stare at it for an hour or so...

 

[Lee]

I second the Clearwater Darla’s! Running with the yellow filters during the day are a great safety feature to be that much more visible! Riding at night the extra illumination, especially peripheral, is outstanding.