Lighting Modification

So I'm thinking (after my brother almost got creamed by a left turning truck the other night while riding my bike) that more running lights on the bike would be a good way to increase the visability of the bike. However, I don't really want to start adding more load to the electrical system. So this is what I was thinking:

-Set up the turn signal lights so that they are always on (this would help to give the cars some reference to judge the distance and velocity of the bike. As i find it can be really hard to judge these factors when your just stairing at a single light).
-Set it up so that your turn signal still works it just starts and ends with the signal returning to the on position.

So I'm just wondering what people think about this as I'm sure that it would help the visibility of the bike to have those lights running. I also suspect that the electrical system would be better able to handle these lights then aftermarket running lights and the cost and installation headaches would probably be far less this way.

 

Interesting idea. I'll be watching to see what people more knowledgeable than I am think of it.

mikeg

 

I would think people would mistake it for hazard lights which will cause more issues because of rubber neckers trying to see what the problem is.

 

Ive been thinking about this myself, and have been looking for some 2 wire sockets to replace the existing sockets so I can stick some 1157's in and wire up a running light and a turn signal.

 

What's so hard about running aftermarket 3 wire turn signals, which already come with running lights in them? Easy as 123, when you try to modify a stock light it's harder IMO.

 

You'll want to check the Highway Code for NS - I can't remember if it's Ontario-only or all Canada, but rear-facing running light must be RED. Forward facing yellow running lights is fine, but backwards it's gotta be red.

You also don't need them to be full brightness (ie - signal ON) - by using the 1157 bulbs you'll get the lower power but plenty visible running lights.

For forward visibility I'd recommend converting the front signals to running lights (if you don't already have them), then adding a low power set of fog lamps to the front. I always liked the idea of the "triangle of light" appearance from the front.

For rearward visibility, the best would be to either get a conversion kit like this one:
Conversion Kit
Or to add some LED lighting to various locations around the back of the bike. Locations are up to you, but the LED's draw so little current that you can add a lot of them without eating up too much power.

 

LED's dont draw much power. you could add as many as you can fit on the bike and there will be power to spare.

just food for though.

 

Thanks for all the input, I will definitly be looking into some sort of addition light project this fall/winter.