Horseapple Ranch is returning to it's roots...

[MarkT]

Or at least I am.  You might know, in my previous life I was a geek.  More specifically, I was a SR Software Engineer.  Laid off by Sybase, so I took the opportunity to do something else, and everybody was asking me for motorcycle products.

OK, well love it or hate it, the writing is on the wall about the Valkyrie.  I've known this wouldn't last forever.  In fact I've been surprised I've been busy this long.

  I'll say right now, I will continue to build exhausts for the Valkyrie as long as youse guys want me to, and I can still find cores.  

I'm getting back into digital circuits.  I really enjoyed that before; I aced the courses on it in college, it's a fascinating field.

I was inspired to do this, by those of you asking for a digital control for Valkyrie stack LED's.  So that is my first product.  

Introducing

FIRE DOWN BELOW

First release, will be hand-assembled by me, using components soldered on stripboard - later I will be using PCB's (printed circuit boards) after I have that equipment up and running.  That may depend on the demand - and if it makes sense to outsource the circuits.  (Frankly, I hope so.) The circuit will be enclosed in a plastic box.  I have already designed the circuit, prototyped it, and am now working through the production issues.  I have not installed the unit on my own bike yet - for which I am still working on sourcing the mesh for the intakes.  Haven't decided if I will provide complete kits or just the electrical.  Right now I am accepting orders for the electrical circuit, including the LED's.

Features are:

• The LED's fire in the same order as the firing order of the engine.
• The LED's are red/orange in color, incredibly bright at 10,000mcd ea. - made for outdoor signs, blinding, you can't look at them.
• LED viewing angle is 25°.  I am clustering 3 of them together per stack, probably angled out. HIGHLY VISIBLE even in sunlight, as the light reflects off the shiny screen on your inlets.
• The kit includes a rotating knob controlling the brightness, and another controlling the frequency.
• The firing order, the brilliant red/orange LED's, and the adjustable frequency and brightness makes this a very realistic simulation of Fire Down Below
• The kit includes an on/off switch.
• I expect to make the box small enough for a discrete mount with knobs accessible - like next to the seat lock.

I expect feedback / suggestions even now will help in the design.  And as always, as I discover improvements they are incorporated in subsequent releases, and made available to previous releases if the nature of the improvement makes it backwards compatible.  As I install the system on my bike I will learn install tips which as always will be included in my comprehensive illustrated instructions.

I have not added this to my web site yet.  There's a problem with my EOL'd web authoring software, which makes that a longer task than I have time for at the moment.  (For now I need to source an old PC & keep the OS un-upgraded, and run the software there - PITA)

I suspect cost is going to be $49 for the electrical kit, based on what I know now.  P&S will be by priority mail, $5. There's no shopping cart on horseapple.com yet, but we already use paypal and the big credit cards, checks etc.

[Gear Jammer]

Mark,  I hope your newest product sells well.  I'm still enjoying the Organ Pipes 

[BF]

Oooooooooooooh.  I'm thinkin' I'm gonna have to buy me a set of velocity stacks now.  

[BIG COUNTRY 23321]

Congrats Mark on your New Adventure. 

[PhredValk]

Onward and upward, Mark. Good luck on your future endeavors. Now, where to buy V-stacks and screens...
Fred.

[MarkT]

Onward and upward, Mark. Good luck on your future endeavors. Now, where to buy V-stacks and screens...
Fred.

Thanks for the good wishes, guys.  Obviously I need to be proactive and work up a line of products for bikes - and other marques which aren't out of production - which should be challenging and fun.  I suppose only a true geek could think such things are fun...  Of course this particular product won't draw a lot of business, but that's a good thing, as I ease into ramping up that set of skills, infrastructure, and suppliers.  Getting too much business all at once has caused many businesses to fail, just as not enough business has.  Best to have the demand pretty closely matched by capacity.  This product can also be adapted to other bikes, with a few changes.  But I'm on the lookout for fresh ideas, products not invented yet, rather than being just another source for the same stuff...  This one is to get my feet wet, freshen up my rusty digital skills, and of course add this cool visual to my own Deerslayer.  Thanks to the originators of this idea, I think RP deserves kudos, I don't know if others have been involved too...

Oh Fred, BTW, I got my Velocity stacks from a vendor, brand new, on ebay.  I see he doesn't have them listed right now, but he had multiple sets for sale.  This was just a couple weeks ago, got my stacks for $179.99 for the set.  His ebay ID is braidedss; he's in SC.

[BamaDrifter64]

Mark,

After you get your's installed on your bike, can you post a video with sound?  Would love to see this in action before buying.  Are you planning on selling with the stacks as an entire kit?

