aftermarket indicators

Message

k1w1boy · #1 Post by **k1w1boy** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:17 pm

... have been a bit of a postaholic here lately - am a teacher so this is my bike fiddling/school work week of the spring hols. Planning to bugger off to Wales next week to do the western scenic route if I can find it... even if I can't it'll be fun trying

Anyway, having sorted my tail tidy I want pointy indicators. I'm not fussed if they're particularly small, or LED or anything, just pointy, possibly with clear lenses, and preferably plug'n'play. I read a gallery thread about Falco's that had some useful links. However, while browsing for off the peg indicators (local bike shops, Heine Gericke) with my tail tidy bracket in hand, it appears that on most of them the stalks are too large a diameter to fit it. As the tail tidy is Falco-specific, presumeably the holes in the body work will be the same size and I don't really want to enlarge any holes in the fairing unless absolutely necessary. Thoughts? Links?

Aladinsaneuk · #2 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:25 pm

sorry, but i am confoosed....

I assume that you want to change bothe the front and rear indicators?

ok, rear first - factor in a full size number plate for a start - so allow for that when measuring things....

pretty much anything from motrax or similar will fit :) go look in the bike shops for what you fancy

front, now that is different - take the panel off - start at the under cowl, then the side - take it off and discoonect the indicator
Once you see the hole there you will see you have a fair few options.

BUT

if you go for all led replacements, come back for advice.... front or rear only is fine, all four a minor amount of fiddling is needed

k1w1boy · #3 Post by **k1w1boy** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:15 pm

Hi
Aladin said: (dunno how to quote just a bit of a post so I'm cheating

)
"pretty much anything from motrax or similar will fit :) go look in the bike shops for what you fancy"

I tried Motrax ones on my evoluzione numberplate bracket and the thread was too thick for the holes in it. The sales-dude where I tried it said that pretty much all aftermarket indicators are the same thickness.

Aladinsaneuk · #4 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:56 pm

i suspect it has a coating on it... gently go through it with a suitable implement

my evo tail tidy has no probs so.....

DavShill · #5 Post by **DavShill** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:56 am

I've just made the change to LEDs. I went for the Hein Gerricke jobs. A little more expensive than most (£15 each) but really well made and finished off.

Some have got away with just swapping the flasher relay but I had to also fit two resistors in the rear lines. If you need to fit resistors don't buy ready made jobs from ebay cos you can by the components from Maplins for a couple of quid.

Aladinsaneuk · #6 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:17 am

if you are only doing 2 out of the four indicators with LED units, I think you will get away with out putting resistors in, but you may need to

if you do need to put resistors in, you need 16ohm 10 watt ones - 40 p each from maplins, plus postage
(Don't forget to wire them in parallel!)

that is a lot cheaper than starting to piss around with flasher units imho :)

Nooj · #7 Post by **Nooj** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:48 am

Expensive, but guarenteed to fit. Pre '06 Tuono indicators with clear lenses. More tear drop than pointy, but they suit the bike well and are plug and play.

back_marker · #8 Post by **back_marker** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 1:17 pm

Another word of warning - if you go for conventional bulb type ones, make sure they are 10 watt and not 21w (ie Oxford products) as I did - you have the opposite problem to LEDs and have too much resistance for the flasher causing them to flash too fast. I solved this by buying an electronic flasher for about 7 quid all in from ebay.

As a side note, if you do end up having to buy a flasher can, don't be put off by some that have too many pins (the standard falco one only has 2) - they will plug in and just need an extra earth (for 3 pin) and maybe an extra feed as well (4 pin) which are very simple to wire in (especially the 3 pin). This sounds like a lot of hassle but gives you more choice of components and saves you getting ripped off buying something specific.

#9 Post by **Kwackerz** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:28 pm

back_marker wrote:Another word of warning - if you go for conventional bulb type ones, make sure they are 10 watt and not 21w (ie Oxford products) as I did - you have the opposite problem to LEDs and have too much resistance for the flasher causing them to flash too fast. I solved this by buying an electronic flasher for about 7 quid all in from ebay.

I thought that Indicators have to be 21w by law? Im sure an over enthusiastic MOT'er could/would fail them if he thought they were too dull and found they were 10w.
21w was intended so that theyre bright enough to be seen over the glare of headlights/brakelights/taillights.

Happy to be proven wrong, however I'd sacrifice style for safety personally and stay with the brightest I could.

*polishes health n safety halo*

back_marker · #10 Post by **back_marker** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:45 pm

TBH thats what I thought but the standard Falco ones are only 10W (as are most cheap ones on evil bay). And i've got to say the new ones are bloody bright.

D-Rider · #11 Post by **D-Rider** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:42 pm

Kwackerz wrote:
back_marker wrote:Another word of warning - if you go for conventional bulb type ones, make sure they are 10 watt and not 21w (ie Oxford products) as I did - you have the opposite problem to LEDs and have too much resistance for the flasher causing them to flash too fast. I solved this by buying an electronic flasher for about 7 quid all in from ebay.

I thought that Indicators have to be 21w by law? Im sure an over enthusiastic MOT'er could/would fail them if he thought they were too dull and found they were 10w.
21w was intended so that theyre bright enough to be seen over the glare of headlights/brakelights/taillights.

Happy to be proven wrong, however I'd sacrifice style for safety personally and stay with the brightest I could.

*polishes health n safety halo*

Surely they won't specify for MOT by power consumption? .... if so, LEDs will never be legal.
I'd have guessed they must specify by light output .... but then I've not actually looked at the regs

#12 Post by **Kwackerz** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:02 pm

Hmm... Cant find anything on it.. have checked the MOT tester manual
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manuals.htm

Might be something to do with what the manufaturers have to have for approval that isnt reflected in the MOT manual.. fks.. I'll probably email VOSA as it's now going to bug me until i know!

D-Rider · #13 Post by **D-Rider** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:11 pm

MOT manual may not be the best place to look - I guess we're after the Construction and Use Regs.

Samray · #14 Post by **Samray** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:23 pm

I thought the two main requirements were the flash rate and the fact that if fitted they had to work.

fastasfcuk · #15 Post by **fastasfcuk** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:01 pm

Samray wrote:I thought the two main requirements were the flash rate and the fact that if fitted they had to work.

and thats it mate.and as long as they do'nt flash white.