K11 Owners Group

[Flying Duck]

Making Turn Signals Double as Brake Lights

When visiting my dad over the holidays I noticed that the turn signals on his Town Car double as brake lights. This got me to thinking why not do the same on a bike to increase brake light visiblity?

Well, the first issue is that legally brake lights have to be red, not orange. This is easily solved by swapping in red SMD led bulbs. Though the lenses are still orange, the red LEDs make them pretty darned red when they light up. (I'm using a Kisan SingalMinder flasher relay which lets you run LEDs without getting hyperflash.)

The second issue was figuring out how to make it happen. It took me a few beers but I finally came up with the following simple relay circuit:



Since I'm just running LEDs which draw very little current I can use PCB (printed circuit board) relays that are cheap (<$2 each) and tiny. What I do is solder the wires on, then wrap the whole thing in electrical tape and fill the tape up with epoxy or JB Weld. This keeps the pins from getting bent/broken, waterproofs it and makes three little relays into a little solid block.

To make it modular I wired it up to a 6 pin connector:
Left turn signal in
Right turn signal in
Ground
Brake light feed
Left turn signal out
Right turn signal out

And here's the finished product:



Now when I hit the brakes both of my now red turn signals will light up with the brake light. If I hit one of the turn signals with the brake on, the other will stay solid, but the one that's indicating the turn will have it's on/off inverted.

I've bench tested it and it's working as desired. I plan to install this within the next week or so on the K75S I'm bringing back to life. I'll post a Youtube clip once I have it installed.

The red LED bulbs cost me $15 shipped on FleaBay and the relays about $5 total so this project came in at about $20.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

[RJTrucker]

My K100 has the red LEDs in the turn signal pods. It was purchased from Run-N-Lights. I am sure it cost more but it is a nice system and I have had no problems with them since installed years ago. I also have their K2Tail light inhancer which puts lights in the empty spaces on the sides of the K bike tail light. Giving alot more tail light and it also doubles the Brake light. Again I am sure it can be made at home cheaper but not everyone is as handy as you. For the money it really adds to the visability of the rear of the bike.
_________________
Ron
1993 K11LT
1985 K100RS with over 100K on it
1985 K100RS Luftmiester Turbo Work in progress (any help is appreciated)
1974 R90/6

[Flying Duck]

Those are called Lite Buddies. Great product.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

[Sonu]

Drake,

Great idea!

Does either your idea or Lite Buddies work with the BMU or do I give up BMU functionality?

Sanjiv
_________________
1997 K1100LT "Ziggy" _GarminGPS_Corbin saddle_K Guards _Hyperlights_Fog lights_Eastern Beaver Relays_Cee Bailey_4"speakers_Michelin PR4's_MoS2_Spiegler lines_TPMS_VDO

[Jim]

[Flying Duck]

As long as your tail light and brake light are filament bulbs then the BMU is happy. Your flasher relay gets pissed off though. You need a Kisan SignalMinder to replace your flasher relay if you use polarized LED bulbs.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

[Sonu]

Thx Jim, Drake

Added into my "to do" list

S
_________________
1997 K1100LT "Ziggy" _GarminGPS_Corbin saddle_K Guards _Hyperlights_Fog lights_Eastern Beaver Relays_Cee Bailey_4"speakers_Michelin PR4's_MoS2_Spiegler lines_TPMS_VDO

[heatmizr]

I did something similar with my VFR, but instead of getting the signals to double as brake lights, I wanted them to stay lit as running lights when not blinking.
The VFR had all the rear lights in a row, signals flanking the taillight/brake light. I changed the single-filament bulbs in the signals to dual-filament, and wired the extra lead into the running light portion of the taillight in the center.
Lots of light back there now!
_________________
Todd Glasier in Charlotte, NC
1996 k1100rs (on loan)
2002 RC1
2000 VFR

[mnb]

aren't turn signals required to be amber, tho?
_________________
M N B
1997 BMW K1100LT ABS Special Edition
2003 Husqvarna TE610e
2007 Harley Davidson Road King
2009 BMW F800GS
2011 Husqvarna TE310
2014 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak MNB Edition

[Flying Duck]

Turn signals can be red or amber. Stop lights must be red. Take a look at cars when you're out and about.

I've actually installed this now on a K75 and am pleased with the results.

(My favorite setup is still the Run-n-Lites Lite-Blazer I have on my RS.)
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

[2xcelr8]

I won lite-blazers as a door prize. My RS already has the directionals converted to running lites and the flasher in the brake light so the blazers are going on the LT. Any special instructions to follow for these or is the installation straight forward? Thanks in advance.
_________________
Doug
'96 K1100RS, '94 K1100LT, '84 Honda VF700F Interceptor (4 sale)

[Flying Duck]

Very easy to install.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE