turn signal parts question

[silver_ride]

Noob here. I realize this has been discussed before but I can't seem to find a thread addressing exactly what I need to know. I bought my 80 xs11g with no turn signal lamps on it. I rigged up a couple of random lights from the local bike shop for the back, but my halfassed mounting job is going to fall apart. I had a windjammer V on the front and the system worked fine, but with summer approaching I want to go fairing-less and the rear lights won't blink without front lights hooked up. I want to get all the proper equipment for front & rear signals and mount it correctly. I'll figure out all the wiring details myself, I just need to know what exact parts to order, from the correct lights themselves to the correct mounting equipment and screws/nuts/bolts/glue/tape/bondo/bubblegum...if someone could just tell me what I need to order, you'd be saving me a lot of time and headache. Thanks in advance. I'm not trying to find OEM lights, just lights that will mount right and function right, if that helps narrow it down...and I have a functioning brake/running light.

Also could someone recommend a good/affordable windshield that will fit on an xs11g?

[crazy steve]

Well, if you're not picky about what you use, just about any turn signal can be made to work; I used a set of harley take-offs on my last project XS. But these won't be a bolt-on, some fab work required.

You can still buy most of what you need for a OEM light set-up; PartsNMore has the rear lights and stems available as reproductions. Look for 11-2166 for the stems, and 11-2185 for the lights (they're listed as fronts, but are for the rear) for $7 and $12 each. You'll still need the rubber frame grommets and a few other bits, but those can be had used. If you're running rear saddlebags, you'll need the accessory turn signal mount, but again, these can be found used.

[fredintoon]

sorry, can't resist Hi Ho Silver,
what Steve sez. In addition, if you have the stock XS flasher unit it will only flash if it's got 2 x 27 =54 Watts load on it.
While the XS stock signal bulbs are 27Watts, most generic signals only have 22Watt bulbs.
Options:-
Fit a generic electronic flasher (you lose the self-cancel feature)
Get generic signals that have 1157 bulbs in them (22W + 6W) and use both filaments.
Fit a 3rd signal light.

[jetmechmarty]

You'll still need the rubber frame grommets and a few other bits, but those can be had used.

I just bought most of these bits new from the dealer.

While the XS stock signal bulbs are 27Watts, most generic signals only have 22Watt bulbs.

PN 1156 lamps are the correct single filament 27.3 watt bulb.

[CatatonicBug]

PN 1156 lamps are the correct single filament 27.3 watt bulb.

Not necessarily. 1156 & 1157 are the numbers for the BASE of the bulb. 1156 bulbs simply have a single contact (on/off), while the 1157 uses 2 contacts (dim/bright/off) for use in running/turn/brake light locations. It has nothing to do with the wattage.

[fredintoon]

Not necessarily. 1156 & 1157 are the numbers for the BASE of the bulb. 1156 bulbs simply have a single contact (on/off), while the 1157 uses 2 contacts (dim/bright/off) for use in running/turn/brake light locations. It has nothing to do with the wattage.

Hi 'Bug,
guess we all tend to write in shorthand, eh?
OK then, bulbs with an 1157 base have two contacts.
One contact feeds the high wattage filament and the other feeds the low wattage filament.
Bulbs with an 1156 base have a single contact that feeds the single filament.
The XS11 needs to have 27W/6W filaments in it's signal/running light bulbs and a 27W filament in it's signal bulbs.
27W and 27W/6W bulbs are hard to find because almost everyone else uses 22W and 22W/6W bulbs instead.

[jetmechmarty]

A Sylvania 1156 is 27 watt. Yes, single contact.

[cywelchjr]

Well, if you're not picky about what you use, just about any turn signal can be made to work; I used a set of harley take-offs on my last project XS. But these won't be a bolt-on, some fab work required.

You can still buy most of what you need for a OEM light set-up; PartsNMore has the rear lights and stems available as reproductions. Look for 11-2166 for the stems, and 11-2185 for the lights (they're listed as fronts, but are for the rear) for $7 and $12 each. You'll still need the rubber frame grommets and a few other bits, but those can be had used. If you're running rear saddlebags, you'll need the accessory turn signal mount, but again, these can be found used.

PartsNMore has both the front and rear lights for the standard, it I don't remember which part number is which but one is for single filament and that is rear and the other is dual and is for the front, but they only have the light, not the mounting stalk or hardware, you will have to find all that used.

[crazy steve]

PartsNMore has both the front and rear lights for the standard, it I don't remember which part number is which but one is for single filament and that is rear and the other is dual and is for the front, but they only have the light, not the mounting stalk or hardware, you will have to find all that used.

Cy, they list the rear stem for the standard, just not the front one; unfortunately, they don't have the 'other' hardware needed like the rubber frame grommets or the hollow threaded studs....

[cywelchjr]

Cy, they list the rear stem for the standard, just not the front one; unfortunately, they don't have the 'other' hardware needed like the rubber frame grommets or the hollow threaded studs....

I thought that was what I said? Your initial post seemed to imply they didn't have the front lights which they do, just not any of the other mounting hardware.

I think in reality we are both saying the same thing in different ways. I'm figuring on putting the front ones on my Windjammer III with a different height shield and have one for summer with the shorter shield and the other for winter with the taller shield. Just gotta decide which is which.

[jetmechmarty]

I was able to purchase new threaded tubes from the dealer. It's the first thing that breaks when the bike falls over.

[crazy steve]

I think in reality we are both saying the same thing in different ways..

Yep, that was it... And I was also pointing out that PartsNMore mis-identifies the lights, showing the one-wire unit for the front, instead of the rear where it should be...

I'll point out to silver that you can install the two-wire version in the rear (for both turn and running lights), but you then need red lenses to make it legal. The red lenses were available up until a short time ago as NORS, but have now sold out and will be tough to find.

[fredintoon]

- - - I'll point out to silver that you can install the two-wire version in the rear (for both turn and running lights), but you then need red lenses to make it legal. The red lenses were available up until a short time ago as NORS, but have now sold out and will be tough to find.

Hi Steve,
to run the double filament bulbs in the rear with amber lenses they can have both filaments hooked to the flasher to make the signal brighter or simpler yet, don't wire up the 6W filament at all.

[silver_ride]

thanks for the advice everyone...looks like mounting new/proper rears won't be a problem for me, i'm sure i'll be able to whip something up from the hardware store to bolt them on somehow. but anyone have any ideas how to rig up the front? any combination of lights/stems/clamps that will fit? also what kind of places do you find used parts?

[GLoweVA]

For the fronts you can get the lights and stems fairly easily, but the rare parts are the mounts.
Here are some pics of the ones that were on my G. Sorry they're gone now. You can see the mounting tabs at the ends.