Dave

[Cattman]

Sounds like a good package. Let us know when they are ready to order. 

[Wil]

I'm not much into lights, but my V-Twin buddies are.  Can you make this work for them too?

[MarkT]

Mark,

After you get your's installed on your bike, can you post a video with sound?  Would love to see this in action before buying.  Are you planning on selling with the stacks as an entire kit?

Dave

Dave - yeah I plan to make a nice video, and post it here as well as fix my web authoring platform and put it there.  On a whole kit - maybe, but depends on the stack source - are they still made, can I buy them at wholesale with good terms, stuff like that.  Other tasks have priority before I find time to chase that down.  For now, I'd say don't plan on a complete package from me - for another reason, the more I have to put hands on, the less time I have for everything else. I will at least try to keep a list of source(s) for the stacks once my Fire Down Below is shipping, if I don't make a complete kit.

I'm not much into lights, but my V-Twin buddies are.  Can you make this work for them too?

Yes I can, and I plan to.  However, that follows on this first release for our Valkyrie bro's. I'd love to have this first release available in time for Xmas giving, and the same for a V-twin release.  But realistically, getting it out that fast while still building exhausts - probably a better idea to plan on a post-Christmas schedule.  Thanks for your interest and response and stay tuned - I will focus on release 2 for the V-Twin riders right after I have the Valk release issues handled, and it's shipping.

[Old Geezer Richard]

  Hey Mark T , damn good idea , I'm interested  ....  I tried the similar thing on my Valk with the Red LED lites in the Stacks and kept having wiring issues  ...  I got a question , now your going to sell the lighting kit for $ 50 by itself correct ? now if we have V-stacks already, do we send you our stacks and you install the lites in them and for how much /or are you just selling the kit only for now with instructions and we do the installing ourselves ?  let me know when you got the time  ....  and by the way Mark , F6 Banger ( Chuck ) in New Mexico sold me my sreens that I mounted on the outside of my V-Stacks, so get ahold of him  .... Thanks the Geezer

[MarkT]

 Hey Mark T , damn good idea , I'm interested  ....  I tried the similar thing on my Valk with the Red LED lites in the Stacks and kept having wiring issues  ...  I got a question , now your going to sell the lighting kit for $ 50 by itself correct ? now if we have V-stacks already, do we send you our stacks and you install the lites in them and for how much /or are you just selling the kit only for now with instructions and we do the installing ourselves ?  let me know when you got the time  ....  and by the way Mark , F6 Banger ( Chuck ) in New Mexico sold me my sreens that I mounted on the outside of my V-Stacks, so get ahold of him  .... Thanks the Geezer

Hey OG,

1. kit by itself, correct.
2. Nope, don't send your stacks.  I will include illustrated instructions to DIY.

I expect to install it myself on my bike, and use that install to take pictures for the instructions, and discover install tips, also for the instructions.  Cost for now is $54 including postage.  Expect to start shipping within the month.  I will be doing a study to determine final cost as the production proceeds and I make more parts purchases - so later it may be more, or less (but probably not less unless it goes into volume production and I outsource that, at less cost than it costs me to build it in house)

Thanks for the lead on Chuck - I'll check with him on that.

[BF]

Well.....as if I didn't already have plans for it, but now I'm gonna have to add stacks and one of Mark's kits to where the tax rebate check is gonna go this year.   

[scoot]

Dude! That is so cool. I've been hoping someone would come up with just such a thing. I made these myself, and something like a set of lights inside them would be the cat's meow.

 Please let me know when they are available, at that price I'd take 2 sets.

[RP#62]

You asked for feedback/suggestions, please consider this in the "for what its worth" category.  I built a similar system for my bike in '03 and its still going strong.  While I don't have velocity stacks, I was going for a similar look as the neon tube plug wires that you sometimes see on V twins, but times 6.  Mine are located on the underside of the carbs and point toward the plugs (they reflect off of the spark plug valences). 

I wanted mine to go in time with the engine firing and respond to the throttle.  I achieved that for the most part by triggering off of the tach pulse.  What I found is that the best effect was at idle or just above (or when revving from idle).  At cruising speed they just look like flickering lights.  The LEDs have held up to the engine heat no problem. 

I've been thinking that on the -2 version, I might try switching to a lower flash speed above a threshold RPM (of course if you're controlling flash speed independent from RPM, that would be more straight forward but you'd have to come up with another way to achieve the throttling effect if that's desired).  Also, I'm going to try using some of the super bright LEDs in the 1W/70 LM range.  The trigger circuit could be the same, but the output side would have to be redesigned to handle the current, but that would make for fireworks down below (and probably get me arrested for impersonating an emergency vehicle).   

