2000 IS tail light upgrade

[vmb]

Sure could use some advise from the wizards on VRCC. Just came about as close as I like to being rear-ended while in the Ozarks. Damn girl on a cell phone.... left the girl in the car but her cell is on the side of the mountain off #7. Need recommendations on improving visibility for trunk lights, turn signals, bulbs, adding flashers etc and vendors if possible. I am no electrical wizard so the simpler the better. Thanks again in Mississippi

[KSDragonRider]

I have a set of hyperlites mounted to the spot on the tag where the reflectors used to be. I also have a set of 2 be seen lights. The guys that ride behind me say it is like a wall of red lights behind me when i hit the brakes.

Im also going to install a rear tail light in the fender with a led module in it to really have a bright glow under the trunk when i hit the brakes.

getting rear ended is one of the things that really bothers me. sitting at a light trapped then have some moron run over me scares the crap out of me.

[BradValk48237]

I added a stock Standard/Tourer light to the fender- i do the super Valk thing- People I ride with tell me it makes a huge difference with the trunk on now....... Just spliced it into the exsisting harness, with the harness that came with it.. .was pretty easy.

I picked a used one up on Pinwall for $30 and spent another $20 on a new lense.......

I am going to set the rear turn signals to work as running/brake light in the near future fo a little added light.

Brad

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

I made the inside lights on the trunk into brakelights by removing the housing and enlarging the hole until I could put and dual element socket in with a 3496 bulb. I also while doing this installed an electronic flasher on the wire to the inside bulbs so that they would flash. By accident when I did this the outside brakelights now also flash because when the inside bulbs come on the outside dim alittle and when the insides go off the outside get brighter. So now the outside flash opposite of the inside bulbs.  Been about 4 yrs since I did this with no problems to date. I also have a nightrider strobe led on the top of the lis. plate bracket that is very eye catching.

[RudyF6]

Mine's a standard with I/S bags and trunk, so I have taillights from both. In addition, I added Rivco's led S.O.M.A. lights to the trunk and used their modulator that makes them a taillamp with brake lights that flash for 5 seconds then go solid. I can see my brake lights reflected in signs in my mirrors for probably a 1/2 mile.

http://www.rivcoproducts.com/products/product.php?productid=57

http://www.rivcoproducts.com/products/product.php?productid=25&cat=398&page=1

[Joe Hummer]

You can't fix stupid by any means!!!  I now wear one of these...



But I still had someone try to share my lane in traffic yesterday.  I mean really???  He couldn't see me???  Or he didn't look...

I changed out my rear turn sockets for a set of front bulb sockets.  I toiled with what bulbs to put in them.  I finally settled in on these.  The 68s are the same as the 1157s.  These are expensive but they can be seen.  If you don't want to do the conversion, you can use the 67s...which is equivalent to 1156.  One problem with using these bulbs...they are LEDs...so they will affect your turn signals.  You will either have to use the load equalizers or change your signal relay to one that can handle LEDs.  I went with the latter option.  I don't remember which relay I used but can find out if you need the information. 

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2F6x-x2w.htm

I haven't done anything with the brake lights....yet.  I agree they are lack luster.  I have some small LED lights below the trunk but I don't think they are visible enough to be useful during the day.  I have though about re-wiring the rear turn signals into my trailer converter...which would make them work as turn/stop lights.  But I haven't done that yet. 

Hope this all helps. 

Joe

[Jess from VA]

More lights is a great idea.

Add the std taillight to an interstate (I have the parts list if you want; $120 or so)

Put an led array in the std tail light.

Add an LED license plate frame.

Add led strips to the bottom of the trunk.

Put an 1800 wing spoiler on the trunk with its row of leds.

Many options:

http://www.customdynamics.com/

http://www.radiantz.com/index1.html?c22.html&1

But just understand, it only might help, the bitch might still run you over even if you had the sun on the backseat.

I want to personally thank you for throwing her phone over the cliff.  We ever meet, I'm buyin.   

[lifguardct]

I like the LED strip under the trunk idea.

[Jess from VA]

I like the LED strip under the trunk idea.

The wisdom is.... the higher the light the better  (ie, all the minivans with brake lights at top of window)

But, you need extra running light AND extra brake light.  Two-circuit LEDs are available.

[gordonv]

For me, adding the IS trunk to my Tourer to get a set of brake lights higher, was the best thing.

