Lighting

[Welsh1100]

I own a 1979 xs1100f standard (45k >/< original miles). By design, the front turn signals double as running lights. I would like to modify the rear signals to act as running lights as well. Is it as simple as using "front" signal assemblies on the rear and "tapping" into the front wiring?
I commute about 100 miles a day and often ride in the dark and the rain. I would feel much better if I had additional lighting on the rear.

[WMarshy]

It's possible, although I dont know exactly how others made it work I do know you will have to change to double filiment bulbs. As far as the wiring goes I will let other chime in. In the mean time try using the search button and search for 'rear running lights'... GL

[CatatonicBug]

That sounds about right. However, you'd only need to tap into the tail light wiring. Mine didn't have running lights on ANY of the signals, until I added a fairing. It is designed and wired to have the front signals as running lights as well. The wiring was already there and I just plugged it in! For the rear, I added a Vetter trunk, and the 4 bulbs on that are running/brake lights, just like the stock tail light. So, I just tapped into the exact same wires as the tail light uses, but I used LED bulbs. Remember that the charging system on these bikes sucks, so adding even 2 more standard bulbs to the mix has the potential to drain the battery.

[crazy steve]

I've done this on several bikes, and I'm doing this on my XS as well. But there's one trick... in most places, you need red lenses for any rear 'running lights', as amber is only legal in the rear for turn signals. So you'll have to swap to a non-stock turn signal that has an aftermarket red lens available. The Harley units are the most common and have a good selection, but you can find 'other' units if you look around.

Way back in the day, red aftermarket turn sig lenses were available for the XS11, but they've been out of production for probably 20 years. I've seen red lenses for 'specials' show up on EBay a few times, but never any for the 'standards'...

'78E original owner

[newc4]

I have a 79SF and it appears that the PO upgraded all his flashers to dual filament bulbs so he had running lights. Jury rigged some connections in the headlight case, slaving the running lights to a brown wire. The back running lights appear to tap into the tail light circuit. Two wire stalks can be had at ProCycleDepot #25-4115. Think they have amber and red lenses.

Darrell

[Welsh1100]

Lighting

Thanks to all for the replies. As for the charging system..I think I can place resisters to prevent excessive battery discharge. I will check with the C.H.P. (California Highway Patrol) to see if I will have to swap to clear lenses (red ones are not available for the XS1100 standard). Though this model does have an oversized taillight...I would feel much more visible from the rear when riding in the rain and the dark.

[crazy steve]

...I will check with the C.H.P. (California Highway Patrol) to see if I will have to swap to clear lenses (red ones are not available for the XS1100 standard). Though this model does have an oversized taillight...I would feel much more visible from the rear when riding in the rain and the dark.

You found a source for clear lenses? All I've ever seen for years were standard replacement amber for the square 'standard' lights. I have a set of red lenses for mine, but I bought them when the bike was still new...

Yes, I am that old.

'78E original owner

[XJOK2PLAY]

Don't know what your bike looks like, or your setup preference/ what you primarily use your bike for??? But what's been done on mine that solved the problem... a Vetter trunk. Swapped out the round 1157 bulb setups for oblong LED's... installed an LED flasher... bingo. Add'l tailights & flashing LED brakelights... higher...more at eye level, in addition to the bike's brake, tail & turn light.
Much more visible, and handy storage space to boot.

But I do realize some prefer the looks of a stripped bike, too.
JAT, if you need to be more visible to others.

Works for mine quite well... and I love having a place to store anything from a helmet & jacket to small grocery items for those quick runs to the store...ya know?

If nothing else, ya might want to check up on going LED.

[nightpilot]

I went to a harley swap meet and got some turn signals that use 1157 bulbs and some red lenses. My meter says I am pumping enough juice but still am considering putting some led bulbs in. I think the leds that fit into the 1157 sockets will run fine but have concerns that they wont let the breakers work right. Oh, tied into the tail light for running light.

I used older harley lights that were taken off and got them for 10 bucks or so, I have heard they are getting more scarce though because more people are using them.

[XJOK2PLAY]

I went to a harley swap meet and got some turn signals that use 1157 bulbs and some red lenses. My meter says I am pumping enough juice but still am considering putting some led bulbs in. I think the leds that fit into the 1157 sockets will run fine but have concerns that they wont let the breakers work right. Oh, tied into the tail light for running light.

I used older harley lights that were taken off and got them for 10 bucks or so, I have heard they are getting more scarce though because more people are using them.

Couple of problems you may run into when going the LED bulb route:
1) Power draw may be reduced by the LED's, flasher may not heat up enough to flash, or you may have to convert over to an electronic flasher for LED's.
2) Will lose the auto cancel feature.

Plus, I've been told those 1157 LED bulbs are rather pricey???

One mod leads to another.... but that's the fun of it, right?

[CatatonicBug]

Plus, I've been told those 1157 LED bulbs are rather pricey???

I left the stock fixtures in my Vetter trunk (though I took them completely apart and re-built them) and used the 1157 LED bulbs in all 4, AND in the stock tail light on the bike. IIRC, the bulbs were $16 for a pack of 2 at Autozone. That was the only place I could find in the area that sold them though. I tried only using the LED bulbs in the trunk, leaving the standard bulbs in the tail light. But when I did that, the LEDs didn't get enough juice to fully light up when I used the brakes. Once I swapped the bulbs in the tail light too, everything worked perfectly!

[Crazcnuk]

I paid just over $100 to rplace every bulb on mine with LEDs, and I have 10 1157s.


All you have to do to convert the rear lights isgo to your local auto supply store and but double pigtails. You take the ones out of your existing housing, put the doubles in, and then wire it up. The signal wires you will already know, and the tail/parklight wire is the blue one running to the tailight.

I don't think adding two extra filaments will bother the charging systm.

As for LEDs you can buy resisters you put inline ONLY to the signal filament. This will allow your auto cancel to work, and will not require any more draw from your charging system except when your signaling.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread...light=LED+time

[nightpilot]

Good info craz.
can you tell me the designation of those resistors and where they might be found.

I found a site ledlight.com where replacement h3 led lights can be found for ten and fifteen dollars. That seems to be a solution to running lights for the three point light safety idea with enough energy to run them. the one is supposed to be brighter than the other and although they will probably use the reflector properly, it is still quesitonable if they will put out enough light to be used as a driving light.

I do have a 70/100 watt bulb in my headlight so I may not need them.

the 100watt does not seem to be much brighter than the 70 so I wonder if my xj is putting out enough power to run it. My meter says i am still not discharging though.

[CatatonicBug]

Good info craz.
can you tell me the designation of those resistors and where they might be found.

Autozone sells them right next to the LED lights. Load balancers, I think is what they call them.

[Crazcnuk]

I didnt actually use any resistors, I used thier flashers so I don't have the auto-cancel anymore.

However they sell resistors on the same site:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...rake-turn.html

Just scroll down to Load Resistor kits. I am not sure which you would need, 25w or 50w, but the site should explain them.

They have 6ohm - 50watt and 25ohm - 25 watt versions.

I am using an HID headlight bulb. It likes to cutout once in a while, haven't been able to figure out why. Normally only cuts out at idle so I think maybe a low power issue.