Protected front turn signals

[barker]

I've read about the stock turn signals breaking, and rubber-mount replacements like the Buells, and also flush mount using the stock location.

I like the streamlined look of the flush mounts, but also like signals that others can see well. i want something that won't be sticking out in the wind.

So I was looking at the fairing, and I think mounting turn signals where the grilled triangular vents are on each side behind some flush-mounted acrylic or polycarbonate would be very slick. It looks like it would have the possibility of being visible from both the front and the side.

"Standard" common bulbs, sockets, and connectors would be nice. I'd rather avoid cutting the stock wiring harness.

Any suggestions on what specific bulbs and mounts would work well?

Any drawbacks to doing this, if done well?

[LarryB]

Any drawbacks to doing this, if done well?

Three come to mind:

1. What are you going to do with the holes in the side of the fairing?

2. Every time you take the chin piece off, you'll have to disconnect the signals. Not a big deal, probably, but still something to consider.

3. You'll still need access to the screw in the upper corner that holds the chin piece to the fairing. Maybe you can decide to do without it. I haven't left the screws out to see what the effect is.

If you've got the ability to fabricate something that would look good, go for it. If worse comes to worst you'd only have to replace the chin piece.

[Heavy]

I wonder if they will still be visible if you mount them there. You've got a lot of headlight to overcome.

[Sharkey]

Turn signals have to be seen from the front and sides

[Destro]

I wonder if they will still be visible if you mount them there. You've got a lot of headlight to overcome.

You took the words right out of my mouth. Seen a couple Stroms with flush mounts and head-on the flashing signal is not really easy to see. I'd leave the DOT approved stock signals alone.

[barker]

The stock setup won't last long. In the next few days I'll be dropping the Wee on each side in my back yard to see what breaks. I don't have to "run the experiment" to see that the turn signals will be about the first things to go.

You guys are probably right about the visibility: too close to the headlights. I still think it would look nice if somebody had the skills to make it look factory.

Another, possibly easier alternative I just spotted: it may be by removing the stock units and swapping them left and right, I could mount them vertically on the "dash", about 2 inches higher and further back than they are now. That might get them in a more "survivable" place. I would probably need to reinforce underneath the dash with little backing plates or something. I'll see now if I can pull them off and check for clearances.

[barker]

Swapping sides and moving them up does seem to fit. Nothing underneath in the way, and the bars and controls are clear. The signals will still stick out to the side, but not as far, and the stems bend sideways a little.

While fiddling with it, I considered using the rear ones instead, since the rear bases are square to the surface, not angles. Add a spacer, and the light would sit pretty straight up, in the "L" space at the top of each side of the fairing. But that location would cause potential interference with the levers.

For some reason I thought the rear bulbs and wiring were different than the front, but they seem identical - turn signals only, 2-wire connector.

Now if I can work up the nerve to drill and cut a couple holes...it's hard to tell exactly where to cut because of the angle.

For now, just some black shiny tape over the old holes will be good enough for me.

[Heavy]

I've read about the stock turn signals breaking...

...Now if I can work up the nerve to drill and cut a couple holes...

So, you haven't actually broken a signal yet? Did you ever consider bolting on a set of crash bars, rather than taking a drill and experimenting on your fairing? I have a set of Givi guards on mine and its been down on either side with no significant damage.

[gallagko]

US DOT reg re turn signals:

At or near the front—1 amber on each side
of the vertical centerline at the same
height, and having a minimum horizontal
separation distance (centerline of lamps)
of 16 inches. Minimum edge to edge
separation distance between lamp and
headlamp is 4 inches.
At or near the rear—1 red or amber on
each side of the vertical centerline, at
the same height and having a minimum
horizontal separation distance (centerline
to centerline of lamps) of 9 inches. Minimum
edge to edge separation distance
between lamp and tail or stop lamp is 4–
inches, when a single stop and taillamp
is installed on the vertical centerline and
the turn signal lamps are red..

[Destro]

thank you. You still need to make sure that the lamps are DOT approved, which a lot of this stick-on sh!t is not.

[barker]

US DOT reg re turn signals:

At or near the front—1 amber on each side of the vertical centerline at the same height, and having a minimum horizontal separation distance (centerline of lamps) of 16 inches. Minimum edge to edge separation distance between lamp and headlamp is 4 inches.

At or near the rear—1 red or amber on each side of the vertical centerline, at the same height and having a minimum horizontal separation distance (centerline to centerline of lamps) of 9 inches. Minimum edge to edge separation distance between lamp and tail or stop lamp is 4 inches, when a single stop and taillamp is installed on the vertical centerline and the turn signal lamps are red..

Thanks for looking that up. Flushmount fronts would, by my measurement, meet the 16" rqmt. It is about 16" between the two relevant fairing surfaces. If mounted at the stock attachment points, some, if not all, flushmounts would meet the 4" "edge-to-edge" separation distance as well. They cannot go very far forward of the stock hole - it would be better for visibility, but not towards meeting the spec.

Flushmount rears would meet the 9" rqmt but not the 4" rqmt. But the quoted parts says for red turn signal lamps, not amber...maybe amber can be closer in?

Mounting the stock fronts on the shelf pointing up and out as mentioned above would also meet the text above.

Anybody ever get ticketed/not pass inspection for not meeting DOT, but meeting state law?

Texas motorcycle turn signal law:
TRC §547.324.

TURN SIGNAL LAMPS REQUIRED.

(a)...
(c) Turn signal lamps:
(1) shall be mounted at the same level and spaced as widely apart as practicable on the front and on the rear of the vehicle; and
(2) may be included as a part of another lamp on the vehicle.
...

[xen]

Texas motorcycle turn signal law:
TRC §547.324.

TURN SIGNAL LAMPS REQUIRED.

(a)...
(c) Turn signal lamps:
(1) shall be mounted at the same level and spaced as widely apart as practicable on the front and on the rear of the vehicle; and
(2) may be included as a part of another lamp on the vehicle.
...

You have two headlamps. Just make the correct headlamp blink. (I'm serious, but if anyone posts and says this is stupid or illegal I'll claim it's a joke)

[WacoBill]

I think you can take off your signals and use handsignals - had an inspector tell me that if I had them on the vehicle they both had to work, but if I knocked them off it would pass state inspection. Remember we still require windshield wipers for all cars, but we do NOT require a windshield. :D

[barker]

You have two headlamps. Just make the correct headlamp blink. (I'm serious, but if anyone posts and says this is stupid or illegal I'll claim it's a joke)

I think that's a cool idea, and probably more eye-catching than any turn signal. Would H4 bulbs would last very long as turn signals? Headlight modulators seem to work OK, and those Philips Moto H4s are yellow-tinted anyway:D (TX law does allow "white" front turn signals.)

I think you can take off your signals and use handsignals - had an inspector tell me that if I had them on the vehicle they both had to work, but if I knocked them off it would pass state inspection. Remember we still require windshield wipers for all cars, but we do NOT require a windshield. :D

I seem to remember that too, but it wasn't so in the online TX DPS site: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/msb/txmclaws.htm. I know there are differences between what is legal and what it takes to pass inspections.

[barker]

These look semi-protected -the fairing curves in at the front. Most plastic scuffs / scrapes I have seen have been on the back half or two thirds of the side fairing. Not as protected as down in that valley, but good enough is good enough.

It looks like the signals would be very visible.

It looks (better than) stock to my eye.

It looks like Black Lab doesn't baby it, either. I'll search for a write-up.

http://www.stromtrooper.com/showpost.php?p=430269&postcount=3