I'll be adding a set of the Hyperlites later in the year, those flashers get your attention.

There will always be a problem with those idiots who don't look, why else do so many say "but I didn't see you" so much?

[PhredValk]

I have a suprbrite 6" LED strip under the trunk on the trunk support. It's shaded by the trunk, run and Back-off brake lite (flashes for a few seconds then solid). Made by Signal Dynamics.
Fred.

[Russell Rice]

No amount of lights will ever fix stupid! People that text and drive should face the same fines and punishments as drinking and driving. Until they make useing a cell phone wile operating a motor vehicale illegal folks will keep playing with there cell phones.
I drive a F750 Ford crane truck and you would be suprised at the amount of people that hold there cell phones in there laps and text while driving.
I hate to admit that Oprah is right, make your car or truck a no cell phone zone.
Kids think that nothing will ever happen to them while useing there cell phone and driving, older folks knows it's wrong so they try to hide there phones in there laps while driving and texting.
I was hit head on by a 16 year old girl texting and driving some years back. Totaled the bike and broke some of my bones, nothing to bad.
Parents need to at all times let there kids know the dangers of cell phone usage while driving and kids need to remind there parents!
Glad you did not get hit and good job on taking care of her phone

[vmb]

Thanks for all the responses!! Some great places to start. Like the looks of the hyperlite on the tag and the conversion of the inside trunk lites as well. Got to do the homework now and figure it out...maybe. Sure I will have questions later on installing etc. How is the hyperlite in the daylight? As for the cell phone comments, I appreciate them both. Maybe she learned from it. Happened at a construction site bout 10 mi S.of Jasper. I know the flag man enjoyed it! I got a certain 'release' from it myself. Thnks from Mississippi

[Big Tom 10628]

+1 on the trunk spoiler. Depending on the color of your trunk you might be able to order it color Matched. That's what I did.

[john]

hi ya tom ...           
           wheres the dipstick ?             

[Big Tom 10628]

Had to go home with Mrs. Stick....

[fudgie]

Cars get rear ended every day. Cant get bigger then them tail lights. Its just a nature of the beast and we chance it everyday.

[Chattanooga Mark]

Irecently added the Standard/Tourer tail light to my Interstate. I really like the '3 point' light set up. But like others have said, it's hard to rely on a light set up for in-attentive drivers.

All the best,

Mark

[ValkFlyer]

More lights is a great idea.

Add the std taillight to an interstate (I have the parts list if you want; $120 or so)

Put an led array in the std tail light.

Add an LED license plate frame.

Add led strips to the bottom of the trunk.

Put an 1800 wing spoiler on the trunk with its row of leds.

Many options:

http://www.customdynamics.com/

http://www.radiantz.com/index1.html?c22.html&1

But just understand, it only might help, the bitch might still run you over even if you had the sun on the backseat.

I want to personally thank you for throwing her phone over the cliff.  We ever meet, I'm buyin.   

I added the Radiantz and it will nearly blind anyone coming up on you at night, a bit pricey but worth it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Radiantz-LED-Tail-Light-Honda-Shadow-Valkyrie-VTX-/230628642089?hash=item35b289cd29&item=230628642089&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr#ht_1229wt_1114

[junior]

this is what i did with my tail light





its the whole mounting bracket off a 1100 goldwing. i mounted it where the oem directionals and lic. plate mount goes

[MarkT]

I like the LED strip under the trunk idea.

The wisdom is.... the higher the light the better  (ie, all the minivans with brake lights at top of window)

But, you need extra running light AND extra brake light.  Two-circuit LEDs are available.

FYI if you like the LED accessory but it's not 2-circuit, you can easily make it 2-circuit with just a diode and resistor - resistor impedance can vary depending on the device but 512Ω is a good guess.  (I use a pot and dial it til I like it, then measure the ohms of the pot and use a fixed resistor) A small diode is sufficient, LED fixtures like the ones we're discussing here don't draw much power. Solder the output lead of the diode and one end of the resistor together to the input wire, connect the diode input to the brake line and the resistor input to the running lights lead.  Cover the bare metal with shrink tube and you're done.

FYI I designed a DIY circuit for making the trunk lights into full function run brake and turn, on a budget.  Basically all you need is relays, resistors and diodes.  I recommend LED taillight bulbs on this install.  See http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/IS_Trunk_Signals/is_trunk_signals.html