| Author | Message | ||
     7873jake |
In the "Who keeps their ULY garaged?" thread, Johnboy ax'd for pics of the Whelan TIRs I have mounted on my hand guards and I promised him I'd shoot a few pics and post. Its pretty simple to do, even if you don't have the police/EMS package bezels that come with those flashers. You'll need a rotary tool (Dremel, etc) to radius the stock Whelan bezels in order to make them fit smoothly on the hand guards. To do this, I used a contour gauge (aka contour duplication gauge). I measured out reference points on the hand guards and took contour readings on the points at which I planned to mount the lights. I basically drew in pencil all over my hand guards plotting and measuring mounting points. Once captured in the pins of the contour gauge, I placed masking tape on the sides of the Whelan lights and transferred the marking from the gauge to the bezels. Once in ink, I cranked the Dremel and started cutting/melting plastic on the lights to match the contour of the guards. You'll need to back your mounting screws in the hand guards with washers (I took SS fender washers and vise bent up a few to fit the inside radius). You'll also have to tap the hand guards in order to feed the wiring through for power and control. If the sight of drilling holes in your hand guards makes you weak, stop now. If you only want to use them as running lights and do not intend to use the flasher feature, stop reading now. If you choose to use the flasher feature, read the Whelan instructions closely. I would suggest making up a mock harness with a few alligator clips and 12v power to test how the flasher activates from steady burn to flash and how to toggle between the two. The picture of the PIAA PTL (push to light) switch is my interrupt on the flasher control circuit. The lights come on with the ignition key and act as running lights full-time. The PTL switch acts as an interrupt on the flasher control circuit, enabling the super-fierce, highly authoritative flashers to stop any and all traffic waiting to pull out in front of you from side streets and drive ways. I run the lights on a steady burn until I approach back road intersections or sense that the side approaching traffic isn't seeing me. Then I reach up with my left pinky finger and bump that switch to activate them. That usually gets everyone's attention and stops the brake creep and seeing beyond me phenomenon that results in "sorry officer, I didn't see him". I don't burn the flashers while running or when following people because, frankly, it confuses anyone that sees you in their mirror as to what to do for flashing amber lights coming from a motorcycle. I only know this because I bumped the switch once unintentionally and found lots of people braking or pulling over for me. The Whelan TIRs will set you back about $80 and I used the PIAA switch from my driving lights because I already have those wired through the OEM heated grips controller on the throttle side.    | ||
| Gunut75 |
Love the safety factor! I don't have handguards, but on a firebolt I'm sure I could find a place. | ||
| Union_man |
I am not a cop or a lawyer, but I am pretty sure that use of the lights as you described is Illegal. There are regulations addressing when flashing lights can be used on vehicles. Flashing lights draw attention because not all vehicles have flashing lights, if they did none would stand out. http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/Products/product sresults/Parts-accessories/2009/December/dec1809-f lashing-lights-on-a-motorcycle/ | ||
| 7873jake |
 Dunno what to tell you. Wish I could tell you I cared what MCN had to say on the subject but I'm not that concerned with them. (It would help to quote a website that doesn't solicit my subscription in British Pounds tho...I'm still on the $ over here on this side of the Atlantic  ) Headlight modulators for motorcycles flash, hazard lights flash, blinkers flash and some women on the pillions of Harleys flash during bike week. The TIR-3s flash when I tell them to and don't when I tell them not to. I'll pay the ticket and push on. I've already accepted that as the cost of running them. Several friends in the local sheriffs dept don't seem too bothered by them, the local PD biker cops have seen them (I live in a small town where my bike is known because it is a Buell and they were considering buying some XP's so we've discussed them). I've seen their effect numerous times when approaching intersections on remote backroads where cross traffic isn't playing heads-up ball or, as is the case in central Florida, too old to see down the road with any clarity. I don't place all of my faith in them and so apply learned MSF principles as well as other published motorcycle safety text measures for handling scenarios such as this. "Flashing lights draw attention because not all vehicles have flashing lights, if they did none would stand out." Exactly my point. For the several seconds that I need them to, they do. In this instance, I'd rather be alive and wrong than hobbled (or worse) and right. Since text rarely conveys emotion, sentiment or tone well, let me be clear that I am in no way intending to respond to you harshly or confrontationally...  My riding area is mostly remote, sparsely travelled roads that have little if any LEO presence and so YMMV, yadda yadda. The last thing I want is disagreement and argument. | ||
| Union_man |
I'm sorry if my tone was antagonistic. My intentions were noble and friendly. I just didn’t want you, or someone else reading this thread to get into trouble.  Peace | ||
| 7873jake |
Understood. Peace back atcha  | ||
| Johnboy777 |
I have a headlight modulator, which works really well - no more having people pulling out in front of me. It does not flash, but rather modulates (big difference) between 50% and 100% brightness. I recently picked up one of these SoundOff units for my rear license plate (in red) - same as the Whelen, basically. I plan to mount it beneath by plate for added visibility, connected to my brake light. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blJ9jEuCkJw&feature =player_embedded | ||
| Court |
>>>>I'll pay the ticket and push on. I have and I've been tossed on the ground and cuffed on one occasion (in my truck) I got around it by using (and timing) the TIR3's with my turn signals. They are perfectly legal turn signals . . just perfectly legal turn signals that will make folks shield thier eyes across the intersection. The key is mounting height and focus.  | ||
| Andymnelson |
Court, I also see that you have narrowed your Uly to cope with the NY traffic.  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Having tried the alternative, I'd recommend Court's approach over the CR mirrors (integrated signals) for a Ulysses if you want to keep the factory handguards. | ||
| 7873jake |
Court, did you use the cop kit mounting bezels on yours? I toyed with mounting them that high on the hand guards but decided to move them to the middle of the curve in order to keep from aiming them skyward. | ||
| Court |
This is what mine look like . . .      As I was walking back to the office to post these . . . I watched this happen . . .    Kid is the office has some neat ones in his mirrors . . .  | ||
| Od_cleaver |
Court, You have a screw loose. Check your right hand guard. | ||
| Biffdotorg |
Does that statement really have anything to do with his right handguard? (smile) | ||
| Od_cleaver |
Of course it does, I would never challenge Mr. Court in an open forum. | ||
| Court |
You are likely accurate on a number of levels ...... :-) | ||
| Billyo |
The best line in the movie Elf was "the yellow ones don't stop". | ||
| Rr_eater |
Court Ever notice one thing about quality products, they get the primary intention SPOT ON, but then skimp on hardware.....as I see the mounting screws from the front are rusting? Never understood this with manufacturers Bruce | ||
| Court |
I agree. I need to replace ALL the fasteners. I'm not sure why anything ( muffler, hardware or parts) on a motorcycle should EVER rust. | ||
| Ourdee |
Court, Do you have a cheap source for the tir3s? | ||
| 7873jake |
(Pssst, RD, if he does, don't dilly for too long. I rarely find the TIR3 lightheads discounted...) |
