K11 Owners Group

Flying Duck

I didn't want to spend a $100 for a Kissan SignalMinder to run LEDs. I got some pretty bright amber 1156 LEDs off of eBay. They draw 13W each but that's not enough to fool the flasher relay and it hyperflashes. So I needed to come up with something cheaper to replace the flasher relay. And I wanted to avoid using load resistors.

So, here's what I came up with:

Two 12V Dual Coil PCB(printed circuit board) Latching relays. These are cheap ($2.20 each) and allow me to control the main flasher relay with the momentary turn signal and cancel switches we have.

An LED flasher relay sold for Toyotas on ebay for about $13.

A 12V DPDT PCB relay so i can emulate how the BMW flashers work so that you can only turn them on when the bike is turned on but they'll keep flashing once the bike is turned off. These cost about $1 and I have some laynig around from other LED proects.

In the diagram belowthe red italic notes are the colors of the factory wiring to hook into,

The only thing it doesn't have is the auto-cancel but I always found that more of an anoyance so I'll be glad it's gone.

It's not as complicated as it looks - it's really a pretty simple circuit.
_________________
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

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 2:51 pm Post subject:

One other item of note: If you have a non-BMW bikw with "normal" Jap-bike turn signals, I think that the main flasher relay I used would be a good cheap solution for an LED conversion.
_________________
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

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:32 pm Post subject:

I've now finished building the circuit. It is bench-tested and operational! When I started to put it together I realized that if I removed the housing from the new LED flasher relay that I could fit eveything into the existing flasher relay housing. Someone responded to my IBMWR ad and is sending me a flasher relay to butcher. Once that arrives all I need to do is solder this circuit up to the pins and from there it's a plug-n-play replacement for the OEM flasher relay.

1) I added some diodes and a couple more wires so that hitting the left button cancels the right signal and vice versa but the basic concept I had works great.

2) The new relay flashes a little bit faster than the stock one (like 80/min vs. 60/min) and I'm happy with that.

3) It doesn't have the auto-cancel feature but I never liked that anyhow since there are times when I want to have my turn signal on for more than 100m.

Ready to be installed in a BMW flasher relay housing:

_________________
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

Shoganai · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject:

Cool.

PS, I love your avatar.
_________________
1993 K1100RS aka The Shop Whore
1994 K1100RS aka Blue Streak

The long road is a rainbow and the pot of gold lies there.
So slip the chain and I'm off again,
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover. - JT

Nana korobi ya oki

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 5:30 pm Post subject:

I also got some help from some electro-dudes over at the ADV garage to try to figure out a way to mod the OEM flasher relay.

I've done the mod but havent' tested it yet. Essentially the flasher relay is still in hyperflash mode but by adding a resistor you can slow the rate of the hyperflash back to a more normal rate.

I did it last night but probably won't get to testing until next week when I've soldered my homemade circuit into an empty flasher relay. Joshua Buck has a bad flasher relay that he's donating to the cause. I'm going to wait until that's done and test both solutions at the same time so I only have to pull my tank once.

Anyhow, the ADV dudes said to replace the 200k ohm resistor with something in the range of 440k to slow the hyperflash back down. Radio Shack didn't have a great selection of resistors so I added a 220k resistor in series with the current one. That will jack up the total resistance to 420k so in theory I'll have something that flashes just a wee bit faster than the normal flash rate of a stock bike - which is what I want.

Here's the modded OEM flasher relay with the resistor added in. (I can't bleieve I actually soldered it that well.)

_________________
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

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 5:50 pm Post subject:

A side note: I've never been a fan of the auto-cancel turn signal. It can be disabled by cutting the blue/green wire to the flasher relay.

Why don't I like the auto turn signal cancel? There are times when I want my turn signals on for more than 100m and I don't want to worry about them cutting off. Some examples are when making two left or right turns in a row or trying to get across several lanes of freeway. I'd just as soon have my turn signals stay on and I'm perfectly capable of turning them off myself.
_________________
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

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:07 pm Post subject:

Today's test results:

1) Adding a resistor to the OEM flasher relay: EPIC FAIL (But it was worth a shot I suppose.)

2) Then I tried the one that I built. Results: Glorious SUCCESS! MYyRS now only had two non-LED bulbs in it - the headlight and the brake light. I need to keep a filament brake light to keep the Audiovox cruise control happy.

I' was so sure it would work that I've already built another one to put in the LT.

Here's an updared wiring diagram

_________________
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

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:15 pm Post subject:

And here's the pinout for the flasher relay if anyone's interested:

_________________
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

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:06 pm Post subject:

More on LEDs and flasher relays:

The adding the resistor thing didn't work out but another electro-whiz over at ADV suggested cutting the trace (red) and soldering in a jumper (blue) between two pins. Yet another miracle occurred and I was able to successfully solder a jumper wire on those teeny pins. That worked but the flash rate with LEDs all the way around went from 80/min to 120/min. I checked the US DOT regs and allowable flash rates are between 60 and 120 so it's still legal.

Here's a pic of the "cut-n-jump" solution:

_________________
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

owrstrich · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject:

rodger that modern day nikola tesla...

you should get a couple illegal aliens in your basement building these things for the entire bmw line of motos...

you would make lotts o tax free money and you would be providing employment to criminal invaders...

ch1t man... i bet you could get a ch1t load of the messiahs redistribution monies for not paying taxes and for keeping a couple of drunked up illegal aliens from vehicular manslaughtering a family of white middle class usa citizens...

j o
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yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 2:15 pm Post subject:

Now road tested. I rode the RS up to my cabin to chainsaw some firewood and my DIY flasher relay is working great. Very Happy

_________________
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

Mystic Red · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 2:37 pm Post subject:

You're retired Microsoft, right? Very Happy

_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 12:19 pm Post subject:

RAL88 · Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:43 pm Post subject:

Hey Drake,

Can you send me your diagram so I can build one of these?

Thanks,
_________________
Rich

"If it ain't broke, take it apart and make it work better"
*************
'96' K1100LT-SE
'97' R850GS-R

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 10:55 pm Post subject:

Email sent.

I was running errands today in traffic and, aside from running LEDs the best part of this thing is that it DOESN'T auto cancel like the factory one. Of course that aspect could be accomplished by merely snipping the blue/green.

Another way to run LEDs easily is to get a Kisan Signalminder since that doesn't load test.
_________________
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

Ted · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 12:12 am Post subject:

Awesome, no more stupid $6 1157 bulbs! Now if you could take that circuit wizardy and start rehabbing Jetronic and ABS brains Cool

_________________

Ted

KOG#1

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 12:45 am Post subject:

chris Sunderland · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 1:34 am Post subject:

Cool! Are you going to sell kits?
_________________
'04 WR450f
'93 K1100LT

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 2:01 am Post subject:

chris Sunderland · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:18 am Post subject:

Is the Signalminder a straight plug in?
_________________
'04 WR450f
'93 K1100LT