Anyway, my 2¢.
-RP

[PhredValk]

Just a suggestion, or I could look into it myself; heat resistant wiring and LEDs to make the exhaust tips flash with the timing, as well as the stacks. Like spark plugs in the exhaust of hot rods in the 50's and 60's.
Fred.

[Old Geezer Richard]

  Hey Mark , one more question ?  will you need to drill out the base of the V-stack to feed the wire thru if yes , what dia. drill bit are you recomending  ...  I had drilled out the bases on my stacks so as not to crush / pinch the the wire's ?  and what gauge wire are you using ?  let me know when you come up with a final price at  rrperez7517@satx.rr.com when you have the time  ....  and can I  get an AARP discount ???    just kidding   ... Good Luck with your great idea , Mark   ... Thanks the Geezer

[Mr Steve]

Mark,

Count me in for a set when you begin.   Been waiting for something like this for these.

[MarkT]

  Hey Mark , one more question ?  will you need to drill out the base of the V-stack to feed the wire thru if yes , what dia. drill bit are you recomending  ...  I had drilled out the bases on my stacks so as not to crush / pinch the the wire's ?  and what gauge wire are you using ?  let me know when you come up with a final price at  rrperez7517@satx.rr.com when you have the time  ....  and can I  get an AARP discount ???     just kidding  ... Good Luck with you great idea , Mark  ... Thanks the Geezer

Too early to say, haven't installed mine yet and that's when I will work on install procedures designed to be the easiest and for the least-tooled users.  I anticipate not drilling, but passing the wires under the stacks, while raising them up a little with spacers on the inner 2 screw mounts.  This will also tip them slightly for clearance as needed for interstate tanks.  Of course I will address protecting the wires from being cut by sharp edges.  Wire gauge will be chosen mainly for durability - get the wires too fine and they are easier to break - even though they could be really thin when they are powering only LED's and their resistor.  I also plan to use probably JST connectors a few inches away from the LED fixtures to facilitate the install, and maintenance later.

[wiggydotcom]

Mark, I wish you luck on your implementation of "Fire Down Below". I would definitely like to be
included in the purchase of a setup.

For the suggestion department, on my first valk, I controlled my LEDs via remote control. It was always cool to park my bike, walk away and then have the lights come on---catching people off guard.

Perhaps at some point, if you found a good source for remotes...with halfway decent ranges, you could incorporate that into a kit as an option...just a thought.

[Thespian]

Mark, I wish you luck on your implementation of "Fire Down Below". I would definitely like to be
included in the purchase of a setup.

For the suggestion department, on my first valk, I controlled my LEDs via remote control. It was always cool to park my bike, walk away and then have the lights come on---catching people off guard.

Perhaps at some point, if you found a good source for remotes...with halfway decent ranges, you could incorporate that into a kit as an option...just a thought.

 A remote start Valk, wouldn't that be cool! Ten feet away you hit the button, and the engine starts with all the led's firing .

[MarkT]

DAMN!  More great ideas!  I just love you guys...

Geez, I don't think I've ever used the L-word (except to my family) without regretting it later; pretty careful about throwing that big motza-ball around anymore...

[Jason O]

Any progress on these?

[Davet261]

I am just tickled to see something new being made for the Valkrie.  Keep up the good work Mark......

[Brewer]

Mark,

I am new Valkyrie owner and see you are also in the front range. I am in Denver and will cheerfully buy one and if you like help in anyway I can.

Cheers
Brewer

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Sounds like a cool idea Mark. Judging by the quality of the Mark T pipes which came on my bike when I bought it in 2004 I'm sure this product is gonna be well made and work the way it's supposed to.

I stopped to test ride a V65 on my way home from work a couple of years ago. The guy said my Valk sounds better than any bike he has ever heard. He claimed that in the past when he was mowing and saw me riding home he would shut off his mower  so he could hear the Valk as I would hammer it after crossing the railroad tracks a 1/4 mile down the road. He said it was worth letting me ride the V65 so he could find out what had been done to the pipes to make them sound that good. 

[WamegoRob]

I'm not positive of the law here in Kansas but I'd probably get pulled over for running down the road with blinking red lights  
Nonetheless... what an awesome piece of work!

[MarkT]

Any progress on these?

Thanks for your interest.  This is my next product - but I have to finish & deliver existing pipe orders before I can move this to the top of my plate.  This involves getting new sources and new processes - once those are on line the product will be stocked rather than custom made, so deliveries will be prompt - like my Then Came Bronson product.  But right now, I can't nail down an ETA with the sourcing not in place yet.  Thanks again.

[Cattman]

You might want to look at Posi-loc connectors. I've used these on most of my LED projects and never had a failure. Easy off for maintence. Looking forward to seeing them with fireing sequence.